Shattered ✓

T W E N T Y - F I V E

Alexa

I stood, frozen, as Zach stayed silent, taking in the information that Cameron gave him. Zach took the razor from Cameron and inspected it and then glanced at me and sighed.

I was anxious about what he'd say. I glanced away from him, my face was red. This is embarrassing. To have my brothers know about this shameful habit of mine. I swallowed thickly. I wanted nothing more than to disappear right now.

"Can I see your arms, please?" Zach asked, his voice soft but his face stern. I knew that he was only asking out of formality. I look at Cameron with a fuck you stupid hoe look and gave my arm to Zach. Cameron gave me a sheepish smile.

Zach lifted up my sleeve and sucked in his breath. "Alexa," he started, "why? This is—this does not look good." I felt like he just stated the obvious, but I get that he was only concerned about me.

"I'm sorry," I muttered. I hated myself for making them worried.

Cameron reached over to hug me and I shot him a look. "Don't touch me, traitor." There wasn't even any venom in my words because I do get it, but still. I stuck my tongue out at Cameron.

"Alexa, don't be mad at Cameron," Zach said in a scolding voice. "He did the right thing."

"Thank you, Zach," Cameron said and then stuck his tongue out at me.

"He betrayed me!" I said dramatically.

"Your safety is more important than your trust," Zach told me, and Cameron nodded in agreement.

"See?" Cameron said. "That's what I was thinking. We think the same—"

"Shut up, Cameron," Zach said.

"I'm going to hang out with my friends," I tell them and turn to leave.

Zach grabbed me by the hoodie. "Nope," he said. "We're worried about you. Do you think we're just gonna let you leave so soon after finding this out?"

"I was kind of hoping, yeah."

"Nice try," Zach said and handed the razor back to Cameron. "Go throw this away, please. Somewhere Alexa won't be able to get it from."

Cameron nodded and went to go do just that.

I puffed my cheeks out. A bit childish, I admit, but Michael is my best friend, so what did you expect?

Just then, Zach's phone rang. I glance at him curiously. The last few times a phone has gone off, it was never good news. He picked up and I stayed silent, waiting for his phone call to end. He smiled, and that must be a good sign right? Then he frowned and looked confused. He hung up and glanced at me.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Uh, yeah." Zach said and then raised his voice. "JASON, GET YOUR STUPID ASS IN HERE!"

I heard footsteps and Jason walked in. He stared between us. "Why the fuck you yelling, bro?" Jason asked.

Zach leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. "Ryan was arrested."

Jason's face broke into a grin, and much to my alarm, he picked me up and spun me around, and then hugged me tightly.

Does this mean I don't have to worry about my uncle anymore?

"Can't... breathe..." I said.

"Jason! Put the girl down!" Zach said. "You are in big trouble!"

Jason set me down and glanced at Zach. "I'm in trouble because that pedo is in jail....?" He looks at me. "That doesn't sound fair, does it?"

Zach glared at Jason. "You know why he was arrested?"

"For pedophilia?" Jason guessed.

"For drug possession!"

"Why am I in trouble because someone has drugs!"

Yeah, I'm confused too.

"Did you seriously plant drugs in his house?" Zach asked.

Realization lit up on Jason's face. "Oh—you thought because I—" He laughed. "It wasn't me, dude! It was just a really good coincidence that he has drugs at his house. So shouldn't we be happy that Alexa and Andrew won't go there?"

Zach cracked a smile and sighed. "Yeah, you're right. Let's go tell the others."

"Can I go to my friends now?" I asked.

"Only if Andrew goes with you."

"Well, they are his friends too—"

"Shhhh."

***

Andrew and I arrived at Jackson's house.

Oh, this brings back memories of me getting my period surrounded by five boys. It's probably a good thing that Andrew had missed that.

Jackson opened the door as soon as Andrew knocked. He grinned, and told us to come in so we did. I give him a cheeky smile, thinking, I know something you don't know. Eek. Michael likes Jackson. I wonder how Jackson feels.

Elliot and Michael were already here so we went to go join them.

"Alexa!" Michael squealed and tackled me into a bear hug, picking me up from the ground.

"Oi! Michael, we talked about this!" Andrew said. "Hands off now."

"Andrewww!" Michael whined, but set me down anyways. "I'm not the one you gotta worry about. Elliot—"

"I will kill you if you don't shut up," Elliot quickly stated, his voice calm but a hint of red on his face.

Jackson rolled his eyes and wracked Michael on the back of his head. Michael shot him a glare. I smile to myself, knowing that Michael likes him. Could they have been flirting this entire time without realizing it?

"Alexa, why do you look stupid right now-" Elliot asked.

I was smiling like a goofy idiot. Like Michael, if you would. I laughed. I love knowing things that others don't, but maybe I'm being just a tad bit too obvious.

"Elliot, that's mean," Andrew said. "That's just her face." Then he squished my cheeks together and I slapped his hands away and stuck my tongue out.

"Okay, Michael Jr," Jackson teased, causing Andrew to laugh.

"Hey!" Michael and I complained.

Elliot sighed and pulled out a book. I've given up questioning where he gets them from.

I smile and tackle Elliot. I really am becoming Michael Jr. Elliot glanced at me, annoyed, and I hugged him.

"Hi!" I say.

Elliot sighs and to my surprise, wraps his arms around me and sets his book down.

Michael giggled and Jackson snorted.

"Damn, he put the book down and everything," Jackson said.

"Oi! What the hell!" Andrew complained and grabbed my hoodie, pulling me away from Elliot, who looked as expressionless as ever. Andrew gave him a look like I'm watching you. "So you're the one I have to worry about! I thought I'd be Michael—"

"Why would it have been Michael?" Jackson interjected, looking panicked.

"Because I'm cute," Michael said.

I laugh, even though I don't even know what they're talking about. "The cutest," I agree, booping his nose. Maybe I was trying to make Jackson a little jealous, just for experimenting and I think it's working.

"Bro, what the hell—" Jackson said, annoyed, squishing himself between Michael and me.

Elliot sighed heavy and threw his book in our direction. We all dodged quickly and Andrew pulled me away. "I don't trust any of them," he tells me, looking at them suspiciously. "You'll sit next to me."

I sigh.