Shattered ✓

T H I R T Y - F I V E

Jackson

"Jackson! Come eat your breakfast!"

I sighed. I was already dressed, so I walked downstairs to see a plate of pancakes at the table, so I went over and sat down. 

"Good morning, sunshine," my mother greeted me. "Last week of school. Are you excited?"

I nodded. I couldn't wait for summer.

I stared at my mother's loving face, knowing that her love might be conditional.

If she knew the truth about me.

But she also might be accepting of me liking boys. I've only recently discovered my sexuality. Around last school year.

Michael was my gay awakening, even though he's really annoying, he's actually pretty cute. Realized I liked him after that accidental kiss.

Plus i had get past his eccentric personality.

Then again, i like that part too.

Don't tell him I said that.

I got off topic. Michael was not supposed to be brought up so randomly.

Anyway, I wasn't so sure how my mom felt about gay people, or about how she'd feel if her only son—her only child—turned out to be gay. I wished I paid attention to how she behaved toward fruity people, growing up, but as a kid, I was very self centered—as most kids tended to be.

"Hey, mom?" I said and my mom looked at me, waiting for me to continue, but I merely just swallowed and said, "thank you for the food." I was a coward.

"Oh, no problem."

My mom doesn't need to know unless I get a boyfriend.

If I get a boyfriend.

***

Michael

I was so excited that Alexa's finally going to be back at school. I was also excited that it was the last week of school and then it will be summer, and it's our last week of being in middle school. I couldn't wait to be a high schooler.

I bounded into the kitchen, practically bouncing off the walls. My excitement was unmatched.

My parents were still asleep which was fine, so I made cereal.

After I was done, I turned on the TV and began watching cartoons.

I wasn't very focused on it though. Too busy thinking about other things.

Like my friends.

Alexa, Elliot and... Jackson...

Jackson.

I recommend not getting a crush on your best friend. It's so weird, and like, it's never ever going to go anywhere, and it's just so freaking pointless and just weird.

But Jackson does fill me with butterflies and makes me so giddy.

And I hate that Jackson of all people managed that.

He's so meannnnn. Why do I like him?

Having a crush on Elliot or Alexa would have been so much better, and Elliot is straight and Alexa is just not into me like that.

Whatever. Why am I thinking about this? I just need to let it go, find some other guy or girl or something.

Teenage mutant ninja turtles were on TV. The 2012 version, and I started to compare my friend group to them. Elliot was Leo, Jackson was Raph, Andrew was Donnie, Alexa was April, and I was Mikey—similar names, too.

Suddenly, I loved this show.

Elliot

Today was the beginning of the end of eighth grade. This was the very last week, and afterwards, summer will begin and then we will officially be high schoolers.

I just hope that everything gets resolved soon. With Benny being out and about and Alexa being scared and I was scared something would happen to her, though I'm keeping a brave face for her sake.

My older sister, Emma, had made breakfast for us since our parents were out of town on a business trip and our older sister, Eliza, lived in an apartment with her fiancee. My younger sister, Eden, was already halfway done by the time I joined them.

Yes, I have three sisters and no brothers, kind of the opposite of Alexa's situation, except she has way more brothers than I have sisters.

Eden was only four so she had made quite the mess as she ate her food, causing me to sigh.

"Hey, Ellie," Emma says. It was an ongoing joke between her and Eliza. Since I'm the only boy, they treat me as if I'm another sister, going as far as to call me Ellie. It was way worst when we were growing up though, so whatever. Long story short, I despised being called Ellie more than I have ever hated anything.

"Hi," I simply said and sat down.

"Excited for school? Excited to see Alexa?" Emma said with a teasing smirk, and I merely narrowed my eyes at the bitch. "No comment?" 

"Shut the fuck up," I said.

Emma laughs and ruffles my hair.

Andrew

"Yay!" I cheer. "Last week of school!"

Alexa grins and hugs me. "I'm super excited!"

"Me too," I say, though I had this feeling. Like, I don't know. A dreaded feeling? Like something bad was going to happen. I shook it off. Maybe it was just nerves. Graduating was a very big deal, after all.

Alexa and I walked downstairs to see all of our brothers already at the table, so we went over and joined them.

Well, one was missing...

But I didn't want to think about our baby brother.

"Good, you're all here," Zach said. He was the only one standing up. "I wanted to talk with you all. As you know, we need to be more cautious. With Benny being out and about. The other day was way too close for comfort. Make sure no one is alone. Don't even go to the restroom alone. I want all of you to be safe."

I'm sure the older kids wouldn't have to worry about Benny coming after them, and I'm sure they could handle Benny, but I feel like Zach was only saying it to everyone, was so Alexa wouldn't feel targeted.

Benny was after my sister.

Our sister.

I refuse to let Benny anywhere near her. I grabbed ahold of Alexa's hand and gave it a protective squeeze.

She gave me a slight smile. A smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

I wish she didn't have to be so scared and anxious all the time. She's just a kid.

We all are.