Fracture

CHAPTER THIRTY

☆ ♫ Patrick ♫ ☆

Devastated didn't even begin to describe how I felt. Shattered was a much better word to use.

Or maybe fractured.

Either way, I felt like shit.

My mam kept coming into my room to check on me, telling me 'time would heal' but that was bullshit.

I mean it had only been a day since Scarlett had broken my heart, but I knew time would not heal. Nothing could ever make me get over her.

I didn't move on when she started hating me in sixth class and I wouldn't move on now.

The worst part was, she seemed so broken, so hurt, when she had ended things.

Like her usual confidence had been smashed with a hammer and replaced with a timid little girl.

"Patty? Can I come in?" My mother's voice came from the hall.

Wiping my tears with the back of my hand, I cleared my throat and called out, "Yeah."

"Don't kill me, but I called your friends," Mam gave me a smile, "They are downstairs waiting to see you. I was hoping they could lift your spirits."

I exhaled a frustrated breath. I knew she meant well but the last thing I wanted was to see people

Forcing a smile to please her, I replied, "Tell them I'll be down in a minute."

"Okay," Mam beamed, closing the door behind her.

I threw on a jumper and tried my best to make it look like I hadn't been crying all night.

It was pathetic, crying over a girl.
But Scarlett Gibson had me in a chokehold.

One that I could never get out of.

I walked sluggishly out of my room and down the stairs, turning the corner into the sitting room, I saw Hughie sitting on the couch with Johnny next to him and Gibsie sitting on the arm chair across from the couch.

"Hey, lad," Hughie nodded when he noticed me lurking.

"Hey," I shuffled over to my friends.

"You look shit," Gibsie gave me a cheeky grin.

"Cut the lad some slack," Hughie shook his head, "Your sister just broke his heart."

"Yeh, I know. She spent the better half of last night crying to me about it," Gibsie rolled his eyes.

Great.
We were already messing about it.

"Pack it in, both of ye," Johnny ordered, "How would you feel if Katie dumped you?" He looked to Hughie and then Gibsie, "And Gibs, I know that's your sister, but she's a conflict of interest today."

Hughie and Gibsie both shut up instantly and I shot Johnny a look of thanks.

"Should we do something crazy," Gibsie offered, "Like go to a strip club and get piss drunk."

"We've got girlfriends, lad," Hughie furrowed his brow.

"Speak for yourself," Gibsie rolled his eyes.

"Can we just toss the ball around or something," I muttered, trying to shut them up.

"Yeah, good idea," Johnny agreed, standing up from the couch.

Hughie and Gibsie followed suite in getting up.

"On a real note, how are you holding up?" Gibsie asked, placing a hand on my shoulder.

My eyes burned with tears.
Something about being asked how I was hit me like a ton of bricks.

"Fuck," I sobbed.

Gibsie immediately pulled me into a hug, with Johnny and Hughie joining in.

"Shit, lad," Johnny sighed, "I'm really sorry."

"I didn't know you were this torn up," Hughie muttered, sounding almost as sad as I was.

"If it makes you feel any better, Scar was totally crying over you last night," Gibsie pointed out.

"Do you ever shut up?" Hughie groaned, "This is about Feely, not her."

"I was trying to help!" Gibsie whined. 

Taking a deep breath, I stopped my crying and my friends slowly let go of me.

"Let's go toss the ball," Johnny spoke up, giving me a smile.

Thankful, my friends didn't dwell on my breakdown, I followed them outside to the back field.

Once the four of us were standing in the field in my yard I felt slightly better. At least they were able to distract me from my racing mind.

"Wait, I'm going to go long," Gibsie giggled, running through the field only to fall flat on his ass.

Hughie turned to me and gave me a look of concern.

"Are you going to tell me what happened between you and Little Gibs?" He asked, catching the ball Johnny tossed him.

"Not yet," I swallowed hard, "Its too fresh."

"Understandable," He nodded, throwing the ball to Gibsie who was still on his ass, "I'm here though, to talk."

"Yeah," I smiled, "I know."

Despite how Hugh acted sometimes, he was truly a good friend to me. He might act like an eejit at times but the lad was loyal.

I knew I could go to him for whatever and he'd have my back.
It felt good to have someone like that.

Looking to Gibsie I forced myself to ask the question I'd been wondering since he got here, "Is Scarlett okay? What's she up to?"

"The girls are over consoling her," Gibsie shrugged, "Something about The Notebook and junk food."

I nodded. I was glad she was with her people, she deserved to be happy.
Even if it wasn't me that did it.

But I couldn't pretend my stomach wasn't sick with dread.

Because I had a feeling there was a lot more to this breakup than she was letting on.

In fact I'd bet on it.