Broken - A pretty face doesn't cover an ugly heart

41

- You really need to stop with this.
Evan had said for the thousandth time. Vanessa wasn't happy to hear that he was out without her; she didn't minded a lot when she heard that he was with Barbra and Ryan, but at the mention of Anna she had freak out.
Evan was feeling suffocate. Not even in his own mind he could escape from Vanessa's drama. They were together for almost 2 months since they got back to dating, and although it was a familiar place, it didn't seem right to Evan to being there. He could never erase their story - and he didn't wanted to - but Vanessa was out of place right now. It was as if since when she went away with her parents, a new phase had started to Evan. He would always remember her, but he knew now that it wasn't she the one he wanted to be. That's what he was trying to explain.
Her eyes were full of panic and tears.
- Evan... What are you doing?
She kept asking shocked. It was like she was too surprised that he had the courage to do such a thing. He was a little surprised too, but he had made his mind.
- I really care about you. That's why I can't go on with this anymore.
She seemed sad and small.
- We belong to each other, Evan. We'll spend our lives together, do you believe me?
She said, with her voice shaking, almost begging. It was painful to watch. Evan also had tears on his eyes. This was a very important bond that he was breaking, and it wasn't easy to do.
- Right now I don't.
***
- Do you need help?
Barbra asked to Anna, who was sitting in the couch with her laptop on a blank page. She could tell her sister was with a killer hangover, and she couldn't help a smile while thinking about how embarrassed she was in front of Evan.
Anna gave her a tired look, and speaking very low she said:
- Yes.
Barbra smiled.
She was good at making researches, but she was being very careful, she didn't want Anna ending up with the highest grade. She didn't erase her sister's job to stop her from graduate, she wasn't that mean, but she did wanted Anna to suffer a little to make it.
She was making a poor version of the subject that she had to research, and Anna couldn't even blame her, after all, she wasn't a production engineer's student. It was perfect. Her sister would have twice the work to revise all the stuff that Barbra was written.
- So, I guess you're not going to college today...
- I only have two classes, they start around 3 p.m., and it's still early to say. My head is aching.
- Hmmm... Do you remember anything from last night?
- Barely. Why?
- Evan was here when you arrived...
Barbra said, trying to sound casual. Anna didn't reply, but her sister could tell that she was worried about it.
After an hour Barbra had to leave to college, and Anna called Haley, who volunteered herself to stop by and help her. Right after she turned off the phone, Daniel called.
"Hey, Anna."
"What's up?"
"Just checking. Do you feel better?"
"Oh! You picked me up right? I'm sorry my head is a mess. I'm fine"
"Ok. Glad to hear it. As I promised last night, I already buy the ring. We could have that dinner this Friday if you don't mind"
"What?! What are you talking about?"
She sounded terrified. Daniel laughed.
"I'm kidding. But you did say some nasty things to me... I think your drunk self can't avoid stay away from the true feelings that you have for me"
He said, mocking her.
"Oh God, I'm so embarrassed. Barbra said that... Evan was here? Is it true? Did I say anything stupid in front of him?"
She asked, afraid to know the answer.
"Well... That depends on what you define as embarrassment."
She covered her face with her hands. She couldn't even imagine what Evan would be thinking of her right now.
"Thanks for help me anyway. I have to go now, I'm busy"
"So am I. I have lots of work to do today"
"Right, Mr. Adman. See you"
***
It was almost 7 p.m. Barbra had got home, and it didn't took long to notice that there she was alone.
She was starving, so she went to the kitchen to make dinner. Steak with potato. She was feeling bothered by the silence, so she took her phone that was charging on the plug and searched for her country playlist.
After a minute of confusion, she realized that those weren't her songs. It wasn't her cellphone. It was Anna's. "She must have forgotten to take it before she left", she thought, putting the phone back where it was.
As soon as she did it, a notification appeared. It was a text from Evan.
"I need to talk with you. I broke up with Vanessa. I'm not sure what this means, but I need to see you. Call me."
Barbra read it loud. She couldn't believe. Why didn't he tell her first? It didn't matter. She deleted the text. As soon as she did it, a voice said behind her:
- Is this phone yours?
She had frozen. How long was she standing there?
- Is it?
The woman asked again. Barbra turned to stare her mother.
- No.
- Can I see it?
- Huh... What, but why-
Jenna didn't wait for her to finish. She took the phone and went to look for the messages. She couldn't find the one that she had heard Barbra reading.
- Why were you with your sister's phone?
She asked patient.
- I confused with mine.
It was true.
- And after you noticed that it wasn't, why didn't you returned to its place?
- I did.
- Really, Barbra? Then why did I catch you deleting that message that you've read?
Barbra's face was out of color.
- Do you think you had the right to do it?
She didn't reply.
- I'm waiting for an answer.
Barbra didn't know what to say. Now Anna would know about Evan, who could easily be hurt if the girl didn't reply his message, giving up to giving Anna a chance, and even worse, she would know that it was because of Barbra.
- I... Please don't tell her!
- This wasn't right.
- I know, I'm sorry!
- Why did you do this? I thought you were dating Ryan.
- I am!
- So what's the problem with that message? It wasn't from Ryan, right? If I quite remember, Vanessa is the name of Evan's girlfriend.
Barbra was crying.
- Will you tell her?
She didn't even wait for Jenna to say a word. She was crying and yelling at her:
- WHY DO YOU HATE ME? YOU ALWAYS STAY ON ANNA'S SIDE! I'M YOUR DAUGHTER AS MUCH AS HER!
Jenna was shocked. Where this had come from? She was there for both of her daughters. Maybe Anna were the one who demanded her attention the most, after all she was always getting into troubles, while Barbra was always responsible, but she had never made difference between the girls. She was hurt by that commentary.
- Watch your tone with me, I'm your mother. I don't allow you to talk to me like this.
- I DON'T CARE! HOW CAN SHE DO ALL THE BAD THINGS AND NO ONE EVER CALL HER ATTENTION, WHILE EVERYTHING I DO IS ALWAYS UNDER SOMEBODY JUDGMENT?
Jenna was scared. She had never saw Barbra acting so weird before. Her eyes were delusional and her face was really red from stress.
- Barbra, let's talk like civilized people, please? Honey, you don't need to be this mad, I'm not kicking you out because of it.
- I'M SO TIRED OF YOU! I ONLY HAVE MY FATHER IN THIS HOUSE, AND EVEN HE WAS WITH HER FIRST! WHY DO I NEED TO CONTENT MYSELF WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT ANNA DOESN'T WANT ANYMORE? WHY DO ALL OF YOU THINK I'M LESS THAN HER? BECAUSE I DON'T ACT LIKE A WHORE AND I DON'T MANIPULATE PEOPLE? IM SICK OF IT!
Jenna was terrified. She never knew that Barbra saw things that way, and to be honest, she had no idea of where this had come from. She was out of reaction. What she could say that would possibly let Barbra feeling better?
At that moment Anna got home from college, and she asked:
- What's going on here? I can hear you screaming from outside.
Barbra run away, letting Jenna standing really sad staring at the ground, and Anna really confused.
- You need to call Evan.
It was all her mom had said, while she gave Anna her cellphone, before she went to her room. 
The girl stared to the phone, and as much as she didn't want to call him - she was too scared with all the things he could say - something inside her was telling that she should do it.
He picked at the first ring.
"I'm so glad it's you"



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Happy birthday to me! See you next week