Broken Home

XIV

TRIGGER WARNING !!!!!!!!!!

Connor

"It fell."

I stared at Preston, who sat in a pile of old, dusty boxes. I tried not to laugh as an open box fell on his head.

I burst out laughing, Preston started laughing with me. I helped him up and we cleaned up the mess he made.

"Sorry." He apologized.

"It's fine." I pushed the stack to the wall, making room for me to stand properly.

"Anyways, where are those records?" He asked me.

"Oh, they're over there." I pointed at the pile of cassettes.

He didn't respond, and walked over to the pile. I silently watched as he looked for the cassette he was looking for.

"Michael Jackson, there you are." He pulled out two cassettes and smiled.

"You were looking for Michael?" I asked.

"Yeah. He's amazing."

"I know right. Thriller was amazing."

"Yeah. My favorite is Heal The World, which is what I was looking for."

"Oh, cool."

"Yeah. I found them."

"Great."

"Yeah."

We stood in awkward silence, something that rarely happened.

"Eddie is back." He broke the silence.

"Really?"

"Yeah. We says he wants to see you soon."

"Of course."

"I'll tell him when I see him. He's staying at his Mum's for a while."

"Oh." The word Mum made me feel sad.

I miss Mum and Austin.

He started talking, but I zoned out. I started thinking about random things, until I realized I left Ashton downstairs.

Just as I was going to go downstairs to check on him, my watch beeped. I looked down at it and saw it was 3 p.m.. It was time to feed Bellezza.

"Oh, I have to feed Bellezza." I told Preston, cutting him off.

"Ooh!" He jumped up and down like a little schoolgirl.

I giggled as we walked down the stairs and to my dad's office. I opened the door and smiled when I saw Bellezza.

She was our pet turtle, the one Mum got us a few months ago as Dad's birthday present. He wasn't as excited about it as the rest of us, even though turtles were his favorite animals, so he gave her to Austin. But Austin didn't want to have to take care of her, so she became mine.

I noticed a little green post-it note by the aquarium.

I walked toward the aquarium, Preston following close behind me. I picked up the note and read it.

'meet me at the bridge before 3:10'

I almost immediately ran out the room and down the stairs. I dodged tripping over the last step, and grabbed my jacket from the coat hanger before running out the door, leaving Preston inside.

I pulled on my jacket as panic rushed over my body. As I zipped up my zipper, I looked down at my watch and saw it was 3:03. I would't get there in time if I didn't run fast enough, but I wasn't in the right attire to run so fast either.

I was wearing my skinniest jeans. Wrong day.

I started running faster anyways, my legs hurting at every step. I ran as fast as I could, the wind blew my hair around. I flicked it back and out of my face, and turned the corner. I ran past the streets of identical houses and finally reached the entrance of the bridge.

I looked down at my watch and saw it was 3:07. I had to get there in time. I ran past a couple walking off the bridge, and I could see a few people huddled around someone. I ran towards them, seeing Ashton wasn't anywhere.

I tried to look in and see who they were huddled around but I heard someone yell. I turned around and saw Ashton trying to get over the rail on the other side of the bridge.

In full panic and terror, I sprinted towards him, watching as he put his arms out to balance. I could feel tears going down my cheeks, and I could tell he was hysterically crying.

"ASHTON!" I yelled, watching him put one foot out.

I neared him as he hung his head and leaned forward. I pulled him back as hard as I could, making him put both feet on the concrete.

"NO!" He yelled in my face.

His face was red, and tears rolled down his cheeks. I grabbed onto the collar of his shirt and pulled him back. He fought back and pulled my hands away from him.

"ASHTON!" I yelled, trying to get him on the other side.

The people on the other side turned around ans ran towards us. They all helped me pull him over the railing and back on the bridge.

Unconsciously, I hugged him tightly, trying to stop him from fighting back. He hugged me back, and cried into my shoulder. He felt so fragile, but so heavy. He was way taller and buffer than me. I crumpled to the ground, he fell with me.

We sat there, crying together. The people around us began calling the police and whatnot, so I started trying to calm down so we could go.

"Ashton, we have to go." I told him, wiping tears off my cheeks.

I stood up and helped him up. I started taking off my jacket to give to him, but he started running for the rail again.

"ASHTON!" I ran after him, trying to hold him back.

"LET ME GO!" He yelled back, trying to get over the rail.

He fought back as I and a few other people tried to pull him back.

"LET ME GO!" He slapped my arm.

I pulled it back, rubbing where he hit me. He stopped fighting and looked back at me.

"I'm sorry." He started crying again.

I could hear people approaching. I kept staring into his hazel eyes, giving up on trying to save him. He turned around, and stared down at the river which flowed beneath us.

Without thinking, I pushed him.

He screamed an ear piercing scream, and the water splashed beneath us.

Then, I jumped after him.