Broken Souls (Souls #1)

Chapter 23 - Matthews

I give Destiny space for the next few days. I know that she needs it, and I think that I need it too.

On the third day without speaking to her I hear a knock on my door. Knowing that it must be Destiny I race down the stairs and swing open the door quickly. But, instead of staring into her clear blue eyes I find myself staring into dark, coco coloured eyes. Jasmine's eyes.

I take a step back, surprised.  "Jasmine?" I ask, with furrowed eyebrows.  I know that the person standing outside is in fact her, yet I ask the question dumbly.  After I am able to gather myself I question her saying, "What are you doing here?"

Jasmine wheels the suitcase that is hidden behind her to the front and places the gym bag that is slung onto her shoulder on top of the suitcase. The gym bag isn't zipped up fully and clothes are spilling out of it.

"Nico didn't tell you?" She questions. "He told me that he would call you to let you know."

"Did he?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'm going call him now. You can come on in."

"Thanks," she says softly.

Jasmine seems a bit fidgety as she stands inside my house and my mind immediately goes to her father. He's the only one that can get her like this. What could her father have done now? I pick up the phone and call Nico.

Nico picks up on the second ring and says cheerfully, "Hola, Matthews."

"Want to tell me what your cousin is doing here with bags filled with clothes?"

"Su padre," Nico says, gritting his teeth.  All the cheerfulness in his voice a few seconds ago can not longer be heard.

"What did he do this time?"

"The usual."

I breathe deeply through my nose and then let it out.

"As you know when this happens I let her stay with me but today he came knocking on our door and tore the house apart looking for her. I sent her out through my room window and told her to go to your house. I don't know where else she could go. I can't think of anywhere.  Can she stay with you?"

"Of course," I say, "But, just so you know, a little notice in advance would have been much appreciated."

"Lo siento." "

I accept your apology," I say and then run my fingers through my hair. "I'll get her settled in then."

 "Thank you," Nico says. 

"No problem," I answer. 

I say my goodbyes and just as I am about to hang Nico rushes to say, "I mean it. I really mean it. Thank you. I don't know where else she could have gone if it weren't for you. I owe you one." 

I smile. "I know you mean it."

... 

Jasmine sits on the sofa with her feet propped up on the ottoman in front of her with a cup of coffee in her hands. "So, what's up with you and Destiny?" She asks me. 

I turn my head to look over at her and say dumbly, "What do you mean?" 

"You know what I mean," Jasmine says as she narrows her eyes at me. 

"You two aren't speaking to each other. It's been going on for three days now." 

"You are quite observant aren't you?" She shrugs her slim shoulders which are under the blanket wrapped around her. "I'm just worried about her, that's all. She seems so depressed lately." 

I had noticed that she seemed sad too, but I did not want to talk to her before she was ready to. "You? Worried about Destiny." 

"Why does that sound so unbelievable to you?" 

"Well, you pretty much hated her guts since you first laid eyes on her." 

"I did hate her but, that was because I heard the rumors and thought that she and Hayden were together and was jealous - but they really weren't, and well...when I realized so and pushed aside my instant envy toward her I saw the real her and realized that she wasn't bad at all." 

I clap my hand and while I do I say, "That was beautiful, Jasmine. I'm tearing up over here." Jasmine reaches for a pillow with her spare hand and chucks it at my head. I block it successfully and it bounces off my arm and onto the floor. I hear loud knocking on the front door and sigh loudly. 

"Who's that? What's wrong?" Jasmine asks and she glances over at the door quickly and then at me, looking quite worried. 

"That would be my Father." 

"Oh," Jasmine breathes and relaxes her tensed shoulders. 

I let him pound on the door for a few more seconds, hoping that he will think that I'm not home, be too lazy to open the door himself and instead go to his fiancés house. The knocking continues and then Jasmine asks, "Are you going to get that?" 

I hold up a single finger to silence her. If my Father hears talking on the other side of the door it isn't going to convince him that I'm not home. 

"Son, I see your car in the driveway! I know you're home!" 

"He chooses now of all days to be observant," I mutter to myself as I make my way to the door. I unlock it and swing it open. My Father barges in the house with his fiancé trailing behind him like she doesn't have a mind of her own. He makes his way hastily over to the sofa and doesn't see Jasmine until he takes a seat. 

"Aye, who's this here?" He exclaims, "Another girl? Thought the Blondie was yer girlfriend? Can't commit to one?" 

I walk over to Jasmine and take her mug out from between her hands. I don't bother answering my Father - it'd be a waste of my breath to do so. "Come on," I tell Jasmine.

She complies and follows me. I take a quick detour and drop her mug into the sink in the kitchen and then lead her up the stairs to the guest room where she could stay for the night. Behind me I can hear my father's voice calling to me. I don't bother paying attention since nothing he says will be of any intelligence. As I walk up the stairs I find myself wishing for the Father I used to have before my Mother passed away. It'd be a miracle if that happens.