Broken

6-Don't Call Me Baby

I walk into school the next day with a wan smile. I don't bother looking for Reed but keep walking down the hall. I flash a smile to everyone as I pass them. Yes, I'm popular here. No, I don't care. It just means that I'm nice. That's all. I don't dress up for anyone. I don't fake for anyone.

Except for today.

I'm faking for myself.

I can't show anyone my hurt heart.

I walk to my locker, which is conveniently not crowded by anyone.

But then I see why.

Three lockers down I see Reed. Making out with Charlene.

Someone turns me around.

Dillan.

He whispers, "Don't mind them."

I ask, feeling the tears welling up my eyes, "Charlene's the one he was with last night, wasn't she?"

His silence gives me my answer.

I storm out of school and onto the streets.

I look up and down the streets before running left. I don't know how long I ran, I just know I ended up near the bad part of town. But I don't care. I just want to run. Run away from the ones I thought I could trust. I obviously thought wrong.

I sit on the curb and bring my knees to my chest.

Why would they do this? I understand if they were drunk last night...but not if they're completely sober and doing it on purpose. They wouldn't hurt you on purpose, I remind myself. You would've said that last week if someone told you they would have sex, the smart part of my brain tells me, Admit it, they hurt you in the worst way.

A car horn honks and brings me out of my stream of my thoughts.

Dillan.

He sits next to me and puts an arm around me, "Are you okay?" I rest my head on his chest, "You'll be late to class." He points out, "So will you." I laugh bitterly, "Good point." He says gently, "You can let it out. I won't judge you."

And that's when the tears came.

The tears stream down my face and leave me blind. I wipe my eyes, "I got your shirt wet."

"It's fine." he assures me.

I sit up, "We missed class."

He stands up, "We should go."

I ask, "Can we skip today?"

He compromises, "How about we return for afternoon classes?" He offers me his hand.

I grasp onto his hand, "Deal."

-

I stare at the chocolate milkshake and fries in front of me.

I turn to Dillan and ask, "How'd you know?"

He smiles, "I always come he when I need cheering up."

I smile.

He took me to my favorite dining place of all time, Ruby's. It's an old style 60's diner with a counter and bar stools and booths and Elvis Presley and The Beach Boys. Dillan seems comfortable here as we sit in cyan bar stools and a girl with low brown pigtails and a pink waitresses dress and white apron stands in front of us.

She smiles at Dillan, "How're you, Dil?"

He grins, "Fine. How're you, Jacobs?"

She giggles, "Good. Should I tell Auntie you're here?"

Dillan nods, "Please."

She disappears behind the kitchen door and I turn to Dillan, "You seem to know her."

He nods, "Yeah. Sarah's great. I come here a lot so the owners are like family."

"Why'd you call her Jacobs if her name's Sarah?" I ask curiously.

He shrugs, "That's her last name."

"Oh."

A woman with bright red hair in a bun and wearing a blue dress similar to Sarah's just in blue walks out and opens her arms out to Dillan, "Dill! It's so nice to see you again!"

Dillan gets up and hugs her, "It's nice to see you Miss Ruby Jacobs."

She rolls her eyes but her smile doesn't fade, "I told you to call me Auntie."

Dillan smiles, "Of course."

The woman turns to me, "And who is this?"

I smile and offer my hand, "I'm Aphmau."

She shakes my hand, "Nice to meet you. I'm Ruby but you can call me Auntie. I'm gonna go back to my office but ring the bell if you need me, ya'?" We nod and she goes out back.

We finish our milkshakes and basket of fries before Dillan drives us back.

It's my lunch period. Along with Reed's lunch period.

I breathe and walk into the cafeteria.

I spot Reed and put on a fake smile. I walk over to him, "Hey Reed." He grins, "Hey baby." We talk aimlessly until he topic I've been waiting for comes up. The party.

"Where were you last night?" I ask. He shrugs, "About." I inquire, "Where's 'about'?" He shifts, "A bed. I was tired and-" I stop him, "Don't give me that BS, Reed." His eyes shift, "What'ya mean?" I look at him seriously, "I mean, I know you were sleeping with a girl." He nods, "Yeah. I was drunk and-" I stop him again, "I know it was Charlene, I know you were all over her this morning and I know you're a jerk."

I get up, "We're through, Reed."

He grabs my arm, "Wait, baby I-"

I glare at him, "Don't call me baby."

I walk out of the cafeteria and I feel a presence following me. "Are you okay?" Dillan asks.

I nod, "I'm completely fine."

"Are you sure?" he asks, concerned.

I stop and turn around, "I won't let them bring me down."