Broken (Edited edition)

Cincinnati

The next morning I hear a clatter of pans, and hear somebody mumble.  It's really dark outside, and I look at my alarm clock.  It's close to two in the morning.  There's another clatter of pans, and some more mumbling.  I crawl out of bed, and pull on pants.  It's been really hot out lately, and I have to sleep in my underwear.  I grab my jacket, pull it on, then walk out of my room.  I walk down the stairs, and see a figure in the kitchen.  Puff of black hair on top of their head, wearing checkered pajama pants and gray T-shirt.

  They're mumbling again, and I see them trying to find the perfect pan to make something."  Mark?"  I ask in a tired tone, and the person turns around.  Mark stands there, his glasses barely on his head."  Lyca?  What are you doing up?"  He asks, and I look at him.  He's holding a pan, and it's about to fall out of his hand."  Why are you up?"  I ask, and he brushes his hair back."  I couldn't sleep."  He says, and I look at him."  So what are you doing?"  I ask him, walking closer to him.  He looks down at me, and shrugs."  Making a midnight snack."  He says, and looks through the pans again.  I sigh, and roll my eyes."  Move out of my way."  I say, and move him out of my way.  I kneel down, and grab a thin pan.  I grab two pieces of bread.

I make Mark a grill cheese, and hand it to him on a plate.  He sits down on the couch, and starts eating."  I'm going back to bed, goodnight."  I say, and he smiles."  Thanks Lyca."  He says, and I go into my bedroom.  I grab a pillow, and take it into Mark's bedroom.  He's blankets are a mess on the bed, and look as if he thrashed a bit before getting out of bed.  I crawl onto his bed, and pull blankets up  over my body.  I then fall asleep again.

I wake up again at eight o'clock, and feel a warm arm around me.  I hear Mark snoring softly, and I snuggle closer to him.  He must've come up here when he finished his food, and just put his arm around me.  I slowly move away from him after waking up a little bit more, then go take a shower.  My body is dripping afterward, and I dry off as well as I can.  I pull on black skinny jeans, gray sneakers, red hoodie, and a black beanie.  I brushed my hair before putting it up into a bun.  I hear Mark groan, then I hear a thud!"  Fuck!"  I hear, and start smiling.  I grab my luggage, and bring it downstairs."  Lyca?  Where you at?"  Mark calls from upstairs, and  I hear him leave his room."  I'm downstairs, hurry up and get dressed.  Our flight is at eight!"  I yell upstairs.  I stack our bags on top of each other, then go upstairs to see him brushing his teeth.  He smiles at me, then spits into the sink."  Okay, I just need to get dressed then we can get going."  He says, and I smile."  Thank God."  I say, and follow him around.  He puts on jeans, black T-shirt, dark blue jacket, and gray Nike's.

"Okay, oh I need my beanie."  He says, and goes back into his room.  I notice my meds on the bathroom counter, and grab them."  Almost forgot about these."  I say, and Mark smiles."  I'll have to inform the security about them, so keep them in your pocket."  He says, and I put them in my hoodie pocket.  I follow Mark downstairs, then try to get my bag.  Mark snatches it before I can get my hands on it, but lets me grab my carry on.  It has my laptop, sketchbook, colored pencils, earbuds, movies to watch, and some books to read.  I pull it on over my shoulders, then we leave."  Okay, we'll have only one flight, and it'll be about three hours."  Mark says as we head out to the car."  Okay, I'll be okay with that."  I tell him, and he nods."  I know you will, but do you have enough stuff to go through that?"  He asks, and unlocks the car."  Yeah, I have a whole bunch of shit."  I say, and Mark rolls his eyes."  Yeah, and what did I say about the language?"

"This is the person who yelled the F word when he fell out of bed this morning."  I say, and he smiles."  Yes, but I'm an adult.  You're ten."  He says, and I nod."  Yeah, but I'm your ten year old.  So, you have to deal with me."  I say, and he smiles.  We get into the car, and he drives to the Airport."  We are going to meet up with Wade at the airport, and he'll drive us to Bob's house."  He explains, and I pull my legs up on the seat."  Are we eating before we get on the plane?"  I ask him, and Mark nods."  Then we'll have a small snack when we get of the plane.  So make sure you have everything you'll need."  He says, and I nod."  I have everything I'll need, and what you'll need as well."