Beneath Your Broken

Chapter one

I sat in silence, my face stained with tears and makeup. They said to do other things to keep your mind occupied, how could I? Cara Montgomery, my best friend, killed herself three days ago.

It's now Saturday night. My parents are making me go to church tomorrow. I would rather do anything than go there. I would rather do anything than go to the place where I met my now dead, best friend. I then lie down on my bed in the dark remembering everything. Every smile, every laugh, every memory that I shared with Cara, and how I will never get that back.

My alarm clock beeping in the morning was another reminder that my best friend was dead, and I wasn't. I got up, and put on my favorite dress. This dress reminded me of one morning before church with Cara.

"You look so pretty Baylee." My perfect best friend said. "You're funny, you're the one that gets all the guys attention, and all the compliments." "Well, whatever. You're beautiful in Luke's eyes and that's all that matters, right?" He stares at you all the time I thought. "Yeah, I guess you're right," I said.

As I sat with my parents on the third pew on the left, like always, I felt eyes staring at me from all directions. Cold chills ran down my back. I sat through the prayer and worship with an empty mind. Then, when the pastor started talking about forgiveness, that's when I started bawling. I ran out, followed my many eyes.

I ran into the bathroom and to the sink. I splashed my face with water and then looked up to see myself. To see what I've become. This wasn't who I was raised to be. I had a perfect childhood, wonderful parents, and wonderful friends, until now. My parents dreaded talking to me at all. I didn't talk, unless it was arguing, or rude. I couldn't help it. Well, I could, but I didn't try to change. I needed something happy from my past to hold on to. But, I had nothing. My past is a shadow that I never want to go to, I don't really want to have tomorrow either. I don't even deserve another second of life. If only- my thoughts stopped short as my mom barged in the bathroom with a discouraging look. "Let's go, Baylee, we need to talk."

We sat down in the far back corner of a near by, almost empty, Olive Garden. I sat in my chair with my arms crossed, staring out the window. After minutes that felt like hours of silence, my dad gave my mother a look as if to say, I'm not talking first, you've got it. " Baylee?" My mom begged for my attention. "Yes, mother?" I said in annoyed tone with out a care in the world. "You must go back to school tomorrow." "Mom! You know what happened Friday." "Yes, I do, but you have to go." "Oh, so I can have another panic attack and 'damage school property'?!" "If you don't go, you will fail the tenth grade. You don't have any more sick days." My dad said kindly, not wanting to be my next target. "I'm not going. I'm not. I won't." I screamed while running out of the now busy restaurant. By the time I was out the door my makeup was smeared all the way to my chin.

I ran. I ran the fastest I've ever ran. I didn't know where I was going, but I was running. Is this who I am? An over emotional, property damaging, brat that's running from her only family? I used to be the most popular girl in school behind Clara. I made straight A's, I never did anything wrong, I was a role model high schooler. Now I'm this- this monster?

Tears flooded my eyes until I could hardly see, then I heard something behind me. I turned around. An average height, very attractive, blonde boy was following me. "What are you doing?" "Following you. What does it look like? I've been following you for the past five minutes." I gave him a strange look. "I'm Niall. Niall Horan," He said with a flirtatious smile. "Are you Irish?" I said with a small laugh. That's the first time I've laughed since before Clara died. "Yep. Would you like to go in?" He pointed at a small diner right in front of me. Where was I? I must've left town. "Sure." I said, just wanting to have someone who didn't know my past, or how terrible of a person I was.

{ Niall's POV }

As I waited on her answer I thought about what she would think about me. The real me. "Sure." She said, then smiled, it was the most beautiful smile I've ever seen. "Hey, I forgot to ask, what's your name?" "L-Laken," she stuttered. "Pretty name." I said, trying to make her smile.

When I was following her she was crying so hard. Something was really wrong. I wanted to hold her. I wanted to make her smile. I wanted to wipe the tears from her face. I wanted to kiss every freckle on her head. I wanted her. "Th-thanks."she said with a small smile. I could tell it was fake. God, I wanted to hear her laugh, I wanted her to be mine. "This place is really good. They have 50 or more flavors of milkshakes." "I'm lactose intolerant.." She said plainly. My cheeks turned red. "O-oh.." "I'm just kidding!" She said with an adorable giggle. Heaven. Her laugh, her smile, her everything was heaven. "Oh, I know, you didn't trick me a bit. " I said winking at her. "Oh, yeah. Alright then, Niall Horan." My heart dropped to my stomach when she said my name.

{ Baylee's POV }

Why did I tell him my name was Laken..? It's not like I'm going to see him again.

We sat down in a small booth by the window. He got a chocolate peanut butter milkshake, I got strawberry banana. It was AMAZING. We sat and talked about our future. I made things up, I hated lying to him, but what was I supposed to say? I don't want a future? I'm a lying, unwanted brat? I want my life to be over?

"Laken?" Niall said concerned. I was so lost in my thoughts I didn't realize he was speaking to me. "I'm so sorry, Niall, I have a lot on my mind," meaning exactly what I said.

{ Niall's POV }

I was talking about how I wanted to make music, and have one of my albums on the top charts. If I ever change. If they'll ever let me leave. After what I've done, I don't blame them for keeping me there. "Do you like music, Laken?" I stared at her, she was obviously lost in thoughts, probably about what was bothering her earlier. "Laken?" "I'm so sorry, Niall, I have a lot on my mind." No matter how much I wanted to talk to her and have her fall in love with me, take her home with me, look at the stars on my back porch and fall asleep with her wrapped in my arms, I knew she had more important things to do. "Laken, would you like to talk another time?" She looked at me for a moment, took a long sip of her milkshake, and said, " No, I want to be with you, and only you, right now. I'm just tired, I'm sorry." That's what I wanted to hear, but I knew she wasn't "just tired". "Do you want to talk to me about something? Anything, and everything you need, I'm here. Okay?" She looked down at her hands. God, she was so perfect. The sun shone through the window, and made her hair shine. She looked up, right into my eyes. Just as a single tear slowly rolled down her face, a police car rolled up, a middle aged couple got out if the backseat their faces wrinkled with exhaustion. She looked out the window, shock, anger, and weakness showed in her beautiful hazel eyes. Tears then came rolling down her ace in floods. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry! Niall!" A stared at her as she was dragged out by two young police men. "Who are you, son?" Said the man I'm guessing was her dad. "I'm Niall, sir. Niall Horan. I foils your daughter crying running down the street, and brought her in here for a milkshake, s-sir." He glared at me. "Stay away from her, she has enough problems to deal with already." I stood up, ignoring him, and ran out the door to the police car. She looked at me through the window. I couldn't even make out the features on her face. They were covered in makeup and tears. "My names Baylee Taylor." She said just loud enough for me to hear though the closed window. Tears streamed down my face as I prayed that I would see this girl again, and that she would be okay.