What You Don't See

Not Broke, Just Bent

“So Brooke, how’s school going?” My Aunt asked me from the seat directly across from me as she passed me the bread.

I was currently sitting at the dining table with my family at my Aunt and Uncle’s house next to the person I’d wanted so badly to push in front of a bus. Well maybe I was being a little dramatic. I didn’t want her to die, maybe just sprain her leg so she walked weird for the rest of her life.

“It’s fine.” Surprisingly the first words I’d said all day. I managed to keep myself from lashing out against Natalie. I felt her gaze on me, silently pleading my forgiveness but I made sure to do whatever it took to not look at her. On the ride over I thought about why she would do it but I couldn’t come up with a logical reason and to be honest I wanted to know. I deserved to know.

I continued to eat in silence until lunch was finished and soon I found myself alone with Natalie in the kitchen. She was standing next to me helping me wash the plethora of dishes in the sink. Seriously who uses this many dishes?

She suddenly scooped the water running out of the faucet and flicked her hand towards me soaking the whole front of my shirt.

I threw my rubber glove clad hands into the air and stepped backwards in shock.

“What the fuck!” I screeched. “Did you just splash me with water?”

“At least you acknowledged me.” She whisper yelled, reminding me that our parents were on the other side of the kitchen door. “You haven’t even looked at me all day. Look I know you hate me and you have every right to because I'm a stupid idiot." She stumbled out quickly, hitting herself on the side of the head with her palm. "Like the biggest idiot ever but I want you to know that I made a huge mistake. I don't have any feelings for Chase and he doesn't have any feelings for me. It was a spontaneous, stupid, terrible, drunk decision between two sad, pathetic and incredibly drunk teenagers."

I stared at her and blinked a few times before she decided I wasn't going to speak.

"I'm so sorry and I love you so much and I won't stop saying that until you start talking to me again. I know I do stupid things sometimes and this exceeds them all but I'm d-"

I cupped my hands under the faucet and shoveled the water at her, soaking her like she did me.

She looked at me shocked before I heard a faint knock at the front door. Natalie's expression dropped but she continued to look at me.

The way her face went pale and she froze in her place really had my heart rate quickening.

"Oh hello, if you're looking for Natalie she's in the kitchen." I heard my Aunt chime to the guest who was apparently invited in.

"Listen, don't kill me. I think it's better if we all talk." She said but her words were lost on me when I saw Chase standing in the doorway.

That's when they cornered me. They caved in on me, backing me up to the edge of the counter giving me no escape route.

"Brooke." Chase started, his husky voice sending butterflies through my stomach, a feeling I was so tired of experiencing.

I immediately tried stepping around them but Chase quickly stepped in front of me.

"Let me go, I don't want to do this."

"No Brooke, its time I tell you the truth." Chase said. His words were breathy like he was having trouble getting them out. His shoulders were slumped over in defeat. "You know the day Jake told me you liked me I was ecstatic? You're really an amazing person Brooke-"