Broken Glass

Four

My mom and Lisa were flipping pancakes, as me and Alec watched spongebob in the living room, everything felt perfect.

Suddenly the front four flung open and my heart dropped in disappointment. I already knew what was about to happen. Unconsciously I shuffled closer to Alec.

Jeremy stumbled into the living room throwing a large lump of cash at us, I jumped dodging the cash as it landed on the coffee table in front of us. Alec grabbed my hand, and stroked the back of it with his thumb.

"Lisaaaaaa!" He bellowed in a deep slur.

The whole house was silent until Lisa slowly made her way into the living room.

"I love you baby." Jeremy announced smiling as his eyes landed on her. He did this every time his relationships failed, he crawled back to Lisa and sucked her back into his life.

"I don't love you." Lisa replied causing Jeremy's face to burn red. Taking a step towards her he gritted his teeth "Stop lying." He yelled causing me to jump.

"The kids." Lisa warned him, though Jeremy had never gave a damn about either of us.

"Can we speak in private?" Jeremy asked her, wobbling slightly in his stance, Lisa nodded before making her way out of the living room.

"But mom-" Alec tried.

"I'm better Alec, I promise." She told him in a quiet voice before following Jeremy up the stairs. That was also something she said every time, that she was better now and she wouldn't fall for temptation, but she always did.

An hour later, Lisa's promise was broken. Me and Alec hadn't moved, my mom had sat next to us and tried to speak and distract us but all three of us were too tense to hold a conversation.

The shouting, the screaming, the breaking bottles it was all happening again.

Loud footsteps began thudding down the stairs and suddenly Lisa's cries were heard from the top of the stairs.

"Don't leave me again! Please! You said you love me!" Lisa cried running after Jeremy as he reached the bottom of the stairs. "I just use you when I need you." Jeremy slurred adjusting his pants before opening the front door. Pain radiated in my chest as his words.

It all happened so fast.

One minute Alec was sat next to me holding my hand the next his fist was colliding with Jeremy's cheek. Loud gasps echoed throughout the house.

"You son of a bitch." Jeremy seethed through his teeth, punching Alec back in the jaw. Screaming, I jumped up, running in front of Alec, facing Jeremy. "Move out the way!" Jeremy yelled at me, I shook my head in fear trying to think of a plan.

Before I could come up with a plan I felt my whole body collide with the wall. A loud scream escaped my lips as my hip collided with my hand making a loud crack. My body fell limp against the floor as I let out a loud cry.

Alec ran over to me and picked up while screaming at Jeremy, I have no idea what he said my mind was consumed with the pain in my hand. It throbbed in paid, as tears spilled down my cheeks. I looked up at Jeremy shaking in fear, he suddenly seemed so much more evil and terrifying.

A sudden bang caught my attention. "If I ever see you near this house again or anywhere near Eliza or Alec I will have you arrested." My mom seethed in completed rage, pushing Jeremy's body and forcing him out of the door. He stumbled back in shock. My mom slammed the door in his face before locking it and storming into the living room.

Lisa let out a yell after being quiet this whole time, and ran into the living room after my mom. I couldn't help feeling disappointed in her for not speaking up when Jeremy hit her son.

"No you can't I love him." Lisa screamed at my mom, there was a soft thud as she was cut off. I trailed after my mom noticing Lisa had fallen onto the sofa, already snoring.

"Come on." My mom announced rushing back toward me giving me an ice pack with one hand, the car keys in her other hand. We followed after her, thankfully Jeremy had left, and jumped into the car.

Alec helped me to the car, even after I told him I hurt my hand not my foot.

.

"Im so so sorry" Alex told me as we waited for my x-Ray while my mom was getting us coffee. "It's not your fault." I assured him with a smile, the best smile I could give him in my current state. "My family is the reason your hurt." He said resting his head in his hand looking distressed. "Your family issues is not your fault Alec. Stop blaming yourself. You are not responsible for their actions." I ranted at him.

The door swung open and the doctor stepped back into the room, showing me my x-ray and explaining to me that I had fractured my hand.

Alec looked at me with guilt again.

"Not your fault." I mouthed to him with a smile just as my mother returned and handed us both a coffee.

"At least I don't need my hand for finals or anything." I joked as a the cast was being put onto my hand, Alec rolled his eyes at me but smiled and my mom let out a little chuckle.

Lisa was still passed out on the couch, when we returned home. Alec stopped to look at her for a few moments then sighed and lifted her up and carrying her up to her room. I felt so much sympathy for him, he had to deal with all of this, and from such a young age.

---

A knocked on my door interrupted me as I was getting into bed, Alec walked in and sat on the edge of my bed without saying a word. It was silent for a few seconds as he looked down at his hands in thought.

"Are you ok?" He asked grabbing my good hand.

"I'm fine, how are you?"

"I'm not the one with the broken hand!" Alex exclaimed in exasperation, I gave him a knowing look. He knew what I was talking about.

"I'm fine, I'm used to it. I knew her promise wasn't something to hold on to." He shrugged as if it was nothing and I gave him a sad smile. "That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt." I said rubbing my thumb against the back of his hand, he let out a sigh.

I looked into Alec's eyes and smoothed my fingers across the purple bruise on his jaw giving him a sad smile. His eyes flickered closed and he smiled back.

Just as he was about to leave I stopped him. Suddenly feeling embarrassed I took a deep breath and looked down "Um can you s-stay?" I asked. He had stayed in my room a few times when we were younger after Jeremy's return and I always felt safer with him. Something about Jeremy had always terrified me and now that he had hurt me without a care, I wasn't sure I was able to sleep alone. Alec made no reply but I felt the dip of my bed as he climbed in and shuffled closer to me, filling my bed with his heat.