Broken Glass

Eighteen

Ever since our first date, Taylor and I had been going out regularly, to restaurants, going on hikes, even playing laser tag. Taylor had a talent for picking out fun dates ideas. I loved spending time with him but every time he kissed me my whole body told me that something wasn't right.

Taylor was perfect. He was sweet, intelligent and handsome, but there was a constant voice in the back on my mind telling me that he wasn't Alec. I hated that voice.

"I can't believe you're choosing Taylor over me." Keaton pouted taking a seat on the end of my bed. Chuckling, I ran my hair brush through my freshly washed hair "I don't think I'm your type Keaton." I smirked at him, he shrugged "You spend more time with him than me."

Shaking my head in exasperation, I exclaimed "Keaton you've been here all day!" Rolling his eyes, he shrugged looking down at his hands in sadness. "You're still my number one bff." I added watching as Keaton's whole body perked up. With a huge smile he dived on top of me to hug me. Giggling I pushed him with a struggle struggle "You weigh a ton!" I groaned. Keaton looked at me in pain holding a hand to his chest, I rolled my eyes and pushed his head to the side.

"Let's watch a film," He jumped up and down, switching on my tv "Not toy story." He gave me a knowing look, shaking his head at me. Slumping down in my bed I nodded "Just choose something on netflix."

"Keaton as much as I love the vampire diaries, I've watched it twice, let's watch something new." I whined. Tutting, Keaton rolled his eyes scrolling through Netflix "Ooo," he clapped his hands, causing the remote to fly out of his hands in the process and crash on to the floor, Keaton let out a high pitched scream as he watched.

"I'm so sorry." He mumbled as we looked down at my remote on the floor. After a moment we caught each other's eyes, and bursted with laughing.

After we calmed down, Keaton picked up the remote "As I was saying," he cleared his throat "Let's watch Stranger things, I've heard it's good." Shrugging I nodded in agreement.

"So," Keaton drawled out as he selected stranger things "that picture of you and Taylor was saucy." Nudging me with his elbow, he winked. Laughing, I furrowed my brows "What?" Taking a seat next to me, he smirked "You know the one of you both cuddling on the hike, all sweaty and-" Interrupting Keaton I pushed him to the side causing him to burst out laughing. Giggling, I rolled my eyes "Whatever."

"I was wondering if you could do something for me." I spoke quietly watching as Keaton's ears perked up. He switched off the TV after we had watched four episodes of stranger things. It was creepy, but I was enjoying it.

"What?" Keaton asked slowly in a sceptical voice, causing me to let out a small laugh. "Could you, um, call Alec. I just want to know why he's ignoring me." I rushed out.

Grasping Keaton's hand in mine, in a pleading manner, I starred at him in hope. After a few seconds of thought, Keaton smiled at me and nodded, tucking my hair behind me ear. My eyes fluttered close as he placed a kiss on my forehead, I smiled thanking him. "Can you do it now." I spoke breaking the silence causing him to roll his eyes at me.

Pacing up and down in my bedroom, I chewed on my thumb nail, waiting for Keaton to return. Ten minutes ago had gone outside to call Alec. From the length of time he had been gone, it was clear that Alec had answered the call. Bitch.

Finally, Keaton's head popped around the door, he was smiling awkwardly scratching his head. Running over to him, I dragging him inside my room and slammed the door behind him. My mom shouted my name from the living room in a scolding manner, but I ignored it.

"What did he say?"

Taking a seat on my bed, Keaton patted the space next to him. It was silent as I took a seat. The curiosity was eating at my insides.

"He said he left...because he wanted you to have a normal life." Keaton explained. My brows furrowed in confusion. I have a normal life? "He doesn't want his family to keep disrupting yours and your moms life." My mind buzzed with thoughts as I remembered what my mom had said to Lisa the dad Alec left.

Keaton's hand swept across my cheek wiping away the tears, I hadn't noticed I was crying. "But-but," Taking a deep breath, I shook my head "They've always been part of my life, it's too late now to just leave. He can't just leave. He can't do it alone Keaton. Why should he live with it?."

Looking into Keaton's eyes, I bursted into a loud sob. "Does he not care about what I think?What about my feelings?" Large arms wrapped around me, as Keaton pulled me into his lap, my salty tears filled his shirt as he ran his hand up and down my back in a comforting manner.

I let out a groan of frustration. I hated crying. I was so sick of crying, I felt like I had been crying over the same thing for months.

"Mom," she glanced at me acknowledging my presence, as I cautiously took a seat next to her, afraid that she would be mad. "Um, Keaton called Alec," Picking up the remote she switched off the TV, looking at me with wide eyes. "He said he left because he didn't want them to disrupt our life." I explained, in annoyance.

My mom sighed "Yeah, that's what he said-" she stopped cursing under her breath. A gasp escaped my lips. "You've spoke to him?" Shuffling away from my mom I stood up from the couch, looking at her in betrayal.

My mom squeezed her eyes shut before she eventually sighed and reopened them "After the police called I-uh-went to see him." She spoke slowly. A gasp emitted from my lips as my brows furrowed in confusion. "Where is he?" I demanded.

Sudden excitement burst inside me, as I thought about going to see Alec. However, all too quickly my excitement was shattered. "He doesn't want me to tell you, honey, I'm sorry." She pouted standing up and trying to pull me into a hug, taking a step back I shook my head.

Furrowing my brows, I looked down and nodded. He doesn't want me to know.

Although it had only been two week, it felt as though months had passed since I had seen Alec, and I was desperate to see him again.

I spent the rest of the night curled up in my bed crying, before I eventually drifted off into a sleep. I dreamt of Alec being home, he had never left and it was all just a huge nightmare. But sadly, the nightmare was reality.

I woke up with puffy eyes and blotchy skin. Scrolling through my phone, I smiled at the morning texts from Taylor, sending him a similar message. I checked Instagram liking random pictures when suddenly my heart dropped into my stomach. A tear slipped down my cheek. I looked again at the picture of Alec with his arm around an unfamiliar blonde and let out a sigh feeling pathetic.