Shatter Love [FP Sequel]

[5] repair

conrad's POV

Home was the safest place on Earth.

That's what the books and movies taught us to believe. Home. The sacred and untainted haven, the one place that anyone could be whoever they wanted and truly feel at peace. Maybe that could be true, if you were living a fairy tale instead of life.

People like Maya and I certainly didn't have that. We both used to, but my version of that life was so far away I couldn't tell it was real. I'd gotten used to the yelling, the blame, the gentle hatred provided in the one place I was supposed to always love. Maya's life was similar, except she sported her hatred in the form of black and blue stripes that touched places no one else could see.

Her struggle with her mom was just as bad, if not worse, than mine. Her mother wasn't angry, she just wasn't there at all. Maya would talk to her, and she would lose interest not a minute after the conversation began. She was completely engrossed in a life of her own, one that never seemed to include Maya unless she said something she didn't take kindly to.

I could see it breaking Maya's heart, and that was the worst thing because I didn't know what to do. I didn't like her keeping secrets from me, but I didn't know what I could do to make her trust me more. I was already straining my hardest to make her happy, but it was never enough. It hurt.

School the next day was a drag, with most teachers pulling me aside and asking where I'd been. I lied, of course, telling them I'd gotten an unexpected bout of sickness yesterday morning. They gave me odd looks, but they resigned to believe me. Good, because I'd received enough punishment already.

Gloomily, I sat next to Maya in our shared period, Math. I saw her tense slightly, and when she lifted her eyes they were swimming in emotion.

"Hi." She said softly.

"Hi."

"You're still mad at me, aren't you?"

"No." I shook my head.

"Yes you are. I can tell." She smiled sadly. "I'm really sorry, though. You are my best friend, and you were right to be mad at me for keeping secrets. It's not fair, because you never hide anything from me."

I smiled wryly at that, because I knew I was a hypocrite.

I leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "Don't worry about it. We'll talk later, okay?"

"Okay."

* * *

During lunch we sat at our usual spot, away from everyone. Secluded in the corner, I sat quietly as Maya began eating her sandwich.

"Aren't you hungry?" She looked at me curiously.

"No." I shook my head. Her curiosity shifted to worry.

"Conrad — "

"It's nothing," I warned her. "Seriously, I'm just not hungry, alright?"

She accepted it, lowering her head back down to her food, but she glanced up every so often.

"I think that girl over there heard you." She mumbled.

My eyes left her and took a glance of my own across the cafeteria. "Who?"

"That girl on the bench. She keeps looking over here."

I followed her gaze, to a small girl who sat alone on one of the nearby benches. Her lunch was splayed out in her lap, but she wasn't paying it any mind, instead opting to stoke furiously on a piece of paper, vaguely resembling a face. Her frizzy auburn hair fell just beneath her shoulders, and her arms were dotted in freckles. Her lips were thin and pulled in, as though she was holding her breath.

Her eyes met mine — dark, milky brown, similar to mine.

They lasted only a moment before looking away.

* * *

Hey guys,

First off I am incredibly sorry for not updating for such a long time. I don't have a good excuse, other than adjusting to school and losing my way in terms of where I wanted to go with this story. I now feel comfortable enough to keep going and get back on track again, if you guys will have me *hugs*

I am so sorry, but I can at least assure you that I will never go AWOL like that again, at least not until this story is finished. So strap in everyone, you're in for a hell of a ride.

xoxo,
twyla