Broken

Chapter 15: Confessions and Reality

"Stop shaking your leg, what are you a dog?"

"Sorry, force of habit." I reply, looking around the room to distract myself. Within a couple seconds I had subconsciously began biting my nails.

I was quickly interupted with a smack of my hand by Jaxon as though I was a child.

"Really?" He asks.

I don't respond and just look at the door once more. Alex, Maya, and Lani are supposed to be here by noon and the fact that they are very prompt people and it's 11:56 am is not easing my nerves.

I had texted everyone yesterday asking them if they were free today and surprisingly, they were. Alex told me he had plans but it was nothing he couldn't make up a cheap excuse for. When I tried to convince him another time would be okay he had cut me off and said he didn't mind.

Which made me even more nervous.

Not only was I hoping to prolong this "meeting" but knowing that he was so sweet about it makes my fear grow. They are so nice to me and I don't want to hurt them, I know for some it may not seem like a big deal, thinking "Yeah, so what, she hid the fact that she could talk. Who cares?"

But it's not really me talking that would upset them, it's the secret.

It was so easy for me to hide my true self, how do they know I'm not lying about anything else?

Yes, this is what's going through my head as I sit here, shaking my leg and biting my nails.

I hear Jaxon sigh next to me, but he does nothing.

At exactly 12:05 pm we heard a knock at the door and I swear to all things Holy my heart left my chest and threw up the peace sign, leaving me.

Jaxon sent me an encouraging smile and I sent a weary one back, not even he could ease my nerves right now.

Jaxon answers the door and in walks The Big Three, all smiling and easy going. They all took a seat on the sofa, diretly across from where I sat on the armchair.

I was staring at the hard wood floor beneath my feet, too scared of how they might react to make eye contact.

Jaxon placed a hand on my shoulder, which in turn made me jump. He looked at me with soft eyes and I took a deep breath. At my nod, Jaxon began.

"So here's the deal. Violet here has come to a conclusion."

"A conclusion about what?" Maya chimed.

"You'll see. But for now, I have to be her voice." They all nodded in understanding and Jaxon continued, "So Violet is going to tell you guys something, and it's not easy for her, it's something that has been troubling her for a while and she feels as though we've all gotten close and she doesn't want to keep anything from you guys. So I'm going to stop talking and just let her explain."

I had been watching each of their facial expressions as Jaxon spoke on my behalf, and to my relief, they only looked confused.

Jaxon helped me up and I took his place in front of the three, and he took my place in the chair.

I watched their faces as I took a deep breath and spoke.

"Hi."

***

"So let me get his straight," Kaylani starts. "You can talk, but you choose not to?"

"Yes."

"But you only recently started speaking at all?" Maya asks.

"Yes."

"And Jaxon is the only one that knew because a reason you won't tell us because it's too personal?" Kaylani adds.