The Elusive Heart of Nova Hart ✔

55// broken hart

This is the very, very last. No point in putting this off when I've already updated the previous chapter.

also, i apologise in advance. don't kill me.

BROKEN HART

    A chorus of murmurs broke out against the crowded dance floor of the gym, and Nova wasn't naive enough to think they were talking about something other than her.

    "I'm going to kill him," Addy swore, her tone furious. "I'm going to find this bastard, rip his head off and put it on a goddamned stick."

    "Amen to that," Tyler muttered, sounding completely unimpressed with the flyers, and looking sour. "What kind of asshole move is this?"

    Nova couldn't speak.

    She felt like she was wrapped in wool, or something else that was thick enough to suffocate her, to muffle the harsh whispers and condescending giggles while she tried to make her lungs function.

    Please. This couldn't be happening.

    "...whilst my heart does cartwheels," someone nearby was reading from their flyer. Nova recognised that line from a note she'd received while in Chem class.

    "Did she actually fall for such a corny line?" Another person giggled.

    "Jesus, how low are her standards? I mean, this one isn't even a proper poem!"

    Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. Nova wanted to scream at them, yell at the top of her lungs that no, they couldn't read those flyers. Because these were private. These were hers and hers alone.

    At least that was what she had believed. Apparently the boy who'd posed as her secret admirer didn't think so.

    "Hey, you think if I go ahead and give her an iris now, she'd go down on me?"

    "Throw in the gummy bears," another someone chuckled, "you might even get to take her home for the rest of the night."

    Nova's vision blurred. Her throat tightened painfully, as if there were nails being dragged against her vocal cords.

    And her heart— oh, her heart was breaking, breaking, breaking, until all that remained were shards of the broken pieces that cut her insides and severed her heartstrings.

    "I need air," Nova gulped, her breaths coming in tearful gasps, "can't breathe. Please. I just need to breathe." She didn't know who she was talking to, she just needed to get out of the stupid gym and away from the sick minds, condescending sneers and pitiful eyes.

    She felt a strong arm go around her shoulders, and pull her close. The familiar smell of vanilla wafted to her nose and Nova knew Addy had her back. Addy always had Nova's back.

    "We're going to have to walk through the crowd to get to the doors of the gym, okay?" Addy was saying into her ear. "So don't look at anyone, just focus on your breathing and keep your feet moving. You're gonna be fine."

    And then Addy was moving, with Nova following suit. She did as she was told, staring into nothingness, keeping her back straight and her chin up even though her eyes were clearly filled to the brim with tears.

    It was only once they were out of the school and into the darkness of the night that Nova let the tears slide down her cheeks. Her shoulders dropped low and her knees wobbled, legs feeling like jelly now that she didn't have to be strong in front of watchful eyes.

    "Hey, I've got you," Addy murmured softly, running her fingers through Nova's hair. "We'll get whoever did this, you know that."

    "I just want to go home," Nova choked out, not bothering to wipe away the tears as they streamed down her face and neck. Even amidst the anger and the sadness and the humiliation, a small part of Nova was glad she'd worn the waterproof eyeliner.

    "I'll take you," Tyler offered, coming up from behind them with a scowl on his face, his hands clenched into fists. "Addy can stay here and begin the hunt for this douchebag, she's likely to get more answers than me."

    Nova was about to shake her head and tell them she didn't care about finding John — or whatever his name really was — that she just wanted to go home. And as nice as Tyler was, Nova wouldn't be so comfortable letting him see her cry.

    But then the doors of the school opened, and a very distressed Monica came running out, heels in her hands and her hair flying behind her.

    "Goodness, Nova! I just saw — I'm so sorry, I—" she stopped, catching her breath and staring at Nova as if she was seeing her for the first time. Then again, Nova never really had a breakdown in public.

    "Go on," Addy urged, gently nudging Nova, "let Ty take you. You can take Monica if you'd prefer having her with you too."

    Nova nodded, having no energy to argue.

    "Just take me home," she croaked, voice hoarse. "Please just take me home."

_______________________________________

*laughs nervously* we're cool, right?