Shattered Pieces

Sarah...

 I walked up into my room on the second story of the house. Our house was pretty big, dad had bought it a few months back and convinced mom to move in last week. It was in a small neighborhood but had a long driveway so you couldn't see it right from the road. It had 3 stories, 4 rooms on each floor, a basement, 6 bathrooms, a game room, a theatre room, a huge kitchen and we had maids and chefs, but we usually just did things ourselves. We never used the third floor it was mostly for guests. Mom's master bedroom was on the first floor and Sarah and I's rooms were on the second floor. Josh preferred to have the basement, he says it's a 'guy thing'. Whatever. I went up to my room and looked at the clock. 4:37.

Shit.

I only had a half hour until Jackson came over. I started by taking my hair out of my normal high-ponytail and straightening it. When flat, my dark brown hair reached almost to my butt. I threw on some simple makeup, just some mascara, eyeliner and lipgloss. After finishing my hair and makeup I decided I should probably change. I chose a pair of black leggings and a 'Fall Out Boy' T-shirt, I paired that with a black beanie and my white Converse. Grabbing my phone I decided to go downstairs for a snack with ten minutes to spare. When I got to the kitchen, Josh was getting a bottle of water and making a sandwich. He was shirtless and looked like he had been working out. When I came into the kitchen he whistled,

"Whoa, sorry miss, no strangers in the house." I threw an apple at him which he caught with ease, "Hey hey better be nice if you want that little boyfriend of yours to wanna come back!"

"He is not my boyfriend jackass.", I shot back.

"suuurrreee he isn't.", Sarah chimed walking into the kitchen with an empty plate.

"Has everyone eaten but me?", I asked as Josh ate the last bite of his sandwich.

"Well," He said putting his plate in the sink, "You were to busy getting ready for the hunk of meat waiting for you in the living room."

"He's already here!? What the hell Josh!", I yelled turning to walk out of the kitchen. I could hear Josh laughing in response. I got to the living room to find Jackson sitting on the couch reading. I cleared my throat, catching his attention.

"H-hi.", I choked out.

"Hey Sweet Cheeks."

Sweet Cheeks. Sweet Cheeks?

"Sweet Cheeks!?", Josh said walking into the living room with an apple, "Sure, you totally aren't dating."

"Do you ever stop eating?", I asked, pointing at the Apple.

"Do you ever answer my questions?", he said taking another bite. "So?"

"So what?", I asked confused.

"So are you guys dating!?"

"N-"

"Not yet.", Jackson interrupted. I looked at him stunned.

"Kay, you kids have fun.", Josh chuckled walking out, "But not too much fun!", he yelled from the hallway. I put my face in my hands,

"Ugh, ignore him.", I said looking at Jackson. "So, where do you want to start?", I asked sitting next to him.

"Well, I figured since we have to read a book together, we should get to know each other. So, twenty questions?" I hesitated before answering,

"Ugh, fine."

"Yay! Okay I'll start, so, why did you move here?"

"My dad runs a big business in some country and bought it for us to live in I guess. I don't really know him, he left when we were really little."

What the hell! Why would you just tell him that!? He's a complete stranger!

"So," I started before he could respond, "What about your parents?"

"My mom is a 9-1-1 operator and my dad is-", he hesitated, "H-he's in jail. Please don't let that freak you out!" I shook my head slowly,

"Everyone makes bad decisions, Jackson." He reached over and laid his hand on my thigh, I flinched,

"Oh, jeez, sorry!", he said retracting his hand.

"I-it's okay, I just, um, get startled easily."

Lies.

He nodded but looked unsure. We kept going on with 20 questions for a while. I think we asked way more than 20. Finally I noticed the house was awfully quiet. Then I realized, mom wasn't home yet. I looked at the clock. 6:19. Mom was always home by 5 everyday. I began to worry.

"Um, I-I'll right back.", I said to Jackson standing up. I ran to the basement to see Josh working out to music.

"Josh," I said but he didn't hear me, "Josh!" I yelled it this time and he dropped the barbell he was holding.

"Shit Kare-Bear!" (That was his nickname for me, Sarah was Sar-Bear,) "What's wrong?", he asked pausing the loud music.

"Moms not home yet."

"Okay?"

"Would you look at the goddamn time?" he looked at the clock and his eyes got wide. He got up and went upstairs, me following close behind as we went to Sarah's room.

"Sarah have you heard fro-" I stopped dead in my tracks. She wasn't in her room, but I could hear sobbing from the bathroom. I turned to Josh who was now behind me, he looked worried. I walked to the bathroom door and knocked softly,

"Sarah?"

"Um- Y-yeah, one sec I'll be out in a sec.", she sniffed. I heard something small and metal hit the ground, "Shit!", Sarah said. I could hear her moving things and I think I knew what she was doing. Luckily she left the door unlocked so I barged in. Just as I thought she sat on the ground stuffing boxes under the sink, blood running down her thighs. I gasped and put my hands over my mouth. Josh looked around me and turned away quickly.

"Fuck, not again.", I heard him mumble. I got down on the ground next to Sarah. She collapsed into my arms sobbing.

"Shhh, it's okay sweetie. I love you, I love you." I comforted her. Once she finally stopped sobbing I pulled her away from me and looked into her eyes, "You are beautiful. You are wanted. You are so so amazing. Do you understand that?" she didn't answer just looked at her legs. I grabbed her robe off the bathroom door and wrapped it around her. We walked out of the bathroom to find Josh sitting on her dark purple comforter, his head in his hands. She went and sat next to him,

"I-I I'm sorry." she said wrapping her arms around him. I sat next to them and laid my head on Josh's shoulder. He wrapped his arms around us pulling us into a big hug.

"I love you guys.", he said quietly.

"We love you too.", Sarah and I said. Just then, Jackson knocked on the door,

"Hey, is everything okay?"

"Um, yeah I'll be out in a second.", I said looking at Josh and Sarah. "Hey, put on some pj's and come downstairs, I don't want you up here alone." Sarah nodded her head and Josh and I walked out, closing the door behind us. Jackson was waiting in the hallway but I ignored him and turned to Josh.

"I'm so sorry Josh, I really am.", I said hugging him.

"Shhh, it's okay, it's not your fault Karah."

"But it is! She was young but if she saw me- oh god!" I buried my face into his chest and cried.