Broken then Healed (REWRITTEN)

CHAPTER 7

Unexpected Encounters

I sighed heavily as I stood in front of my house, fumbling for my keys. The weight of the day pressed down on me, making it hard to focus. Once inside, I tossed my bag on the floor and headed upstairs. A hot bath sounded like the only thing that might calm the storm in my mind.

As I let the water fill the tub, I debated whether I should call my mom. She'd flip if she found out I skipped school, but after everything that happened, I figured I had a good reason. Maybe?

The school had turned against me because of the ridiculous rumors. People who I'd never even spoken to hated me over something that wasn't even remotely true. I sank into the bath, letting the warm water wash away the awful feeling clinging to my skin.

After a few moments, I grabbed my phone and dialed my mom. It rang twice before she answered.

"Hey, honey," she said, sounding tired. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, um... no, not really," I mumbled. "Something happened at school today."

There was a pause. "Can we talk about it later? I'm swamped at work with patients right now. We'll discuss it when I get home, okay?"

I exhaled. Of course. "Yeah, sure. It's nothing, really."

After hanging up, I felt more alone than before. I wished I had someone to talk to. Anyone.

Suddenly, my thoughts shifted to the guy I bumped into earlier. He seemed so different from the others. A faint flutter rose in my chest, but I quickly brushed it off. He's just some guy I don't even know, I reminded myself. Still, something about the way he asked if I was okay stayed with me.

Shaking off the thought, I headed downstairs to the kitchen. I started making an omelet for dinner, as usual. My mom never got why I liked having breakfast food at night. She thought it was weird, but I found it comforting.

After finishing my dinner and cleaning up, I buried myself in homework, but my mind kept wandering back to school and the rumors. The cruel laughter, the whispers—I couldn't escape it. Needing a distraction, I turned on a movie, hoping it would drown out the noise in my head.

Just as I began to relax, the doorbell rang. 

I froze at the sound of the doorbell, my heart racing. Who could it be? My mind raced with possibilities—maybe it was a neighbor, or perhaps it was someone from school wanting to confront me about the rumors. I took a deep breath and cautiously walked to the front door.

Peering through the peephole, I saw a familiar figure. It was Eric, the guy I had bumped into earlier at school. He stood there, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his jacket, looking a bit awkward but undeniably handsome. My heart skipped a beat, and I felt a mix of nerves and curiosity.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of whether to open the door. What did he want? Was he here to add fuel to the rumors? But something in his expression made me feel like I could trust him, even if only a little. I slowly unlocked the door and pulled it open.

"Hey," he said, a slight smile breaking through his initial shyness. "I hope I'm not bothering you."

"No, not at all," I replied, trying to sound more composed than I felt. "What are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to check on you," he said, his gaze sincere. "I saw you at school today, and I heard about what happened with the rumors. I figured you might want to talk about it."

I blinked in surprise. "You...you heard?"

"Yeah, it's kind of hard not to in a place like that," he said, running a hand through his hair. "But I thought you seemed cool, and I didn't want you to think you were alone in this."

His words warmed me, and for the first time all day, I felt a flicker of hope. "Thanks," I said softly, stepping aside to let him in. "I really appreciate it."

As he stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. We settled down in the living room, an initial awkwardness giving way to a more comfortable silence.

"Look, I know today must have been really rough for you," he said after a moment. "Just know that it's okay to feel upset about it. You're not alone, and I'm here if you need to talk."

I nodded, feeling my throat tighten. "It's just hard, you know? It feels like the whole school has turned against me because of these rumors."

He leaned forward, his eyes locking onto mine. "People can be cruel, but they don't define who you are. You're stronger than you think."

His support made my heart swell, and I felt a sense of gratitude wash over me. "Thanks, Eric. That really means a lot."

After a moment of comfortable silence, he stood up, glancing toward the door. "Well, I should probably let you get back to your evening. I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

"Yeah, I'm fine. I appreciate you checking in on me," I said, feeling a warmth spread through me.

"Anytime," he replied, a genuine smile crossing his face. "If you ever need to talk or just hang out, don't hesitate to reach out."

"Definitely. Thanks again," I said, smiling back at him.

As he walked to the door, I felt a strange mix of emotions—relief, gratitude, and something else that I couldn't quite place.

"See you at school, Jane," he said, giving me a wave before stepping out into the cool evening air.

"See you," I echoed softly, closing the door behind him.

I leaned against the door for a moment, letting the events of the day settle in. Maybe, just maybe, things could get better.

Hey! If you guys enjoyed a chapter in the book , please give it a quick vote at the bottom.

So that , it tells me that my work is appreciated and enjoyed by you guys.

Sit back and enjoy your reading!

All right reserved. None of this work can be reproduced or transmitted in any way or form. Be it electronic , mechanical or without full express permission from the writer. Being said that the writer of this book explicitly does not own the rights to the image on the book cover and in the chapters. All credits go to it's rightful respected owner.

Basically , please don't copy this book in any way or form because that is illegal and it's a crime.

© 2017 wokeupthisway