LA Big Break

Chapter Twenty One

I couldn’t form a proper sentence.

How did I not see this coming?

‘How do you know?’ I asked, still in a form of disbelief.

‘He told me, I saw him this morning and he just came out and told me!’ She said.

‘Wow, I didn’t think he’d stoop that low!’ I half giggled, befuddled by his immaturity. I think I held back my anger quite well, seeing as I could’ve hit my fist through a wall.

‘Yeah, I was shocked. So I slapped him and got out of there!’ She laughed and I burst out laughing.

‘You go girl!’

‘Well, it’s nearly time for school, so I’ll talk to you later! Try and patch things up with Cody yeah? I don’t like seeing you apart!’ She giggled before hanging up.

‘Believe me, I’m trying.’ I said to myself.

I sighed and sat down on my bed. I spent an hour thinking of what I could say to him, what I could do to prove it wasn’t his fault.

Nada. Diddle Squat.

I was interrupted from my thoughts by the sound of my phone bleeping. I had a message from Alli.

‘Hannah, I think you should come over. I can’t calm Cody down, he’s hysterical!’ It read.

 I didn’t even reply, I jumped off my bed way too fast for my ribs’ liking but I didn’t stop. I ran down the stairs and out of the house without saying goodbye to my mum. She briefly looked up but shrugged her shoulders and returned to her work. I hadn’t fully adjusted to the temperature change and the first thing that hit me was the heat. It slowed my pace down slightly but I continued running.  I ran all the way to Cody’s and only stopped to ring the buzzer. The gates clicked and I went through them, and continued to run up the drive. Alli was by the door and she ushered me through to Cody’s bedroom. She had tears streaming down her face and she was shaking. It was a bomb site and Cody was stood flipping different pieces of furniture, punching different parts of the wall and angrily shouting things.

‘Just please do something!’ Alli cried.

‘Where are your parents?’ I asked as calmly as I could, but the sight of Cody in this mess was heart breaking. Had I really done this to him?

‘They – they went to the store!’ She sobbed and I grabbed her hand and squeezed it. She looked at me and nodded before walking off to her room.

‘Cody?’ I said, delicately approaching him.

‘Cody?’ I repeated, this time placing my hand gently on his arm. He turned so fast I nearly jumped out of my skin and he looked at me. With that, he creased in my arms and fell to the floor. I wrapped myself around him and squeezed him as he cried on my shoulder. We sat there for the next ten minutes. I didn’t say anything; I just ran my fingers through his hair and continued to hold him.

‘I’m so sorry.’ We both said in unison, finally breaking the silence between us.

‘You have nothing to be sorry for!’ We both said in unison again and he let out a small laugh. I smiled at him. His face was sealed by a red colouring where he had been crying. I tugged at my sleeve and wiped his eyes. I stood up and held my hand out for him and pulled him up. We both started to re-organize his room, which was in complete anarchy and I got some ice to put on his fist.

 ‘It’s my fault, I should’ve talked sense into you.’ I sighed

‘It’s not your fault; I don’t know what came over me.’ He replied. We sat on his bed and I assessed the damage.

‘Just bruised, does it hurt?’ I asked, dabbing ice on his hand.

‘I’m fine!’ He said.

‘Just like my ribs. Bruised but fine, nobody’s fault.’ I said, looking him in the eye.

‘Yes bu-‘

‘No buts.’ I interrupted.

‘However…’ He smirked.

‘Aye, that’s not allowed either. Cody, it wasn’t your fault. Remember Caleb? Well he was the one that told the reporters where you were staying, it was his fault.’ I replied.

‘His fault.’ He repeated and I could tell he was processing that.

Please, please let him see sense. Please.

He nodded.

Thank you, thank you so much.

He smiled. I smiled. He lent over to hug me but I turned my head and planted a kiss on his lips.

‘Please don’t ever do that again.’ I said, kissing him again.

‘I won’t.’ He replied, slipping his arms around my waist. I kissed his cheek before resting my forehead on his. I looked into his eyes. They grey that I was met with not long ago had returned to sparkle. His eyes really are beautiful.

‘Can we start again please? Pretend this didn’t happen?’ He asked.

‘What happened?’ I laughed and so did he.

‘I love you!’ He smiled.

‘I love you too.’ I replied and I kissed him again.

‘I really love you.’

‘I can see that by the state of your room!’ I giggled.

 ‘I think I need to get out for a bit, would you like to accompany me to the beach, Miss Clayton?’ He smirked, holding out his hand to help me up.

‘Why, it would be my pleasure, Sir Simpson. But please go and see your sister first and reassure her that you’re okay!’ I replied. I stood up off the bed and walked with Cody to Alli’s room. I held his hand tightly and walked in after him.

‘Oh thank god! Cody, never do that again!’ She said, running to give her brother a hug. I was surprised when he didn’t let go of my hand and I was thrown into the hug as well, but it didn’t faze me. I was happy to have Cody back, and I was happy that his face had returned to its normal colour, because for a moment I mistook him for a cherry.

‘We’re heading to the beach, do you wanna come?’ Cody asked.

‘Umm, no, I’m okay. I have stuff to do! But have fun!’ She replied and we left her room.

‘Boards or no boards?’ I said.

‘Hmm. No boards, I just fancy a walk!’ He laughed and he put his arm around my shoulder. It was warm outside but not boiling, just how I like it. Cody intertwined his fingers in mine and I walked with my head on his shoulder. We reached the beach and I jumped off of the wall and fell into the sand next to Cody. We laid side by side for a while just staring into each other’s eyes and Cody ran the ends of my hair through his fingers.

‘Even beautiful when you’re covered in sand!’ He laughed. Like a loser, I blushed. I rolled over so I was right next to him and kissed his cheek.

‘I love you Cody!’ I smiled. He stood up and held his hand out for me and helped me up.

‘I love you too, and now that you’re sixteen, I need to give you this…’ He said as he got down on one knee.

Holy cow.