Shattered Life(ON HOLD)

~Chapter 5~

   The warm breeze suddenly turns cold. I wrap my arms around myself as I walk down the stone path. Goosebumps form on my arms as I see all the graves. Jace walks quietly next to me as I search for her grave.

   It takes me almost ten minutes to locate her tomb stone. I kneel down on the grass in front of the angel of grief that surves as her tomb stone. I lift my right hand up and gently run my fingers over the engravement on her tomb stone.

Elizabeth Rose Perez

June 20, 1975-April 4, 2003

Here Lies: A strong, caring, beautiful, beloved mother, daughter, wife, and friend.

   I suppress the tears that threaten to fall as memories of her and me pop in to my head. After a couple of minutes the will to cry is so strong that I don't deny the tears to fall anymore. I don't realize I'm sobbing till Jace sits down next to me and pulls me in to his lap. I put my head on his chest but then I try to pull away when I realize he is just in his red basketball shorts.

   Though Jace makes it impossible to pull away when he tightens his hold on me. I give in to the safety of his arms as I lay my head back on his chest. I inhale his lemon scent as I take in a shaky breath.

   I continue to cry breaking my other promise of never showing my vulnerable side. I force myself to stop crying because I don't deserve too, I caused her death and now I'm paying for it. Jace releases me and wipes the tears off my face.

   "Evellis........" he trails off looking at my mother's grave. I know exactly what he was about to ask. I remember father's orders and contemplate whether I should tell Jace the truth. I've always done everything father has told me to do, just to please him, but father is never satisfied no matter what I do.

   After what seems like a long time of contemplating, I take out my phone and type in a text:

She's my mother.

   I wait to see his reaction but he just keeps his face blank until realization dawns on him. "So Vanessa is your step mom." he says to himself. A confused look makes its way to his face (which makes him look unbelievably adorable). "Are you related to Zach, Calvin, and.....what's her name....M.......oh right..Melinda?"

   I try not to smile at the fact that he forgot Melinda's name. Most boys wouldn't forget a girl like her. I shake my head 'no' to answer his question. After a moment of silence, Jace sets me down on the ground before standing up and offering his hand. I gladly take his hand and stand up. "Well I guess I should walk you home now?"

   I quickly type a text as soon as he finishes his sentence.

No please take me anywhere but home.

   Jace looked in to my eyes while answering uneasily. "Okay. How about you come to my house? I'm sure Grace will let you borrow some of her clothes and I know my parents won't mind either."

   I know Jace is practically a stranger, but I find myself feeling safe when I'm around him. With that thought in my head I answer with a yes. His lips form in to a big smile at my answer. This time I'm the one to grab his hand first much to his suprise. I give him a nervous smile and he smiles back while his fingers intertwine with mine as he walks with me to his house.

**We enter his house through the back door quietly since his parents are still sleeping due to it just being ten in the morning. Jace and I walk upstairs through the kitchen staircase. After walking up the second flight of stairs, Jace leads me down the wide hallway pass four doors. He then stops in front of a purple door that is almost at the far end of the hallway. He softly knocks on it before opening the door. I stand near the door frame as Jace enters the room. I hear Jace exchange a few words with the person inside the room before a pair of hands pull me in to the room.