Shattered

Chapter Twenty

Driving the long way to Nick's house, I was angered. Angry at everyone, for what my Mum did, for how Zach treated me, and how rude and careless and psychotic Harry was. I was debating whether or not to call the police. Most of me was leaning towards yes, but there was a slight part of me screaming 'no'. I was at war with myself, thinking of pros and cons to every option.

"Hadley... Hadley..." Nick's deep voice lurred me out of my day dream.

"What?" I snapped.

"Tell me about yourself. I need to know all about you." He said it with a smile, but the tone in his voice was decieving.

"Well, I'm Hadley Mason, or, um, should I change it to your last name?" I questioned. He chuckled and loosened his grip on the steering wheel.

"You do whatever you want. My last name is King. If you want, you could get it hyphonated to Hadley Mason-King. I could get it changed on your birth certificate." I didn't really like Hadley Mason-King, but I like Hadley King.

"I like Hadley King... Not Hadley Mason-King. I want no memory of that horror of a family. You don't understand what I've been through." I whispered with jagged breaths. Nick looked at me with a look of concern and wonder. 

"What do you mean 'horror of a family'? What did he do?" Anger hinted at his voice, and his knuckled whitened as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

"You wouldn't understand." Looking out of the tinted window to the rainy London weather, I watched two rain drops race on the window. They connected and slid down the window as one. Why couldn't my family do that.

"I would understadn if you would just tell me." Nick growled.

"HE BEAT ME AND SAID BAD THINGS. HE TOLD ME TO DIE AND THAT NOBODY WOULD LOVE ME. HE HIT ME AND BEAT ME. I ATTEMPTED SUICIDE TWICE! I CUT FOR BASICALLY MY WHOLE LIFE AND I GOT KIDNAPPED BY A PSYCHOTIC TEENAGER! I WANT TO DIE!" My voice cracked and it was hoarse from yelling. Nick slammed on the brake.

"And to think he'll get away with this. Abusing my daughter. He can go to hell." I was frightened by the look on Nick's face, and how I was almost certain Nick wasn't joking. If I would've said something back at his Grand Mum's house, Nick would surely have Zach beat up. When Zach stopped the car at a Stop sign, I looked him dead in the eye.

"I can get out here." Quickly swinging open the door I hopped out and continued walking down the deserted street.

"Hadley get back in this car this instant." Nick huffed. I shook my head.

"I need to clear my decisions with Zach. I need him to know that I still love him." I mumbled.

"But he's not your real Dad!"

"But he was there when I needed him most!"

"I didn't even know you existed until about an hour ago! It's not my fault."

"IT'S YOUR FAULT FOR GETTING MY MUM PREGNANT! YOU KNEW ZACH WAS GOING TO MARRY MY MUM? WHY?" I shrieked. A car drove by but slowed and the driver glared at me as it drove by, but I couldn't care less. Panic struck Nick's eyes, and I didn't really mean what I said. I felt horrible.

"You want me to tell you the truth? Get in the car." His tone was softer and he seemed worried. I didn't move a foot.

"No. I don't care about that. But don't you dare insult someone who was there for me when you weren't." I hissed, and spun on my heels, trying to find Cody's car. I knew I wouldn't find it unless a miracle happened, but so far, I really believed in those.

"Hadley get in the car. It's starting to rain." Just as he spoke, a raindrop plopped onto my ratty hair. I groaned as my feet had a mind of their own and dragged me to the passenger side of Nick's car.

"I'll take you home now. I have a few people I want you to meet." A smile creeped onto his lips and I shivered. I didn't want to know anyone else. I didn't really feel comfortable around people nowadays.

"Who?"

"My family. My wife, Charlotte, son, Derek and daughter Whitney. They're lovely." He gushed just talking about them and I was jealous. Jealous that he had a regular family before me. I felt like an intruder. I wished I could disappear.

"I-I can't meet your family. They won't like me. I can't do this." I started panicking and thinking about all the negative things.

"Hadley they'll love you. I promise. Derek's a big soft ball of sunshine and happiness and Whitney is just an angel." Hearing the word 'angel' wanted to make me puke.

"Derek's girlfriend Jadiana might be over, but don't worry. She's a sweetheart." Nick's face lit up as he talked about his children. Did Zach ever look this way whenever he talked about me? I faked a smile and nodded as we pulled into a huge house's driveway.

"You live here?" I asked. It was somewhat close to where I lived. Maybe ffiteen blocks away. Stepping out of the car my face was in pure awe. I loved the house. It was beautiful from the outside, anyway. Nick led me to the door and when he opened it, a large family was sitting on the couch, watching some sort of sports game on the telly. They all turned to face me and I felt scared.

"Evening, family. I'd like to introduce you to somebody. Everyone, this is Hadley." As I looked around and studied their faces, my gaze froze at Jadiana.

She was my bully.