Broken

Chapter Twenty-Four

Life sucks sometimes. Life made me feel like an awful person. I finally figured out that I loved Justin Lathrop and now his girlfriend has woken up in the hospital. I was glad she was awake, I really was. There was a part of me that dreaded her being back though. I hated that part of myself. That was the part that was blinded with jealousy and I wished I could get rid of it.

Life sped on. I went to school and saw Justin. We talked briefly every day. We were fine, but not great. I was worried about him. I was worried his father would find out about Lykos being in town and putting fault on Justin. We did not see much of each other after school. I assumed he was with Nora.

Justin assured me that Nora was going to be okay. He left me in the dark about everything else with her. I didn't ask anymore either. That jealous part of me didn't want to know and it was pretty dominate at the time. After school I spent time with Grandma. She was still happy as ever. We played every card game I knew that week. I enjoyed myself. She spoke of Dad often. She was happy that he had came back into our lives.

Dad called a couple times during the week. We just talked about random things. I mostly asked him questions about his life. It was a good distraction from thinking about Justin and Nora. The two haunted my mind at night and I had not had a good night of rest since the night before my dad left for New York.

Nora's health must have increased throughout the week because Carly was holding a small bonfire Saturday night in honor of her return. I assumed that meant she would be back in school Monday. I was happy for her. She had been through a lot and I could not let my jealousy hate her. She didn't do anything wrong to me.

"I don't know if I want to go," I admitted.

"Well you have to go," said Grandma as she laid down at match. "Do you have any five's?"

"Go fish," I said. I watched as she picked up a card from the middle of our little table. "The party is like a welcome back for Justin's girlfriend."

"She's your friend, isn't she?" asked Grandma.

I nodded, "Yeah. She's been really nice to me for the most part."

"Then go for her," said Grandma. "Don't think of her as Justin's girlfriend. Think of her as your friend, nothing more."

"It's harder than you think," I said. I looked down at my hand. "Do you have any nine's?"

"Here," she said. She passed me a nine. I laid it down with my nine.

"I just...how am I supposed to tell him how I feel about him when he's with a friend of mine?" I asked. I let out a long sigh. "That's like a major violation of the friend code."

"The friend code?" asked Grandma. "I'm pretty sure you would consider Justin your best friend. What about best friend code?"

"Best friend code?" I asked.

"Like tell your best friend everything," said Grandma. "He deserves to know. You deserve to get it off your chest. Just maybe not at his girlfriend's welcome back party."

I laughed, "Yeah that would probably be a bad idea."

"Just go to the party, Hayley," said Grandma.

"Do you have any two's?" I asked.

"Yes," she said as she handed me a two of hearts.

"Thanks," I said. "I guess I'll go to the party. I'll just have fun. Forget Justin and feelings. I'm there for Nora because she's doing good."

"That's the spirit," said Grandma with a smile.

"Got any four's?" I asked.

"Go fish," said Grandma. I reached into the pile of cards and pulled out a jack of diamonds. I tucked it away in my deck. "Got any five's?"