Broken

Chapter 7

As soon as I wake up I can hear people outside of my bedroom, and the people in my family tend to rise late, so I know it's at least eleven. I lay in bed for a little while longer before I can finally muster up the strength to get out of bed. Both my parents tell me good morning as soon as I get out of my room. Their tone sounds strained and forced, like they might burst into tears if I'm NOT having a good morning.

"How are you, sweetie?" My dad asks me. I'm feeling a little bit better after Gabe brought me food and talked to me, but it still hurts.

"I'm good."

"I made cinnamon rolls if you want any." My mom tells me. I know she means well, but it really frustrates me when she tries to make me eat when she knows I don't want to. I take two anyway. I know she's just as hurt about this as I am, and I don't want to crush her feelings.

"Thanks." I pull out a chair and sit down at the table. "Have you scheduled my surgery yet?" She looked a bit surprised that I asked. I'll admit it is a bit soon to be asking, but I like getting things over with The sooner I get this broken timer off of me the sooner I'll stop being depressed over this.

"Yes, love. It's actually going to be the day after tomorrow." Now I'm the one that's surprised. She usually puts off scheduling appointments until the last minute, or until I've reminded her at least thirty times.

"Oh, okay. Hey, Ess asked if I wanted to hang out today. Is that fine?"

"Yeah, that's fine." She's trying to be subtle, but it's easy to see that she's relieved that I'm getting out already after this. I usually like to lock myself up, but I don't want to disappoint Ess.

I remain at the table for a bit longer to finish my cinnamon rolls and then go back into my room to change. I put on some camouflage leggings, tennis shoes, and my dad's black t-shirt, then I grab my phone to text Ess.

Hey

Sorry I didn't text back sooner

I fell asleep

I'm down to hang out today tho

It's fine

Just text me when you want to meet up and where

I'm ready now if you are

Cool

Ya, I am too

Okay

Meet me in the square in fifteen minutes

K

I actually only live about ten minutes away, but I'm gonna use the extra time to throw the things I need into my purse. I grab my phone, my earbuds, and $20 dollars in cash to put in there. I also grab a jacket. It's summer, so it's obviously not cold, but I still like to bring my jacket with me wherever I go. It's black and has a white roller skate with roses around it on the front. It's technically my mother's, but I've come to claim it as my own. She doesn't mind, though. She never wears it.

I tell my parents that I'm off to meet Ess, and head out the door. Luckily, I didn't get a lecture this time.

When I get there, she's sitting on the concrete steps by one of the square's little boutiques.

"Hey!" She calls out to me. She runs up to give me a hug. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Liar." She says, with her eyebrows raised and lips pursed. She's right, but I still ignore her comment.

"What about you?"

"I'm doing good. Want to get that ice cream now?"

"Sure."

There's a little ice cream shop a few stores down from the boutique we met up at. It's pretty popular, as it's one of the only fun things to do in town. When we get in there, the place is packed. We go to sit down at one of the stools at the ice cream bar. I order a cookie monster double-dip cone, and Odessa orders rocky road. After we get the ice cream, though, I notice this guy. He's a little taller than me, with black hair, and skin that looks like coffee after you put a ton of creamer in it. My heart flutters when I see him and starts beating double to nothing. Thoughts start racing through my head. What am I feeling right now? Am I sick? What's wrong with me? Odessa catches me staring.

"Why are you looking at him?"

"I don't know. As soon as I saw him, my heart skipped a beat, and now it's acting funny, and my stomach feels like it's twisted into knots."

"Oh no..."

"What?"

"Oh no. Tira no, you can't-"

"I can't what?"

"Tira, I think you like him. You can't like him. You have to snap out of it. You don't want your feelings crushed, do you? He has his own soulmate. He's already met his soulmate. See? He doesn't have his clock."

"What's on his wrist, though? He has this scar on it..."

"He's probably depressed and cutting himself. Don't stare at him, it's rude. Forget him."

"Okay, fine." I said, defeated, but while we were there, I couldn't help but catch a few more glances.