A Broken Story

1.3 Clearing Things Up

It was a little over midnight when he stepped out, the streets were pretty empty and the wind was pretty chilly but refreshing. The pier seemed to be a nice spot to get some air and reflect. The ocean waves were low and the music from the pub still filled the air. That night was a good night, it was fun, freeing, and a momentary rest for his worries but it was just that, a momentary rest. He walked up to the edge of the pier, planted his arms on the railings, and his eyes fall on the coast bellow, he couldn't help but see the times he took Clare to play by the ocean, running along, laughing, and holding hands. A smile almost formed but reality can't let that happen and wiped it off.

"Penny for your thoughts?" A woman suddenly said, walking up next to him.

He looked at her and quickly took notice of her brown hair accented with a splash of red, "Oh, hey. Didn't think anyone else was around."

She giggled, "You're not the only one looking to get drunk on a Saturday night." She looked at the pub behind them, the music has not slowed down one bit, "See? So, what's your story? Most people I've seen around this pier this late are usually really happy or really depressed."

"Oh, yeah? And which one are you?" He managed to let out a little smirk.

"You catch on fast." She reached inside her pockets, "Want some?"

"Oh no, I don't smoke."

She raised an eyebrow and pull out a couple of lollipop, "Didn't know you can smoke lollipops." She put one of them in front of him, "Here, in case you change your mind, anyway." She pulled her small frame up on the railings, "So, you're gonna to tell me what's up? Misery loves company, ya know."

Andy's mouth was held open at how brazen and straight forward this woman was, "I... I don't even know your name."

She held out her hand, "Jenna Parton, Pisces, AB+, 20 years old, and I can make a mean slice of toast." She said with a smile.

He couldn't help but smile at her attempt, "Andy Walter, Aquarius, O-, 23, and I can do summersaults?" He reached out and shook her hand firmly.

She chuckled, "Pleasure to meet you, Andy."

"Likewise, Jenna."

"Well, now that we're friends, tell me all your deepest darkest secrets."

Andy couldn't help but chuckle. He took the lollipop and put it in his mouth before answering, "Do you really wanna know?"

"If I didn't, why would I ask?"

"Fair enough," He took out the lollipop from his mouth and held it in his hand, "My umm... my ex of five years broke up with me just before I proposed to her. It's been a couple of months since then and my life have been in shambles ever since."

"Oh... That's like... really bad." She put a hand on his shoulder, "I'm sorry."

"Thanks." He sighed and put the lollipop back in his mouth, "Well, I just told you my story. Mind telling me yours?"

"Ouf, I don't know if I can top yours but I'll give it a shot." She turned around, her legs dangling over the water and pulled down her jacket, revealing a red tank top and bruises all over her shoulders and possibly down her back, "My father isn't exactly the best. I had to run away." She pulled her jacket back up.

"I am so sorry." Andy tried to push more words out but none seem to come.

"Such is life, right?" She turned around and got off the railings, "All you can do is roll with the punches, ya know?" There was a silence, a mutual sense of understanding and empathy. Two broken souls under the moonlight, seeking solace in the quiet, "It's getting late, you should go home. Night time round here gets pretty cold."

"What about you? You just said that you ran away, do you have a place to stay?"

"Well, no but don't worry about me, I may be small but I'm stronger than I look." She tried to flex her non existent muscles as she said that with a beaming smile before walking away, picking up a bag leaning on the side of a railing.

His chest felt tight as he watched her walk away. He couldn't help but chase after her and grabbed her by the wrist.

She quickly turned around, her eyes widen as she yanked her arm away while the other took out a can of pepper spray, "What do you think you're doing?" Her voice and her arms shook as she tried to hold the can steadily.

Andy slowly raised both of his arms, "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. Look, I can't just let you sleep on the streets or something. It's getting late and my place is nearby, you can crash there for the night."

Jenna let out a deep breathe, "I don't you're the type to attack me." She put her pepper spray back into her pocket, "But why are you offering me this? I can't pay you back with cash and I certainly won't slee..."

"No no no," He interrupted quickly, "You don't have to pay me back with anything. Just think of it as me paying you back for keeping me company by the pier."

"You're a weird guy, Andy." She said with a smile, "Okay, let's go but if you try anything funny, I'll kick your ass."

"Alright, alright." He started walking back up the pier, "I'll call us a taxi." He then remembered that he came here with Barney, maybe he could give them a ride. And just as he got that thought, he saw that Barney was being escorted by the bartender out of the bar and shoved into a taxi, "Oh my god."

"Do you know that guy?"

"He's just the town idiot and also my friend, don't worry about him. There's a taxi there, Hey!" He hailed it and opened up the door to get in; off they went to Andy's apartment.

He looked over to Jenna, who was leaning on the car window. Her eyes scanning the roads, trying to paint a mental image of the route, her body relaxed into a slump, and her arms around her bag which she placed on top of her lap. Her face was uneasy, tense; not unusual after what she went through. To think that someone could live through such pain and still smile, so how come Andy was struggling so much?

Moments later, they finally arrived at the front of his apartment. Andy paid for the cab ride and opened the door for her, "You don't have to do that, you know?"

"What kind of gentleman am I if I didn't open the door for a pretty lady?" In that split second, Andy's insides were tied up in a knot and he regretted every decision that he has ever made up until that point.

She couldn't contain her laugh but decided to play along, "Why thank you. Such chivalry from a dashing gentleman is quite refreshing." She walked past him, all he could do was nervously smile. He wasn't the best at receiving flirtatious comment.

The two went upstairs to his apartment, "Welcome to Casa de la Andy. Bathroom's in the back if you need it." He went to the kitchen to get some water.

"Nice place you got here." She took off her jacket and set down her backpack on the couch.

"It's nothing fancy but it's home... what are you doing?" He said while coming back to the living room and seeing her lie on the couch.

"Hm? I was getting ready for bed."

"Not there, you're not." He picked up her backpack and brought it in his room.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"After what you showed me at pier, no way I am letting you sleep on that old couch." He set the bag in his room, "You sleep there, I'll take the couch."

"No, no, no. you're already letting me stay here for the night, I can't let you sleep on the couch!" She was insistent on sleeping on the couch.

"No, I'm the host here, and I insist that you take the bed."

"Well, I'm not going!" She crossed her arms and sat back down the couch.

"Seriously?" He sat down next to her on the couch, "Look, stop being so stubborn and go sleep on that bed. I can sleep on that bed any time I want and you need to take care of yourself and I don't think sleeping on an old, broken," He stopped when he noticed a weight on his shoulder, which turned out to be a soundly sleeping Jenna. He in turn could only sigh, "Well, looks like neither of us are sleeping on the bed." He then succumbed to his fate for the night and closed his eyes. His nights are usually restless, barely getting a wink of sleep but that night, he had a peaceful, dreamless sleep.