Broken ✓

T H I R T Y - S E V E N

Alexa

I sat there, on the floor, feeling utterly worthless. My dad was long gone, but I sat in the same spot, trying to get myself to stop crying. But that proved to be futile, as at the moment, all I could do was sob.

The front door creaked opened, but I hardly even acknowledged it. I wiped my eyes, which was pointless. I heard footsteps and that's when I looked up to see Zach standing over me, almost looking either concerned or confused.

"Erm..." Zach started.

He's been indifferent toward me since he decided to no longer bully me. He must feel pretty awkward. I sniffled, and I realized that tears were still falling down my face.

"Why are you crying?" Zach asked me, rubbing the back of his neck, looking at anywhere except me.

I stood up. "I just felt like crying is all," I lied. It was a terrible lie, in which I instantly started cussing myself in my mind. I would've slapped myself, too, but no doubt Zach would have thought I was crazy.

Zach sighed, finally making eye contact with me, which he had to look down for. I merely stared at his stomach, instead of glancing up at him, and crossed my arms, sighing heavily.

"Somehow I seriously don't believe that," Zach said. "So, um want to talk about it?"

I sniffled, and started rubbing at my eyes again. I finally managed to stop crying, but my eyes were probably red... as in bloodshot and gross. "What's it to you?" I asked, surprisingly calm. And then I hiccuped.

"Well, I-I don't know," Zach said. "Is it about your brother? Did something happen to him?"

"As if it's any of your business," I resorted. "As I recall, you said it should've been me in that situation."

I really should probably shut the hell up now.

Zach flinched. "Um, yeah, my bad," he chuckled awkwardly. Seriously? That's all you have to say? "B-But I didn't mean it... well, I don't really mean it anymore. Aren't we good now?"

"No," I replied flately. That wasn't even a half assed apology — more like a quarter assed.

Stupid fucking jerk. Cameron is probably the only one that's truly changed, though I still don't like him very much, because I'm petty like that. And Ryder isn't gonna bully me cause he feels like he fucking owes me... I think. Or that's what he wants me to think.

"Right, well, why are you upset then?" Zach asked.

"Why should I tell you?" I resorted. "I have better people I could talk—" I cut myself off when a scary thought suddenly popped into my head.

Would the guys — Elliot, Michael and Jackson — even want to be my friend when they found out the phone Elliot had gotten me had been so ruthlessly destroyed?

Maybe I don't have better people I could talk to, I realized. But still, having no one is still better than confiding in Zach... and besides, it's not like I could tell him everything or my dad will get pissed at me.

"Alexa, you're being extremely difficult," Zach practically whined.

Oh my god, if I valued my life, I will not ducking respond.

"And you should be in jail for abusing a minor."

I crossed my arms.

I clearly do not value my life.

Zach opened his mouth, but then closed it again, probably processing the fact that I've told no lies. He raised his hand, causing me to quickly step back, but he merely started scratching his head and gave a sheepish, small, embarrassed smile.