Broken

Final Chapter part 1

~~~~~~~~~~OLIVIA POV~~~~~~~

After the lady asked me one last question, we wrapped it up. It was finished, I had told my story to the world. I don't know how I felt about it. I suppose I was happy that everyone knew the truth. I just wish no one had to know anything. I wish nothing had ever happened. Of course, words had been shattering me. The blonde, gorgeous reporter, Wanda, couldn't stop asking me 'what if' questions.

"What if you hadn't let the shooter in?"

"What if you had taken the gun away before the shooter shot anyone? You were overpowering him, three to one."

"What if you were actually attractive and could've gotten someone to go with you, so the shooter wouldn't have been invited in?"

Ok she didn't ask that last one but I basically felt it coming. This lady was nosy and was very overpowering. It made her a great reporter. Except you could see her bulging veins and greasy face on the wrong side of forty when you were close to her. It made her even more unlikeable. She was fake. I can remember the days when Christina and I would double over laughing as we saw fakes in our school. Doing their makeup for the fifth time that day, attaching fake extensions, and constantly checking themselves out in the mirror. It sent a shiver through my body, remembering anything with Christina. It was a blow straight to my gut. Every time I remembered anything about Michaela, Brennan, Christina, or anything and anyone from the shooting, I can't bear to go on. I'm just walking out of the cameras and bright lights when I run into Officer Cole and the other brown haired cop. The other cop seemed to be awfully quiet.

"Hey, how'd it go? Pretty good?" Officer Cole asks, seeming almost innocent.

"As if. That Wanda woman is truly horrible, to be honest." I say back, rolling my eyes in Wanda's direction, who is fussing over her tight dress underneath her reporter's jacket.

"Tell me about it." Officer Cole just rolls his eyes and takes a seat in a lawn chair right outside my house. The other officer had left to go get something.

I sit down, putting my back up against the chair's armrest, slinging my arm across the chair and resting my head on the arm of the chair. The stupidest thought comes to me. It must be the paranoia because I couldn't handle it anymore. The thought is so dumb, I just roll across my lawn, laughing. I've got everyone looking at me. All I can think is the stupidest thought I've ever had. I can't stop thinking

' How much has this shooting ruined my life? Ill probably never be able to take a red head seriously ever again......I'll never be able to dance like a normal person! Ill probably never look at a cat the same way again either. With the Brennan obsession with cats and all.'

I sit up, clutching my gut in laughter. Only I could have such deranged thoughts. It makes me laugh to think that I could never dance or own a cat or look at redheads ever again. Only I could have such deranged humor. Suddenly forgetting everything, Officer Cole gets up and sits by me, obviously wanting to ask a question.

He takes in a deep breath and goes on, "You know that other officer? Well, I like him and I don't know what to do."

I took a deep breath, very taken aback. I didn't expect Cole to be gay. It didn't bother me, of course. He just never suggested it in any way. I was never good at giving relationship advice but I tried. "Well, um, does he like you like that?"

Cole looked weary before responding, "I don't know. But I do know he likes guys, so."

I didn't even think before answering, "Tell him."

"You really think so? I'm not sure." Cole seemed very nervous.

"I could talk to him, if you'd like?" I suggested, trying to play the role of matchmaker.

"You would? " Cole asked, nearly jumping up in anticipation.

"Yeah, of course!" I said, a smile forming on my face. This could be fun.

"Go on, then." Cole is smiling to himself now, trying to look as casual as possible.

I walked up past Wanda with her eyelash curler, the camera men checking out their shots, and the confused neighbors walking up their driveway. There was a pitcher of lemonade on the table that the news reporters set up, that the cop was getting a drink at. He was filling up his cup, whistling and rocking back and forth on his feet. Upon closer examination, I saw he was about Coles age, 35 ish, and he had lightish darkish brown hair and eyes.

"Hi," I said approaching him as I felt Coles eyes on me, "what's going on?"

"Oh me?" he says, as if not expecting me to talk to him "I'm alright, what about you?"

"Me? I'm ok myself. Um, hey, what do you think about Officer Cole?" I say, jumping right into it.

"Oh him? He's cool, nice, funny, good-looking enough." He says, reddening at the cheeks a little.

"Would you ever consider....dating him?" I say, prying closer. I feel like Wanda. Ew.

"Me um well-" He starts

I cut him off, "I mean I don't know...sorry." I figured I was being too nosy and annoying.

"No it's fine, really. Did Cole put you up to this?" He asks, curiosity creeping into his voice.

"Well, you see-" I begin to say sheepishly.

This time it was him who cut me off, "I've got to go." He walks off towards Cole, a new spring in his step.

"Glad to see they look happy.." I mutter under my breath to myself. I don't really want to watch much of this anymore, it just isn't my thing, watching middle aged men flirt. Ill pass. I don't want to watch anything to do with any relationships. I walked towards my house, having to change for the huge funeral they were having for everyone that died at the shooting. Nearly everyone would be there and they'd all see the video at the funeral. They're specially showing it. I didn't even want to think about it anymore, wanting to curl into a ball and disappear on the spot until I was nothing but the black hole my life had become.

SUPER IMPORTANT AUTHORS NOTE!!!

Ok readers I have some important news. Yes, this is the last chapter. Don't worry though, only the first part of it. There will be 3 parts of chapter 31, as I cannot just end like this. I love every, single one of you for making this dream happen. Stay tuned for the rest of the final chapter!