Broken Without You

CHAPTER 21

Emily's pov

After I got home, and had a long chat with my mom, I went to bed.

I couldn't fall asleep, our kiss kept replaying in my head over and over again.

The way he held me in his arms, and the way our lips connected...

It was so magical and passionate.

But the look on his face afterwards makes me want to take it all back.

I open my eyes and 6:32 a.m.

"Ugh why do they make us wake up so early?" I groan and begrudgingly get out of bed.

I go to the bathroom, take a shower and brush my teeth.

When I get out, I throw on black ripped jeans and a yellow long sleeved shirt with black ankle boots.

I go downstairs and mom has made waffles for us. Max is already dressed and shoving waffles in his mouth like his life depends on it.

"Good morning guys." I say and take a seat on one of the kitchen stools.

"Good morning." Max says in between chews.

"Good morning honey." Mom smiles.

"So little bro, how's school?" I ask as I place a waffle on my plate.

"It's okay I guess." He shrugs.

"Met anyone new?" I ask, wanting to know more about his school life.

Ever since he transferred schools we haven't had much common topics to talk about.

Like how once Sabrina flashed all the students in the cafeteria.

Or when Carter drank milk out of his nose.

I still cringe when I think about that last one.

"Maybe" Max says and I notice a blush creeping up his cheeks.

"Aww does my baby bro have a crush?" I coo.

He grumbles something under his breath and goes upstairs to avoid further embarrassment.

I laugh, kiss my mom on the cheek and head to the bus stop.

When I reach school, I catch up with Brooke by our lockers, and she talks about what she did yesterday and how her dad might be moving back here from New York.

"That's great!" I smile, excited about the possibility of being able to spend summer break with my best friend.

"I know!" She says and leans against her locker, looking at me.

"What did you do yesterday?" She smirks and crosses her arms.

"Nothing much, just did my homework and helped Axel with History." I say, not wanting to tell her about our kiss just yet.

"You sure about that? Because I heard from a little bird that you had your first kiss yesterday. When were you planning on telling me?" She asks, hurt evident in her eyes.

"I- I, you what?" I ask, suddenly out of breath.

"Yeah, Catherine's been going around telling anyone that she comes across that you threw yourself at Axel, and that you kissed him but he pushed you away..." She trails off, looking at me with a puzzled expression.

"I-No." I'm at a loss for words.

He told her? Why did he do that?

I thought he felt the same way...

Just then, the bell rings and saves me from stuttering again.

"I have to go." I say and rush to my first class.

Which was History class...

I go in and scan the almost emty room, only a few students are here and some just arriving.

I sigh when I don't spot Axel anywhere, I hope he doesn't show up, I don't want to see his face and be humiliated further.

I take a seat at my usual place in the front and take out my books.

Axel's seat beside me is emtpy. I hope it stays that way.

10 minutes into the lecture, I hear the door open and we all look behind us.

Catherine and Axel step in.

Just my luck...

Axel's eyes meet mine but I quickly snap my head to the front.

Please don't sit next to me. I chant in my head.

But my chants go unnoticed and Axel takes a seat next to me, while Catherine sits behind him with a huge smirk on her caked face.

Mr. White scolds them for a minute or two and continues his lesson.

"Look who we have here, the desperate bitch of the month." Catherine's high pitched whisper reaches my ears.

I whip around, and look at her, eyes wide with furry.

"How dare you?" I say a little louder, not caring if I cause a scene.

"What? It's true. You threw yourself at Axel, practically begging him to kiss you." She smirks and looks at Axel.

"Isn't that right baby?" She asks and puts a hand on his shoulder.

Baby? Are they together? What does she mean?

The nausea swirled unrestrained in my now empty stomach. My head swam with half-formed regrets.

My heart felt as if my blood had become tar as it struggled to keep a steady beat.

"Yes." Axel replied, avoiding my eyes.

His words were like a slap in the face.

My lips parted in surprise and tears threatened to escape my eyes.

But I'm not going to let them flow. No, I'm stronger than that, I won't let them see the pain and humiliation they caused me.

Half the class was already listening and looking at our interaction, and crying would only fuel the gossip that I was sure would come after class was over.

Just as I muster up the courage to retaliate against them, the bell rings and Mr. White dismisses the class.

I quickly get up and rush to the administrations office, wanting to get out of here as soon as possible.

I get there and tell them I feel sick and would rather go home and rest.

They believe me because of my perfect attendance record, and allow me to leave school.

I push the school doors open and take a breath of fresh air. Though that doesn't help in making me feel better.

I can't believe what he did, I can't.

I try to cry, but now that I'm alone, the tears don't seem to come.

I can only breathe heavily and walk to the bus stop in shock.

Once I get on, I sit in the back of the empty bus, next to the window and look out.

I can't even bring myself to listen to music, because I know every song will fuel my heartache.

It is a cruelty of life that a heart can keep on beating even after it has been broken in two.

It can feel as though it is being gripped in an ice-cold vice and ache as if it will implode in your chest, but still the boom-boom continues.