Pieces of Mine

Present : misery loves company ...

     I found Della sitting on a bench in the garden crying hysterically. I sat down next to her and put an arm around her.

"I ran after you as soon as my brain processed what just happened."

"Th th thank y ya you."

"Aw D."

     I hugged her tight. I knew how she felt. On the brink of falling apart. Her heart was probably in her stomach and was drowning.

"Th this is ss so emb emba embarrassing."

"Don't be embarrassed. I'd have slapped him too."

     Her head popped up and she laughed. Then hiccuped. Then groaned.

"Not th that. Me cr cry crying over hi him like an id idiot."

    I held her head between my hands.

"You are not an idiot. My brother is. I could kill him. Still. Just so you know."

She hugged me.

"Let's get you fixed up and let's go show him you don't care."

"O o kay."

        It took twenty minutes for her to get her breathing and hiccups under control. Then I fixed her hair and make up and we marched back toward the porch. Jackson was in deep shit. Della looked like a knock out and I was furious. For the safety of his life I hoped he wasn't there.

As we approached the porch I saw Jackson coming towards us. I tugged Della's hand.

"I'll stop him if you want. You just run up to my room."

"Please."

I let go of her hand and we used the same spin maneuver we used to use on Austin and his friends when we were teenagers. As he approached us She slowed and I glided in front of her and to the side. He ended up face to face with me as she slid away.

"Smooth Belle. Let me go after her, please."

"No can do. Sorry Jacks. You done did it good."

       I turned and walked away before he could stop me. I figured I was going to need to lock my door. I looked into the kitchen windows to see the reflection behind me. He wasn't following. I slowed down a couple paces. Austin reached out and caught my arm. I flung my arm out of his.

"Whoa, Belle, it's just me."

I snapped my head to look directly at him.

"Never. Ever. EVER. Call me that again. It is not for you. Do you understand?"

I felt like I had flames coming out of my nose.

"Gee babe, I won't. I just heard Jackson say it and.."

"No. Just don't."

"Okay."

         He leaned in to kiss my cheek and I stepped forward and away from him. I didn't look back as I headed inside. It wasn't until I reached the bottom of the stair case that I stopped. I started laughing and I couldn't stop. I laughed all the way up the stairs. Della sat on my bed wrapped in a blanket looking like a sad lost puppy but as soon as she saw me she started laughing too. It felt good. It felt really good.

When we stopped laughing Della started crying again.

"What am I going to do Addy? Why is he even back?"

"I don't know. No one has even mentioned him since he moved up north and took over the house up there. No one has even really mentioned him since that day. Really."