Broken Trouble (Broken Storm Series Book 1)

Chapter 11

When I woke up, I had a neck cramp and a headache. I was still leaning against the door, only now it was quiet. Whoever had played the guitar last night had gone . I stood up and groaned, my hip was stiff and sore from where it had pressed into the floor while I slept.

It was still dark outside when I walked to the window. I could see a light outside and squinted through blurry eyes to see there was a lamp hanging from the hood of the truck. I could see a shadow moving around it, showing there was someone there.

Who was out working on the truck this late? I glanced at the clock. Or this early? It was four in the morning and the only person I knew who got up this early was Wyatt.

Wyatt, who had managed to snap me out of my panic attack last night.

I sighed, rubbing my hands over my face before shuffling over to plug in my iPod. As I did, I saw the bags of stuff in the middle of the floor and knelt in the middle of them. Pulling out my pocket knife I had bought yesterday, I started removing tags. I knew there was no way I would be able to go back to sleep, I had barely managed any the night before. Now, as I removed tags, a calm settled over me.

Maybe yesterday had emotionally exhausted me to the point that I could no longer panic or feel much of anything.

I sorted through the clothes, setting aside some for the day. Before I knew it, I had all of the clothes stuffed into the drawers, so I grabbed the clothes I had set aside and headed to the shower, trying not to think of how the day could turn out.

I knew I was in denial, ignoring the fact that I could very well be leaving today and would have to go through the pain I would feel of losing the one place where I had actually started to feel comfortable. It wasn't like me at all. Usually I was completely fine with leaving, but this time I wasn't at all and I didn't like. It was off-balancing me and causing me to stumble along emotionally, unsure of how to react.

I showered, taking my time and letting the water to wash away the stress I was feeling along with the dried tears on my cheeks.

I headed back to my room afterwards, applying my usual eyeliner and skipping a lot of the makeup. Sliding on my boots and grabbing some of the Sugar Straws I had bought yesterday, I slipping quietly out my door, down the stairs and outside.

Giving the truck a wide birth, I made my way to Storm's corral, letting myself in. I hoped whoever was working on the truck wouldn't notice me out here, I really didn't want to see anyone yet. Especially this early in the morning, when it was too dark to see their expressions.

As I turned from latching the gate, I saw Storm watching from the middle of the corral, his ears flicking back and forth.

"Hey Storm," I whispered, trying to keep my voice down in hopes that no one else would hear me. I pulled out the Sugar Straws and walked forward a couple steps before kneeling in the sand, opening one of the blue ones to give to him.

Storm perked up at the sight of the Sugar Straws, walking over with his head stretched out greedily. He paused for a moment, as if giving me a once over before quickly licking up the sugar. Immediately he was searching for more.

"You love these things don't you boy?" I asked, quickly opening several of the Sugar Straws and pouring the contents into my palm to give him. "I'll be sure to tell Wyatt to give you plenty of these when I'm gone." I sniffled as he gobbled up the sugar from my hand. "I'll try to send you Sugar Straws when I can and he can give them to you. You probably won't even remember me after awhile and will find someone else." Tears trickled down my cheeks as I spoke, then I choked back a sob as I cried. It was like last night's breakdown had completely broken my resolve to hold no emotion for this place. Who was I kidding? I knew I had had emotions for everyone here, including Storm, since I had arrived. What would happen to Storm after I left? Wyatt had told me I was his last chance, so when I was gone, what did they plan to do with him? There was no way I could ever raise enough money to buy him and they probably wouldn't keep him around, feeding him a constant supply of Sugar Straws for the rest of his life.