Broken

Chapter 24

Friday night, I walked up the door and looked over at dad. "You sure you want to sleepover?"

We had spent the morning helping set up for the festival while we were at school.

Dad laughed and slapped my back before turning back towards the door, knocking on it. We were standing in front of the apartment building where mark and the guys lived. Kevin was the one who opened the door and let us inside. He silently looked around, expecting Anri.

"He didn't feel well, so he's staying the night at Khalil's. I'm just dropping dad off and wanted to see where you guys lived." I explained walking past him and smiled when he guided me through the apartment.

It was very simplistic and a bit more boyish than what I was expecting. "Mark cleaned up before your dad came here, but don't be fooled. That man is a mess. Jacob and I like usually like to be clean."

He led me to his room and opened the door. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but I sure as hell wasn't expecting to see an anime poster on the wall of the anime Free. Kevin quickly ran over to it, but was gentle when pulling it off the wall.

"Jacob must've put that up there, I'm not into anime." He stuttered with a slightly blushed face. I rolled my eyes and walked over to the piano. "I couldn't leave without my keyboard. But I also didn't want to get beat by the mas-Ryder's dad."

I turned towards him confused and he looked away, not meeting my eyes. Gesturing towards the keyboard, he smiled and sat down on the chair.

"Prepare yourself." He dryly joked. He's a lot more talkative, but at the same time he's not. His body wasn't straight like you'd expect, but it was hunched over the piano as if he was gaining feeling just from being close to it. He began to play and it wasn't long until I started to tear up.

The song was sad. It was empty almost. I don't know how to explain it.

"Don't go making her cry." Jacob said coming out of the bedroom on the end dressed in a grey turtle neck and black slacks. "Hey Athena."

"Hey Jacob." I said wiping away my unfallen tears  and double took his outfit. "Why are you dressed so nice?"

"Since Anri isn't here, we're hitting the club." Kevin explained and looked down at me. "Want us to walk you to your house?"

I shrugged my shoulders and followed Jacob to the living room where dad and Mark were.

"Bye dad, I'm off."

"Okay, be safe." He said before returning to the conversation.

"So when they get married, are we going to be step siblings?" Jacob asked wiggling his eyebrows at me. I laughed and rolled my eyes.

"Dumbass." Kevin and I both said. We looked at each and broke into a smile until I spoke. "Mark isn't your dad."

"So what would it make us?" Jacob asked, genuinely. I shrugged my shoulders and nudged Kevin.

"Real question is what would it make you and Anri? Uncle and nephew?" I joked watching as Kevin pushed me away from him playfully. It was nice being here with the guys, just like teenagers.

"Oh shut it. It's not even like that." Kevin grumbled and we began to talk about almost everything, from assignments in school to the weather. "It'll be my fourth high school."

"You're that old?" I gasped and watched as Jacob laughed at my reaction.

"This mofo is literally 19, he's not that old. But it's four because he's smart and skipped a grade. But then flunked the first two times and had to come here because well, you know." Jacob explained when Kevin brooded in silence. We finally got to my house and I waved goodbye and said we'll see each other tomorrow morning. They waited until I was inside to leave. Turning around, I felt tears come to my eyes when I saw a trial of rose pedals leading towards the back of the house, towards me bedroom.