Chapter Ten: Mend Your Broken Heart

I was outraged!  Completely furious as I stormed out of the house only to realize I had absolutely no way to get home.  I stalked around the neighborhood for a good half hour before finally deciding to call Michelle.  I knew Evan and Jenni most likely had a lot on their plates at the moment and Crystal was pissed as anything at me and now I was currently boyfriendless..  Michelle was the only one who didn't have a problem with me at the moment.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's Alex, I'm not sure exactly where I'm at but I really need a ride home.  Can you come get me?"  I pleaded.

"Sure.  You alright?"

"Yeah..  I'll explain everything when you get here,"  I sighed, "It's kind of a long story."

"Kay.  I just need to know where I'm coming to.  Is there a street sign nearby or anything?"

I looked around, sure enough there was a sign several houses down.

"Yeah, I'm at the intersection between Destalles and.. Honey Grove?"

"Wait, doesn't Jen live on Honey Grove?"

"I was just thinking the exact same thing," My mind was on a track of it's own.  Jenni was right there, I could go see her but..  she obviously was hiding something.  She's not feeling good and she didn't want to see me.  Evan said so but I wanted to know what was wrong.  Jenni would tell me when she was ready I told myself firmly making up my mind.

"But she wasn't feeling so good yesterday and I don't really want to get sick," I gave a fake laugh, hoping she wouldn't see through it, "So I think I'll just wait here."

I could hear her laugh through the phone, "Alright, I'll be there in a few."

"Kay, bye."  I said before closing my cell and ending the call.

Surprisingly, I had cooled down mostly from what Andi had said.  It wasn't me and I wasn't a typically angry person.  I mean, yeah, when I was yelling at him I was definitely mad but I just had to get out of the situation.  Once again, I was stuck in the predicament of wanting to help him but knowing I couldn't.

I heard Michelle's convertible pulling up before I could see it.

"Hey girl, whats up?" Michelle called as she pulled to the curb where I was sitting.

I jumped up and opened the door sliding into the seat sighing, "Andi."

Michelle kept her eyes on the road as she pulled out, "This famous Andi guy huh?

"The one I've been hearing so much about yet still seem to know nothing about?" she asked again with a light giggle.

"I had a fight with him."

"Oh.. honey," she gave me a sympathetic look before her face twisted to one of confusion, "What'd he do to you?  I don't know if I've ever actually even seen you mad before.."

I rested my arm on the door of the convertible and sighed again placing my cheek in my hand, "I know what you mean..  It's not like like me to get mad, let alone yell at someone, anyone for that matter."

We came to a red light and Michelle turned to me with a look of shock evident on her face, "You yelled at him?  God damn Alex, what the hell did he do to you?"

I stiffened considerably, instantly wanting to defend Andi simply from the tone of her voice.

"It wasn't like that," I stated in a cold tone, "We just had a disagreement."

"Alright.." Michelle looked at me warily, "You would tell me if he was hurting you though right?"

I growled, "It. Wasn't. Like. That."

"Okay okay," she put a hand up defensively, "It's just not like you to be so.. well angry I guess.  I mean, even now, you're practically spitting venom at me."

That was true..

"Look, I'm sorry, I've just had a lot going on I guess and I'm pretty tired with is probably why I'm so irritable."

The last part was a lie, I'd had the best sleep ever with Andi wrapped around me, but she seemed to believe it as we pulled into my driveway.

"It's cool, just don't come in Monday with an attitude like this," she grinned let me know she was only teasing, "We really love the Alex we have now."

"I'll be 'normal'," I made the air quotations with a roll of my eyes, "Promise."

Michelle laughed again, "Alright, later!" she called as she pulled out with a squeal and sped back down the road.

I closed my eyes for a moment and took a few deep breaths before turning and walking slowly up the driveway.  I reached out and turned the cold doorknob, groaning when I found it locked.  I didn't have my school bag with me, which currently contained the key to my house.  And the worst part was, I knew exactly where it was too.  Laying forgotten in the backseat of Andi's truck after he'd thrown it there from picking me up at the mall yesterday.

Sighing for the umpteenth time that day, I reached out and rapped lightly on the door.  I heard a small squeak before hearing the pounding of feet and then a pause.  Chris opened the door, a slight flush to her cheeks and a smile that quickly vanished when she saw me.

"Oh, its just you."

I pushed past her into the house, "Yeah, who were expecting?"

Chris's grin was back in place and she closed her eyes dreamily replying, "Only the hottest guy ever!  And he ask me to go out!" she squealed, putting the emphasis on me.

I gave her a quick hug, "Congrats Chris.  I hope things work out."

"Yeah..wait," she called after me as I started up the stairs to my room, "Where have you been?"

"Oh, I went to the mall with the girls yesterday and then spent the night at Michelle's," I said feeding her the same lie I'd given our father last night.

"Fun fun.  Oh, by the way, Dad said to tell you he's out for the day so if you go anywhere just leave a note, kay?  Oh and--"

Another knock to the door interrupted and Chris gave another quiet squeal before silently shooing me with her hands.  I laughed before loping up the stairs to my room hearing Chris greet the visitor, "Hey, I wasn't expecting you so soon.  I'll be ready in a minute."

I snorted, she must have been ready for ages the way she jumped when I'd knocked. 

Whatever..

 I collapsed on my bed, closing my eyes and trying to relax.  My thoughts only kept swirling back to Andi.  I had to be the only girl to have gotten an amazing boyfriend AND broken up with him in the span of only 24 hours.  I brought a hand to my face surprised to find it moist with tears I hadn't notice begin.  I sat up, wrapping my arms around my body, trying to keep it all in as I sobbed silently into my knees.

I heard the door slam as Chris left with the guy and realized I was alone.  I was hurt for Andi yelling at me but so much more I was angry for losing my temper with him the way I did.  I cringed, remembering my exact wording and look on his face as I'd fled.  I as well as anyone knew what it was like to not be on.. well to say the least, good terms with their mother.  I should have been more sensitive and I sure as hell shouldn't have broken up with him.  I knew better..

I curled onto my side, the tears falling freely now, as I clutched at my chest willing the pain to slip away.  Eventually it did as I drifted slowly asleep exhausted from the stressful morning.

I awoke to the creak of the front door opening with a gasp, the noise shaking me from my nightmare of Andi.  I pulled my self back up to sit as I realized the tears had fallen even in rest.  Chris had said Dad was out so I figured it had to be her arriving home.  It was odd because she was so silent but I didn't want her to find me like this.  Broken and crying when she had thought that when she left I was fine.  I laid quickly back down and tried to make my breathing deep as if I truly was asleep. 

I heard heavy..

wait heavy?

footsteps coming up the stairs and starting towards my room.  Fear began to ignite in my chest as my heart beat out of control, a few tears slipping again down my cheeks.  It didn't sound like Chris at all.  My door cracked open and I started, willing myself to be still and hoping that this intruder would soon go and leave me unharmed.

I heard a thunk as they dropped something and the footsteps stalked closer to the bed and my still form.  I felt my back tense and my eyes were wide open as I tried to will them to close before they made it to the other side of the bed where my obvious alertness would be visible.  I snapped them shut just as I saw a movement from the corner of my eye.  I could hear them breathing as I saw a shadow cross over my face.  I knew they couldn't have been more than a foot away.  I got a hitch in my breath and my heart skipped a beat as I felt their hand delicately cup my face.  I screamed, my eyes jerking open as I wrenched my face and entire body away only to fall on the floor on the other side of the bed.  I clumsily got up, tripping twice before turning to glare at the startled face of my intruder.  Andi.

"WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU DO THAT?!" I shrieked, "AND HOW DID YOU GET IN HERE?!"

I was beyond enraged yet I still felt the tears coursing down my cheeks as he remain silent and watchful.

I continued to scream, "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" and "WHY ARE YOU HERE?!"

Andi calmly made his way over to me and I backed up, tripping over something on the floor as I scrambled to get up.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" I screeched, finally standing up and pressing my back against my closet door.  Andi grew closer ever still through my yelling, his arms reaching out and binding me to his chest. 

I beat against it with my fists, "LET ME GO!  GET OFF OF ME YOU FREAKING A*****E!"

He held me tight with one arm as the other reached down to wipe at my eyes, reminding me that I was still crying.  He swung me up bridle style before sinking to the floor and cradling me in his arms.  We sat there for an hour or more, him still silent as I cried and cursed and yelled until my voice was hoarse.  Things got quiet for awhile before I broke the silence looking up at him, his face impassive.

I leaned my head back to his chest sighing, "Why'd you come Andi?  Why the hell did you come back? I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

I felt his movement as he made an inaudible noise within his throat.  He picked me up again and placed me on the bed, kneeling beside it and holding my hand.  His thumb caressed the top of my palm as I lay on my side, looking into his startling eyes that were unreadable as he sat there alongside the bed.

Andi finally spoke, breaking eye contact as he focused on our hands, "You ready to listen love?"

I nodded, soothed by our connecting fingers.  He reached out as if to brush my face before retracting his hand quickly.  I let go of the hand that held his own to take the other one.  I guided it with my own, closing my eyes as I felt the light touch on his hand along my jawline.  I heard his swift intake of breath as my eyes fluttered back open to meet his, startled by the urgency in his own.  He slowly leaned towards me, careful almost, not to move to quick.  I caught on fast and reached up with my own urgency to wrap my arms around his neck and bring his lips colliding into mine.  He growled a low sound deep in his throat as he flipped me onto my back, rising a slight bit to straddle my hips.  He brought his beautiful lips to my throat as he kissed lightly down my jaw to the spot he was quickly becoming to know well.  He bit lightly and went up to nibble gently on my ear before returning to kiss just below my jaw.  I closed my eyes, the pleasure intense, as I knew full well his intent was to leave his mark, a single mark to claim me as his own.

Before long, he pulled away with a restrained groan lying his head on my chest.  I was sure he could hear the flutter in my heart as I tried to soothe it, winding my fingers through his ebony locks.

I felt a falter in his breathing before he spoke, his voice low and husky as he raised his head to stare me in the eyes, "You have no idea what you do to me."

I blushed before returning his blatant stare as I saw his gaze drift and flicker in pain.  I reached out to catch his jaw, raising his gaze back to my own, a silent question asked.

"I'm-"

His voice choked as he refused to meet my eyes, instead wrapping my body up in his arms and nuzzling his head into my neck. 

His breath warmed my ear, "I'm so sorry Alex, so sorry.." he murmured, tightening his grasp on me.

I stiffened a bit, remembering why he'd come, and I knew instantly he'd felt it because he immediately let me go.  Andi rose from the bed and began to pace my room.  I watched for a moment before getting up myself and stopping him as he turned to pace again.  My arms raised up just barely made it to his neck but I reached up anyhow and wound myself around him.

"I'm sorry too."

He lifted me easily and sat on my bed again, his back pressing against the headboard as he placed me carefully in his lap.  I twisted to straddle his waist and wrapped my arms around his warmth, my face pressing into his chest as I inhaled the scent I loved.  We sat for a moment, his fingers playing in my hair, mine running along his side before we both stopped at the same moment and looked up.  I sat up first, still in his lap, impulsively giving him a quick peck.

"I think we need to talk now."

He ran a hand through his hair, "I think you're right."