Page 10 of Shattered

Chuckling, I turn the corner for Jason’s street and type out a reply. I wasn’t expecting something like that, but it lightened my mood and distracted me quite well.

I step up to the front door of Jason’s house and, just as I lift my hand to knock, it swings open, revealing Sienna standing there.

“Hey,” she greets with a small smile. “I saw you through the window. You know you don’t have to knock.”

My shoulders lift with a shrug as I step inside, breathing in the familiar scent of her favorite perfume. “It doesn’t feel right just walking in.” She closes the door behind me, and I take the opportunity to ask about Jason before I see him. “How’s he doing?”

The smile drops from Sienna’s face, replaced with the twist of her features as she winces. “He doesn’t look great. I think he’s pissed that he got himself suspended, but I think the thing with Jacob is getting to him more than anything.”

Nodding, I release a sigh and run my thumb along my bottom lip. This thing with Jacob has done a number on everyone. I’m not even sure what to say or do at this point. Jason keeps getting into random fights, Campbell has barely talked to any of us—and every time he does, it seems like he’s drunk—and then there’s Mase, who has been weird and still believes that Jacob is guilty.

“How are you doing?” Sienna asks softly. I realize while looking at her that she’s really grown up and matured over this past year. There’s this genuine kindness to her, unlike my sister, and I hope that never changes. She’s the only other girl besides Sunflower that I actually talk to.

I offer her a timid smile, adjusting my glasses. “I’m okay.”

She watches me as if waiting for me to elaborate, and when I don’t, she gestures with her hand. “Come on, he’s in the kitchen.”

Following behind her, I find Jason leaning against the counter with a bag of peas over his eye. It’s already been a few hours, so he must have gotten hit pretty hard if he’s still icing it.

“Hey,” he says when he sees me, lifting the bag from his face.

“Hey,” I reply slowly, taking note of his bloodshot eyes. To anyone else, they may seem like the result of the fight, but there is a haziness to them I’ve seen a few times. He’s high. “How’s it going?”

A goofy smile spreads across his cheeks. “I’m feeling pretty great.”

“That’s good, at least. You know you didn’t have to step in for me at school.”

He waves me off. “Of course I did. I’ve always got your back. Want something to eat? I’m going to eat something.”

My chest rises and falls with a sigh. I may not agree with him getting into fights, but knowing I have him on my side is nice.

Jason looks at me expectantly, reminding me that he asked about food. I might as well have something since I didn’t get to eat at home before Deanna turned up.

“Yeah, okay.”

“What do you want?”

He gets rid of the peas and walks into the pantry before I can answer him, and the sounds of rummaging comes from within a second later. I glance over at Sienna, who has taken a seat on one of the stools at the breakfast bar. She’s frowning in the direction of Jason, but glances at me when she feels me looking at her.

“I didn’t ask how you were doing.”

I’m sure it’s not easy for her to have a brother who keeps getting into fights because of his association with Jacob.

She tucks some of her blonde hair behind her ear, and the side of her mouth curves up. “Oh, I’m okay.”

Jason emerges from the pantry a second later with his hands full of food and dumps it all on the counter, nodding to the box of Lucky Charms cereal. “You can have those since you love them so much. Literally no one in our family eats them. I don’t even know why we always have them here.”

I huff out a chuckle when he starts pulling bowls out and enthusiastically shoves one into my chest. “Thanks.”

The worry for his well-being and all the other shit going on takes a back seat when I see how happy he looks for the moment, even if I know it is from the weed.

“I’m going to grab my phone and put some music on. Be right back.”

Jason shuffles out of the kitchen as I pour some cereal into a bowl, and once he’s out of sight, I quickly pull out my phone.

Me: Have I told you I love Lucky Charms cereal?

I place my phone on the counter at the exact same time Sienna’s phone dings from in front of her, drawing my attention. Pink touches her cheeks when she picks it up and reads it, causing one of my eyebrows to lift when she looks at me.

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