Page 12 of Shattered

Sunflower: Have I told you I love your eyes?

Something loosens in me, and my insides lighten up, a soft glow warming me all over. I don’t need the pills from Jason because Sunflower manages to make me feel light when there is nothing but heaviness around me.

Before I have a chance to react, Jason yanks the phone from my hand and tries to read the screen with squinted eyes. “I knew it! I knew you’ve been texting a girl. But who the fuck is Sun . . . Sunflower?”

I scramble to snatch it back, my little piece of heaven taken away from me, but he falls backward onto the bed with a chuckle, holding my phone above his head as if I can’t easily reach it. He, of all people, should never underestimate what a man is willing to do to get that sliver of happiness back. Climbing over him, my knee jabs into his stomach, causing him to grunt, but I don’t care. I pull it free and then push back to my feet.

Holding his stomach and still chuckling under his breath, he asks, “Does she have a sister named Tulip or Rose?”

I roll my eyes with two parts annoyance and one part amusement. “You’re a dick.”

“Seriously though, I’m happy you have someone. I’ll be your best man at the wedding.” I huff at his ridiculousness, though my lips still pull to the side. “You should try this stuff. I feel like I’m in space right now, and all the sharp edges are fuzzy.”

The smile drops from my face. “Yeah, I think I’ll pass.” Alcohol and drugs are two things I’m not particularly fond of.

My phone dings again, but unfortunately, there’s no light feeling when I read the text.

Campbell: The trial is set for five weeks from now.

“Is that your woman?” Jason asks, his eyes closed, but his hands make dancing movements as if he’s hearing music in his head.

I stare at my phone for a minute, rereading the text. This is really happening, isn’t it? One of my best friends is being charged with sexual assault and could go to prison. I can’t even imagine how the fuck he must be feeling right now. I lean forward on my elbow, my thumb rubbing across my bottom lip in thought.

“Ask her about a sister.”

Jason’s words have my head lifting, his original question registering. “Uh, no, it was Campbell.”

Pushing onto his elbows, his enlarged pupils land on me. “What did he say?”

“The trial will be in just over a month.” I sigh again, roughing a hand through my hair as I locate the photo of the five of us on Jason’s wall.

What the fuck happened to those five carefree kids?

Jason’s chuckling draws my attention to him, my brows pulled together.

“I told you they’re fast-tracking it.” His laughter increases to the point he rolls to the side, clutching his stomach.

“Why the hell is that so funny?” I demand.

Slowly, his laughter fades until he’s just staring ahead, a smile remaining. “I have no idea, but fuck, it felt good.”

Shaking my head, I open my phone and type out a message to Campbell.

Me: I’m pretty sure Jason and I will be there.

We’ll no doubt hear about it on the news over the next little while, so if Campbell doesn’t get a chance to tell us the date, we’ll find out that way.

Jason starts humming from the bed, still in his curled up position, and I can’t help but wonder what it’s like to be inside his head right now. He had both weed and a pill—are they working against each other or working together to create a mixed high?

Realizing I never responded, I click over to my other message thread and reread what she said about my eyes.

Me: I’m sure I would say the same about yours if I knew what they looked like.

Sunflower: Okay, fine. I’ll tell you . . .

Sunflower: My eyes are blue.

Blue. The side of my lips curl into a smile. I finally have the color to add to the picture in my head.

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