Page 54 of Collided

Rolling his eyes, he sits at the island and starts stacking up pancakes.

I carefully take a seat next to him. Retrieving a fork, I dive for his pancake.

He slaps my hand away. “Stop eating my food.”

“It was one fucking bite.”

Marie serves me next then goes upstairs to tidy up the bed and gather their things for school.

Silence settles in. I feel uneasiness in the pit of my stomach. It wasn’t this quiet when his mother was around and making a mess around the house, screaming and cursing at him, or fucking men in her room down the hallway.

“I think someone is abusing Hope,” I blurt out.

Sebastian stops chewing and narrows his eyes on me. A deep frown that will grow wrinkles on his forehead.

He’d look so fucking ugly.

“What the fuck, Heath?” He hisses at me.

I clear my throat. Feeling completely no edge with how my intestines curl and twist in discomfort. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. But Sebastian is my best fucking friend. I can tell him anything.

“I know it sounds fucking delusional. But I’m telling yousomethingis wrong.”

His fork clatters on the plate. “How do you know?”

Anger surges through me ferociously. My fingers dig into the palms as they form into fists.

For some unknown reason I feel violent at the thought of someone hurting her enough to leave marks. Her neck hadfinger-like fucking bruises that were put there and weren’t from a fucking straightener.

“I—” something in me stops me from mentioning those marks. I want to keepthatinformation to myself because it seems too personal.

I look at my best friend who’s watching me with piqued interest.

“She’s skittish and keeps her distance,” I say, instead.

“Maybe because she’s shy. Or we intimidate her.”

I want to slap his fucking face.

Sebastian is one stupid asshole.

“Right because we look like fucking monsters from the movies.” I sarcastically comment.

Sebastian shrugs. “I wouldn’t disagree. I mean look at me. I’m quite tall and big.”

I want to bang my fucking head against a wall.

“We’re the exact same,” I say.

“You’re not quite as muscular as me. That’s why I’m better than you at boxing.”

I chuckle dryly. “Wanna test that later today?”

Sebastian grins with his blond mess covering the forehead. “Sure. What do I get for winning?”

“Nothing because you arenotgoing to win. However, if I win, you’re going to give me that fucking list you were talking about.”

Sebastian laughs and elbows me in the stomach. “Pathetically like her.”

---