Page 44 of All My Broken Pieces

I shouldn’t be this happy. It’s really fucked up the amount of enjoyment I got out of watching Arriana break Scarlett’s nose. I felt like a kid on Christmas Day.

It wasn’t necessarily the actual broken nose that I loved so much, even though that was also satisfying. No, it was seeing her stand up for me. Something I’ve witnessed once before, but that memory is filled with too many negative ones to really give me the same satisfaction I know this one will.

A chill runs through my body as the wind whips around us, blowing my hair into my face. My knees ache from the hardconcrete and my right eye throbs, a painful reminder of the hell I’ve found myself in.

I’m not getting out of here.

Tears stream down my cheeks at the thought, the hopelessness I’ve been fighting back creeping up once again.

“Glad you could make it.” The evil man’s voice rings out moments before he sighs and grips my hair. I can’t stop the pained cry that sounds as he yanks my head back.

“Don’t touch her.” My eyes widen, darting toward the voice.

Arriana.

My heart thunders in my chest, drowning out everything around us.

She’s here.

Another sharp tug on my head has me crying out again. “Ple-please just let me go.” I beg.

Arriana takes a half-step toward me, trying to sooth me with her words. Making promises I don’t know if she can keep. “It’s okay, baby. You’re gonna be okay.”

I shake my head, trying to clear the memory before it brings about worse ones. Ones that still feature in my nightmares.

“Baby, are you alright?” Arriana’s concerned question pulls my attention back to her.

I blink several times, pushing away the emotions threatening to overwhelm me. Squaring my shoulders, I tip my chin. “Yeah, I just…let’s go see Hudson.” I chicken out, not wanting to get into all of it right now. The need to hold onto this bubble of happiness we’ve found amidst the chaos of everything else fuels my decision to swallow my feelings.

Peeking at Arriana out of the corner of my eye, I can feel the nerves build up, getting trapped in my throat and making it hard to swallow. I know I’m not going to be able to hold in all the emotions, but I don’t want to ruin what I’ve just gotten back.

I’m going to need a girls night with Ava. And soon.

At the thought, I pull out my phone as we make our way into the hospital.

Me

Wine and Bachelor soon?

Bestie *double pink heart emoji*

Yessss. Tomorrow?

My eyes flick to Arriana as I chew on my lip. A gnawing guilt churns my stomach as I turn to my friend instead of her. It’s not that I think she would have an issue in me seeking the comfort of my friend, but rather that I don’t want her to think I’m distancing myself again. Especially not after wejustgot to a decent place.

Sensing my gaze, Arriana glances at me with a quirk of her eyebrow. “What is it,mi vida?”

I glance at my phone and back again. “Um, so this is totally not related to all the stuff that just happened because that was hot. Like it shouldn’t have been, but it totally was.” I take a deep breath, wishing I could talk like a normal person, but when I get nervous it’s like I lose complete control over my brain and my mouth just kinda spews everything.

Arriana chuckles, brushing her fingers down my neck. “Tell me what’s going on.” Her eyes are twinkling with humor at my word vomit and it helps alleviate some of the anxiety.

“I kinda need to talk to Ava.” My voice trails off as Arriana’s expression falls.

She quickly recovers, masking whatever reaction she had and smiles at me. “Whatever you need.” Leaning over, she presses a soft kiss to my forehead.

My heart blooms at her easy acceptance, even if she’s not thrilled by it, she wants me to be happy. To have what I need. “I love you.” I whisper, losing myself in her dark eyes.

“I love you too.” She breathes, brushing my hair behind my ear. “So fucking much.Te amo, mi vida.”

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