Page 53 of All My Broken Pieces

The walk out of the police station is full of stilted silence, only serving to make me angrier. She should be furious at me, having to come down to bail me out in the middle of the night. But, instead, Linda doesn’t say a word.

It’s not until we pull up to our house that she speaks.

Letting out a heavy sigh, Linda turns toward me, her face exhausted. “Why do you keep doing this?” She watches me, pleading for an answer I can’t give her.

Shrugging my shoulders, I pick at the skin along my nails. “I didn’t do anything she didn’t deserve.” I mumble.

“Deserve?” Linda echoes.

I bob my head, refusing to look up at her.

She lets out an exasperated noise, her voice laced with the same exhaustion as her expression had. “You’re telling me that sweet girl deserved to have her arm broken? In what possible world wouldanyonedeserve that, Arriana?” Linda doesn’t give me a chance to respond, opening her door and climbing out of the vehicle.

I watch after her, replaying the words that Suzie Crawford had said to me, the same ones she has tormented me with for years now.

“Oh, hey, it’s the psychofreak. Why don’t you just go back to Mexico where you belong, or better yet, why don’t you just join your mother?”

My teeth set on edge, the sound of her snickering filling my ears as she repeatedly poked fun at my late mom. As my mind replays the years of torment, I find I wish I had done more than break her stupid little arm.

Exiting the car, I slam the door shut and stomp inside. I’m greeted by the sounds of a heated discussion as I enter the house I’ve been forced to call home.

“What are we going to do about this, Henry?” Linda asks her husband. His reply is too quiet to hear, but I can only guess it would be something I don’t want to hear anyway.

Turning away from their voices, I walk to my room and nearly run into Spencer as he exits his own. “Nice going.” He scoffs, crossing his arms and blocking my path. “Do you haveanyidea what this is going to do to my reputation? It’s already bad enough that I’m saddled with Cooper and his awkwardness, and now I’ve got to deal with this.” He waves his hand up and down the length of my body. “I’m officially going to be branded as the brother of the girl who got the cops called on a party. Who’s going to invite me out again withthathanging over my head, huh?”

I roll my eyes, pushing past him. “Not everything is about you, Spencer.” I snap, ignoring his continued complaints.

Stalking into my room, I slam the door shut and lean back against it, closing my eyes and trying to calm my breathing. No matter how badly I tried to fit in, I just can’t seem to make it work. Always too different to blend into the crowd.

Mamá used to praise those differences, whispering how much she loved all the things that made memeas she would gently stroke back my hair.

Now I have no one who loves me, no one to offer comfort when my world starts to fall apart.

All I have is a family that’s not my own, and now a rap sheet to show just how fucked up my future promises to be.

A quiet knock sounds on the door and I release a heavy sigh. Pushing upright, I crack it open, peeking through the small opening to see who’s on the other side.

“Hey, Arri.” Cooper smiles softly. “Can I come in?”

I debate saying no, but find the ache for someone,anyoneto be on my side is too great.

Without a word, I swing open the door and cross the room. Climbing onto my bed, I cross my legs and lean my head back against the headboard.

Cooper slips inside, shutting the door behind him and taking his spot beside me. We sit in silence for a long time, something we’ve done on many occasions now. Often just seeking comfort in the presence of each other without the need for words.

A quiet laugh sounds beside me, and I slowly turn my head to look at him. “What’s so funny?” I demand, my eyes narrowing as his laughter increases.

Cooper chuckles, nudging me with his shoulder. “She totally deserved it.”

A smile pulls up the corner of my lips as I’m reminded that I’m not alone. Not entirely.

“She did, right?” My own quiet giggles join in with his, and I can feel some of the heaviness lift from my chest with it.

“Lo siento.” Cooper murmurs as our laughter dies off. “I should have stood up for you.”

Shaking my head, I pull my knees up to my chest. “Naw,hermano. It’ll just make life worse for you.Puedo manejarlo.” I lift my shoulders in a small shrug, wishing more than anything I didn’t have to.

Cooper’s hand covers my knee. Squeezing his fingers, he ducks his head to meet my gaze. “Sure, you can, but you don’t have to.”

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