Page 15 of Splintered Hearts

“You draw her and you’ll lose seven fingers!”

“Why seven—”

“I won’t even tell you which ones until I begin. Each one will be a bloody surprise!”

“You deserved that,” my asshole friend agrees.

Yeah, yeah. I know better. There are three things my brother doesn’t joke about—his limited edition Charizard Pokémon card that he has framed to this day, our saint of a mother, and Brianna.

“I’m sorry,” I wheeze. “You’re an asshole.”

“I’ll kick your ass.”

Rolling onto my back, I look up at the stars. It’s one of my favorite things to do. Some nights I come out here and just lay on the grass, looking up at the night sky and wondering if this is it. When dealing out souls had I been dealt the short straw?

Maybe, though, that’s my problem. Things just happen to me and I roll with it.

All I want is a tiny piece of the person I was before all of this. Before I let tragedy and a drunk asshole ruin my life. “Eight okay?”

“Yeah.” That’ll give me a few hours to take some medication, sleep, and shower. “What are you guys bringing?”

“Not a very good hostess.” Xavier laughs.

“I’m not throwing this, I’m just allowing you two assholes to have it here.”

Xavier looks at Hunter. “Do I need to say it or will you?”

“What?” Hunter shakes his head. “What!” I demand.

“Jamie.” Well, I don’t like that tone, not one damn bit. “You know why we’re having it here.”

My stomach twists. I need them all to go, now. I need space. “But it’s okay,” Xavier cuts in. “It’ll be fun. We want to have it here.”

“No you don’t. You’d be better having it at Mark’s. Don’tcoddle me.”

“We aren’t coddling you. Mark’s place is too small. It’s okay.” Hunter tries to make me feel better. “We’re having it here. I want to spend one last night here. It’s fine.”

It isn’t fine—at all. I couldn’t leave the house and go to Mark’s. That would require me to get in a car and... No fucking thank you. Well, now I feel like shit, and to think I was finally having a good day. Not so good, I guess.

Just better.

Surviving, waking up, and breathing only work if I don’t let my mind wander. I can’t dwell. I can’t think.

That’s what weed is for.

Maybe I’ll text Bri. She’ll gladly supply me, loving when my ass is “high and happy” instead of “sober and insufferable.”

“Take a nap, asshole, we’re going to the store.”

“We’ll be back in a few hours, then it’s party time!” Xavi puts his hands on his knees, attempting to twerk. I shake my head and he sticks his tongue out, following Hunter out of my house. I’d better go in and sleep, then mentally prepare myself for a house full of people.

Fantastic.

Five

Noah

I look hot.

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