Page 162 of The Breaking Pointe
I look at the recording object, having trouble maskingmy disgust.I look around at the few people around me,and back at that particular reporter, scowling at his preppy appearance.“What’s that supposed to mean?He’s a criminal, and I think he should have it worse.This is just how karma begins,” I scoff, opening my door and joining Noelle in the car, starting it so we can get away as quickly as possible.
“You don’t have to be upset with them.It’s just their jobs,” Noelle quietly ponders beside me.
She’s right, but it doesn’t make them irritate me any less. “I know, but it’s kind of belittling to keep listening to them question us about the situation.It’s none of their business,”
I say calmly, pressing my foot onto the gas pedal to drive us away from the nosy reporters.
“I guess so,” she quietly responds, curling into a ball in the passenger seat.
Noticingherposturechange,Ipullovertothenearest
parking spot and stop everything.
“Talk to me, Noelle. Please,” I adjure, resting my hands on my lap.
I’ve been doing that a lot recently. I’m too scared to touch her. I don’t want to scare her. I hate that I even have to think like that.
Ihatewhathe’sdone.
“Whatistheretosay?”sheasks,finallylookingat me through a few strands of curly curtain bangs over her forehead.
“Anything,” I say.
I will literally take anything, if it means she’s gonna let me know how she feels about all of this. For the first time, I need to talk about it.
“Do you really meananything?”she asks, sitting up to give me her full attention.
I nod, turning my body in her direction.
“You gotta gimme something, sweetness,” Ireason softly.
She bites her bottom lip briefly while inspecting the space between our car seats.
“I’m not over it, Colton,” she says softly.
“I wouldn’t expect you to be, Noelle.Not at all,” I reassure her statement.
“Okay, but I don’t know if I ever will be,” she proclaims, quickly and furiously, causing me to keep my lips shut and resume being quiet.
Gaping at her hand movements, I can tell she is fed up. Not with me, but certainly with everything else.
At least I don’t think it’s me.
“You know…” She sighs, pushing her curly strands from out of her face to allow me to view her reddened, watery eyes.
“I love you, Cole, but I’m a lot to handle. And just because…” She sniffles, taking another big breath after stuttering her last few words, “Just because I want you—that doesn’t mean that you should have to stay and deal with me, or wait for me to get better or any of this stuff.”She speaks quickly, mixing more sniffles and stutters into the mix.“You know—you should just leave me. I’ll be okay if you do—” She weeps as she forces this foul idea upon me.
I can’t even move, thinking about giving into that.I would never give into that. I’m not leaving her, not when she needs someone the most right now. I refuse. That’s not what she did to me.
“Noelle, you don’t mean that.” I shake my head, feeling an uncomfortable tickle in my throat.Clearing it, I speak again. “I know that you don’t mean that.”
I reach out for her hand, only for her to shove it away.
“I mean it, Colton, you stay away!” she orders, trying to fight the tears that are already covering her cheeks.“I’m damaged! You should get rid of me while you can!”she yells at me, now fully crying and allowing all of her feelings to be flat out on the table for me to see.
“I can’t do that. I’m sorry, but I can’t.” I gaze over at her tear-filled eyes, feeling my own warm droplets drip down my cheekbones. I wipe them the sleeve of my shoulder and sniffle, clearing my throat and staying resilient. “No. I love you. I’m staying. I’m here to be your protector. I’m not him, and I won’t let him batter what we have.”
She targets me with pressed lips and a vulgar-looking stare.Without remorse, she then pushes my chest, with what I assume to be all of her strength.
