Broken by Vic Johnson (accelerated reader books txt) 📕

Well that was fun. I knew it was only a matter of time before she tried to do something to me but I didn’t think she would tell lies about my dad. Jackson and Brooke were just leaving me to my thoughts which was a good thing because I was really annoyed at Maddy. All this because I ‘stole’ her boyfriend. She needed to get a grip.

I thought today was going to be a good day. Brooke was smiling and me and Jackson were finally together. I couldn’t wait for today. For the first time since I got here I was looking forward to a day at school.

I wasn’t going to put up with this. I pushed my dinner aside, got up and left the cafeteria. Jackson shouted me as I left but he thankfully didn’t follow.

I went to the principal. It was only a threat when I said it but I changed my mind.

After I left the office I felt a little better. I went straight to class careful not to make eye contact with anyone so they didn’t speak to me.

The last lesson of the day was Biology. I sat in my usual seat and waited for class to start. Jackson came in and sat beside me. He kissed my temple just as Freddie passed. Freddie shook his head and sat behind us. I looked back at him and he looked sad. I felt really bad.

‘You ok?’ Jackson asked me. I just nodded.

After school Jackson tried to get me in his car but I just wanted to be alone so I walked home. It was nice to be by myself for a little while. It really was beautiful here. I walked along the pier and bought a milkshake and watched the sunset.

On my way home I stopped at the diner me and Paige went to on my first day. I sat in a booth and ordered a burger and fries. While I was waiting Charlie came in. He looked at me then went to the other side of the diner. He looked at me again and I half smiled. He took that as an invitation and came and sat with me.

After he had ordered we sat in silence for a long time.

‘Why did you do it?’ I asked.

‘I was having a really bad day’

‘That’s a shit excuse’ he looked at the table. ‘Walk me through it’

‘Why?’

‘Because I want to understand. Why do the people we love hurt us the most’

‘Do you mean Jack?’

‘No he would never hurt me’

‘Do you know my parents got divorced last year?’

‘Yeah’ he looked really down. I hadn’t noticed before. Everyone has been so focused on Brooke because she is the one that got hurt.

‘After Brooke and I had that fight I was lonely. I never see my dad anymore and my mum is either at work or passed out drunk somewhere’ wow I didn’t expect him to share so much. ‘I got a call from my dad he said he needed to talk to me. Obviously I met him and he told me his girlfriend was pregnant and they were getting married. I was gutted. It’s selfish I know but all I could think was what about me. Now I’m going to see him even less.’ Our food came then. I started to eat but he didn’t touch his. ‘I was the one who found out my dad was cheating’

‘Really’ I said ‘I didn’t know that’

‘Nobody does. Not even Jack. I was embarrassed to tell anyone’

‘Why? It’s not your fault’

‘I know that now. I saw him one day going into that motel off the highway. I was driving past and I saw his car. I pulled in just as he was going into a room with her. Three times a week his car would be there. I kept it quite for nearly a year until I couldn’t take it anymore’

‘What did you do?’ I was fascinated now.

‘He took a bite out of his burger ‘I went to the motel one day and waited for them to show up. When they did I watched what room they went in. I gave it 10 minutes because I needed them to be in a state of undress I guess you could say so he couldn’t pass it off as a business meeting. I knocked on the door and there was no answer at first. I kept knocking till finally she answered. She didn’t know who I was but when I asked if my dad was there she got the message. My dad begged me not to say anything but in the end he knew he had to come clean. I think he ended up with the witch just cos my mum threw him out’ He laughed ‘I don’t think he even likes her and now he is stuck with her’

I laughed too.

We sat there for a few hours. We had ice cream and coffees.

‘So tell me, why did you sleep with Maddy?’

‘I just felt so down and rejected by everyone, including Brooke. I had a few drinks, then a few more and I saw Maddy and it just happened. I regret it. It ruined everything. I heard about what she did to you today’

‘I’m ok. I wasn’t ok at first. Until I saw you. Your problems are way bigger, kind of put some things into perspective’

‘Glad I could help’ he said laughing

Just then his phone started to ring. ‘It’s Jackson’ he said looking at me.

‘Answer it. We’re not doing anything wrong’

‘Hey man what’s up?’ he listened for a second ‘woooaaa calm down I know where she is. Because I’m sat with her. What?’ Charlie sounded pissed when he said that. He hung up before saying bye. ‘You better go. There worried about you’

‘Why?’ I was confused

‘He said you haven’t been in touch with anyone and your phone is off. Max is out looking for you’

‘My phone died earlier. What did he say to you at the end?’

‘Nothing’ that was a lie.

‘Charlie, tell me’

‘He said I wasn’t content with ruining my relationship I was now trying to take you away from him’

‘He said what?’

‘Yeah anyway you better go’

‘Can I use your phone?’

‘Yeah sure’ he handed it to me and I called Jackson.

Three times I called before he answered. ‘What Charlie?’

‘Pick me up at the diner’

‘Beth are you…..’ I hung up.

‘Thanks’ I said to Charlie handing back his phone. ‘Look if you tell Brooke what you told me today. I think eventually she will forgive you.

‘If she ever speaks to me again’

‘She will’ I winked at him then left. 

When I pulled up she was sat on the bench outside. She looked pissed. Charlie was just pulling out the exit. I got out the car and went and sat beside her. She didn’t look at me. Why was she mad? I’ve been worried sick.

‘Everyone has been worried about you’ I say softly. I’m mad at her but she had a rough day.

‘I highly doubt that’ she says in that sarcastic tone she uses when she is mad.

‘They were. Even Jessica. When you didn’t come home from school she sent Max out to find you. When he couldn’t she phoned my mum and got my number. I went to your house and it was frantic. Jessica was on the phone to the principal to see if you were still at the school. Max was leaving again to try and find you and Paige was crying in the corner. My mum went to your mum and tried to calm her down and I took Paige to her room’

‘Is she ok?’

‘She was when I left. I told her you were fine and had just gotten lost. That you would find your way back to us’ her shoulders eased a bit at that. ‘I was worried though. With what happened at school and you saying you thought Caleb was going to do something. I was scared’

‘I just went for a walk on the beach and then on the pier. I really didn’t think it would be a big deal. Jessica doesn’t notice me when I’m there anyway’

‘What about me? You know I notice you’

‘I’m sorry you were worried and I’m sorry I upset Paige. I’ll make it up to her’ she stood and walked to the car. ‘Will you take me home please?’ why was she still been off with me?

She doesn’t say a word all the way to her house. I pull up and stop the car. She doesn’t get out though. All of a sudden a pit inside my stomach opens and I feel like I am going to hurl.

‘Jackson’ she says with her head down.

‘Don’t you dare break up with me’

She finally looks at me ‘what?’

‘You heard me. I only just got you back. If you need space or time or whatever I’ll give it too you but we are not breaking up’

‘Jackson’

‘No I mean it. For fucks sake Beth you can’t keep doing this to me’ I get out the car and start walking towards my house. I can’t deal with this.

‘Jackson’ she shouts ‘stop’ I don’t stop I keep going. ‘Fine run off like a child. Don’t stay and talk about it like a man would’ she has stopped following me. I slow down a bit. ‘I wasn’t even going to break up with you you loon!!!’ I stop and turn around. It starts to rain. We stand looking at each other for a long time. She starts to walk towards me. ‘Why do you always think the worst of me Jackson? Just because I said your name in a ‘we need to talk way’ does not mean I was going to break up with you. In fact I didn’t wanna talk about us at all but off you go on your high horse as usual. Urgh do you even care about what you said to Charlie tonight?’

‘What has he got to do with it?’

‘Oh my god’

She turns and starts to walk away. I run and stop in front of her. ‘What did I say to him?’

‘You accused him of trying to get with me. He is your best friend’

‘He already slept with my ex’

‘So why are you bothered? Are you jealous?’

‘What? No of course not’

‘Then let it go’ she walks around me so I jump in front of her again. ‘Go talk to him’

‘Why were you with him?’ it felt good to finally ask.

‘I thought you weren’t jealous’

‘Of him and Maddie I’m not. But you, well that’s different’

‘I ran into him at the diner. That is all. He never once tried to make a move or do anything that would upset you. In fact he talked about Brooke and his family’

‘I know his family