Broken by Vic Johnson (accelerated reader books txt) 📕

‘Hi Paige. I would love to play with you but not right now. I’m really tired from the flight and I have to unpack my things but how about once im settled we spend the whole day getting to know each other? How does that sound?’

‘AMAZING’ she shouted. I couldn’t help but laugh.

‘Ok then. You, me it’s a date’ I said holding her hand ‘We will do anything you want’

‘Yay’ she sang jumping on the bed. ‘I have been so excited since mummy said you were coming’

‘When did she tell you?’ I asked curious.

‘Erm…..’ She said thinking about it ‘maybe a month ago’

My heart dropped. ‘Did you know about me before that?’

‘No’ she said straight to the point ‘Daddy was mad when he found out. They had a lot of fights about it’

I wanted to cry. She hadn’t mentioned me at all to anyone. Even though she left I still thought she must think about me, talk about me and miss me even. I guess her new life was more important.

‘Have I made you sad?’ Paige asked. She had stopped bouncing.

‘No its fine’ I said lying. I smiled at her but she didn’t look convinced ‘How old are you?’

‘I’m nearly 9. Just a few more weeks.’ Wow 4 years. That was all it took for her to replace me. Wow.

‘Actually I feel like going for a walk, do you want to come?’

‘Yeah’ she squealed jumping off the bed. She might actually make been here bearable.

While Paige was getting ready for our walk (which apparently the outfit she wore was not good enough for) I stood in the kitchen waiting. Max was in there so I decided to dig a little deeper

‘So’ I said and he turned around ‘How long have you and Jessica been married?’

‘We got married 2 years ago’ He said and he continued with what he was doing.

‘I guess my invite was lost in the mail huh?’ I said as sarcastic as I could. He stopped again and turned to look at me.

‘I’m sorry it’s gone down like this. If I had known about you I would have invited you’

‘When did you guys meet?’ He knew I was just fishing for info.

‘We met a year after she got here and moved into a small apartment the year after. 2 years later she was pregnant and we got this house. I know you’re mad at her. I am too. She never mentioned a husband or child. But she gave me Paige’ he said it with so much warmth it made me instantly like him. A lot more then I liked her.

‘Paige is great’ I said with a laugh. ‘When did she tell you about me?’

‘Right after the phone call from your grandma asking if you could come here to school. She sat me down and told me. It was a shock’

‘Her leaving us was a shock too’

Just then Paige came running in.

We walked around for a long time. Paige showed me some things but nothing I needed to know. Unless knowing where her best friend Keisha fell off her bike is important. Max had given us some money so we went to the cinema. We saw some Disney film that was actually alright. After we left Paige said she was hungry and she knew a diner around the corner that did the best hamburgers. So off we went.

‘Hey’ Charlie shouted while he punched my arm at the same time.

‘What?’ I asked

‘Are you thinking about Maddy?’

‘God no’ I said laughing ‘I’m fine.’ I could not get that girl out of my head. She had the most amazing blue eyes. Who was she and why did bitchface interfere?

Just then the door opened and I glanced up. It was her. She was with a young girl that looked familiar. They sat at the other side of the diner. She didn’t see me but I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She was laughing with the young girl but she seemed sad. There was a lot of pain in her eyes. I was just about to walk over there when Fat Frank walked past us. I knew this was going to end badly. I hope she didn’t see what my friends were like.

‘Fat Frank’ Caleb called. Frank tried to speed up but Caleb was too fast. I used to get a kick out of bullying Frank, or anyone for that matter but it was starting to make me uncomfortable.

‘Come on Cal leave it’

‘I will leave it when Frank begs me to’ Caleb said

‘Please’ Frank said ‘Please just leave me alone’ I thought he was going to cry.

‘You see Jack; Fat Frank here thinks he is better than us’

‘No he doesn’t’ I said. ‘Come on just leave it’

Just then Frank tried to run off. Caleb grabbed him and pushed him into the table. He back handed Frank so hard the noise of it echoed. He raised his hand to hit him again. Just as I was about to stop him Caleb went flying backwards, lost his footing and landed on the floor with a thud. He jumped up to see who had attacked him and then we all stood there shocked. It was her. She had pushed him.

She took Frank by the arm and started to lead him to her table. Caleb went to grab her.

‘Whoa’ I said standing in front of him.

She spun round ‘Are you going to hit me now too you coward?’ She had the most perfect English accent.

Caleb pushed me out of the way ‘I’m not a coward’ he shouted.

‘Yes you are’ she said stepping right up to him. She wasn’t scared one bit. ‘You pick on people weaker then you. You know he can’t defend himself so you bully him. You’re a very sad little boy’

He raised his fist at her but she didn’t even flinch

‘Go on’ she said not taking her eyes off him ‘My bet is you have a terrible home life. Always trying to please daddy but he would rather slap you about a bit then listen to you. So when you’re not with him you take it out on people weaker then you. Am I right?’ from the look on his face she was.

I was too slow. I did not see the punch coming. Not that she needed my help. She ducked to avoid his punch the punched him instead. Right on the nose. He fell to the floor with blood oozing out of it. She turned to us.

‘You should all be ashamed of yourselves’ then she looked me right in the eye and looked at me with so much hate and disgust that I felt sick.

She took Frank again by the arm and went and sat back at her table.

Caleb was furious.

‘I think you should just leave’ I said

‘I am going to get that bitch for that’ he spat.

‘No you’re not’ I said standing in front of him. ‘Just go home’

Everyone started to leave with him.

‘You coming?’ Charlie asked.

‘I’m gonna make sure Frank is ok. He hit him pretty hard this time’

‘Ok mate, see ya later’

I watched them all leave then started to walk over to their table. I couldn’t let that be last look she gave me. I need tonight to end better. She wouldn’t go out with me if I didn’t at least apologize.

‘That was really cool’ Frank was saying when I got to the table ‘thank you. Nobody has ever stood up for me before’

‘Bullies are just week minded people. Weaker even then the people they bully’ She said. Her accent made her hotter. ‘Don’t let them do it too you anymore’

‘Are you ok Frank?’ I asked as I got to the table. She didn’t look up. I need her to look at me

‘I’m fine’ he said

I sat in the booth next to him. ‘I am really sorry. I tried to stop it’

‘Ha’ she snorted

‘I did’

‘Looked like it’ she said. She still wouldn’t look at me.

‘Would you guys like a ride home?’ I asked hoping to spend more time with her

‘My mum is on her way’ Frank said

‘No thanks’ she said

‘Do you know who that is?’ the young girl asked smiling at me

‘I don’t care.’ She got up and left the table pulling the girl with her. I got up and followed them out.

‘We live on the same street so I wouldn’t be going out of my way’ I said hopeful

‘No’ she said and started walking. Fine I’ll walk with her.

‘What’s your name?’ I asked. She ignored me. ‘I’m Jackson’ I said holding out my hand for her to shake. She ignored me again. I don’t think I have ever been ignored by anyone. ‘So you’re from England?’ I asked just hoping for anything at this point.

‘What gave me away?’ she said sarcastically.

‘Well it wasn’t the English charm I have heard so much about.’ Her lips twitched in a smile ever so slightly. I was getting somewhere.

Suddenly she stopped and faced me. The young girl stopped just behind her.

‘What do you want?’ she snapped. I was a bit shocked but she finally looked me in the eye.

‘Nothing’

‘So why are you following me?’

‘This is the way to my house too’

‘Whatever’ she said and carried on walking.

‘Ok wait, please wait’ she stopped again and looked at me. ‘I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since I saw you this morning. I like you’

‘You don’t know me’

‘I want to’

She suddenly looked really sad ‘trust me, you don’t’ she turned away again ‘come on Paige’ she said to the girl. I wanted to hug her. She looked so unhappy.

I caught up to her and walked beside her in silence. It was dark and I didn’t want her to walk home on her own. Even though it was only another two blocks. When I got to her she didn’t say anything she just sighed.

When we got to the house Paige went running in but she stopped at the end of the driveway and looked at me.

‘Thank you for walking us home’

‘You’re welcome’ I said. ‘Although I now have to walk back and get my car’ she half smiled at me and then turned to walk away. I put my hand on her shoulder. ‘Wait’ I said. She looked at me again. I bent forward and kissed her on the side of her mouth. She took a sharp intake of breath which made me feel funny inside. ‘I will pick you up tomorrow at 10am. Be ready’

‘Why?’ she asked

‘I’ll show you around’ I said adding because I need to see you again in my head. I walked away before she could say no.