Broken

Chapter Twelve: Jump

(I just want to thank you for reading this book. I love writing these stories because it's like therapy for me haha. I know these chapters go from 0 to 100 really quickly but I'm thinking about revising the chapters and adding more details in the future. Let me know in the comments if that's something you want me to do. )

"Get down from there right now!" The nurse screams at me. 

I can hear her talking to someone on the phone. She's telling them where I'm at and what I'm doing. Could t be Danny on the phone? I can't chance him finding me. As panic sets in I draw my fist back and punch the glass as hard as I can. On the third attempt, my hand breaks through the glass. I thought it was going to be like the movies I've watched where the glass shatters into a million pieces but that's not what happened here. The glass scrapes my hand and wrist as my fist punches a hole in the glass. I hiss in pain as I pull my hand back through the glass. I look at my wounds but they don't look that bad. I grab the glass with my left hand and pull it until most of it is away from the window frame. Time for plan b to begin. 

As I climb through the window, I can feel tiny shards of glass puncturing my hands, arms, stomach, and thighs as I slide through the window to the other side. Just as my body falls onto a flat rooftop I hear a car pull up at the same time. When I stand up, I can see Emily getting out of the back as she holds a cellphone to her right ear. So that's who that nurse was talking to. But why her? She puts her phone in her back pocket and starts walking towards the rooftop but Aiden stops her from getting any closer. 

"Let me go! She needs my help Aiden!" Emily begs Aiden to let her help me but I know the only help they're going to give me is sending me back home. I'll die before I go back there. Everyone will make fun of me for being with Mikey. Who knows what those football players will do to me when I go back to school. Kyle lives right across the street from me... He'll have access to the house any time he wants... 

I can hear Emily faintly telling me to come down slowly but my thoughts won't let me process any of it. I look at the ledge. Is this it for me? Is this how I die? 

I can hear Aidens' Fiance talking now, "Who cares about this little girl who lost her baby. We don't even know her. She's probably just a prostitute who got in way over her head and is looking for a way out. Just let her, "She looks up to me, "It's okay, sweety. Just jump! It will all be over as soon as you do!"

Her words replay over and over in my head. It will be okay. Just jump. Just Jump...Just like that, I feel at peace. I'll be with my baby again. I step closer to the ledge. I wasn't planning on going out this way but I'd rather it be this way than being touched by those boys again. 

Those strong arms I remember from that night wrap around me and pull me back from the ledge. When I catch a glimpse of who those muscular arms belong to, I begin to freak out once more. 

Aiden...

He's going to take me back I just know it. I thrash as much as I can to get away from him. I try and try again to headbutt him but he moves out of the way with every attempt. I feel like he can read my mind. With every movement I make, his movement matches mine. Every kick, he deflects. Every attempt to headbutt him is a huge fail. I don't understand how I could take down Mikey and Danny at the same that day but can't even land one hit on this guy. 

Bingo! 

If I stop struggling he'll stop holding me so tight. Here goes nothing. I stop moving. I don't blink my eyes, I just stand there as still as possible. Aiden turns me around to face him, "Why are you doing this?"

"I was only trying to get out of the hospital. All of this could have been prevented if they had just listened to me," As I finish I push him away from me. 

"I want to leave... I want to get as far away from this place and all of these people as fast as I can." Even Emily who seems to be so attached to me. It's kind of freaking me out. "Why do you want to get away so bad?" Aidens deep voice questions. I won't answer any of his personal questions. 

"The only way you're going to get out of here is if you have someone to pick you up."

"Well, I don't have anyone. I've been on my own for months now, "I say as I run my fingers through my hair. 

"What about the um... Babys' father," His eyes leave mine as he talks about it. 

"I'm pretty sure he wants nothing to do with me unless I let him do as he pleases with me," I dryly laugh at that, "Besides, that's the reason I ended up pregnant in the first place."

I can feel the hot tears building up, "I can't go back to him. He's a terrible man...

"I'm sorry," Aiden looks up at me. His eyes look like he's deeply sorry but his face shows no emotion. 

"Me too. I won't go back there again," I turn away from him, running to the ledge... I jump... 

Aiden is quick to grab my arm just as I jump. My body slams into the side of the brick building. I can hear Emily screaming as Aiden tries to pull me back up to 'safety'. I don't help him at all. I actually make my body into dead weight, no help at all is coming from me. I can see he's struggling to hold onto me with one hand. As he pulls me up by my forearm, his other hand grabs my bicep. Snaking his free arm around my body, just underneath my underarm, Aiden pulls will all of his strength until I'm back on the ledge. Our bodies fall to the graveled rooftop. As I lay safely on the gravel, Aiden by my side, I let out a weary breath.  It doesn't look like I'll have my freedom after all. These people don't even know me and yet he puts his life on the line to save me. I could have easily dragged him with me. 

"Let's go," Aiden says as he starts getting off the ground. I jump to my feet and start backing away from him. 

"No. Here's what's going to happen. I'm going to pay for your hospital bill, get you released from the hospital in our custody, and then... You're going to work for me until you pay back every dime I had to use to get you out of here," Aiden dusts off his suit and then looks back up to me.

"Once the debt is paid in full?" I ask a little more interested to know more about his plan.

"You'll be free to go wherever you want," He says as he holds his hand out for me to shake. 

"Okay..." I shake his hand. 

"Oh but first before we go," He takes his suit jacket off and drapes it over my shoulders. When I give him a questionable look he continues, "Your gown. It's open in the back remember?"

And just like that, I feel my face heat up. This whole time I've had my bare ass out for everyone to see... 

Aiden goes down the ladder partially before holding his hand out to me. I take his hand and turn around to place my foot on the first step, "Did I mention I'm scared of heights?" I say as I look down. 

"Well I wouldn't have guessed since you just tried to jump off a building," Aiden laughs, "Don't worry. I won't let you fall."

"You've proved that once today so I trust you." 

When I take the last step to the ground, Emily engulfs me in a bear hug, "Don't you ever do that again. When they called me I was so scared something happened to you. I watch as Aiden goes back to his girl. She rolls her eyes and grabs his tie to pull him into a kiss. 

Emily takes my hand in hers as we walk to the car. I guess she wants to make sure I don't run away. 

We wait in the car while Aiden pays for everything and signs some forms. I'm sure the damages I've done will be added to the bill as well... I just wonder how long I'll have to work for him before I can move on with my life. I'm afraid staying in one place for a long period of time will help them find me. That's why I've always moved on from place to place within a week of settling down. I'll be eighteen in one month. If I can keep them off my trail for one month then I'll never have to worry about any legal actions taking place. They can't force me to come back home when I'm legally an adult. I just hope these people aren't buying time for them until they get here. 

"You know, none of this makes any sense Emily," Aidens' fiance turns around in her seat to look at us, "You seem to pick up random people all the time. It's really becoming a bad habit. Wonder what your mom would think about you bringing strangers to the house..." 

Aiden gets in the car before Emily has time to say anything back. On the other hand, it didn't look like Emily was going to say anything anyway. Maybe she ignores her snide comments just like Aiden does. 

Aiden holds up two files as he looks back at me, "This has everything you need to know about your stay at the hospital plus the bill for all of it with an added bonus for the window you smashed. I'm keeping the original file for my records and you can have the copy," He hands the top file to me. 

As I start to open the file Aiden grabs my hand to stop me, "Every payday I expect you to be in my office to go over finances. Can you handle that?" He asks a little too sarcastic. I can't smart mouth him right now. He just gave me a job and a place to stay. 

"Yes Sir," Now I sound all formal like some businesswoman. I like it. Now I see why my mom always looked and acted all business-like. Makes you feel like you have some sort of power. 

I can sense a jealous vibe coming off his fiance for touching me. She directs the attention back on her, "Baby, I'm hungry. We didn't get to go to dinner because of all of this nonsense," She groans. 

"Let me take them back to the house and then we'll go out to dinner as I promised before," He puts the car in drive and takes her hand in his. The man who saved my life is with a soul crusher. Maybe that's the kind of woman he likes, beautiful,  ruthless, self-absorbed... Am I hitting the right marks for her? I think so. I don't even know her name and yet I can tell she's bad news for anyone around her. 

On the ride to their house, it was mostly filled with his fiance talking about her wedding ideas and Aiden's agreement humming every now and then. He doesn't seem like he's very interested in talking about it. Even his facial expression says please stop talking.

"I was thinking we could have roses on each bench. You know?"

Aiden hums again for the thirtieth time. 

"And I don't want you in a black suit. It's too normal and outdated for our wedding. Everything has to be unique.

Honestly, I'd rather jump off a building than listen to her any longer. Just thinking about earlier events of me literally jumping because of her made me giggle a little. Apparently, it was loud enough for everyone to hear. I can see Aiden looking at me in the mirror while his fiance turns around in her seat. 

"Something funny?" Her little nose turned up like she's too good to talk to me. 

"No ma'am. I was just thinking about something and it slipped out," I say without looking anywhere particular. 

"He's not paying you to think. He's paying you to mop the floors so keep it that way," Her snobby ass turns around in her seat and continues to talk about the wedding. I don't know how long I can deal with her. I've only known her for an hour and I already hate her. Maybe I should go to sleep so I don't slip up again. I'm starting to feel it anyway. I slide down in my seat to get a little comfier, leaning my head on the door I feel myself slowly drifting asleep. 

_____

"Get up," I hear as my body is pushed over. My eyes shoot open just as my body falls out of the car. I don't have time to catch myself before my body hits the ground. I land with a thud on the ground. I can feel my forearm and hand burning now. I look up to see Aiden and Emily standing there. I look back to see HER in the backseat. 

"See. I told you that would wake her up. Now can we go inside? I'm getting cold," She says as she climbs out of the backseat, "I know one way you can warm me up."

Aiden winks at her before putting his arm around her. They walk away while Emily helps me off the ground. 

"Is she always like that?" I say as I dust myself off. 

"Yeah, she's the worst. She treats everyone like that. If you are not Aiden or our mother you better stay out of her way," Emily grabs my wrist and elbow to look at my arm for me, "You have a couple of gravels in there and some dirt. I'll show you to your room so you can get washed up. We look the same size so I'll get some clothes from my room and bring them to you while you're in the shower."

"Thank you. For everything," I turn to her to see a big grin on her face, "Why are you looking at me like that?" I question her. 

"I'm just glad you're okay. I think you'll do great here. Meet some people... Change some of them for the better... You don't know what I'm talking about but you will, one day..."

I give her a weird look before turning to the house. She's right when she said I have no idea what she's talking about. 

And then I see it...