Broken

chapter 11

Salvatore

Thanks?

Did that sound desperate?

I sighed and rolled the windows of my truck down. I needed fresh air.

I reached for my phone to call Jason since he was not at school today, that's strange. No matter how frequently he partied he doesn't miss school. His grades are almost perfect if not perfect, since they say no one is perfect.

After two rings he picked up, I dropped my phone on the dash board and put the call on speaker.

"Hey," he said.

"I didn't see you at school today," I said immediately.

"Tuesday fever," He replied making me laugh out loud.

"What's Tuesday fever?" I asked amused.

He replied with a laughter that didn't sound real.

"Is something wrong?" I asked him. He sounded tired and stressed.

"Yeah! I'm good," he replied trying to sound okay but his voice betrayed him.

"You don't sound like it" I replied and suddenly felt relaxed as the breeze hit my skin.

I decided to take a tour round this small town before going home or maybe visit Jason, he sounded like he has not slept for days.

Instead of taking the usual right turn, I turned to the left, I don't usually take this route. I find it funny that I've never gone through this place since we've moved here.

"I've gotta go, I'll call you later," he said cutting me off.

"Okay," I replied and he ended the call. Something is definitely wrong.

After making about five more turns and taking glances at buildings that looked alike, I found myself in an unusual place. There were so many uncompleted buildings with men working on them and the road was narrow. I wanted to turn back but there was no turning point. I drove further and took another turn, I sighed when I sighted McDonalds. I could help myself with hamburger.

I parked my truck in the small parking space beside McDonald's and walked in. I bought hamburger and French fries then, returned to my truck. I was about to drop the bag of food on the seat but was startled when I felt someone tapping my shoulder.

"Hey, you dropped this," the person said and handed my wallet.

How possible?

I just paid for the stuff I bought.

He looked middle age with a little wrinkle on his face. He has a golden brown eyes and a light brown hair. He was wearing a paint stained pants and shirt. His hands looked tired of working.

"Thanks" I replied with a big smile. I collected my wallet from him, opened it, pulled out a 200 box and handed it to him. Probably, he needs money. People rarely return wallets to their owners these days.

"What? No don't do that, you're insulting me," he replied with a frown. I quickly apologized and he gave me a bright smile.

"You should be more careful," he said before he turned and joined a group of men wearing paint stained cloths. They seemed like painters.

Something about the man reminded me of Ciara.

Here we go again, Ciara.

The first thing that now came to my mind after meeting a stranger was Ciara. Jezus!!

I shook my head and entered my truck it was almost time for schools to close for the day. A small smile played on my lips while I found my way home. I decided to get ice cream before going home, seems like she's an ice cream lover. I'm not so sure, but I saw her taking ice cream when I got to Maddie's house and within minutes went to the ice cream parlor and she didn't mind.

I parked at the front of the Ice cream Parlor. While walking in, I imagined that Ciara was going to be so happy when she saw that I bought Ice cream for her and her face would light up In excitement.

I grinned at my silly thought and shook my head. Never gonna happen.

I decided to buy Cookies and cream. The same flavour she bought yesterday. But on getting there I met a familiar looking man, he looks like the man that returned my wallet but I was almost sure that he was not the one because he looked different there.

No paint stain cloths.

He looked better and his resemblance with Ciara became more vivid. Curiously, I moved to meet him. He was also buying ice cream, the same flavour.

"Hi," I called at his back, making him turn. He broke into a big smile.

"Hello there, is someone stalking me?" He asked playfully making my smile wider.

"We seem to be going to the same places," I replied and smiled.

"Do you live here?" He asked me and I nodded. "I also live here with my children"

"Cool!"

"I came to get ice cream for my... friend," I said. I don't even know what to call her.

"I'm getting one for my daughter, you look about her age but she's in high school." As he talked about his daughter, his face shone is admiration and love for her.

If only mom was like this? I wonder if she talks about me.

"I'm also a high schooler," I replied. I think I like this man.

"Why are you here? Are you not supposed to be at school?"

"Suspension," I replied and he frowned.

"That's bad." He seemed concern.

"Principal Seth was really mad at me!" I replied and he nooded.

"He sure was, hold on, did you just say principal Seth?"

"Yeah"

"Robins Eastwood High school?"

"True"

"That's where Ciara and Alex attends, what a small world," he said still beaming.

Ciara? I knew it. They looked so much alike.

"And that means you're Mr Daniels?" I asked him and he nodded proudly.

"Exactly son! You know my children, don't you?"

"I only know your daughter," I replied and he smiled.

"You're a 12th grader?" he said

"Yeah"

"What a small world," he said again and patted my back.

"Can I go with you home? I wanna meet Ciara. She'll be back from school soon"

"No problem, c'mon," he said and we both headed out.

He looked better in his jean and shirt. And this man smiles a lot. He has a golden brown eyes which made me wonder where Ciara got her emerald eyes from. I imagined that Alex looked like him. I suddenly wondered what parent want his kids to relate with a suspended student but at the same time, I imagined Ciara's expression when she sees he dad with me. We went to my truck and moved out.

"Do you know the directions?" he asked

"Yeah, I do," I replied and he nodded.

"How long have you been friends with Ciara?" He asked me. I don't know what to tell him.

Of recent. I got her fired from the 24/7 cafe.

Of course that would sound nice.

"Recently," I replied and he smiled.

"She's always so reserved, I try to stop her from working too hard but she refuses. I doubt she socializes at school," he said surprising me.

"She's just being herself," I replied before I realised what.

'Of course she is," he said. The way he sounded didn't support what he said. I began to feel curious but I decided against asking him.

"Do you play sports?" He asked me. I like this man's sense of humour. Nothing like mom's and he is totally like dad.

"Yes, basketball," I replied and he smiled again.

"Alex wants to join the school basketball team this year, he's just a little bit nervous"

"I understand, that was the same way I felt when I first joined, but I'm not really into basketball, I only play once in a while. Mom doesn't like the idea "

"Why?" He asked.

I was enjoying the conversation with him.

"I don't know," I replied and smiled

"She probably wants you to focus on your academics"

"I think so"

"She's being so serious," he replied making us laugh.

"I'm Damon," he said.

"Slavatore Castillo," I replied and he nodded.

"Here we are," he said and I parked.

We both got down and headed to his house.

As soon as I stepped in, I felt an unfamiliar comfort. I stood by the door to take a good look at the house. It looks very tiny but comfortable. The kind of simple but comfortable like that I love.

"Come in, you can sit on the couch," he said and pointed at the couch.

"Thanks," I sat.

"What would you like to have?" He asked still standing but dropped the ice cream on the kitchen counter.

"Water, please"

"Got it," He said and walked to the fridge.

I had a the sound of a vehicle outside. I decided to look from the window. I blue corrolla was parked behind my truck. It looked familiar.

Finally, two people came down from the car. A male and a female, the female's eyes widened at the sight of my truck but I don't think that she made a comment. They both said their byes to the driver and she zoomed off.

"You didn't get the ice cream for your friend, did you?" He asked making me looked back as he approached with two bottles of water and two glasses.

"No I didn't," I replied slapping myself mentally for forgetting.

A familiar voice came from outside and a male's voice followed.

"I think they are back," their father said, he gave the water and cup to me and went for the door.

"Dad!" The male voice said as soon as Damon opened the door.

"Hey dad," Ciara said and huged her dad. They we're still standing at the doorway.

The moment I anticipated finally came, she sighted me on the couch drinking water from a glass and smiling at her.

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