Broken

chapter 6

Ciara

I don't usually wait for extra curricular activities which means I always to make it back home early. But today is different.

DETENTION.

I solved so many maths question. It felt like I was gonna sing formulas and figures when I get home.

I sighed a sigh of relief as I walked home.

I know. I love wierd things, I'm probably not the only one who loves to make sounds with dry leaves.

I don't always walk home from school. Shanya always drop Alex and I home after school but I told them to go without me today.

I walked over from the streets, dragging my feet like I just came from the desert, but I was not sweating. Finally I got home, I walked to the porch and stood before the door. I raised my hand to knock but was stopped when Alex opened it.

My mouth curved into a smile as I held his chin. "You've been waiting for me"

"What??" He replied slapping my hand away. "It's only a coincidence, I was going to the grocery store, why would I wait for you"

"Because you love me, baby," I responded smiling like I just won a lottery. He stood there staring at me like I was high. "Alex, where's the list and the money?"

"It's right here". He replied and touched his pocket as if there's really something in there, then he raised his hand like he rememberd something. "Oh! I left it inside, I'll just go get it," he said as he ran back inside and left the door for me.

Old trick. "You know, I don't think you're smart enough to be a 10th grader"

"I'll take that as a compliment"

I walked in and dropped my bag on the couch. "Where's dad?" I asked as I walked to the kitchen fridge to get something to drink.

"Work"

"I thought he was not going to work today," I replied as i dropped the bottle of water that I just emptied on the table.

"Nahh. Why were you in detention?"

"It's embarrassing"

He started laughing out loud holding his belly with both hands as if I just cracked a joke. "What's more embarrassing than you asking a man in a boutique to give you a head while you meant a headwear," he said in between laughter.

That was the most embarrassing moment of my life. Alex and I went to get some headwears during the last winter and I asked for a head instead of a headwear.

"Never ever ever tell that to anyone!" I said as I ran to him and placed my hand over his mouth. I had to stand on my toes in order to cover his mouth. My baby bro is really growing fast. He's already 5ft9 at the age of 15 while I was struggling with my 5ft6 at the age of 17.

He was still laughing uncontrollably but he was able to push my hand away from his mouth slightly.

"Okay, okay sis," he said swallowing his laughter as he rose his hand up in surrender and I let go of his mouth completely. "It can't be as embarrassing as that, is it?"

"I took your mango flavoured chocolate, ate it and used the male restroom," I said as I walked back to the sitting room, picked my bag and was ready to go to my room. But he started laughing again. This time, he fell on the ground, laughing uncontrollably.

"He ha ha, funny" I said, feeling like laughing already.

"Don't act like it's not funny. You know, you always end up in an embarrassing moment or drama, even as you claim to be anti-social," he replied and stood up emphasizing on the 'anti-social'. "Dad warned you against taking mango"

"I did not take mango. I took a mango flavoured chocolate"

"No difference"

"Had lunch?" I asked changing the topic.

"Yeah, I ordered pizza for you and I. The babysitting job is paysoff afterall," he said as he shrugged and sat on the couch while I made my way to my room to freshen up.

"I'm gonna go visit Max soon"

"Yeah, whatever"

"Okay!"

****

I received a call from Mr Dove informing me not to bother coming today. I've done all the homework I had at school. There's nothing exactly to do right now.

Maybe I should visit Shanya.

Nah, I didn't want to go to her house. Her crazy stepsister picks on me whenever I go there.

I'll just call her and ask her to meet me at our usual spot. The 24/7 cafe.

I picked my phone and dailed her number.

"Bish!" She screamed over the phone and soon as the picked the call.

"What's up!" I replied adjusting on the bed.

"I should be asking you what's up. I mean the detention"

"I don't know how real witches are but I'm gonna go find one and ask her to cast a spell on Mr Seth," I said and laughed.

"A witch? My geez! where are we gonna find one"

"We're going all over the world"

"I'm with you girl," she replied and we both laughed.

"I'm coming over, are you free?"

"Get your ass here right now!! I'm so bored"

"Me too!! Let's meet at the 24/7 cafe"

"You scared of my house?" She asked. I could sense the seriousness in the voice.

"Why should I be scared of your house? Not like it's haunted"

"You always avoid coming here and I'm beginning to feel like it haunted"

"My best friend's home is haunted?" I replied laughing.

"Sounds like it. You avoid here, is it because of Maddie?"

"You got me," I replied dryly as I walked to the kitchen to eat the pizza Alex bought.

"You're coming over. Forget about Maddie. She's not that bad," she said trying to convince me.

"I know, but I'll like t__"

"Stop that bullshit, we're meeting at my place, no argument"

"Fine," I replied as i took a bite from the pizza. "See you soon."

"I'll be expecting you," she said with a giggle.

After taking lunch, I texted Alex and dad that I wasn't home, they know the usual place we keep the key incase they return before me. Shanya's house was a 10 minutes walk from here.

I locked the door and made my way to Shanya's when someone called me.

"Ciara dear"

I looked back to see who called me. I barely spoke with my neighbours.

"Lucy!! It's been a while!" I exclaimed as I walked over to her, she was standing on her porch. Lucy is one of our oldest and closest neighbours. She has always been there especially when things are extremely hard. She took it upon herself to take care of my family although she also had her problems.

"Yes dear, you make me want to believe that you'll leave school and go out of town to search for a job"

I laughed remembering what I told her back then. Dad was completely broke and helpless and I told Mrs Hatton (Lucy) that I'll leave school and go out of town to search for a job to help him.

"I've been in school"

"I'm glad you have," she replied giving me a warm smile.

"I'll come visit you later, I was on my way somewhere"

"Alright, bye"

I raised my hand and waved at her, then I continued to Shanya's.

You know, you always end up have a little bit of embarrassing moment or drama, even as you behave anti-social.

Alex actually has a point on this one. He might be right and I was afraid. I go through series of drama almost everyday and it became more frightening since I met Salvatore. It was wierd. I really have to discuss with Shanya.

Finally I got to Shanya's place and rung the boor bell. The door opened almost immediately. I beamed expecting to see Shanya but to my disappointment, it was Maddie. She was also smiling but it ceased immediately she saw me.

"Bullshit!!" She said as she slammed the door on my face.

Control girl. You gotta control yourself.

My hands formed to a fist as I took a deep breath and shut my eyes close trying to control the urge to walk right in and break those horrible hands she used to slam the door on me.

You've got this girl, breathe in, out.

"Ciara?". I heard a voice saying in my head, it sounds familiar, Oh! It's Shanya's. Slowly, I opened my eyes to look at her. She was holding the door knob and was waving her free hand at my face.

"There you are," I said smiling.

"Why are you like this? You look like you just got slapped with the underwear of the person you hate the most"

"Can we go elsewhere?" I asked ignoring her question.

Her eyes widened. "I thought we're over this"

"Yes we were! Until your stepsister opened the door as soon as I hit the door bell and guess what she did"

"Slamed the door on your face and said get out"

"No! She said bullshit"

"Sorry about that, she did the same to the delivery man. You're gonna come in now?"

"Why didn't you get the door earlier"

"I was peeing, I'm sowie," she replied as she twisted her lips. Then she opened the door wide and gestured that I should come in.

"Whatever," I replied as I walked in. We sat in the sitting room. Then she stood up "sit here, I'll be right back," she said before dashing off to the kitchen. Almost immediately, she came back holding a bowl of Ice cream. "I knew Maddie was going to do something nasty, so, I got myself prepared."

I opened my mouth to say something but snatched the ice cream from her instead, opened it and started digging in.

"I'm I forgiven?" She asked

"Of course you are!! You know the right sacrifice to offer," I replied and she grinned settling down beside me.

"So, about Thursday?"

"Thursday?"

"Son of a b***h?" She asked raising a brow.

"Oh," I replied as i rolled my eyes and offered her ice cream, she collected the bowl from me and placed it beside her.

'Spill and I'll return it, the earlier the better. It's melting"

"What?" I replied trying to reach for it.

"Spill?"

"Fine," I said accepting defeat. " No questions, just listen"

"I'm all ears," she replied and I explained the everything that happened between the Castillos and I.

"So, you'll be paid $1000 dollars every weekend"

"Correct"

"Wow!! Cool!! Great thing you lost your job"

"Yes I know. But he embarrassed me"

"You're making money from his mom and you like his sis"

"Yeah"

"Forgive him. And about info. It's no big deal. You know I have a lot. What exactly do you want to know first?"

For a reason, I really want to know if he has a girlfriend.

"Let's start from his relationship. His girlfriend?" I replied, she was about to say something but the door bell interrupted.

"I'll get that," she said and stood up but was stopped when Maddie ran down the stairs and shouted " I'll get it!!!". Shanya turned to look at me, I was already transporting the ice cream to my mouth, she drew her brows together in a frown and I just shrugged.

"Sounds like she's really expecting someone," she said as she sat beside me.

"Yeah!! I know my day can't get any better," I replied pointing at the ice cream with the spoon.

"You can't even talk about her?" She asked shaking her head slightly. "She's not that bad".

"You're the best friend ever," I replied and she rolled her eyes.

I was engrossed with the ice cream that I didn't notice when Maddie and her visitor walked in.

"Shanya, Ciara, say hello to my boyfriend, Sal," she said grinning from ear to ear like a four year old that got a lollipop.

Sal? Isn't that...

I looked up and I saw who I least expected. I lost appetite for the ice cream and I placed it on Shayna's laps.

"It's been a while Sal," Shayna said smiling, taking the bowl off the laps and placed it on the rug.

"Yup. How have you been doing Shayna?" He asked while Maddie kept on clinging on to him.

What? She knows him?

"Great!"

"Hi Ciara," he said smirking. "Nice hoodie"

Suddenly I felt dizzy. But I managed to reply. "Thank you"

Maddie cleared her throat and pulled him away. "Let's go to my room".

"You know him?" I asked Shanya widening my eyes in shock as soon as they were out of earshot.

"Of course. He has been with Maddie for a quiet sometime now but I thought they broke up"

"And you didn't tell me"

"I was about to answer your first question, remember?"

Oh Wow.

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