This Broken Beautiful Thing (18 page)

I pick up his clothes and notice
dark red smudges on the white floor tiles. I bend down to get a better look and realize its blood.
Where the hell did that come from?

I look through Jace’s clothes in my arms
and realize there’s dry blood on his dark green shirt. I look at his leather club waist coat that he left hanging behind the door, inspecting it closer I notice blood spatter on the leather.

I
looked at Jace this morning before getting out of bed I didn’t see any marks or cuts on him, he looked beautifully untouched. This isn’t his blood.

I
walk into my room and notice him sitting up in bed with no shirt on watching me. I stomp up to him and throw his clothes at him.

“What is this?
” I watch as it dawns on him what I just threw at him. He’s quiet for a few moments then speaks.

“You need to forget you saw this. Keep your nose outta my business and keep your mouth shut. You hear me.” he says raising his voice in that tone I hate so much.

“Then don’t use my bathroom? Don’t put your shit with my stuff then. And please…wash the fucking blood off you before you climb in bed with me.” I say noticing dry blood on his neck where he missed a spot cleaning last night.

I watch as Raven make
s his appearance and I back away, “Who do you think you’re talking to? I can do whatever the fuck I want. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can tell me what to do. Do I make myself clear?” he says in a menacing voice and I shudder.

“I asked you a question!” he shouts and my door flies open. Hunter comes through looking worried. He stands in front of Jace moving him toward my bathroom and they shut the door, I hear talking but
can’t even make out what they’re saying because my heart is beating so hard in my chest that I’m trying to focus on breathing. It looked like he was about to hit me, what if Hunter didn’t come in when he did? What would Jace have done?

I take the opportunity to put
sandals on not caring if it matches my denim shorts and shirt. I don’t have time to brush my hair or put makeup on. I grab my handbag and cellphone and rush out. It’s already half past ten. I avoid all of the people hanging around the apartment and make my way down the stairs to the street.

The College is only a few blocks
away so I start my walk. My heart is beating fast and all I’m focused on is the concrete beneath my feet with each step I’m taking. I reach the college and the lady that issues my books to me has a constant frown as she looks my face over. I just need to get my books and get to the library where I can hide in a corner and hopefully no one can bother me.

Walking up the steps to the library I hear my phone going off indicating
someone’s calling. I quickly put it on vibrate and ignore Jace’s call. I don’t plan on bumping into anyone I know near the library, I know for a fact that neither Ashley nor Caleb would ever be near a library. The lady at the counter tells me to sign the relevant registration forms and she makes a copy of my student card. The old lady won’t stop eyeing me making me feel self-conscious. I won’t be able to sit and study with her eyes on me the whole time. As I’m walking down the stairs leaving the library, thinking about going to the park to study I notice a couple people sitting around on the grass just outside. I find a quiet spot and sit leaning against one of the trees, it’s a hot day today but luckily it’s cool under the shade. I take out my books looking them over.

My phone starts vibrating again and I see Hunters name appear. I click the end call
button and send him a text.

HARLEY at 11:26am:
Hunter I’m fine. At the small park near the library, please don’t come. I need some space from everything. Please keep Jace from coming to get me. I’ll call you if I have to. Thanks.

HUNTER at 11:27am:
Okay Princess I’ll keep the beast at bay but when u get home we are going to have a chat about you running away every time the shit hits the fan.

HARLEY at 11:28am:
Thanks Hunt, sorry. Xo

I’m busy organizing a timetable in my diary when I feel a tap on my shoulder. I jump at the contact and whip my head around to see who it was. I let out a deep breath when I spot Brent. His laughing stops as he stares at me oddly I notice him looking at my nose.

Shit
! That’s probably why people have been looking at me funny
. In my rush to get out the house this morning, I haven’t brushed my hair and I’ve forgotten to put on makeup to cover my nose.

“Who did this?” he says
gripping my shoulders getting a closer look. I push him softly.

“Stop that, I’m fine.” I say looking back at my books
on my lap.

“That’s not
fine, looks like someone punched you.”  He says lying on his side on the grass in front of me clutching one of my text books and paging through it casually.

“Elbowed actually.” I say smoothly
as I pack away my books.  He stops paging through the book and looks up at me. I notice him clenching his fist.

“What? Who hurt you like that?
Was it that guy that picked you up at the park?” Brent says seriously.

“No it wasn’t Hunter
who did it, it was Jace and it was a mistake.” I snatch the book from him and place it on top of the other books.

“
Who did what to you Harlz?” I hear a familiar deep voice on my left.

I look at Brent
wide eyed, “You didn’t!”

“I’m sorry Harley but you guys need to talk.” Brent says trying to stop me
from packing my things. I need to get the hell away from here.

“Please babe, just stop a sec and listen to me
… please.” Caleb says but I can’t bear to look at him even though I can hear the pain in his voice.

“I thought I could trust you Brent?” I say getting
up, I can already feel my eyes tearing up.

“You can Harley, I’m sorry, Trevor told him we met up with you last night and-.” Brent says
reaching for me but I push him away.

“I needed to see you. I miss you baby please just let me explai
n myself. Please…I’m so sorry…I need you back.” Caleb says coming up to me and he pushes Brent away. 

He stops in front of me pulls away the books from my hands and gives it to Brent then places his big familiar hands on my
jaw making sure I have nowhere else to look but his beautiful eyes. I try look straightforward directly at his chest. I forgot how tall Caleb is and how it use to feel when I was with him, with his hands on me.

“
Jesus Harley! Who hurt you like that?” Caleb says cupping my cheeks, I can’t help but look at his beautiful green eyes. He is so gorgeous, I hope our baby has his genes because he really is such a beautiful boy. I shake my thoughts away.

“It doesn’t matter Caleb, this-” I say pointing to my nose
, “Is nothing compared to what you did to me. Stay away from me.” I pull away from Caleb’s arms and snatch my books from Brent. “Both of you.” I rush away before they can catch up. I hear Brent telling Caleb to give me time and luckily neither of them follow me.

I make my way to the jam-packed club house. I greet the guys I pass and make my way to my room and place the heavy books on my desk.

After making something in the kitchen to eat I head back to my room. I hear a banging sound coming from the room next door then I hear moaning, when I hear a girl screaming out for “Raven” to slow down. I put the sandwich down, my appetite lost. I plug earphones in my ears and climb out the window to sit on the metal floor of the fire escape. I play the music loud so that I’m void of all noise. The metal flooring beneath me is uncomfortable but I need to get away and I need fresh air. I sit on the top of the staircase, cover my face with my hands and cry. I cry so hard that I battle to find my breath and my whole body shakes. I don’t know how much heart I have left to break. All the stress and sadness within me surely can’t be good for the baby.
I have to sort my shit out…

I feel someone’s presence behind me and then I feel them reach over to touch my stomach. I know its Jace but I
can’t stand to have his hands on me after he was screwing someone a few minutes before. I pull out my earphones.

“No! Get away from me! Don’t touch me!” I scream at him and push him away.

“Please Harley let me hold you. It didn’t mean anything…It never does, not like when I’m with you, none of them do Harley. I thought this was okay? You said you didn’t care?” He says backing away from me.

“No
I said that because I needed space from you, I knew you would do this! Make me have feelings for you them throw me away like trash, just like he did! I only said that to stop you from hurting me more than you have already.” I wipe away the tears as he stands there in shock. “I don’t want you to touch me anymore. You don’t have a heart, do you
Raven
?” I say his name with such distaste, I now see Hunter making his way to my window.

“I didn’t think you would actually go and fuck someone in the room next to me. Really Raven? Do you only think of yourself? You act as if you own me!
You act as if you care for me? You told me I didn’t deserve the way
he
treated me and what
he
did? Is this what I deserve? You’re doing the same thing he did to me on repeat! Every day is a new way to hurt me? Right Raven? I don’t have any heart left for you to break.” I push at his chest but he doesn’t budge or make a move to stop me and the sad look on his face only makes me angrier. I shove him again. “You speak to me like I’m a piece of shit and you terrify me. You don’t realize how fucking scared I am of you! Then you expect me to be fine with you fucking other people and climbing into my bed so I can be your fucking
Teddy
?” I scream the last word not caring who sees me and how terrible I look all snot nosed and tear faced. I sniffle then say in a softer voice. “You know what happened today
Raven
?” I notice he flinches every time I call him by his road name but I continue, “I ran into Caleb and all I could think about was how safe I was with him and how much I missed the feeling when he held me. How fucked up is that?” I laugh bitterly wiping away all the tears.

“Oh my God…” Jace whispers
, running his hands through his hair. Finally realization hit...

My fight or flight instinct kicks in.

I pick flight…

I climb through the window and
run but Hunter grabs me as I make my way into my room just before reaching my door. “Nuh uh, you’re not running away again Princess. No more running.” I notice Anna and my father have entered my room, both looking horrified by the scene.

“
Boy, I told you to look after her, not fuck with her feelings.” My dad shouts pointing at Jace.

“I know
Grimm…I fucked up.” I hear Jace from behind me as I kick and push to get out of Hunters gentle but tight grasp.

“Please
… Let.Me.Go! Please.” I cry as I use all the energy I can find to push and shove Hunter but it does nothing to weaken his hold, instead he pulls me so than he’s holding me close against his chest. His big hand rests on the back of my head holding me tight as I sob into his shirt. My body is exhausted as my legs give way; he helps me to the floor not releasing his hold once.

“Shhh… calm down babe before you hurt yourself. Shhh…” he whispers into my hair
trying to calm me.

“Please…please just let me go
Hunt…please.” I cry exhaustedly. He only holds me tighter.

“Let her go Hunter. T
he rest of you out. Now!” Anna yells.

I hear footsteps and I feel Hunter loosen hi
s grip, “I’m sorry he did this Princess.” He whispers before he lets me go. I cry into my hands pulling my knees to my chest.

“You too Raven…out.” Anna yells again making me flinch.

“Son,
we need to have a chat.” I hear Jace’s dad call.

“It meant nothing baby…I promise.
What we have means everything.” Jace mumbles. I hear his footprints stop near me then continue out my room closing the door behind him.

Anna comes to my side and pulls me to her chest. I weep for my broken heart, what Jace has done to it and for seeing Caleb today looking better than ever while I’m breaking from the inside out.

I feel hands underneath my arms and I try to get away from them, “It’s only me baby girl…let’s get you off this cold floor.” My father says softly as he picks me up and places me on the bed. I rest my head on Anna’s lap as she strokes my hair just like Jesse did the night before. My father sits in front of me at the edge of the bed with his hands on his knees shaking his head.

“I shouldn’t have brought you here. You shouldn’t be around this environment. You are
too good for this. I’m so sorry Harley, I only ever wanted what’s best for you and I thought keeping you close was that but I see how this place is changing you.” He says sadly. I sit up and lean my head on his shoulder and he puts his big arm around me.

“Don’t apologize daddy, none of this is your fault.
I thought I could do this and be here but…I just don’t think I can. This is not the type of lifestyle I want my child to grow up in. I don’t know if I can stay here daddy…” I say crying again.

“I know sweetie… I kinda knew these boys would be too overwhelming for you.
We’ve sheltered you from this and I thought that maybe if Raven kept an eye on you, you’d be okay. I didn’t think he would be the one hurting you. I Kinda knew that eventually the club house would be too much for your pure heart to handle and that’s why we bought an apartment in the building next door for you…just in case.” He says smiling down at me.

“What? You guys bought me an apartment?” I say bewildered looking
back and forth between the two of them.

“Yeah babes we did.” Anna says
smiling. I notice she too has been crying. I jump onto her as she laughs and hug her tight.

“You guys are the best…I love you so much. Thank you.” I say hugging her tight.

Then I reach over to my dad and hug him the same way. I feel his body shake as he lets out a deep chuckle.

“We have to make sure you and that grandbaby of ours
are safe.” he chuckles.

I lean back and rest my head on Anna’s lap and she continues to stroke my hair. I close my eyes.

“At least I won’t be far from you guys.” I yawn.

“No we will be close by…
always” I hear my dad mumbling as I drift off to sleep.

CHAPTER 16
:

“I swear to God Jace, you do one more thing to hurt her and I will make sure you can’t use that thing between your legs!” I hear Anna shout at Jace in a soft tone but still very much full of anger. I remain still as I eavesdrop on their conversation.

“I promise I’m done, I don’t ever want to hurt her or see
the look she gave me today. I promise Anna. Please let me stay with her, I’ll look after her…. please.” I hear Jace’s sad voice as he whispers to Anna.

I feel Anna move
away, placing a pillow under my head. I hear her footsteps disappear then the door close. Jace climbs onto the bed and lies in front of me. I feel his eyes looking over me and I flinch when his fingers touch my lips. 

“I
won’t hurt you baby. Not anymore.” He whispers.

I open my eyes and look into his sad ones but don’t say anything.

“I can’t believe I did this to you …I’m such a fuck up.” Jace says softly as he cups my cheek running his thumb gently over my jaw, staring at my bruised nose.

I find my voice,
“You need to stop talking about yourself that way. You are not a fuck up but the choices you make have a tendency to mess things up.”

I look him over noticing his wet hair and the fresh smell coming off him. Thankfully he showered before he came to me. I don’t think I could lie next to him
while he smells like the girl he was banging earlier today.

“It’s true though…I could never have something as
untainted as you. I’m surprised I didn’t fuck it up sooner. You are too good for me baby.” He says clearing his throat. I don’t know if it is his intention to make me feel sorry for him but it’s working.

“People need t
o stop saying that. I’m not the perfect little girl everyone thinks I am. If I was, I wouldn’t be sitting in this situation now would I? I don’t know what to do with you Jace, I don’t know what you want and what you expect from me? I’m scared I say the wrong thing and you get upset with me. I get so nervous when you get angry.” I say grimacing at the memory.