This Broken Beautiful Thing (2 page)

Before we were friends,
her reputation was the main topic through the high school grape vine, I didn’t really pay attention because I wasn’t all that interested in trash talking other people and I didn’t enjoy other people trash talking about our fellow class mates, so if I wasn’t with Caleb or his friends I usually just kept to myself.

O
ne day I was sitting in the library and Ashley was doing detention for PDA in the boy’s locker room, as her punishment she had to help put away books in the library the entire week after school. She wasn’t sure how to place the books so I showed her. Even though I knew she was
friendly
with most of the guys, I found I enjoyed her company and her crudeness. We became friends, I ignored the remarks the boys made about her and the warnings they gave me. We got along great and we were soon as close as sisters, I think the fact that just like Caleb and I, Ash and I were total opposites. She is the girl that guys like Caleb
should
be dating. She is hot, she knows it and she uses it to her advantage.

 “Wow, you look gorgeous girl!” she whistles as she opens the door.

 
I’m wearing black ankle boot heels with a curve hugging tight mid-thigh black dress; it has a corset type front and is something I would never be seen in.

 
“You should see what I have underneath…” I wink at her. “…and besides I’m not going to have this figure for too long… so I guess I enjoy it while I can.” I giggle and wink at her. “You look amazing Ash!” I look her over.

 
She’s wearing a bright red dress that’s impossibly shorter than mine, if she bends over I could probably see her ass but because she is skinny and tall, the outfit looks good on her. She has black stilettos that only make her already long legs lengthier.

 
“Yeah babe, who knew you had all those curves hidden under those hideous clothes you wear.” She teases and I playfully smack her ass as she bends to look in the mirror fluffing her hair, she squeals. “Hay!” she laughs then her face turns serious. “You nervous for tonight?” she asks.

Ash and her mother are the only people that know about the baby so she knows how important tonight is for me and Caleb. I needed to find the right time to tell him and since we were writing exams and he was focused on his football, there never was a right time to tell him the news.

A few months ago I wasn’t feeling too well and
explained my symptoms to Ash’s mother, Lynn, the thought that I could possibly be pregnant didn’t even occur to me since I’ve been on the pill since we started having sex. No one explained that when I take antibiotics it would cancel out the birth control part of the pill.

I had to take antibiotics because I had sprained my
wrist while the guys from the football team where playing flag football with me. Brent playfully tackled me and I landed wrong hurting my wrist. Caleb nearly kicked his ass for hurting me but my wrist was better within two weeks. From that day onward the guys from the team have been gentler when it comes to me…I think they forget that I’m basically half the size of them and I could break easily.

“Nah I know he will be happy, you know how Caleb is…I just want to go see him already, I miss him I’ve hardly seen him all day…Let’s get out of here Ash.”  We make our way out her house to our graduation party that the footballers are throwing at one of their parent’s cabins.

 Since I can’t drink I’m the designated driver, I make my way to my white Ford Fiesta that dad bought me when I passed my drivers and we head to the party. As we get closer to the cabin where the party is being held we turn onto a dust road and wooded area. Obviously they chose this place for a good reason, there’s not much houses around to argue about the loud noise and since there will be a lot of underage drinking going on, no one will bug us.

 
I park the car and we head up to the massive log cabin, I told Caleb we would be here at nine and it’s already ten thirty.  

“
Little Miss Harley Ryder! Is that you?” I look over to Brent, who is Caleb’s best friend. He’s eyeing me up and down in a way he’s done one too many times. I try reach for Ash to help me out of this one but she’s nowhere to be found in the crowded house. Brent is just like Caleb looks wise, apart from his blond hair and blue eyes and looks as if we could be related, he is also tall and muscular, Brent is like a brother to me and him looking at me the way he is right now is making me
really
uncomfortable.

 
“Hey Brent. Yeah it’s me.” I give him a shy smile as I finally respond to him.

 
“Damn babe! You look HOT! Looks like Caleb and I will be spending the evening fighting the boys off you.” He teases and gives me a tight hug. He isn’t drunk yet but I can smell the beer on him and it grosses me out.

 
“Speaking of Caleb, have you seen him?” I ask Brent trying to change the subject.

 
“Yeah, saw him earlier chatting with some of the guys, kept asking if you’ve arrived yet but we didn’t see you come in. Do you want me to help you look for him? Let’s get a drink for you in the meantime.” He says and walks off but I grab his arm and say, “No thanks Brent, I’m going to find the bathroom, I’ll be back now but if you spot him keep him with you and I’ll come find you okay?”

 
“Sure thing babe.” He says as he walks off backwards smiling at me.

 
I turn to find my way to the bathroom and I notice a couple of guys looking at me the same way Brent just did…with lust in their eyes and a few even wink.

Argh… Really boys?

I desperately need a pee so I walk a little faster trying to
find my way to the bathroom. I spot stairs and walk up them, I notice the party is down stairs and no one is on the top floor, the bass from the speakers downstairs can be felt through the floor but it’s a little quieter up here.

 
I make my way down the long hallway when I hear loud moaning coming from one of the rooms, I stop because the voice is familiar. 

Seriously
Ashley? We haven’t even been here for fifteen minutes and she’s already screwing someone.
Shaking my head I turn to walk away when I hear another familiar voice.

 
“Shhh… Keep quiet, bend over!” Caleb says in a menacing tone, one he’s never used on me before. I back away against the wall opposite the door where the noises are coming from. The pain in my heart hurts so bad, my trembling hand sits over my heart feeling it beat wildly as I stand leaning against the wall that’s keeping me from collapsing. I stand there frozen, I try move, try to get away but my legs won’t budge. I knew it was too good to be true, how could he ever be satisfied with me? Ash is the perfect girl for him…she’s everything… I’m not.

 
I continue to stand there listening to her moans and his grunting. I feel the tears tumbling down my face and the make-up I did so perfectly to please him running, all ruined. 

 
“Whoa… Harlz? What’s wrong? You okay?” Brent comes skidding to a halt beside me, I wasn’t even aware he came upstairs. He looks at me then turns and looks at the door, he does this three more times before his eyes widen and he whispers almost out of breath.

“No…It
’s not…It can’t be…” he too can hear the sounds from the room. I nod my head and his face reddens with fury, he tenses his jaw holding back the anger. He goes for the door but I stop him and whisper, “Don’t …just wait…” he nods and pulls me in for a hug while I hear the door open from behind him.

 
I peak around Brent’s shoulder. I find a distraught looking Caleb looking at the floor, he hasn’t notice me yet. When a sob breaks out my mouth I cover it quick with my hand and he whips his face up to look at me.  His once tan skin is pale as a sheet with his mouth hanging open, he looks at what I’m wearing and the look of lust comes across his face and it only disgusts me as much as it did when the other boys looked at me that way. As if I’m a piece of meat.

Brent turns around
in a protective stance forcing me to stand behind him and I appreciate the distance he’s putting between Caleb and I more than he will ever know.

Ashley bumps into Caleb while paying attention to fixing her dress. She looks up and gasps. A couple more people have now made their way upstairs and are watching the scene unfold while they whisper to one another.

“You guys have fun? All finished now? Sure you don’t want to have a quickie in the next room?” I say sarcastically pointing my finger to the door behind me. I’m wiping away the tears from my face but it’s no use, they keep betraying the brave façade I’m trying to portray.

 
“Harlz it’s not…I mean …I can explain…she meant nothing. I only love you. I’ve never done this before. Fuck.” He runs his hands over his face then looks up and takes a step toward me but Brent pushes his hands up to Caleb’s chest. “I swear! I’m so sorry …Please… Harley? Say something!” Caleb rambles on looking around Brent to me, he comes closer but I match his steps with my own as I step away.

“Don’t touch me. It meant nothing to you? Nothing at all? Well it means
something
to me!” I shout at him. “If you didn’t want to be with me, why not just tell me? Why cheat Caleb? Why?” I yell as the tears begin to fall again.

 
“No Baby I want to be with you, I love you Harlz you know that! This was a mistake! My head isn’t clear, I’ve got so much going on right now…fuck I don’t know what I was thinking.” He looks up at me, confused and terrified. “I’m going to marry you remember? Let’s just get out of here so we can talk in private, let me explain…Please Harley.”  He pleads and I watch the tears fall down his regret filled face. I’ve never seen Caleb cry before, he always shows this brave exterior, especially whenever he’s around his male friends but right now he’s weeping like a baby.

I look to Ashley and she has her hands covering her mouth with the same look of regret covering her own face.

“Harley, I don’t know what I was thinking!
I didn’t really think he would take my offer up. I’m so sorry, you’re my sister, my best friend, it was supposed to happen this way. Please don’t hate me. Please!” she squeals as she bursts out in tears.

I look at the people around me
, their faces show the sadness and sorrow they feel for me. Most know the history between Caleb and I. I see the disgusted looks and head shakes they’re giving both Caleb and Ashley.

 
 I turn my head in disgust over her, the slut that I see in front of me, “You know how many times I defended you when people would talk shit behind your back saying what a whore you were? Well Ashley THAT was a mistake because you
are
a fucking whore.”

I look over at Caleb again and see the tears continue to make their way down his
beautiful face, he’s trying to get closer to me but Brent won’t allow him and I can see it’s making Caleb angry.

I look down at my trembling hands as I say the following words because if I
have to look at his perfect face I might just cave in and forgive his cheating ass.

“Guess you and
Ashley don’t have to hide anymore now that I’m out of the picture. You guys can shack up in your little apartment and live happily ever after… without me…” the tears fall. I look up to Caleb as realization hits, my whole future I was planning not even an hour before has just crumbled before me.

 
“You can’t leave me Harley! I don’t want to live with her, I want you! I love you!” Caleb roars pushing against Brent’s chest to get to me, a few more of the guys from the team help Brent hold Caleb back.

 
“Well… she’s all you have right now because I don’t want you. I can’t even look at you… you both disgust me. I hate you right now, you were the
one…
good thing… I had and now? I don’t want anything to do with you…both of you! Just stay away from me and I’ll stay away from you.” I back away and when Caleb breaks free from the boys hold, I run. I push through the crowds making my way out the house and toward my car. I can hear Caleb calling me even through the loud speakers; hopefully the guys can hold him off for a while, just until I make my escape.

CHAPTER 2

I jump in my car and speed off down the dust road, the wooded area clears
as I head towards the main street of our town. The streets are empty and all the shops are closed,
this town is so dead.
I stop at the red light and burst out in tears, my whole body is trembling, I touch my tummy protectively and whisper,

“
Guess it’s just you and me baby.”

I look in the mirror and
wince as I rip off my fake lashes, I use my black cardigan that lies on the seat next to me to remove the makeup that’s running down my cheeks. 

I don’t understand how
Ashley could do this to me, she knew how important tonight was and how much I love Caleb. I was betrayed by the two people that I never thought would hurt me like this, I wonder if she will tell him about the baby.
Probably not, she knows he’ll want to be a part of his child’s life
.