Broken Hill Hurt (Broken Hill High 3)

I run forward and throw myself on Jackson’s back while digging my elbow into the soft spot between his shoulder and neck, trying to get him to stop.

“Tora,” Nate demands, absolutely furious with me. “Get out of here.”

“No,” I yell back at him. “You and me, we’re in this together.”

“How fucking sweet,” Jackson growls while trying to fling me off as Jesse plants his fist into one of the other guy’s jaw.

This isn’t going to end well. These boys are going to fight until the death. After all, they destroyed each other’s cars and have been at each other’s throats for well over two years now. It’s ridiculous. You’d think they stop this shit when the cars were involved. But now, they constantly have to prove who has the biggest set of balls, and let me tell you, it’s always going to be Nate. And as long as Nate has something to do with it, then so do I.

We’re a package deal, no matter how much he’s tried to avoid me today. He’s my guy and I’ll always stand right beside him. No matter what.

Fists fly everywhere and someone pulls at me, trying to drag me off Jackson, but I’m not budging.

“Hey,” The store attendant yells, running out the door holding a phone above his head. “I called the cops. You have three seconds to get the fuck out of here.”

“Fuck,” Jesse grunts as Nate dives for me. He hauls me off Jackson’s back before the guys start scrambling for their cars.

I dangle from Nate’s arm as he uses his free hand to rip open the door of my car and throw me in. “What the fuck was that?” he demands.

“I was trying to help,” I yell back at him.

“Help?” he scoffs. “You helping would be calling the boys and staying the fuck out of it, not putting yourself right in the middle of another fucking fight.” My mouth drops open as I stare at him in disbelief. “Just, go home, Tora,” he says, shaking his head as he slams the door of my car.

I’m in shock as he walks away and climbs in the driver’s seat of Jesse’s Range Rover before hitting the gas and tearing out onto the road, leaving me behind, wondering what the hell just happened.

Chapter 13

What a shitty week.

I lay on my bed setting up my new phone as music plays softly in the background. Nate has been avoiding me all week, apart from the usual hi and bye at school, a smile every now and then, and of course, a kiss on my cheek or forehead, but never my lips.

I haven’t tasted those lips since being discharged from the hospital on Monday. It’s now Saturday afternoon.

He hasn’t snuck through my window at night. He hasn’t told me he loves me. He hasn’t made my body come alive. He hasn’t made me feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

Something is wrong and it’s killing me that I don’t know what it is. He said it would always be us. He knows he can come and talk to me if something is bothering him, that’s what I’m here for. I love him with every little ounce of my being and I refuse to let him pull away.

Though, the whole refusing to let him pull away thing will have to wait until Monday. After all, I was the one who came up with the brilliant idea of sending the boys to Vegas, which is exactly where they are, living it up like kings. Jesse has probably forced them all to sneak into a strip club, either that or their currently involved in the biggest orgy known to man.

I let out a sigh as my foot taps away to the music. I’m in the middle of uploading all my apps on this new phone. I mean, thank god for the cloud, right? Otherwise, I’d be screwed. I’d have to start again. I just hope my details have been saved to my smurf’s village as I’ve put way too many hours into that and starting again simply is not an option.

After an hour of waiting and re-logging into all my apps, I finally have a phone that I can use, with a killer cover to go with it.

Desperate to use it, I send a text

Tora – You’re an ugly swamp muffin with a wrinkly ball sack!!!!!

She texts back instantly, making me forget about all the bullshit with Nate at the moment.

Brooke – You’re a dirty sewer rat with a crusty limp dick!

Brooke – What are you doing?

Tora – You lick asshole’s brimming with wet farts!

Tora – I’m bored! Just set up my new phone. Come over.

Brooke – Ewwwwww!!! Wet farts? You’ve been hanging out with Jesse too much!

Brooke – Give me a few hours. My pop is here for lunch.