A Shattered Moment (Fractured Lives 1)

“That’s okay.”

“No, I insist.”

“So, un-insist. I’d rather you didn’t.” She turned and moved on without giving me a second glance.

eight

Mac

I was an asshole. Seriously. I should be locked away so society wouldn’t have to deal with me. The look on Bentley’s face when I told him I didn’t want him to walk me home stayed with me all night, keeping me up. When he wasn’t at the library the next afternoon, it was pretty clear I’d screwed up. H

e was the first person in a long time I’d felt comfortable enough to talk to, and I managed to blow it. For no real reason except that he looked at my cane. How could I possibly want to move on like I keep telling myself if I continued to push people away?

I couldn’t get any studying done since all I could think about was how to fix the situation if the opportunity arose. Hopefully it would be as simple as biting the bullet and apologizing for my asinine behavior if he showed up, and of course hoping he accepted. I waited throughout the afternoon, looking up every time the library doors opened. Eventually, I resigned myself to the fact that just like I had done with my roommate, Trina, I had caused someone else to seek life elsewhere. Really, I couldn’t blame him. I wouldn’t want to be around me either. If he ever showed up again, I could still at least apologize so that he would know it wasn’t because of him that I was such a bitch.

The library was typically dead on Fridays anyway, but given that it was Halloween, the place was a cemetery. No pun intended. I felt like a double loser, sitting there hoping some guy would show up while everyone else was getting ready to go out and party. Normally, I would have basked in the joy of having the place to myself, but after a week of being around Bentley, I suddenly missed the interaction. Frustrated over having branded myself the picture of pathetic, I was in no mood to study, and decided to pack my bag and head out.

I had just left the library and was rounding the corner toward my dorm when a couple of guys dressed in togas approached me. Judging by their loud obnoxious behavior and the beers in their hands, they had started partying early. They were being pretty ballsy walking around campus with open liquor bottles, but I wasn’t about to tell them that. One of them turned and whistled as I passed. “Nice costume. You’re like the Planters peanut guy,” he slurred. His friend laughed as he pretended to prop himself up with an imaginary cane.

“That’s so clever,” I said sarcastically as I kept moving.

“Dude, I don’t think that was her costume.”

I pretended not to hear them, but the red on my cheeks told a different story. If it were the middle of the day, I could stop and say something, but being dark outside, and the fact that there weren’t many people around who I could see, I would be an idiot to stand up for myself now. Not that I would be much braver around a packed courtyard of students.

“Hey, wait, don’t go away mad. Here, stop and have a drink with us.” I could hear their footsteps approaching from behind, and I began to panic. There was no way I could run and get away.

“Please just leave me alone. I’m just trying to get to my dorm,” I stated as they jumped in front of me to stop my progress.

“What’s the matter? You too good to party?”

“No, it’s just—”

“Is there a problem?” Bentley interrupted as he forced his way between me and the two idiots. He towered over both of them and with his chest puffed up looked even more intimidating.

“Uh, sorry, dude. I guess she’s with you?” one of them asked, taking a step backward. “We were just trying to invite her to the party we’re headed to. You guys can both come if you want.”

“Fuck yourself,” Bentley answered, taking another step forward to make his point.

“It’s cool, bro.” One of them held up his hands. “We’ll just head this way. It’s all good.”

Bentley made sure they were well on their way before he turned around. Judging by their quickened pace, they had no interest in coming back.

“Who called in the asshole brigade?” he asked, walking back toward me. I lifted my eyes from the sidewalk with a relieved smile on my face.

“Were you being a creeper and following me, or did you just happen to be walking by?” The words slipped out, surprising us both. I could feel the red return to my cheeks. That wasn’t what I had in mind when I promised myself I would apologize to him.

Thankfully, he responded to my teasing by laughing.

“Would I be a total dick if I said yes?”

“That depends. Yes to which part?”

“Ah, in that case, I plead the fifth,” he countered. “Wait, let me just add that I’m glad I was here to intervene. How about that?”

“Well, I do appreciate it. They were obviously drunk, and I’m used to being teased. This makes being inconspicuous pretty hard,” I said, holding up my cane. The words to apologize about last night were on the tip of my tongue, but he seemed to have forgotten about it.

His eyes hardened as he glared over my shoulder. “You shouldn’t have to be used to it. Besides, those dipshits had something else in mind. So, are you done studying?” His expression instantly changed to a crooked smile like someone had flipped a switch.