Broken Bad Boy
Chapter 58

PERCIE

I snatched another sandwich on the plate and apple on the fruit basket before I dashed out of the kitchen. "Finish your breakfast, Percie!" Mom called out.

"Gonna be late!"

"You need to call your Grandpa, Percie." Mom followed me outside the house.

My car was already in the driveway. Mom's driver gave me my car key. "I will. Thanks, Elliot."

"Percival!" Mom's annoying voice made me stop.

I groaned. "Fine. I'm gonna be late for my class."

"You're coming home tonight, right?" I watched her eyes light up with hope.

"Sure. Can I go now?"

"Drive safe, honey."

I looked at her again. I had not heard the word honey in a long time. I still felt cynical about a sudden change of heart. At this moment, I needed them and a room to stay.

My skin crawled up with tension and fear of bumping into Hailey. I changed my parking spot. I reminded myself next time that I would borrow one of the cars at home. I kept my head down, making sure no one would notice me. I didn't pass by where I usually went to meet Hailey. Just mentioning her name in my head felt like stabs into my chest.

"Percie!" Fuck! Way to blend in. I did not stop. "Percie!" Lexie called my name urgently. She must have been following me. She grabbed me on my arm before I could turn around. "What the fuck? Where the fuck have you been?" Her voice filled with anger.

I showed no emotions, blocking any familiarity as I looked at her. Anger flitted from her eyes, replacing with shock. I made sure she would not call and approach me again as I stared back with cold and cruelty slicing through her like a knife. She flinched. "Are you okay? What happened to you?" Her voice finally cooled down.

"I'm fine. Perfectly fine." I turned around.

The moment I started to take a step, she held my arm again. "You're not fine, Percie. You're not yourself. You're dwelling with such great pain. Whatever you've been going through right now, you're not alone. I'm here. We are here. Have you even cared what Hailey had been through with you? Did you even think how hurt and sad she is without hearing anything from you? She's broke, Percie. Don't be so selfish."

I almost gave in, but I blinked it off. I faced Lexie again. As I tried to be a tough bastard even if it was all but a show, I smiled. My smile was evil. "I'm sure she'll be fine."

The long and awful classes finally ended. I stayed in the room for a moment. Even the toughest person had a weakness. I put my walls back and my charade as I walked out of the room. Deep inside, my heart was bleeding. How could she betray me? After I confessed my feelings, this was what I got in return. I thought she cared about me, but that little doubt had finally given me an answer-she had feelings for Remy-Remy fucking Larkin of all the people.

Jesus Christ. I'm a mess. I found a bench when my emotions turmoiled inside my chest. My chest constricted over and over again. How could I get away from this without suffering from intense pain? Maybe there was something in Google that told me how to move on fast. Fuck that.

"Fuck." I pulled myself together only to break into a million pieces right before my eyes. Hailey just appeared out of nowhere. It was too late to build my walls back. She was already in my arms, wrapping me with her soothing warm hug. She shook in my arms. "Where the hell have you been? I've been worried sick for days, Percie. I thought I've lost you." She tightened her arms around me and froze when I didn't give a shit.

"I'd be late for my appointment." My voice came out as cold as ice. I should give myself more credit and an Academy Best Asshole Award.

She pulled away, staring at me in shock. She swallowed hard. I was guessing she already figured out that I knew about her betrayal.

I trusted her with my life, my heart, my secrets, yet this was how she gave in return.

"Is something wrong?" Her voice shook.

"Nothing is wrong, Hailey. Everything is perfect like Sunday."

"I don't believe a word you say, Percie. Did something happen? What the hell is wrong with you? I've been worried sick, and all you can tell me is nothing wrong."

The muscle in my jaw ticked. "Why the fuck people keep asking what the hell is wrong with me? Do I look dead?"

She flinched. "Why did you just leave without even talking to me? We're worried about you. No one knows where did you go. Even your Grands. Remy has been asking you, and I couldn't give him answers." Fucking great. "Well, you have something to say to him now." I shrugged with disinterest.

"Did I do something that upsets you? Are we really okay? You don't sound like yourself." Tears formed in her eyes. If she didn't shatter my heart, I couldn't even watch her like this. I would do everything to make it stop. But right now, I just watched her wipe her tears that never ran dry.

"Maybe you should stop asking me that question and start asking yourself instead." I took a glance at her one more time before I walked away.

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"Percie." It even broke me apart to hear her calling my name, and I couldn't turn around and pull her into my arms to comfort her and tell her that everything was going to be okay.

It was bullshit.

Nothing was okay.

It was not going to be okay.

I couldn't trust her again.

"Percie!" she called my name again.

At the corner of my eyes, her friends, including Lexie had been watching us the entire time.

***

"Damn it! When I can get some time alone to myself?"

I went home right after I saw my therapist. The same old shit I had to endure all over again as I shared with my therapist. And what did I get after pouring my shit out? It's a start. It's a fucking start. I'd been pouring my shit out for the past days, and yet we were still starting. Jesus Christ.

"Open this damn door, or I will tear it down myself!"

I froze in bed. What the hell is she doing here?