It all started with a game

Chapter 15

We parted ways as I headed into the kitchen. I only knew where three things in the kitchen were, the cups, the water, and Ryder's red spatula which you would think would be easy to find considering it was bright red, but it most certainly was not as it blended with everything else in the kitchen, which was also red, even the glass cups.

I swung open the cupboard, standing on my tiptoes as I tried to grab a glass. I usually made Ryder grab them for me, since he could reach them with ease, but that unfortunately was not an option since someone had to use the bathroom. I used the counter for support, jumping up. My fingertips brushed against two glasses, knocking each one over. I caught the intended cup in my palm, not managing to grasp to the second one in time. The rim collided with the floor, shattering into a million tiny pieces that coated my path. I stilled, staring at the remnants of the red cup, the shards sparkling in the light.

What did I do? The remaining glass quivered in my grip, the last man standing. My thoughts quickly began to spiral, filling my head. He's going to be so mad. I broke a cup. He's going to be so upset. How could I be so stupid? He's gonna yell at me.

I'm so clumsy, I can't do anything right.

Ryder ran into the room, his face flushed. "Are you okay?" He panicked.

I stared my foolish mistake. He's going to be so mad. He's gonna yell at me. I don't want to be locked in my room. I don't want him to take my books away. I can't do anything right. I can't do anything right. I'm a failure.

I have to clean it up. I dropped to my knees, frantically picking up the pieces of glass, ignoring Ryder entirely. He's going to be so mad.

"Beatrice, you're going to cut yourself! I can go get a broom," Ryder tried to stop me.

I ignored him. I have to clean it up. I grabbed each shard, tossing them into my palm. "I'm sorry!" I apologized. "I didn't mean to. I'm sorry!" My chest tightened as I choked in breaths. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." The words repeated in my head like a broken record that I couldn't seem to stop.

"It's okay! Beatrice, stop, you're going to get hurt."

"I'll clean it up, I promise!" I wasn't listening to him, too focused on the mess I'd made.

Ryder tried to grab my hands without causing any damage but I was moving too quickly. "Beatrice it's okay! It was an accident."

I'm so stupid.

"You're gonna cut yourself."

I have to clean it up. I yelped, yanking my hand back, immediately sticking my finger in my mouth, the metallic taste filling it.

Ryder took the opportunity to grab my wrist to keep me from trying to pick the glass up again. His eyes locked with mine, bringing me back to my senses. My lip quivered, a tear slipping down my cheek. "I'm sorry." I whimpered, my finger still in my mouth. "I didn't mean to." I let my hands drop to my sides, in too much shock to worry about my bleeding finger.

He brushed away my tears, cupping my face in his hands. "I know. It's okay. It was an accident."

"I'm so sorry," I sobbed, my head aching from all the crying.

"It's okay. You didn't do anything wrong," he comforted.

He pulled me closer to him, swooping me up in his arms so as to get away from the large pile of glass. Ryder set me down on the island top, wrapping his arms around me. I buried my face in the crook of his neck. "I'm sorry," I whisper for the hundredth time.

He rubbed my back. "I know. It's okay, you didn't do anything wrong."

My tears had managed to settle, but the shaking was uncontrollable. I clutched the back of Ryder's shirt, trying to calm down with no luck.