Broken

• Chapter 83 •

- CLEMENTINE -

"Morning! Guess what today is?" dad quips as he attempts to scoop some pancake batter onto the stove.

"The day I die?" I groan as I rub my eyes and sit up on the counter.

"No. It's Halloween!" his smile is too bright for this early in the morning.

I yawn, "I know. I'm going to a Halloween party after school, by the way."

He nods, "Fine. No touching boys, no drinking, no smoking, no piercings, no tattoos, no—"

"Dad!"

He bursts into laughter, "Why don't you look excited? You look like shit, honestly."

I roll my eyes, "Geez, thanks. I haven't gotten any sleep."

His eyebrows knit together, "Why?"

I shrug uncomfortably, "No reason."

"Minty..." his voice is cautious.

I roll my eyes and pick up an apple, "Just bad dreams. Okay? I need coffee."

I pour myself a cup of coffee and feel dad's eyes boring into the back of my head.

"Go get to school, you'll be late," he thankfully drops the topic.

"I'm going, I'm going," I tell him as I head out the door.

"Don't talk to any boys!"

___________________

"You need to come over. My mom's been driving me nuts about it," Eric tells me as he pulls out of my house.

I chuckle, "How is Ella? I miss her."

He shrugs, "She's good, misses teaching you how to bake. She's been trying to teach dad, and he won't have it."

I smile at the memory of her teaching me to make pancakes, "Your parents are so hot."

He grimaces, "Gross."

"It's true, I would fuck your dad."

Eric almost crashes the car in disgust, "Take that back this second you disgusting fuck!"

I laugh hysterically at his contorted expression, "What? You think he'd like being called daddy?"

"STOP!"

I can't fucking breathe, "For real your sister's gonna be such a cutie when she grows up. Good luck getting the boys off her."

He sighs, "I know, I'm going to lock her up. I'll convince mom and dad to home-school her. It's for her own good, really," he shrugs.

I roll my eyes, "Shut up, Eric."

He laughs, "I can totally tell why your parents home-schooled you."

My heart skips a beat, a blush erupts on my cheeks. I clear my throat at his smug grin and shake my head, "I don't blame them. I mean look at me," I sigh.

"Exactly. You're too beautiful, it's unfair to everyone in society."

I laugh and pull my phone out, "Hold up. Could you say that again? I wanna get it on tape."

___________________

"Alrighty, the class has officially started. Let me take roll," Ms. Shanice proceeds to check off everyone's name in class. I resist the urge to glance at Ashton, everything has been tense since the sort-of fight at his house.

I get so angry every time I see his stupid face. Whatever, Clementine. Presentations are today, then you won't ever have to talk or remember he exists again.

"Do I have any volunteers to go first?" Ms. Shanice glances around the class, everyone remains quiet.

She doesn't look impressed. "Nobody? Anybody?" she sighs and shakes her head, looking down at the list, "Dustiiiiin. Thank you for volunteering."

"But I didn't!"

"I know. I just don't like you," she cuts him off, "Come on. I'm gonna start calling on random people if no one volunteers."

Dustin and Arin make their way to the front of the class and pull out their presentation on Education and how the exam aspect is complete and utter bullshit and should be illegalized. Several other people pass, and I grow more agitated and nervous by the minute.

"Ashton and Clementine."

My heart stops functioning altogether. This is the first presentation I've ever had to do for any class, ever. Obviously. I was fucking home-schooled. What if I screw this up? What if I freeze and forget everything? My knees tremble as we make our way to the front of the class. I accidentally meet Ashton's gaze, and he's looking at me with a concerned expression.

Ashton being Ashton quickly snaps out of his emotions, though. I just want to get this over with.

"Our presentation is about drug use," my voice cracks and I feel my cheeks blaze up. I clear my throat, "Uhm, specifically in—um..." fuck. Fuck fuck fuck. Clementine? At a loss for words? GET A GRIP.

"Our research paper explores the reasons as to why drugs are such a popular topic of conversation in the celebrity world," Ashton saves my ass and proceeds to explain what I was meant to. Ms. Shanice gives me a reassuring smile, and I'm so thankful she bases ninety-five percent of our grade on the actual paper and only five on the presentation.

When Ashton finishes talking, he gives me a hesitant glance. I thank him silently despite myself and we head back to our seats. My heart is racing like crazy. I don't ever want to present ever again. Why are kids forced to do this shit? I say it's child abuse.

"Relax. You can breathe. We're done," Ashton hisses.

I narrow my eyes at him and clench my jaw, "Yeah, I guess we are."