Their Broken Pieces by Jessica Gomez
Chapter Forty-Four
Jasmine
After my crying fit, I wipe my eyes and sit up to read a book. The fictional world of INFECTED is much better than my current situation, even though it takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. At least the two main characters—Lillie and Ian—aren’t afraid to love each other, even after the crazy shit they encounter. Unfortunately, it’s still not enough to distract me completely, as my mind continues to drift toward Alex. Maybe he just needs space. The excuse is a crutch, a way to rationalize the earlier events, but I know none of it’s true. He’s distancing himself by pushing me away, punishing us both.
The day drags by, but I don’t want to waste our last night in Hawaii hiding in a room, partially hoping he’ll come back, and partly because I couldn’t find the strength to go out in public. I’m used to being a recluse, it’s how I deal with loss, how I dealt with the death of Jace and Marisol. I hid in my room, sometimes days at a time.
I devour the last line of INFECTED when my stomach growls, snarling in protest. The only thing I’ve eaten today was that tasteless bagel, the one Alex brought me for breakfast. There’s no pang of hunger, but the noise my stomach emits says otherwise. Besides, this is my last night in Hawaii; I shouldn’t spend it in my room.
I rifle through my clothes, looking for something with that extra oomph to make me feel special, a touch to lift my mood. At the bottom of my bag, I find a sundress I don’t recognize right away. It’s white with a halter-top, the bottom has an intricate lacy design. It’s very cute and the longer I stare at it, I realize I have seen it before when Molly was going through her wardrobe. It was her second day's afternoon dress. Guess she didn’t get to wear it after all… but I can.
I pull the dress on and do my makeup, looking in the full-length mirror along the wall, I study myself.
The white is so pure, it makes my skin glow, and my bright blue eyes seem gigantic, popping against the ebony of my hair. Double-checking to make sure none of my buckle wounds are showing, and they’re not. The ones closer to my shoulders have dried and healed from the saltwater of the ocean. The only ones that are left are the ones in the center of my back, next to my spine, and they’re staying covered without a problem.
It’s seven in the evening, so the sun’s still up but on its way down for the night. The weather is warm and comfortable outside. I create a plan before leaving the room, so there’s no time for a pity party. First, I need to find a place to eat, already planning to follow the boardwalk until I find something. Second, I want to walk on the beach one last time before leaving. The smell at night seems stronger, relaxing me, and bringing peace to my tattered soul. After that, I’m heading back to the room and getting a good night’s sleep, not expecting Alex to return, but secretly hoping he does.
I leave the room, hating that my mind still lingers on Alex. He’s ruined our night by not only acting as if nothing happened but also leaving and avoiding me the entire day.
Once I meander my way out into the open air; it caresses me, refreshing my imbalance instantly. The smell of the saltwater floating through the air brings a smile to my lips, something I wasn’t sure I could accomplish today.
My destination is the boardwalk, wading through chairs and tables set out by the pool, and that’s when I notice Carlos sitting by the water. At the sight of him, my heart skips and speeds like a runaway train. If he’s here, Alex must not be far away. I’m not sure if I’m ready to face him yet.
The option is not mine to decide, because he’s sitting a few chairs over… talking to a brown-haired girl. She’s leaning into him, flirting, acting like a couple, touching his hand and leg when she talks.
My temper flares. She’s touching what belongs to me. Well, what I thought belonged to me. My heart swells and tears threaten to fall, but I breathe in deep and force myself to keep moving away from them. Away from him.
A half mile later, I finally find peace. It seems the farther away from him I get, the more my sanity returns. I try to regain some self-control and cherish what little time I have here, taking in the sights and breathing in the fresh air. As much as I enjoy being alone, it’s times like these that I wish I had more friends, people to share this with. If Jace and Marisol were here, they would have loved everything about Hawaii.
My fingers caress Jace’s glass pendent, stopping to look out over the ocean at the setting sun, heart clenching for my twin. The bright reds, oranges, pinks, and yellows swirl in the sky, creating a masterpiece. “I wish you were here with me,” I tell him, meaning every word.
At this moment, I’m utterly alone. I have no one. Sure, I have Dad and Grandma, and I love them, but I have no one just for me. Suddenly, I’m not as hungry as I once was, my appetite gone.
Deciding to cut dinner, I take my walk early, heading down the boardwalk, and enjoying the setting sun. The bliss of a beautiful night is much better than finding a restaurant. Food would taste like cardboard right about now, anyway.
Getting an itch, I remove my sandals and walk next to the waves. The water flowing over my toes, warm like a bath. I drift down the beach for a couple of hours when I spy a few surfers in the water, replaying surf lessons with Alex.
I’m not paying much attention to the people that wander out of the waves and onto the beach, at least not until one of them calls my name.
“Jasmine, right?” The Hawaiian accent catches my attention.
“Hi,” I say to Kahale, my surf instructor, as he approaches. A smile finds my lips easily. I had a blast learning to surf and did fairly well for my first time, if I say so myself. “Was that you out there surfing?” Duh, Jasmine. I do a mental face-palm.
“Yeah, catching a few waves before dark. What are you doing out here by yourself?” he asks as he comes closer. His skin is glistening in the sinking sun, ocean water trickling over every sculpted muscle. His body flexes with every stride, while his surfboard is tucked under his arm; he’s also wearing a big, warm grin.
“I’m just out for a walk. It’s our last night here, so I refuse to sit inside and waste it.” I pause for a second. “So, how are the waves tonight?” What? Now you think you’re a professional surfer.
“They’re a little flat, but it’s always nice to sit out on the water. Where’s your friend?”
Friend? It was pretty obvious that Alex and I were more than just friends. Kahale’s hitting on me, I realize. Let the games begin. If Alex wants to play, I can have a good time too. I’d appreciate the company to help pass the time. At least tomorrow we can leave, and I’ll no longer be stuck on this damn island with Alex.
“He’s hanging out with his friends. I felt like a walk, so here I am.” I shrug, not wanting to delve into the details.
“Cool. I’m done here, so can I dry off and walk you home?” Kahale is nice. He’s not expecting anything to happen.
“Please. That would be nice. I could use a little company right about now.” I only now realize that we’re on the beach in front of the surf shop.
He trots over to the door, puts his board inside, and grabs a towel. He dries his hair and body, then tosses a tank top on and runs back over.
“You ready?” He quickly closes the distance between us, leaving less than a foot of space.
“Yes. Thank you for the offer to walk with me,” I say as we walk back toward the hotel.
The conversation between Kahale and I is never lagging. Turns out, he’s also a high school senior, working at the surf shop for extra cash. We talked about our schools and how they differ from one another; surprisingly, they have similar curriculums.
Once we reach the hotel, we have to walk around the bar by the pool to get to the lobby. The place is unexpectedly packed for a hotel poolside bar, but as I scan the area, the throng of people do nothing to hide Alex. The same dark-haired girl is leaning against a pillar, Alex’s hand placed next to her head, tilting forward. They look like lovers.
Fate, being a bitch, draws his attention to me the moment I see him, kismet working its unpredictable plan. The scene sours my stomach and an overwhelming desire to vomit churns as I watch him hang all over another girl. Our eyes hold for longer than necessary, but neither of us is willing to withdraw. I’d say the heaving of my chest has stopped the beating of my heart, but clearly, I’m still alive.
Surprising myself, I walk toward the lobby, not missing a beat. Kahale’s hand lands gently on my lower back to guide me through the tables and chairs.
Alex is the first one to look away, only to lean into the dark-haired girl and kiss her full on the lips.
I’m thankful I can tear my gaze away with no actual emotion playing on my face, even though my insides are barely alive from the beating they’ve just received.
Once we reach the elevators, I turn to thank Kahale for walking me home.
“Thank you, Kahale. It was really nice meeting you, and thank you so much for the awesome surf lessons. It’ll be one of the best memories here.” I try to plaster the smile he deserves, but it’s forced.
“You’re more than welcome.” He steps into me and for a moment, I think he might kiss me, but he only grabs my hand and kisses the top of it. “Thank you for letting me walk you home.”
A blush colors my cheeks. “Good night,” I tell him, and step into the elevator.