P A R K E R

03 | beat as one

HAVE YOU EVER broken a limb or lost one? I'm not an amputee and I don't have an broken bones that I've temporary lost feeling to but I think I have an idea of how an amputee feels. As I lay on my bed, I felt broken. I feel like I'm missing a major part of me, like my legs and without it, I can't move because I'm incomplete and I have an inch but I know if I reach for it I'm not going to find what was once there.

My eyes shift from my sky blue ceiling to my phone. Its lying flat on my bedside. No hum, vibration or buzz. No light up or ring. My eyes shift to the time; fifteen minutes past Seven. Its exactly by this time that I should've received a call to wake me up. I let out a wistful sigh and tears momentarily cloud my vision.

Bryce always called at exactly fifteen minutes past seven am on a school day. It pained me that I couldn't for the life of me remember when he started, it seems like he's been doing it since forever. But I know it rooted from the fact that alarm clocks scared me, I had broken twenty and counting. I found it annoying and would always tell him to stop so I could savour extra minutes of sleep but he wouldn't listen. He'd call and call.

Please call.

Up until he left me alone in the world, I'll be fast asleep by this time. But now, I automatically wake up on my own when its time. It might have to do with the fact of my little sleep and nightmares plaguing my dreams or maybe its because I know that he'll be annoyed if I don't wake up and his ghost self might be beating himself up for not being able to wake me like he used to. If that makes any sense.

"I'm up." I say to my room and sit up my bed, swinging my legs out. "Good morning, Bryce."

Morning, Arc. How was your night?

"Not that good." I say standing up and throwing my hair into a pony tail. "I dreamt about you and everything. I think I'll need to buy an alarm, I wish to wake up earlier and go for a run."

Run? Yesh.

I chuckle pouring toothpaste on top my toothbrush. "I know right. Poor me. But if I don't, Riley's gonna kick me out of the team." I pout at my reflection in the mirror.

Sucks for you but good luck.

"Thanks."

Bye pretty.

"...bye."

After my bathroom business is over I dress up and come down the stairs to the aroma of eggs. My stomach churn in happiness but I didn't really have the will to eat anything. I walked into the kitchen anyways and saw my Mom laughing at something, Trey probably said.

"Morning." I say collecting the mug filled with black coffee I see on the counter and take a generous sip.

Mom turns to me, a smile still on her face, then back to the stove. "Morning, Parker, how was your night?"

"Swell."

Mom turns around again, without a smile this time and she looks at me trying to figure out if I'm being sarcastic or telling the truth. I don't give the opportunity though as I actively gulp down the not-smoking hot coffee closing my eyes as I go through the little pain that stings my throat.

"Hey, that's mine." Trey says after he removes his head from the fridge and points the hand holding cheese at me.

Mom smacks him the butt with a spoon. "Make another." Trey glares at me and I resist the need to smile. Ever since the incident my family have been walking on eggshells around me, especially my mother. I really scared her after the incident.

"I'm off." I say dropping the now empty mug in the sink and kissing my Mom on the cheek.

"Wait, what? No breakfast?"

I shake my head. "I'm not hungry."

"Sweetie breakfast is the most important meal of the day." Mom says shooting me a concerned look.

I disagree.

I shrug, "I'm skipping it. Not hungry."

"Then take some to school." She says and she's already moving around and packing something up for me without giving me the chance to object. I sigh and patiently wait for her, then screw my face in disgust when I see Trey is just in his plaid boxers, swaying his hips as he hums a song and flips toast on a stove.

What's the need of the toasting machine if we can all use the stove?

"Thanks Mom." I tell her shoving the food flask into my bag and walking away.

"I love you Parker," she says as I step out the house, I hear her voice again and its followed by Trey shouting, "Me too."

I roll my eyes and walk to the garage, getting into my car and driving out. I slow to a stop at the neighbors house, checking to see if I'll see Margaret Bryan but instead I see Sean Bryan. He had a super frown on his face as he inspects the motorcycle parked in front of him. Then I see him angrily tear off glass on a side mirror, muttering things only he could hear. It takes me a minute to put two and two together and my jaw is left hanging with my eyes wide in horror.

The smash and run I did to a motorcycle yesterday. That belonged to Sean? Really?

I've already successfully forgotten about the incident but this brings it rushing back, accompanied with the guilt. Feeling extremely bad for what I did and knowing that Sean is probably raining curses on both I and my entire graduation, I step out of the car. I start walking towards Sean and it isn't until I'm a few feet away that he finally acknowledges me and looks away from his bike.

"Is that your bike?" I ask once I'm within hearing distance. Dumb question, I know. But I'm nervous and I can't exactly start blurting out my criminal acts to him immediately.

He takes his time to look at me from head to toe and he smirks, a look of... appreciation? In his eyes. "Morning." He says and I nod in embarrassment. The smirk falls off as he looks down on his bike again. "Yea its mine but some idiot messed it up yesterday and now it'll look really bad to drive this to school."

"I'm sorry."

He smiles, "thanks Parker but its not your fault."

Abandon mission! Save yourself!

I gulp nervously. "Actually it is."

"What?"

I glance up at him, "Yesterday, it was parked right in front of my car. I wanted to leave so badly, so I figured I'd push it out of the way. While doing that it fell to the ground. I was going to wait but then I panicked and... I ran."

The silence is crawling.

I give Sean my best pleading look and I see a scowl directed at me. Its like his trying not to blow up. "I'm sorry, Sean."

"You don't do that, Parker, I was--"

"I'm sorry." I said again, the last thing I need now is a black eye. Not that Sean would actually punch me but who knows how much he's changed?

He sighed running a hand through his hair. "Fine. It's okay."

No punch then?

"Thank you. I'll pay for the repairs."

He nods, picking his bag from the ground. "Yeah well before that I'll need a ride to school. Can't drive this around."

I nod, then blink as I try to understand what he's implying. He smirks. "You won't mind giving me a ride, would you?"

His words sink in. I hear them, I force smile and open my mouth, the word coming out like it's poison itself.

"Of course not."

•  •  •

Poor Parker 😂. What's your thoughts on this chapter? We met Parker's Mom here. Stay put for more!

*next update - Friday*

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