Page 20 of On Broken Wings

“Jenni.” He swallowed as his eyes teared up. “Is this about Mom and Dad? Am I not listening to you? You scared the shit out of me. I’ve lost everyone I love. You’re all I have left.”

“I’m sorry.” I sobbed. “I’m so sorry. I love you too, but…” I turned away. I couldn’t look at him. I couldn’t let him see the shame that I felt. He would never understand. He was a cool kid in high school. He was on the football team. He was popular. He’d never know what it was like to be me.

“But what?” He moved from the chair he was sitting in to sit on the edge of my bed. “What is it?” He reached over and tugged gently on my shoulder to try and get me to look at him.

“I can’t.” I sniffed. “I just…”

“You just what?” he begged. “Please Jenni. Help me understand.”

“You’re gonna hate me.” I cried.

“Tell me,” he coaxed. “Please.”

I swallowed against the lump in my throat. My wrists throbbed where they were bandaged, and my head was pounding. “You have to let me finish before you say anything,” I warned.

“Done.” He gave a quick nod. “Now tell me what’s so bad that you could do this.”

“Remember when I called you a few months ago, and asked about Nate Carter? He’d asked me on a date, and since you knew Brad, I thought you’d be the best person to ask.” I sucked in a deep breath, and exhaled.

“I don’t really hang out with Brad anymore, Jen.” He shrugged.

“You promised.” I glared at him. He held his hands up in surrender, so I continued. “I went out with him. We had a great time. He was sweet, and respectful. I thought he really liked me. We kept talking, and before I knew it, I thought we were dating. I had his jacket; he picked me up for school every day. He asked me to homecoming.” I closed my eyes as I barreled on. I told my brother everything. Every last detail about what Nate did, and how Darrin and Michelle played a role in it too. “Let me see your phone.” I motioned to where it was tucked in his pocket. I pulled up Twitter, and scrolled through my newsfeed until I came across the video Nate had posted. “Here.” I handed him his phone back.

I sat there watching Mason as he watched the video. His teeth were grinding together as the vein in his neck ticked. His eyes narrowed as he started scrolling through the comments. “This has been going on since homecoming?” He growled as he looked up at me. I nodded. “And you didn’t tell anyone?” I shook my head. “Jenni, this is harassment.”

“This is why I didn’t tell you. I just want it to go away. I didn’t agree to any of this.” I waved my arm in the air despite the fact that it was pulsing in pain. I needed meds, but after all the ones I took at home, I’m sure my doctor’s going to question it.

“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to upset you. Rest. I’ll fix this.” He waved the phone as he opened up a text, and started typing furiously. I had no idea what was going on in his head at the moment, but I could tell his temper was staying in check by a thread. Mason has always been protective of me, even when I was getting on his nerves. Now, he was right; we were all we had for each other, and Nate Carter was threatening that. “Sleep. I’m not going anywhere.”

I nodded as I rolled onto my side. My eyes fluttered open and closed a few times, but exhaustion won out. I didn’t know what time it was, but I knew it was late. Mason yawned from his position in the chair before silencing his phone. It was the last thing I remembered before I fell back into a deep sleep.

oooooooo

It was late in the morning when I woke up. My sleep had been disrupted several times throughout the night as nurses checked my vitals, and doctors came breezing in and out of my room. Mason kept his vigil over me, and I slept the best I could.

When the nurse woke me this last time, it was different. When I glanced over at Mason, he looked as if he’d gone ten rounds in a boxing ring. His hands were bloodied, and his lip was split. There was a blood stain on his shirt, and the sleeve was ripped. Once the nurse left the room, I sat up in my bed. “What happened to you?” I was in disbelief. Mason was not a fighter.

“Nate won’t bother you anymore, and the video is being taken down. I fixed the problem,” he mumbled as he blanched in pain.

“What?” I stared, completely lost.

“I fixed it. I’ve been working on a plan. When you get out of here, you’re moving in with me. I’m going to get an apartment, and I’ll help you finish school online. I’m going to give you a new life, Jenni. The life you deserve.” He continued to scroll through his phone as if we were having a completely normal conversation and he didn’t just beat the crap out of someone.

“What about football?” I gasped. Mason was on scholarship for football. He’d been a star quarterback in high school.

“Football’s not everything. You’re more important. Mom and Dad were always telling me to grow up. Well, I’m going to now. I’m going to fix this, and make sure that it doesn’t happen again. Your life is going to be better now. I’m going to make sure of it. I promise.” He glanced up at me and smiled.

I’d never seen my brother like this. He was never the serious type. He was a jokester, and a goof off. Our parents were always telling him to grow up, but I never thought he would. Just knowing that he was willing to give everything he wanted up for me made me love him that much more. I was finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. The storm clouds in my sky were parting, and I just may be happy again sometime soon.

Chapter 9

3 Years Later

Jenni

It was fall, and the days were slowly cooling down. Classes were in full swing, but it didn’t really matter. I spent all my time at home if I wasn’t in class. I didn’t go to the library. I didn’t go to coffee shops, and I most certainly didn’t date. Mason had been working at The Rusty Nail for a while now. His hours were long, but I couldn’t complain. It paid the bills, and he seemed to be happy, at least he used to be. Last week, he came home in a grumpy mood, and he’s been kinda quiet since.

Today is my short day. I only have two classes; econ and ethics in business. As I looked outside at the gray sky, I attempted to choose something flattering to wear to class. I don’t know why I bothered. Most days, I’d dress in jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt. It was kinda my thing, and it covered my scars. “You wanna ride to campus?” Mason called from the kitchen.

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