Page 5 of Broken Harmony
“You will never believe it!” I shout as I storm into the house, slamming the door behind me. “That crazy bitch. I swear!”
When I get to the living room, I find my parents all sitting around. They look up at me, worry on their faces.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, looking between the four of them. Mom looks at my dads before looking over at me.
“We just got off the phone with Lulu’s mom,” Mom says.
My heart stops. “What did she say?”
“She said you came over,” my dad, Calvin, growls, anger lacing every word. “She said you made a scene. Told us that you are not allowed over there again. To never contact their daughter, and if you try, she will get a restraining order and press charges.”
“What?!” I shout, fist clenching. “God, she's fucking crazy! You know she’s crazy, right?”
“Yes, honey, we know,” Mom says sadly. “Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do.”
“They control Lulu!” I argue. “She’s not safe there.”
“We don’t know that,” my dad, Ryder, says. “Have you ever seen her with bruises?”
“Well, no. But that’s not the point!”
“Has she ever gone hungry? Without proper clothes?” my dad, Calvin, asks.
“No,” I growl out. “But again, that’s not–”
“Unless Lulu wants to do something about it, our hands are tied, sweetie,” Mom sniffs, like she’s just as upset about this as I am. “I love that girl like she’s one of my own, and I’d do anything for her, but if she doesn’t want help, we can’t do anything about it.”
“So that's it?” I demand. “We just leave it? What do you expect me to do?”
Mom gets to her feet and walks over to me, placing her hands on my shoulders. “You're going to take the summer to allow you and Lulu to focus on yourselves. You're going to go to California, compete in the competition, and kill it.” She gives me a sad smile. “You’ve worked so hard for this, Ally. You're so dedicated and talented. You have a bright future ahead of you. And in the meantime, we will do our best to let Lulu know we’re still here for her. If we see her around town, we will remind her, okay?”
“I can’t just leave, Mom,” my voice breaks as tears fill my eyes. “I can’t leave without her.”
“She’s not going, sweetie,” Mom says, and I hate the pitying look she’s giving me. “But you are. She wouldn’t want you to miss this opportunity. She knows how much this means to you. How hard you worked to get here. She’d want you to go and kill it.”
“She’s supposed to come with me!” I feel like someone's sitting on my chest, making it hard to breathe.
“Who knows, with some time, maybe she will join you. She turns eighteen soon. Maybe that's all she needs to get away. I’ll make sure to check in on her, okay? If I can get her alone, maybe I can convince her to get help. Maybe knowing she has me and your dads’ support, it could help.”
“Mom!” I hate how sad and broken I sound.
“I know, baby, I know.” She hugs me, and like last night, I cling to her, needing the support she gives me when all I feel is helpless.
Heading up to my room, I flop down on my bed and stare up at the ceiling. I’ve never felt so lost in my life.
Knowing I shouldn’t, but doing it anyway, I call Lulu. But instead of a ringtone, I get an operator letting me know that the number has been disconnected.
“What the fuck?” I stare at the phone in shock. “Really!?” I shout. “Fucking really?!” In a rage, I throw my phone at the wall, watching it break.
How could my life go from amazing to crashing and burning around me in under twenty-four hours?
If I could go back, I’d keep my mouth shut. If I could go back, I’d have taken Lulu to the movies. Or not have snuck her out at all.
I’d have waited until we were both out of this fucking town and free.
Now, that’s never going to happen.
Now, my future looks a hell of a lot different. And I don’t know if I like it. No. I know I don’t.
