Breaking the Arm, Healing the Heart

by Ashley Andrews

  She was fiery and that completely turned Lucas on.

  "Maybe I'll add you as a friend," Sicily said, slightly amused.

  "And I'll post some new pictures for you to drool over."

  "Family pics? That would be cute. Theodore's really adorable."

  Lucas suppressed a grunt. Yes, the girl was a complete bitch, and he wanted to bitch-slap her at the moment. She wasn't supposed to talk about his family in front of his friends since that would ruin his cold-as-stone reputation. Good thing it was only Tanner he had to worry about. He'd eventually tell Zack what was going on since they were best friends. He was just lucky no one else was here, especially Mallory or Adriana. Those girls probably had killer resumes and college applications that listed backstabbing and gossiping as their main accomplishments.

  "Family pics," he said in a quiet and thoughtful tone. "I'll post some."

  Sicily could only smirk.

  Paybacks really were a bitch.

  Chapter 5: How to Start a New Year

  One of the privileges of wealth was Zane’s super-sized mansion on Jupiter Island. It was the largest home, and the only one with a separate party house, perfect for throwing parties. Zane didn’t go to the local high school that had about twenty students; instead he commuted over the bridge each day to Sun Coast.

  Tonight, that two-story party house would be put to good use. It was where Zane always held his annual New Year bash – the grandest party of the year for the high school set. Unless you were dying or in the hospital, no junior or senior would ever miss this event. If they did, they were just crazy.

  The huge party house had two floors. The upper floor was half the size of the downstairs. It took only half the space available so at the edge, there was a balcony railed with glass bordered by metal, and down the carpeted staircase were large potted plants along a ledge. The ground floor was extensive, once half of the room had vaulted ceilings, with panoramic glass windows offering a great view of the oriental garden outside.

  A corner of the room was dedicated to the luxurious kitchen that would be filled with waiters, waitresses, drinks, and a buffet table. The center, of course, was the dance floor. The rest of the room offered couches, bar stools, other cushioned seats, and low cocktail tables.

  * * * * *

  Sicily and Bailey, entered the Lowe party house together, Sicily with a small smirk on her face. After her eventful yet unfortunate afternoon, she was anticipating this party in order to release the stress Lucas, Zack, and Tanner had caused her. She quickly passed the dance floor and the kitchen and finally got to her friends who were sitting at one big table. Zane, Vanessa, Bryce, Dan, and a few of her other friends were already there as they greeted her with hugs and kisses on the cheek.

  "Always fashionably late," Zane said with a small grin playing on his lips.

  "It's always good to arrive when everyone else is here," Sicily returned, giving her best friend a peck on the cheek.

  "In order to ensure that everyone has their eyes on you?" Vanessa asked, smiling.

  Sicily only nodded before she took the empty space on the couch beside Zane. Instinctively, the host of the party put an arm on her shoulders and she leaned comfortably into him with one of her hands on his knee. The rest of the group wasn't surprised with how couple-y they looked and acted. They always did this at their lunch table and long ago it had become a habit. It was pure repetition of an act, devoid of feeling and emotion.

  "This place is getting crowded fast," Bailey said as she looked around and sat herself on Carter's lap.

  Carter was part of their school's basketball team and he also belonged to Sicily's group. The guy was so nice that he was never gossiped about, because no one could say anything bad about him. He never got enough spotlight time actually.

  "Look at those juniors over there," Vanessa said, pointing to a group of scantily-dressed women who were grinding against a bunch of JV jocks. "They're hogging the floor as if they have never been to a party."

  "If you want to dance, you just have to tell me, you know," Dan teased as he wrapped his arms around her waist while she sat in between his legs.

  Sicily discreetly shouldered Zane and the two shared a quick look. Dan and Ness were already acting like a couple – a sweet but vomit–potential one at that.

  Before long her thoughts drifted to this afternoon.

  Sicily sighed as she tried to relax and not think too much about what had happened. It had been Hell, and that was a complete understatement. Zack, Tanner, and Lucas played video games the whole day while she sat in one corner of the room until Lucas granted her freedom. She didn't bother talking to them since she knew they were ignoring her to irritate her, but what confused her was how Lucas was still able act the way he did and still have the entire school adore him.

  He had the rudest attitude anyone could ever have, and still, everyone except for Sicily and her group liked him, loved him even. She needed to forget about him and the truly horrible treatment she’d received from him. She was going to let go, and as a start, she took the shot glass that was on the table in front of her and emptied it. She licked her lips and tasted vodka.

  "Who wants to dance with me?" Sicily asked, letting go of Zane's hold on her as she eyed her best friend and asked the same question again through her eyes.

  "I will," he answered, running a hand through his light brown hair before he took her wrist and led her to the center of the room.

  When they found a place that had enough space for them to dance comfortably with each other, Sicily put her hands on Zane's shoulders while he put his at the sides of her hips. The song playing was Shake, by Pit Bull, featuring the Ying Yang twins. To get herself more into the beat, she turned around and had her back against Zane's chest while one of her arms was hooked around his neck. After a few seconds, Sicily closed her eyes as she let Zane, with his hands on her outer thighs, guide her.

  Eventually the night grew closer to the start of a new year. Because of the late hour, people had started to think and decide who they were going to kiss when the clock struck twelve. A few had boyfriends and girlfriends and so they were already free from the dilemma, but the others were worrying. Everyone wanted to kiss someone who was worth making-out with, even Sicily was undecided with who she was going to French. Although she knew it wasn't going to be Zane. Although they danced, actually grinded, with each other, neither one of them wanted to kiss the other. They had been there and done that. They didn't want to repeat the past.

  "Look at them," Zane said, pointing at Vanessa and Dan. "It's not yet twelve and they're already groping each other."

  Sicily smiled before she asked, "Why? Are you jealous?" and in return, Zane looked at her like she was crazy.

  "Me? Jealous?" he said. "Dream on. I could get any girl I want right now. I just choose not to because of you."

  That wasn't meant to be sweet, and the both of them knew that. Zane just said it to tease Sicily and make her smile and so, she hit him in the shoulder before she nodded her head.

  "Uh-huh, just admit you’re mellowing in your old age," she returned and it was her turn to tease.

  They had made their way to the Mexican food laden buffet table. Zane handed a plate to Sicily and she filled it with a serving spoon full of nachos, a couple of quesadillas, a few tacos, and a slice of pita covered with meat. It was a lot, but it was nothing compared to Zane's. But before she could tell her best friend how much of a pig he was, someone said, "Eww…calories."

  "Jealousy won't get you anywhere," Sicily said in response as she turned and met eye-to-eye with Mallory. "I'm thinner than you, and I can eat whatever I want while you…"

  "Lying won't get you anywhere too, you know," she said, backed up by her posse who were sending Zane and Sicily lethal looks which the two found amusing.

  "Just stick a toothbrush down your throat like you always have," Sicily replied.

  That made Adriana and the others gasp.

  In disbelief Mallory looked at Sicily. She could not fa
thom what her former best friend had just done. Sicily had revealed her bulimia. Maybe her knowledge came from two years ago, but still. The only ones who knew her secret were her parents and Sicily.

  "Mal, what the hell is she talking about?" Tatiana, a white-blonde haired girl, asked before she gave the female Sun Coast-er a roll of her eyes.

  "Nothing," the other head cheerleader replied quietly. "She's just been watching a lot of movies."

  "And I'm a potato, Mal," Adriana intervened, wearing an irritated look. "Do we honestly look that stupid to you?"

  "Do you want an honest answer?" Sicily butted in. "If you do, then ye-"

  "No one told you to talk, Barbie."

  Sicily decided to play dumb as she looked over Mallory’s shoulder and pretended to watch someone else. This made Mallory's group let out exasperated sighs as they showed Sicily how much she was clearly unwanted. Whatever. She couldn't help but be part of the conversation, especially when Mallory was being asked questions about her dangerous past.

  "So, are you?" Adriana asked.

  "Am I what?"

  "Are you bulimic?"

  With angry eyes, Mallory looked at Sicily as she exhaled in a huff. being bulimic was a big deal. Girls died from it, and there was a big focus on eating disorders in their schools. Even thought what happened to Mallory was years in the past, it would be a very popular topic of conversation.

  People were going to talk, and in two days, Winter Break was going to be over and school was going to begin. It was almost the first day of the second semester, and the school was going to talk about Mallory and her toothbrush. She wanted to be talked about, just not in that way.

  "Yes! Are you happy now?" she screamed, eyes flashing with wrath.

  A few people stared at the small circle, closely watching the interaction between Sicily They had heard bits and pieces of the conversation and were already whispering about Marina Del Ray's Queen and her past. Mallory could see what was happening around her. Fishy eyes and loud mouths surrounded her. She had no choice but to curse them all.

  "What the fuck are you bitches looking at?" she said, her voice booming. "I know I have a life, one which is so much better than all of yours combined, but please! Spare me the attention right now!"

  With that, people immediately turned around and at least pretended to be doing something else. Zane tugged on Sicily's shoulder, and she nodded. It was her time to leave. She didn't know if she was supposed to feel happy or sad for humiliating Mallory. A little of both she supposed. But that girl had earned the exposure and more, considering what she’d done to Sicily a few years ago. This was justified payback.

  In Middle School she had been the one humiliated by Mallory. The humiliation had happened in front of everyone. Worse, the supposed secrets were all lies. Mallory had laid it on thick. Saying that Sicily had been smoking, doing drugs, and more. What Mallory did had almost torn Sicily’s life completely apart. None of what Mallory had said about Sicily taking crystal meth or smoking marijuana had been the truth. There had been no offered proof, and yet everyone had believed Mallory just because the gossip was so juicy.

  Sicily cried herself to sleep every night months. No. She didn’t feel sorry for Mallory now. What was happening to Mallory was her own fault. Sicily wasn't the helpless best friend she used to be, the pretty and innocent one. Yes, she was still extremely beautiful, but she was far from innocent now.

  "She's just overreacting," Zane whispered into his friend's ear. "Believe me. That girl knew what she was coming up against the moment you opened your mouth."

  Sicily grinned before she looked up at him and raised her eyebrow. "Really? She deserved it anyway."

  "After the rumors she started and the damage she did to you? Fuck her. What you did to her was only like an appetizer."

  Sicily, tried to suppress her grin, until she caught sight of more of Zane’s guests, headed over to confront them. She had already decided that he should have limited the guest list. She just knew this night would end badly. First, it was Mallory, and now, it had to be Zack.

  Zack moved in front of them and looked at the two grimly. His lips were a thin line and he had his arms crossed firmly against his chest. Behind him stood Tanner and Lucas, and while the former looked unaffected with his Cheshire cat like smile, the latter, like always, didn't seem to care.

  "What did you do to Mallory?" Zack asked, his voice had a threatening edge to it.

  The five of them stood beside the entrance door with Tanner and Lucas leaning lethargically on a wall. Out of the three, Zack probably cared the most. Even though Sicily knew he was mad at her, she still had to give him credit. He was a true friend to Mallory or those he liked, no matter how cold or intimidating he may be at times.

  "I thought you weren't coming to the party?" Sicily looked at the three guys that stood before her. Each of them was certainly different from the other, but one thing was the same; they were all narcissistic and disrespectful.

  "You aren't answering my question," Zack said in a forceful tone and the only thing missing to complete his frightening stature was for him to hurt her, but he wouldn't do that. He was still a man.

  "I choose not to."

  Zack took a step forward as he raised his arm up, as if ready to strike her.

  She closed her eyes, afraid of what was going to happen. She really thought Zack was going to hit her, but after a few seconds had passed, he lowered his hand and put it behind his back.

  He was so tempted to hit her, just to show her that he was being serious. But he forward movements of Zane and even Lucas, told him that would be a bad idea on his part. And besides, hitting Sicily would only garner lots of unwanted attention. He hated being in the limelight.

  "Just shut up," Zack said through gritted teeth as he tried to control his temper.

  Slightly freaked out, Sicily flinched when she heard Zack speak up again. She put a hand on Zane's shoulder, and in return, her best friend wrapped an arm around her waist. Like the previous incidents, they were outnumbered at the moment, three to two, and it kind of unnerved Sicily, but not to the point that she would stop.

  "And again, I choose not to," she retorted.

  Zack exhaled before he balled up his fists and lightly punched the wall. He knew that women needed to be treated with respect, but Sicily just irritated the hell out of him. He thought she was extremely and unbelievably immature, and bitchy.

  "You're really tempting me to hit you," he said, pronouncing every word fully as if each word contained venom.

  "And I'm disappointed in myself I haven't succeeded."

  That did it. Zack closed the gap between Sicily and him and brought his arm up again, ready to strike.

  "You wouldn't," Sicily challenged.

  "Yes, he would," Lucas intervened, calmly resting against the wall. "But drop it, Zack. Now."

  The two best friends looked at each other for a long time amidst the crowd of people and the loud music in the background. It was as if they only saw and heard each other.

  "Just because she has boobs doesn't mean I can let her go," Zack said, and Sicily soon realized they were talking about her.

  "You don’t decide that just because a woman irritates you that you can change the rules. Besides, this isn't our party."

  "And so?"

  "You can't embarrass us," Lucas said without emotion.

  "Dude, Mal's been humiliated," Zack said as he sent Sicily a glare. "And all you care about is what people think of you?"

  Lucas seemed to carefully contemplate his next words.

  Zack continued, "Maybe she's right." He looked at Sicily, then back at Lucas. "You're just a big baby."

  "That's real low, man," Lucas said in reply. "And do you even know what went on? Mallory could have started the mess."

  Sicily turned her back on them and was about to walk away, but Zane pushed in front of her to face the three.

  “You have no idea what was said, or your friend Mallory’s nasty history with Sicily. Just butt out, Za
ck!” Zane got right in the man’s face.

  Zack glared down at Zane, clenching his fists. Lucas and Tanner just looked on, without seeming to care about the confrontation.

  "What do you want us to do, Zack?" Tanner added. "Defend Mallory? She starts more shit than any of us, if we start fighting her battles for her, we’ll be after the entire town!"

  "What are you talking about?" Zack growled.

  "In case you haven't noticed," Tanner said in a lighthearted manner. "Mal is not an angel. She is always saying stuff she shouldn’t and getting in fights. I for one am not ready to cover her ass as she has always got it stuck way to far out in the wind."

  "But she's our friend." Zack looked confused.

  Before Tanner could try and explain it to his friend, Sicily intervened. She grabbed Zane’s arm and pulled him away. "And we're going now, come on Zane," Sicily said.

  Sicily wasn't only getting bored with the exchange, and she didn’t want it circling around to her past history with Mallory. The drama Lucas and his friends brought with them just wasn’t worth the time. Sure, she had her own slice of exaggerated dilemmas, but nothing really compared to what they had. Besides, they were guys. The girls were usually the ones who enjoyed gossiping and backstabbing.

  "The conversation's not yet even over!" Zack called after her.

  "But Strip Twister is about to begin," Sicily said in response as she used the same whiny tone Zack had used.

  "Oh yeah?" Tanner asked, eyes brightening. "I want to watch! I want to watch!"

  "How about I go against you?" Sicily questioned smirking. "Best of three? How does that sound?"

  * * * * *

  "Left hand on red," Zane said over the microphone as he tried to suppress a laugh.

  The first game had just started, yet both Sicily and Tanner were giving off strong competitive vibes. The two, even though they were dead serious about winning, shared sarcastic comments that had the whole crowd laughing. The music had been turned off, and Sicily and Tanner were the center of attention. What made the game even more exciting was the fact that it was Strip Twister which meant that whoever lost had to take off an article of clothing that he or she were wearing.