Breaking the Arm, Healing the Heart

by Ashley Andrews

  "And I got into a fight with her."

  "Because of him," Zane said, nodding in triumph. "You were defending your prince charming!"

  "Isn't he supposed to be the one doing the defending?"

  "You're going off topic."

  "That's because it seems like you're already done with the interrogation," Sicily then said, as she hung her school bag over her shoulders. "Can we leave now? I'm guessing Vanessa and the others are already at my place."

  Zane frowned. "I wasn't done yet!"

  "Oh, I'm sorry!" Sicily replied sarcastically as she rolled her eyes and held up her hands in a surrendering manner. "Because I interrupted you! I'm all yours now and I'll listen to all the shit you still have to say."

  "Forgiven," Zane said in response as he held a straight face, but after a while, it gave away and he was now laughing his ass off. "Where was I? Oh, right…" he trailed off. "You let him stay at your place."

  "If you don't stop, I'm going to do what Vanessa wants me to do."

  "Is that a threat?"

  "Hell, yeah," Sicily replied, and being the bitch she was, she added a wink to her answer.

  "Well, I don't feel threatened."

  "And now I think I'm going to add to the number of homeless people in the state," she said, threatening Zane with a smirk.

  "God," Zane said, rolling his eyes in mock-irritation. "I was just trying to get my point across. There was no need for you to go all 'current events' on me."

  Sicily, like always, slapped her best friend's chest before she pulled him towards one of the parking areas at their school. It was still early and surprisingly, the skies were sunny which meant that the barbeque and swimming party, or better yet, get together, was going to happen tonight.

  "If it is needed, I'll use it," was Sicily's reply. "And it was needed."

  "Just admit you like him. You're even sucking up to his younger brother and taking him to the movies."

  "You're not going to stop, are you?" Sicily asked with a smirk. "And Lucas offered to go to some fast-food place. I just asked them to choose between watching a movie and eating at McDonald's."

  "I'm not going to stop until you admit your feelings for him."

  "I just think you're low on gossip and you just want me to entertain you," Sicily said, unlocking her car.

  Zane merely smiled before he entered his own vehicle and followed Sicily home. The drive was quiet since he was the only person in his car, and so, he turned on the radio and listened to some R&B. Within a few minutes, their cars were parked in front of Sicily's garage, and they were being greeted by Bryce, Vanessa, and Bailey.

  "Took you guys long enough," Bailey said as she hugged both of the newcomers. "The caretaker let us in and we’ve been swimming."

  It was obvious the three of them had already used the pool since Bryce only wore board shorts, while Bailey and Vanessa had on their bikinis and extremely revealing denim shorts. Sicily and Zane led the pack as all five of them entered the mansion. The moment she stepped onto the receiving area, a feeling of dread washed over Sicily. Something was wrong, but before she could figure out what exactly was the problem, Vanessa told her straight to the point.

  "Oh, by the way, I told Lucas you're kicking him out," Vanessa said, a small smile grazing her face. "I just wanted him to be ready and all-packed once you got here."

  Sicily's face reddened, and suddenly, she felt hot. She didn't know what pushed her to do it, but she grabbed Vanessa by the shoulders and dug her fingernails into the traitor’s skin. "Why'd you do it?" she asked through gritted teeth.

  "What's difference does it make if I did it or you do it?" Vanessa returned. "It's going to be the same outcome anyway. He'll be out of your house."

  Sicily didn't bother demanding an explanation from Vanessa since she knew she wouldn't be able to get a reasonable one anyway. Afraid she might be too late to undo the damage; she ran up the stairs and rushed into the guest room where Lucas was staying. He was there, throwing clothes and his other things into his suitcase. He didn't even bother to look up when she knocked on the door.

  "It's your house anyway," he said, still not looking at her. "You don't have to knock."

  Sicily decided to get straight to the point. "Why are you packing?" she asked her voice soft. "I didn't tell you to leave."

  Lucas heaved a sigh.

  "Your friend told me to," he said and then finally looked up. "She told me I wasn't wanted here and that I should leave as soon as possible."

  He face held disappointment, and Sicily felt as if that look put a weight on her heart. She didn't know what that meant though. Why did she care how he felt, but she did and she was afraid to examine those feelings closely.

  It couldn't be, no, she just didn't want him to look sad. That was it. It wasn't because she liked him. Right?

  "It's not her house," Sicily said, as she took a step closer to the bed.

  "Why would she say that then?" Lucas asked, his vulnerable side coming into view. "What? She's just making fun of me? Is that it?"

  From behind, they heard footsteps coming closer, and before they knew it, Zane, Bailey, Vanessa and Bryce were standing by the doorway just listening to them. Sicily looked at her friends and saw Bryce looking down, Bailey wearing a frown, Zane sighing in disappointment and Vanessa smirking. She was determined to do something. She was going to get rid of Vanessa and that meant from the party, and from the group at school. She’d had enough.

  "Oh, don't mind us," Vanessa said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Just pretend we're not here."

  "You shut up, you spoiled brat," Zane spat, seething.

  Sicily just stared at Lucas, and she realized how his expression changed when her friends came into view. He didn't look vulnerable anymore but instead was infuriated. Although Sicily could see that deep inside, he felt betrayed and embarrassed as well.

  "Just stay. It's okay," Sicily said, placing a hand on Lucas' shoulder which he simply shrugged away.

  "I can't believe it, you know," Lucas said to no one in particular.

  To Sicily's further confusion, Lucas shook his head and then grinned. Maybe he really was schizophrenic, she thought. She wanted to ask him what was wrong, but was scared that he would say something rude to her in return. She waited for him to open his mouth. He talked when everything fell silent.

  "You probably don't know do you?" he asked, turning his head to face her.

  "Know what?"

  Lucas let out a sigh. He couldn't believe everything that happened to him ever since he started hanging out with her. He’d changed, and he didn't know if it was for the better or the worse. Unfortunately for Lucas, Sicily had an effect on him he just couldn't ignore. It was a total surprise how his feelings for her could change in just a month's time. He used to hate her, he was sure of that. He didn't know what happened. Why all of a sudden he couldn't throw rude and dirty jokes at her anymore.

  A lot of his attitude toward her had been based on Mallory’s vicious lies. He had liked her, then believed her to be a druggy, and into porn. Man, how wrong could he have been.

  "I like you," he said, looking up to meet her eyes before he smiled a genuine one at her. "Bad timing, I know, but-"

  "Give it up," Vanessa cut him midway. "She doesn't need a pity speech."

  "I wasn't talking to you. Lucas wanted to curse Vanessa, really, but he was a man and would never do that. What he did or said had nothing to do with her. He rolled his eyes. The bitchier part of Florida really went to Sun Coast.

  "Save your time and ours and just leave," Vanessa offered.

  She was in the process of opening her mouth and saying a lot more things, but Sicily decided to butt in on their conversation. Lucas had been embarrassed enough in just a matter of minutes. The least she could do was save him from further humiliation.

  "Vanessa, just leave," she said, placing a hand on her hip, and in return, her friend let out a gasp. "And no, you didn't hear wrong, it's you who should get out," Sicily continued.

&nbs
p; Vanessa didn't move as she remained standing by the doorway, and Lucas took that as his cue to leave.

  Too much drama was happening around him, and he just needed to escape and be as far away from it as possible. He was stopped though when Sicily grabbed his arm. He couldn't help but sigh. She kept embarrassing him yet he still liked her, and his confession a while ago did not seem to have gotten the kind of response he wanted. He rolled his eyes. This was real life. Duh. Sicily wasn't going to run up to him and kiss him passionately.

  "No, Lucas. Stay," Sicily said, her hand still on his arm.

  Lucas didn't want the drama anymore, and he was ashamed. Sicily didn't like him back, and he didn't want to face having to see her every day and know that his feelings weren't returned.

  "Just take me home," he requested in a whisper. "Please."

  She nodded and didn't object or fight back. That was what he wanted, and she could give him that. She was going to give him that.

  She followed him as he pulled his luggage through the house. They went down the stairs and into the garage in silence, and Sicily couldn't help but feel nervous.

  He liked her. The little voice inside her head kept reminding her.

  * * * * *

  In a matter of minutes, Sicily and Lucas were back at his house. When she pulled into the drive way he realized that he would have to face his father and live by his rules. It was something he didn't want to have to face, but that was his only choice. Staying with Sicily wasn't an option, especially since he’d told her how he felt. She and her friends had embarrassed him already, and he needed to look out for himself.

  "Are you sure you want to do this?" Sicily asked, her hands remaining on the driver's wheel even though what she really wanted to do was hold his hand.

  She hadn't fully digested his confession. She couldn’t quite believe that Lucas liked her. Not like, like. She hadn’t fully grasped the idea. Things were already awkward as they were, and she didn't want to have to think about her own feelings. Something Zane had just been questioning a little while ago.

  "Sooner or later I'd have to do it anyway," Lucas said, cutting into Sicily's thoughts. "Might as well do it now," he then continued, opening the door with his good hand.

  Sicily followed him from behind, and it was a relief to be able to look at Lucas without him being able to look back at her without being obvious. She stared at his back and wondered about the expression on his face. Was he smiling? Frowning? Or probably biting his bottom lip? She smiled at her last guess. Lucas always looked good but even better when he bit his lip. Then he looked like an innocent child.

  Before she knew it, Lucas had rung the doorbell, which meant that he couldn't escape anymore. The two waited for someone to answer the door, and after a few minutes of suffocating tension someone unfamiliar, did.

  A woman in her forties opened the door and mustered up a smile. She was about a foot smaller than Lucas. Just seeing her disheveled blonde hair, Sicily knew what her deal was.

  Unfortunately, Lucas didn't. He looked at her rumpled office attire and frowned, the situation slowly beginning to dawn on him.

  Her blouse had a few buttons that had been unbuttoned and her knee-high skirt had been hiked up to mid-thigh. Sicily and Lucas didn't need to see or hear anymore to know that his father had been sleeping with someone else.

  "Who are you?" Lucas asked, his tone still calm.

  Sicily shook her head. She should have believed Lucas when he said he was on the verge of a breakdown. He couldn't even get mad at someone, and that was something new and unexpected of him.

  "I work with your father," the woman replied with a sheepish fake smile, and before the woman could pretend further, Sicily decided to play the part Lucas should have been playing.

  "Where’s Theodore?” she asked.

  “Oh, I don’t know.”

  “Cut the crap," was Sicily's scathing interjection. "You know that his father's still married, right?

  "No. I mean, I thought he's already divorced."

  "He's in the process of getting a divorce, duh," Sicily answered back, rolling her eyes. "So, technically, you slept with a married man."

  The woman, whose name was still a mystery to the two teenagers, was about to open her mouth and defend herself when Lucas' father appeared out of nowhere. He ran down the staircase of his house and stopped when he saw the woman.

  “I thought you’d left. I’m sorry that I didn’t…”Oblivious to the fact that his son could hear everything, he started apologizing to Luciana.

  Sicily let out a cough in order to interrupt the private conversation that Lucas absolutely did not need to hear.

  Don’t eyes jumped to meet his sons. "Lucas…" Don said.

  "Don't tell me you can explain," Lucas cursed. "It hasn't been a month yet since you left mom," Lucas said, giving both adults an accusing glare. "And you've already moved on."

  Before Don or Luciana comment, Luke ran to Sicily's car, and instinctively, the owner of the vehicle followed suit. The two adults ran towards them, but Sicily drove off in a rush. She didn't know where to go so she decided to just continue driving until Lucas spoke up.

  "Can you take me to a hotel?" he asked in voice that was almost a whisper.

  Sicily didn't know what was happening, but she felt a pull at her heart. Maybe Zane was right, that she liked Lucas, but maybe not. It was probably pity towards him, and she nodded her head discreetly. That was probably it. "Which one is your mom staying at?"

  Lucas heaved a sigh.

  "Doesn't matter," he answered emotionlessly. "Just take me to the nearest one."

  Sicily did exactly that, and in twenty minutes, the valet took her car keys and they entered the hotel, side-by-side. The reception area was luxurious and impressive to say the least. There was a humongous circular table made of marble that was centered just beyond the entrance. A few yards behind it was a soaring glass aquarium that held all sorts of marine life. There were saltwater fish, lots of corals, and even a few baby sharks.

  The two didn't waste time at the aquarium; instead, they headed over to the reception desk. Sicily stayed in the background while Lucas talked to the woman behind the marble table.

  "Can I get a room?" Lucas asked, fishing out his wallet from one of his jean pockets.

  Sicily wanted to stop him and tell him that he wasn't thinking straight, but she decided against that since she'd probably make him feel worse by hurting his ego more. She just stayed silent.

  Lucas, on the other hand, appeared anxious.

  "What type of room would you like?" the woman asked with her eyes on the computer.

  "The cheapest one."

  "Luke, are you sure about this?" Sicily asked, and he unconsciously stiffened.

  It wasn't the right time, he thought, shaking his head. Every time she said something in that soft, soothing voice of hers, he'd feel his chest tighten and his mind work overtime. He didn't want to like her, but he couldn't help his feelings. Worse, she hadn’t even acknowledged what he’d said. Evidently she didn’t want him, but she was still looking after and staying with him through this nightmare.

  "We have a room for five-hundred dollars a night," the woman said with a small smile and the amount made Sicily wince.

  Sure, she had dresses that cost tree times the room rate, but she didn't want Lucas to spend that much money for such a lousy reason—just because he didn't want to stay with his father or her. She could buy tons of new shoes with that amount. Why spend it sleeping alone in a room?

  "I'll take it," he spoke out carelessly, whipping out his credit card from his wallet before he gave it to, he read the template on the desk, Melissa.

  The woman looked shocked for a second there, maybe because she didn't expect someone as young as Lucas to have a credit card and be willing to spend that insane amount without thinking twice, but she covered it up with a smile.

  "Well then, welcome to the Hyatt Regency," she said as she typed on her keyboard. "Have a pleasant stay-" Melissa's bright vi
be and fixated smile turned upside down when she bit her lip and thinned it into a line. She swiped Lucas' credit card at the machine once, and then twice, before she placed it on the desk between Lucas and her.

  "I'm sorry, Mr. Mercer," she said, looking somewhat uncertain. "It seems that your credit line has been cancelled."

  Sicily couldn't believe it and neither could Lucas. He wanted to mutter something profane but decided that it would be inappropriate at the moment. He thought his day, or rather night couldn't get any worse, and obviously, he had been mistaken. Of all the ways to further embarrass him, his dad had cancelled his credit line, and yet had failed to let him know before he used the card.

  "How about this one?" he tried, pulling out another card from his black leather wallet.

  Melissa took it hesitantly and once again, she swiped it into the machine. After a few minutes, her frown deepened and she returned the card back to Lucas. Lucas shook his head in disbelief. He didn't want to stop.

  "How about this?" he then forced, pulling another credit card, but before he could hand it to Melissa, he was stopped.

  "I'm sorry sir, but there are people waiting, if you could please leave now."

  Lucas turned his head to Sicily who was looking away from him. He called her name and she looked up in acknowledgement.

  "You have to help me," he said to her. "I'll pay you back the moment I have the money."

  Sicily wanted to help him – to be there for him, but lending him her card wasn't the right thing to do. Of all the times to act intelligent, she had to choose this moment, didn't she? She couldn't help but roll her eyes. She had changed because of Lucas.

  "Are you making fun of me?" he asked, his heart sinking abysmally.

  "Huh?" she returned, genuinely confused. "What made you say that?"

  "You rolled your eyes."

  She wanted to smirk at him for acting so immaturely which she admitted to herself was adorable to say the least. However, before the receptionist could call a few members of the staff to drag them out of the reception area, she grabbed Lucas by the arm and pulled him away. They stood in front of the aquarium, but neither one of them looked inside the tank.