Faithfully Shattered: Shattered Series, #1

By Nicole Minuck

My aunt says when we lose the ones we love it's like time stands still for a while. 
I feel like I'm stuck with no hope for escape. 
I wish I had been taken with them so I wasn't left with this…. emptiness. 

I was ready to join them, to let my life fade into the darkness. 
Until he pulled me back.
He brought me back to life in ways I'd never lived before.
New friends.
New experiences.
Love.
But not everything is as it seems.

When their worlds collide can he save her again?
Or will those who seek to destroy her win this time?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nicole Minuck
• Release date: Oct 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9781386985099

Nicole Minuck

I often get asked how I began on this path, a few factors were involved. When I was in third grade I was obsessed with writing stories and visualizing them. I was certain I was going to write books one day. But like most children do, I lost sight of that dream and stopped writing stories. It wasn’t until I was older, I’d read a really good book, it hit me again. I wanted to tell a story like that. I wanted to take readers on a journey and have them lose themselves for hours in a world I created. So, I picked up my pencil and got to work. Yes, back then it was a pencil. I have not stopped writing since.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Some people talk about death like it’s supposed to be this peaceful thing, to move on to another world where everything’s perfect. I’m not sure I’m one of them. I’ve seen death. Maybe if my chest didn’t feel so hollow and heavy, I could believe it more but right now I can’t. I guess this is how you feel when your whole world has crashed down on you, and you feel empty like your existence is just in your motions and not the living part. I wish I had been taken with them so I wasn’t left with this... emptiness.

It’s been three months since the funeral; I didn’t go. I didn’t want to say goodbye. My aunt Jess, my father’s sister who’s in her late twenties, says that when we lose someone we love it’s like time stands still for a while. That’s why it takes longer to heal. Maybe she’s right, but I feel like I’m stuck with no hope for escape.

I go back to school today; I haven’t been back since the accident. My teachers all sent my work home so I wouldn’t fall behind in my senior year. I still don’t feel like facing all those people, but I have no choice. I shower and put on a baggy sweatshirt and jeans; I don’t care how I look anymore. Jess yells from the living room, which now doubles as her bedroom, that it’s time to go.

We live in a one-bedroom apartment in a small town in upstate New York. I moved in after the accident, and she was kind enough to give me her bedroom. She tries to be strong for me but I know she’s hurting too; I hear her sobs at night sometimes. I wish I wasn’t such a mess that she felt like she had to hide her grief so she could be strong for me.

Taking a deep breath, I slide into the car and try to calm my racing heart. I have tried to avoid being in cars as much as possible, but I knew the day would come when I would inevitably have to ride in one again. It was unrealistic to think I could avoid them forever. I stroke the scar that runs up my right arm, then the scar above my left eye, my permanent reminders of the worst day of my life. I close my eyes and exhale.

It’ll be okay. Jess touches the top of my head gently, pulling me back from the tears that fill my eyes.

I nod; I don’t know what I’m supposed to say. We pull up to the school, still the same as it was when I left. Everyone’s wandering around outside waiting for their first class to start. I’d managed to convince Jess to let me start the beginning of my senior year late. It was now the second week of class, and I’m lucky she let me have that long.

If it’s too much, I’m just a phone call away. You’ve got your cell? I stare out the window, trying to calm my anxiety. Jess nudges me.  Adalyn, did you hear me?

I touch the side pocket of my backpack. Yes, I have it. I get out of the car and walk toward the front door with my head down. The heaviness of their stares weigh me down, and I feel like I can’t breathe.

I enter the office to get my schedule and Sue, the woman behind the desk, automatically seems uneasy at my presence. Hello Adalyn, it’s nice to have you back. She hesitates for a moment longer than necessary before she asks, How are you?

I hate that question, it’s all anyone asks, but they don’t really want the truth. They want you to lie to them, to tell them you’re fine even when you’re not. It’s a horrible circle; you lie so they can feel better about ‘asking,’ and they ask even though they don’t want the truth. I don’t care to answer because I’m not okay and I won’t lie to make her feel better.

I’m supposed to pick up my class schedule here, I tell her avoiding her sympathetic stare.

Right, hold on one minute, I’ll get that for you. She clicks away on her computer. The office door opens and a young man, maybe eighteen, walks in. Hello, you must be our new transfer student, Luca Brooks? Sue asks.

Yes, he replies, his voice strong and deep.

Take a seat. I’ll be right with you once I’m done helping Miss Weaver, she tells him. I watch him as he sits in a chair not too far from me.

He’s handsome. His dark hair and angular face make him look much more mature than other eighteen-year-old boys. He wears a black fedora and his left wrist has a leather bracelet on it, one with a unique design of intertwining lines. His style reminds me of how newer bands styles are these days, more stylish than badass. His eyes meet mine and I should be embarrassed being caught staring, but I’m not. I should turn away, I’ve been looking at him for longer than a curious glance, but I don’t. My eyes lock with his. His eyes are mesmerizing; bright blue with flakes of green. I have warm brown eyes that I guess go nicely with my light blonde hair, but I have a pale complexion, even more so now. The grin he gives me instantly annoys me and I turn my back to him, rolling my eyes.

Here you go, Ms. Weaver, Sue says pulling my focus back on her. Listen, I don’t know if Jess told you or not, but the school thought it best if you see the guidance counselor once a week, just to check in and see how you’re adjusting.

I don’t want to talk to anyone, I huff. All I want to do is get through my day, to be invisible, and go home.

I’m sorry, but it’s required when someone has gone through a tragedy. She tries to say it lightly as if I’ll crack and break at her words, and I just might. I can feel the tightness in my throat and the grief working its way out. I grit my teeth, not here, I can’t do this here.

Fine. I snatch the schedule from her hands before walking out. I make my way down the winding hallway, the same one I had gone down many times before; but this time it is different, everything is different.

I pull open the door to my first class and find a seat as far back and away from everyone as possible. Slowly the room begins to fill, and though my classmates see me, they all try to take their seats as far away from me as possible. No one wants to sit next to the girl who got her parents killed.

Chapter 2

Ifind an empty seat at the far end of the cafeteria where there are less people, but still, my presence doesn’t go unnoticed. The morning had gone by fairly easy. No one had bothered me or asked me questions, but there was plenty of staring and whispering. I’ll be glad when this year is over, and I graduate.

All of my old friends still sit at our usual table. They checked in on me for a while, but then their calls got less and less. I don’t blame them. How do you help someone who feels like there’s no help for them? At the end of the table sits Sam, my ex-best friend, snuggled up to my ex-boyfriend, Jackson. I do, however, blame them.

Movement near me pulls me from my thoughts. The new boy, Luca Brooks, sits in the once empty seat in front of me. Hello, I’m Luca. He reaches out to shake my hand, but I just stare at him confused. Why is he sitting here with me? Now’s the time when you’d shake my hand and tell me your name. He smiles holding his hand out farther for me to shake.

Adalyn, I say as I reach for his hand. I see cuts and scrapes across his knuckles and feel callouses on the inside of his hand, a sign of a hard worker or of someone who hits things a lot.

I peek back at the table where Sam and Jackson sit next to each other. Jackson’s eyes find mine and I wish I could burn him with my stare, but I can’t manage to look at him once I see his eyes. Tears build in the corners of my eyes, not from sadness but anger.

You okay? Luca asks, but I don’t answer him, I can’t.

Does it have anything to do with that guy and girl staring over here? he asks staring back at them.

I clear my throat. Somewhat.

You guys used to date?

I shrug. Used to.

Well, his loss. You want to make him jealous? I could sit closer to you. He moves his eyebrows up and down. I can tell he’s only joking and it’s an attempt to make me smile. I was used to people trying ridiculous things to cheer me up, it was no use though and I wish they’d stop trying.

No thanks, I’ve got to go.  I wipe the tear that has started to fall and walk out.

∞

I sit on the window sill and watch the sunset as the sky becomes darker. I wonder if they can see me, can they see how lonely I am? Would they be upset for how weak I’ve become?

I’m leaving; I’ll be back in the morning; dinner’s on the table. Jess kisses my head and walks out. She’s a nurse and has to work nights a lot. It leaves me alone, which is a good thing because most of my tears come at night.

I retrieve a picture from the box under my bed where I keep some of their belongings that I brought with me. I stroke the picture of us and remember how happy we were, and how everything has changed now. I grab my sweater and walk out of the apartment. The warm night air fills my lungs, reminding me that every time I take a breath they are not. I walk trying not to think about anything other than what’s in front of me; soon my legs burn from walking for so long. I know it’s time to turn around and go home but I can’t, not yet, not until the physical pain is so much that it makes it hard to think.

I wake in the morning and get ready for another day at school. My legs scream at me from the long walk last night. Jess is still asleep on the pull-out bed in the living room. I walk past her silently, trying not to wake her. School is only a couple blocks away, so I really don’t need her to take me; I know she’s exhausted and I’d rather avoid riding in a car.

The first half of the day wasn’t so bad; there wasn’t as much staring as yesterday, and soon there will be none, I have to keep reminding myself of that. I walk through the cafeteria and sit at the same table as yesterday. A few minutes later I see Luca walking toward me, his hair messy but nice like he styled it to look that way.  He’s wearing black pants and a button-up shirt with the top two buttons open, revealing part of his toned chest. He sits down across from me and smiles; I can’t help but notice how good looking he is.

Hello Adalyn, how are you today? he asks.

Fine, you? I have no idea why he insists on sitting with me. I know there are plenty of other girls who would be willing to sit with him; they’re all staring at us now, and at least they’d give him decent conversation.

Pretty good, thanks for asking. He nods satisfied.

You know I’m not really much for conversation. You might want to find some other people to sit with, no offense.

I’d like to sit with you if that’s alright.

Sure. I wasn’t the type of person to be rude and say ‘get the hell away from me,’ my mother taught me better than that. She always said I should be kind to others. I try my best.

I think we have the same class next period, history, right? he asks.

Yes. His presence makes me uneasy and confused. Why is he here?

So, what’s the story with that guy? He points over to where Jackson sits eyeing us.

I glance over at him. That’s a long story.

We’ve got a couple of minutes before the bell rings, he pushes.

We used to date. See the girl sitting next to him? I nod my head in their direction.

Yeah?

That’s Sam; she used to be my best friend. Three months ago we all went to a party out at Dark Forest Ravine. After a while when I couldn’t find them I went looking, and when I finally did find them, they were mid hook-up. I stop the story there; I can’t think about what happened next without having an anxiety attack.

They were having sex? He raises his brow.

Yes. My hatred for them deepens.

That’s fucked up. He shakes his head in disgust. No pun intended. The bell rings, I’m glad our conversation on this subject can end.

For the next couple of weeks, this becomes our routine. I sit quietly as he tells me jokes and questions me on different things, sometimes I answer and other times I don’t. He sits with me every day, even with my lack of enthusiasm in conversing with him. It was becoming less frustrating and more of a welcome comfort not being alone. The days that are worse than others, he’s happy to just sit back and let me be.

Chapter 3

Luca takes a seat next to me in history class while Mr. Davis begins pairing people up for an assignment that’s due in two days.

Ms. Weaver and Mr. Brooks, you will be partners. I glance over at Luca who grins at me. You may begin working together now, but I suggest you and your partner find time outside of school to work together, Mr. Davis says to the entire class.

I’ll come over after school then? Luca asks. I’m guessing that if I said no, he’d show up anyway.

Okay, what do you think we should do our project on? I ask him.

Hmm, I’m not sure. My last class of the day is a free period, I’ll go to the library and get some books; we can decide tonight.

During last period I excuse myself out of math class to use the restroom. When I exit the ladies’ room and head back, I see Jackson leaning against the wall waiting for someone. Me. I have no interest in talking to him.