Broken by A. E. Rought - Sample Chapters

into swaths of light and shadow, like puddles of new blood bordered by old. Daniel had lounged against a metal support, bathed in white light, looking better than any senior should. I was awkward and shy, and a little in awe of him.

His friend was all in red, from his hair to his shirt to his shoes, reminding me of fire. The guy listened to headphones, music loud, howling along and flailing around.

Playing the damsel in distress is way passé, but I was a legitimate victim of a dance-by whacking from his oblivious friend and his swinging arms. Daniel whipped off the T-shirt he wore over his thermal undershirt and packed my gushing nose in it. On the way to the office, when the stairs swirled at my face, Daniel saved me from falling. Then he’d carried me the rest of the way.

Today I walk in the opposite direction, heart aching, knowing Daniel is forever gone, as I aim for the torture chamber the staff of Shelley High likes to call the gymnasium.

Group and Individual Sports takes up my third hour. Normally I hate it, but hope bubbles up, thinking it’s a chance to get physical and forget about Shelley High’s latest addition to the student body. The locker room floor is made of mini-tiles, which are variations on brown, beige, and pukey pink, the lockers are beige, the rest is white. An ugly room, and exactly the reason my friends and I call it the Ugly Room.

Usually filled with gossip, and this morning’s no different.