Broken Pieces, L. S. [brene brown rising strong .txt] 📗

Chapter One

"I need to have a word with your parents,"

Stephanie Grayson looked at me with boring eyes. I called her in my office after I saw with my own two eyes how she tripped Veronica Carlson with her foot that made the latter fall on the near fountain inside the school premises. Stephanie is the campus Queen Bee and a senior student here at St. Therese School for Girls. I don't know what that is but it's been going around campus. I've only been the new guidance counselor at St. Therese School for Girls for six months. I was a guidance counselor at a public high school in Brooklyn for more than two years when I was offered a better deal at St. Therese; it is an exclusive school in the Upper East Side Manhattan.

"Well, I doubt about that," she said not looking at my direction.

She was studying her long colored pink nails and intentionally taking deep breaths as if she was telling me she wants to be out of my office as soon as possible.

"And why is that?" I asked,

She looked at me, meeting my gaze with her eye brow slightly raised.

"My mom and dad are in the Hamptons for a polo match this weekend. Just so you know, our family has been sponsoring that very important event every year even before I was born. The Grayson's couple has so much better to do than to meet a clueless guidance counselor like you." She said with sophistication.

I took a deep breath, I know she is trying to provoke me but I am not going to get in her trap. I know better. This school is way different with the one I've previously worked for. The students here are very hard headed and they're all brat, maybe because they are rich and they paid the school so much money.

"Ms. Grayson, it is also important that your parents know the behaviors you are showing outside your home." I told her.

I'm going to hold my temper even though this girl is getting into my nerves. I won't let her take my guard down. I am the adult here so I should be the one with patience.

"Please tell your parents to take the time to drop by here. It is important for me to speak with them." I said. “I will be sending them a formal letter regarding this,”

I started gathering my files and I can feel her eyes on me. This girl is very dominant and it is obvious that she came from a prominent family. She is pretty, blonde, big blue eyes, long lashes, pink lips maybe that's the reason why she became the campus Queen Bee. I don't understand how that works but I don't think it's fair that she bullies her school mates.

"Headmistress Montgomery will be furious about this, she'll fire you," she snapped at me. "And for your information, I am not bullying Veronica Carlson, she sat on the met steps above me so I was punishing her."

I didn't understand her, but I'd kept my mouth shut. I'll talk to the headmistress about this myself.

"I'll meet your parents when they have the time, please go back to class Ms. Grayson."

She stood up without saying anything and stomp her way out of my office. Girls are so hard to deal with these days. I sighed when I was left alone in my office. I know I am having a way better life now than the one I had when I was a kid. It's been almost six years since I moved here in New York. I've been through so much before but now I finally got the new beginning I was waiting for. I finally got my freedom and I was able to finally forget the dark past that has been haunting me since I was thirteen....

 

 

After I was done with my work at school, I went to the nearest supermarket to shop for some supplies, I want to make some stir fry since I am sick and tired of Chinese take outs. I was at the vegetable sections looking for some asparagus and beans when someone bumped into my push cart.

"Jillian?"

I froze for a while when I saw who the person was; it’s been a while since I heard being called with that name.I was even shock when I turned around and saw the person who called me.

It was Nicole, the girl from my high school.

"How are you? It's been what six years?" she said.

I was speechless, it's been six years since the last time I saw and spoke to her.

"Wow, you look so wholesome and decent" she added.

I looked at her, she is wearing the same revealing and sexy clothes she wore before, I don't know what to say to her, I am ashamed of myself for leaving without saying goodbye to her after everything she had done for me.

"I'm sorry” I mumbled, apparently that's all I can say.

She walked to me and wrapped her arms around me. I can feel the tears start forming in the corner of my eyes.

"Oh, sweetie, don't be like that. I know why you left and I get it. "She said. “A good life was waiting for you out there, and look at you now. It was a good move to leave"

I suddenly felt better after hearing that, Nicole is indeed a good person.

I brought Nicole to my one bedroom apartment in Madison Avenue, I am cooking dinner and I would love to catch up with an old friend. I found out she was visiting her friend here in New York and she was on her way to the train station when we bumped into each other.

"Nice place" she told me while she was checking the whole apartment.

"Thanks"

I was sorting out my grocery and putting it on the cabinet and fridge.

"You really are in good place" she said as she sat on the chair, I notice that she was wearing a micro mini skirt.

I put the chicken in the sink, washing it so that I can start making dinner.

"You know how I dreamt of living a simple life"

She nods. I know she is happy for me.

"I know, and you deserve everything you have right now. You are beautiful, intelligent and you have a good heart. All along I knew you will get what you want, I hope I will get the same chance you had" she mumbled sadly.

I know how hard it was to do what she does, I once did it too and it wasn't a good place to be. I walked to her and hug her tight.

"You can leave too and I am here to help you" I whispered to her.

I really want to help her. It's my turn to help her get out of that place.

"You can stay here with me" I offered.

She sighed and held my hands tightly.

"I am not like you Jill, I am not intelligent, and I didn't even finish high school. It's going to be very hard for me to start a new life." she said hopelessly.

"Nic, don't say that I am here to help, I would love to have you here with me like the old days, but we will have a better life. Just say yes and we will figure it out."

I want her hopes to be up high, like what she did when I was feeling down, when I don't want to live anymore. I want to give her the same assurance she gave me before.

She smiled.

"Come on! I am so happy to see you in a good place, that your dreams are coming true and you deserve all the good things in life Jill, you really do. And as for me, it was my choice to stay like your choice to leave. I didn't finish high school and I didn't go to college because I know I will just waste my time and money. I am not good at that, being like this, doing this is what I am good at. And I want to continue doing the things that I am good at, even though it's immoral in the eyes of others." she explained.

It tears my heart after I heard her piece.

"Nic, this is not the only thing that you are good at, you just have to open your eyes and believed in yourself" I insisted.

"Please Jill, I've decided, I am here to spend some time with you so why don't you finish cooking so that we can eat. I missed your cooking you know..." she smiled at me.

I didn't have any choice but to let it go, I really want to help her but I also have to respect her decision.

I turned to the sink and started chopping the chicken and the vegetables while she remained sitting on the bar stool. I assume she still doesn't know how to cook.

"You know when you disappear. . . Carter didn't stop looking for you"

I froze for a while, I felt a sudden lump in my throat that I can't find the words to say.

"I-I d-didn't tell h-him my my p-pla-ns o-of l-leaving" I said trying my best not to stutter.

I heard her smile.

"Obviously, because he was devastated like he almost killed Keith for thinking that he sent you somewhere else . . . the guy was madly in love with you"

I closed my eyes as my dark past come crashing through me again. . .

 

 

"Jillian!!!"

I tremble as I heard his familiar voice, I knew if he finds me I'll be in hell again. If I can just do something, if I can just vanish forever, I'll do it no matter what it takes, but it seems like the only way out is for me to die.

I was shaking really bad when I heard his footsteps on the stairs, he is close, I knew it, I reached the small table in my room and put it on the door, hoping that he won't be able to open it since he destroyed the lock of my bed room door when I once tried to escape him.

"Jillian" he called me with a teasing voice.

I want to scream, I want to run, I want to get out of this place, but I know it's all going to be useless. I once tried to leave this place, but he was able to find me and I don't even know how he did that. It's just his nature of being good in manipulating people. I just hope somehow I'll be able to find a way on how to get out of here forever.

I sat on my bed trying to calm myself even though it's so hard to keep my composure, I heard him pushing the door.

"Jillian open this door" he demanded

But I sat still on my bed not moving at all.

"Open this fucking door Jillian!!" He yelled.

I tightened my fist, but I still didn't move. I am never going to open that door.

"No! Stay away from me" I screamed.

But he is pushing it so hard that the wooden table is now moving away from the door.

"Hmm" he smirks. "So you're brave now? Let's see what you got when I get there" he said

I felt the tears fell from my eyes, I shouldn't cry, I should show him that I can beat him, that I am no longer weak, that I won't let him tear me into pieces like what he usually does. But all my hopes went crashing through me when he finally opened the door. Fear flowed through my veins that my whole body began to shake again.

"Now show me how brave you are, you little cunt" he cursed at me.

He was leaning at the door, looking at me like I was some sort of dessert that he has been waiting to eat. I stared at him in disgust; he walked towards me