Shattered pieces

Fiona’s POV

I woke with a dull, throbbing ache behind my eyes—My mouth tasted salty and shameful.

For a long second, I lay still, staring at the ceiling, trying to piece together everything that happened yesterday. The fight with Jalen. The way he’d looked at me like I was nothing.

The memory hit like ice.

I turned my head, Jude was still asleep beside me, chest rising and falling slowly, one arm flung across the pillow. His dark hair was messy. Lips slightly parted. He looked peaceful.

I hated how part of me still found him beautiful. I reached over and shook his shoulder. Hard.

“Jude. Wake up.”

His eyes fluttered open. A sleepy smile curved his mouth the second he saw me.

“Hey…” He stretched, then rolled toward me, pulling me into his chest before I could protest. His skin was warm. Familiar in the worst way. “Last night was…” He exhaled against my hair. “Fuck, Fiona. I’ve wanted that for so long.”

I went rigid in his arms. He didn’t notice.

“I mean it,” he continued, voice low and earnest. “And you know it, I never loved Paris. She was just… convenient. But you? I’ve always loved you. Since the first day you bumped into me”

“No, you bumped into me,” I protested, and he rolled his eyes.

“Whatever, I’ve always wanted you, Fiona. And I’ll do anything—anything—to have you now, I'm not letting go anymore.”

The words landed heavily in my mind. Then reality crashed on me all at once. I had sex with Jude. I’d just cheated on Jalen. My chest clenched. I slept with the boy who’d once made me feel small, molested me, with Paris’s supposed boyfriend. My friend’s boyfriend.

My stomach lurched, and I almost puked.

I shoved at his chest until he let go.

“You need to leave,” I whispered.

“Fi—”

“No.”

Before he could say anything else, three sharp knocks echoed against the door.

“Fiona? You in there?”

“Paris.”

My heart stopped. Jude sat up fast. “Shit.”

I scrambled for my robe but it was too late. Jude was already close to the door. Half-naked. Boxers low on his hips.

He opened the door.

Paris stood there with two coffee cups in her hand, a smile already forming—until she saw him.

Then me. Still in bed, tangled in my bedspread. Wearing nothing. The coffee slipped from her fingers and shattered on the floor. Her face crumpled.

“What…” Her voice cracked.

“Paris—” I started, voice shaking.

She looked at Jude. Then back at me. Her face pooled with tears fast.

“How could you?” she whispered. “Both of you?”

Jude stepped forward. “Paris, listen—”

“Shut up!” she screamed and landed a harsh slap on his face. The sound ripped out of her. “You told me you loved me. You said we were real. And you—” She turned to me, eyes blazing through tears. “You were supposed to be my best friend. I trusted you. I told you everything. And you… You fucked my boyfriend?”

“I didn’t—”

“Don’t lie to me!”

“We’re done,” she said to Jude. “Over. Completely.” Then to me: “And you… I never want to see your face again.”

She turned and ran.

The door banged shut behind her, and silence suddenly engulfed the air

“Why the hell did you open the door like that?”

“She was going to find out eventually anyway.”

“And you think finding out like this was the best you could do?” I snapped.

He reached for me. “Fi, I meant what I said. I love you. This is—”

“Get out.”

My voice cracked.

He stared at me for a long second. Then nodded once.

He dressed slowly. Left without another word.

And I broke.

I curled into a ball on the bed. Sobs were tearing out of me until my throat was raw.

I couldn’t go to class. I couldn't bring myself to face anyone.

I stayed in bed all day. Staring at the wall, replaying every scene in my head as it drowns me in more heart-piercing pain until my room started to feel small, I couldn’t stand my own room anymore.

The day was already getting dark when I realized I had been sleeping all day. I rushed out of bed and packed a small bag. I threw in a few clothes, a toothbrush, and my charger.

“A little home rest away from all this mess should help,” I murmured to myself, even if home had never really felt like a refuge.

I ordered a quick cab and left before anyone could notice. The drive was quiet, buildings passed by me like they were running away from me as I stared through the window, ignoring the repeated buzz from my phone until I couldn't take anymore.

I turned it off.

The cab pulled over at the house, but I was shocked to see the gates open, and the lights on in the main rooms. This can only mean one thing, my parents were back from their trip, and they hadn’t told me.

I wasn’t surprised; it was already a norm in my family. I was just tired and needed my bed.

I slipped inside quietly. They were in the living room—staring blankly at the television. They didn’t notice me at first.

“Dad, mum…” I called and the confusion on their faces was nothing to write about, mum’s face twisted in a frown as she glared at me. Dad just stole a glance and returned his gaze to his phone.

“What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in school, did you cause any trouble, Fiona?” Mum asked.

“No mum, um, I miss you guys and decided to come spend a day or two here, I didn’t realize you were back,” I answered, even though I knew my response wasn't valid.

“Did Jalen and Marian know you were coming home?” Dad added. I paused for a second when I heard those names; my heart throbbed, but I couldn’t bring myself to slacken, else my mum would notice something was wrong.

“Yes, um i want to go shower, I’ll be down in a few minutes,” I said, earning myself a little breathing space.

I bolted upstairs before they could protest. Collapsed onto my bed.

And cried myself to sleep again.

The next two days blurred.

I ignored everything, I ate when my parents were out, stared at the ceiling all day, and scrolled on social media a few times until it was dark again.

*****

The next morning of the third day came in a flash, it was supposed to be my parent’s anniversary, and they often spend in over a dinner in the house, evening came and we were already done with the preparation, i rushed upstairs to freshen up when i heard my father’s low rumble and my mother’s polite tone drifting up from downstairs.

I knew someone new was around, then a familiar voice echoed. One that I recognized so well.

Jalen.

His deep husky voice slammed against my ribs, and my heart hammered.

I scrambled out of bed and ran to the stairs and he was standing right there at the entrance of the house.

Our eyes met, and mine pooled with tears instantly as he locked his gaze on me. Time froze like it was just the two of us in there