"There are a few moments in life that are perfect and surreal; like a beautiful dream you don't want to wake up from, but when you do, you can't seem to remember what it was about. Then there are the terrible moments, absolute nightmares that nothin...
Atlas had been on the other side of the convenience store when he heard the voices coming from the aisle not too far from him. He hadn't heard them clearly but he also hadn't paid any attention to it because it sounded like two people having a normal conversation. He was scanning the freezer for his usual ice cream flavour, pistachio when he heard the slam. His gaze immediately shifted from the content of the freezer down to the side of the aisle where the voice had been coming from.
Atlas frowned as soon as he spotted Makenna. He hadn't paid much attention to anything else other than the fact that she had someone in a choke-hold and they were struggling. Without thinking, he ran up to them to help whoever it was.
"Woah, there." Atlas immediately placed his hand on her shoulder to get her attention.
He wasn't surprised when she snapped her gaze at him but he was surprised to find the tears in her eyes. It was honestly the last thing he would've expected to see when he looked at her. Although the tears showed her vulnerability, the daggers she was shooting at him and the anger that emanated from her were anything but.
Atlas put his hands up to show that he was backing off, but he also needed her to let go of the guy she was choking before things got worse. "You have to let him go, Mac."
Makenna turned back to the guy but Atlas kept her gaze on her face. He watched different emotions cross her face as she struggled to let him go. When she finally did, Atlas exhaled the breath he didn't even know he had been holding.
Atlas watched as Makenna stepped away from him. She turned around and left without a word like she wanted to get away from there quickly.
"Fucking bitch!" Victor called after her as she went.
Atlas wasted no time in swinging his fist to feel it connect with his jaw. "Watch your fucking mouth."
"What the fuck dude?" Victor cried out,
"That's not how you talk to a lady."
"That bitch is anything but." Victor righted him wiping away the blood on his lips.
Atlas inhaled sharply as Victor's face came into view and recognition set in. Atlas felt his own anger begin to rise as it all clicked in place and he had an idea of what might have happened. However, he was unsure seeing as Makenna could take care of herself. But he couldn't help but wonder what the pervert had said or done to get her so pissing mad and unbelievably sad. But this pervert had assaulted his sister and he was doing everything in his power to remain calm.
"I'll be telling the cops about this." Victor raged to him,
"Really?" Atlas stared him dead in the eye, "Tell them about this too."
Victor had definitely not seen that next punch to the gut coming which sent him doubling over in pain.
"I'll be sure to tell them what went on Friday night when they come say hi."
Atlas turned around and went to get his ice cream before he headed to the counter to checkout. Just as he got there, he spotted Makenna stepping out of the store. He clenched his jaw and patiently waited for the attendant to charge him before he quickly left the store.
He turned around the corner and spotted her walking away furiously. "Mac."
Atlas broke into a jog to catch up with her, "Hey," He slowed down as he reached her, "What happened back there?"
Makenna concentrated on her breathing. She was holding on to her last thread of sanity, so close to going off she was almost dizzy with rage. She had forgotten that her hormones didn't just mean the rage but all the other emotions as well.
"Mac, talk to me." Atlas tried to keep up with her,
Breathe. Makenna reminded herself and ignored him,
"Hey," Atlas reached for her wrist to get her attention and he immediately knew it was the wrong move when she snatched her hand away. She came to a complete halt and immediately turned to look at him in fury.
The streetlight was dim but his eyes had adjusted to the darkness enough for him to see her face clearly.
"What is wrong with you?" She asked incredulously which made Atlas do a double-take, "You don't know when to stop, do you?"
Atlas frowned. "I just saved..."
"That's your problem!" Her voice was a pitch higher, "You keep trying to save me. Well, I don't need your saving grace! I don't need you!"
They both stared at each other in silence. Atlas waited patiently for her as Makenna tried to get her breathing under control.
"Stop already." She begged in what sounded like a painful whisper,
The sheen of unshed tears in her eyes made Atlas hurt somewhere unknown in the depths of his soul.
"I'm not your friend." Makenna looked into the pool of troubled storms, "We're not friends and we never will be." She turned and headed in the same direction she was headed before he stopped her.
Atlas stood there and watched her leave. Every step she took farther away from him only brought him closer to the realization that the possibility of 'never' being friends with Makenna was not an option.
Although it had started out as a transaction and took off really slowly, he had peeled back a few layers of Makenna to discover a different person staring back at him every time. So, what if he never knew when to stop or how? When had giving up ever gotten anyone anywhere?
Oh, Makenna. Atlas thought.
With thorns for flowers and roses buried beneath the ground, Makenna was a secret waiting to be learned.
So, how was being irresolute going to help him peel back the thorny layers and uncover the truth? Only calm persistence could, and being a Zervas was definitely in his favour this time.
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If you're reading this, you made it to Chapter 90 and I want you to know that you're amazing for sticking around this long. I am so thankful for you and that you came across Broken.
So, in celebration of you, the readers, I would love to get to know the awesome people on the other side of the screen. I know a lot of you, or a few of you catch up on my content outside Wattpad, so you get to see me beyond my writing. I would love to know something interesting, maybe a fun fact about you, the readers.
Also, let me just say how proud I am that you guys all made it to this point without getting into an argument with another reader. That goes to show how incredible you all are, and if we get to know each other a little more, we will totally be rocking friendship bracelets by the next chapter.
Ok, love you muchly, Jane.
(P.S.: I would appreciate it if you could subscribe to my channel and give me a follow on Instagram. 🤎 Thank you 🥰).
