Shattered Glass Unbroken Soul Chapter 02
I shoved the screen in Piper’s face.
Piper’s smile slowly froze.
Her eyes immediately welled with tears.
“The judges have zero sense of humor. How was I supposed to know they were so strict?”
She sniffled. Her voice grew more and more pathetic.
“I just wanted you to relax. You’ve been so stressed over this stupid competition every single day. Who could stand that? Avery, stop looking at me like that, okay? I’ll pay you back the application fee.”
Drew pulled Piper behind him.
It was a well-practiced move.
Like whenever she cried, I naturally became the one who had to back down.
“Avery.” Drew’s voice dropped. “Piper didn’t do it on purpose. She messed up, sure. But her intentions were good.”
I looked at him.
“My eligibility is gone.”
“If not this year, then next year.” Drew frowned. “You have the talent. Does one year really make a difference? Do you have to make this so awkward for everyone right now?”
Piper hid behind his back. Muttered softly.
“I already said I’d pay you back.”
Suddenly, the apartment felt incredibly cramped.
Too cramped to hold their ridiculous entitlement. Too cramped to hold my remaining shreds of dignity.
I looked down at my phone. Took screenshots of the canceled flight, the group chat, and the rejection email. One by one.
Drew watched me, his face turning ugly.
“Why are you taking screenshots? Are you gathering evidence to put us on trial?”
I pocketed my phone and walked to the entryway. I reached for Drew’s keychain and pulled off my spare apartment key.
His hand instinctively clamped down on the key ring.
“Avery.”
I yanked it hard. The key dropped into my palm.
“You guys make me sick.”
Piper’s tears hung on her cheeks. She looked like someone had just slapped her across the face.
The last bit of patience in Drew’s eyes completely vanished.
“If you walk out that door today, don’t expect me to come crawling back to coax you.”
I pulled the door open and dragged my suitcase out.
Just before the door clicked shut, I heard Piper asking him through her sobs.
“Isn’t she overreacting?”
Drew didn’t answer right away.
The second the elevator doors closed, his text popped up.
*Come back when you’re done throwing your tantrum.*
The taxi pulled up to the airport terminal. I hauled my suitcase out.
The driver asked if I needed help.
I shook my head. Pressed my phone to my ear to listen to a voice message from my advisor, Professor Alder.
*”Avery, the artist residency spot in Iceland is still open. If you’re sure about coming, I’ll have the studio send you the invitation letter tonight.”*
I held down the record button.
“Professor Alder. I’m sure.”
After sending the audio, I forwarded her the rejection email from the Aurora Fellowship.
Her reply came quickly.
*Just get here first. A ruined portfolio isn’t the end. You are still here.*
I stared at those words. My throat tightened.
Back in college, my parents divorced. They cut off my tuition and rent, tossing a pile of overdue bills in my face. It was Piper who split her living expenses with me. She stayed by my side through the hardest months of my life.
Later, when I had a severe panic attack and nearly suffocated on the rooftop, Drew was the one who carried me to the hospital. He stayed awake by my bed all night.
I wasn’t ungrateful.
So I told myself over and over. They didn’t mean to hurt me. We were just too close. They just forgot where the boundaries were.
But today, I finally understood.
The favors I owed them weren’t free passes to ruin my life.
While waiting in the check-in line, I unlinked my account from Drew’s shared credit card. I turned off my location sharing.
Drew’s call came in seconds later.
I answered.
“You cut off the shared card?” His voice turned icy. “Avery, you’re really going to be this petty about money now?”
“Yeah.”
The line went dead silent for two seconds.
Piper’s voice squeezed through the receiver.
“Avery, you didn’t actually go to the airport, did you? Who are you trying to scare? Drew isn’t even mad at you anymore.”
It sounded like Drew pulled the phone away for a second before bringing it back.
“Which entrance are you at? I’ll come pick you up. I’ll ask around about the portfolio. Let’s see if we can appeal the decision.”
“Don’t bother.”
“What do you mean, don’t bother?” Drew suppressed a growl of impatience. “The hotel in Cancun is non-refundable. If you don’t go, it won’t be any fun for the two of us.”
Piper whispered in the background.
“It won’t be totally boring. We just won’t have anyone to take our pictures.”
I handed my passport to the counter agent.
The agent verified my ID and handed me my boarding pass.
“Have a safe flight.”
I took the ticket and spoke into the phone.
“I’m busy. Hanging up.”
Drew finally lost his temper.
“Avery, does everyone have to cater to your feelings? Piper is already crying! What more do you want?”
I looked down at the destination printed on the ticket.
“I want to get far away from you.”
I hung up. Opened my social media.
Piper had posted a selfie ten minutes ago. Her eyes were red. She was clutching her snorkeling goggles to her chest.
*Wanted to surprise someone with all my heart, only to be accused of being malicious. People who can’t take a joke are so exhausting to be around.*
People were already leaving comforting comments.
Drew’s reply stood out the most.
*Don’t cry. Let’s go see the ocean in Cancun. She’s just being emotional right now. She’ll come back and apologize in a few days.*
I didn’t like it. Didn’t leave a comment.
I simply muted both of their accounts.
Just before my screen went black, an airline notification popped up.
*Flight to Reykjavik is delayed due to polar air currents. Boarding postponed by four hours.*Â