Unbreak Me

I lit up a cigarette, staring off into s.p.a.ce. It tasted disgusting, like burnt paper and mud. I was about to throw it away but a sweet voice called my name from behind. I put my head down. Not her again.

"Zayn!" She repeated, this time from somewhere near.

I lifted my head, only to be met with those ridiculous pigtails and innocent big eyes. With her hands on her hips, she shot me a stern look. I took a long drag of the cigarette in hand, ash filling my mouth.

There was something seriously wrong with people who smoked.

She—Leia—made a tutting sound. "My mummy says cigarette causes lung cancer. So why are you doing cigarette?"

I barked out a laugh. "You mean, smoking?"

Her cheeks flamed up, turning a shade of pink. She looked so cute, I thought. Then I shook my head at myself. Girls weren't cute. They were eww.

"You're also so young," She went on. "How does your Dad allow you to smoking?"

I didn't bother correcting her this time. "I'm older than you. And what my Dad doesn't know, doesn't concern him."

I didn't even know why I bothered speaking to her. She was so sweet and expressive about her feelings. In other words, she was my complete opposite.

"Why are you out here alone?" She asked, sitting down next to me.

The heat radiating off of her body was too much, so I quickly moved further east on the bench.

"Why are you?" I challenged, wondering when she would go away so I could discard the cigarette. "Girls aren't

She scoffed at me like a spoiled little brat. "This isn't a forest. It's a park."

"Still. Why are you alone out here?"

I seriously couldn't keep my mouth shut like I usually did.

She sighed, pulling her feet up on the bench and resting her chin on her knees. "My parents are fighting."

I was stunned into silence. "Leia... You shouldn't share things like that with strangers." Did she not know how others took advantage of our weaknesses? The world was a cruel place for someone like her.

"You're not a stranger," She whispered, eyes locked with mine. "I know I can trust you."

My throat was suddenly dry and I had no idea how to respond. "You're wrong, sweetness. I'm the last person on Earth you should trust."

She stared at me for the longest time before sighing and looking up at the bright sky. "Did you eat the chocolates I gave you last week?"

I sliced my head to the other side in total denial. "No. I don't like them."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Liar,"

My eyes widened the slightest bit. How did she—

"Has anyone ever told you how expressive your eyes are?" She asked suddenly.

I do?

s.h.i.+t. That can't be good.

"You're the first one to ever say that,"

"They're also very pretty," She continued. "Like two bright stars. Have you ever noticed the stars in the sky after rain?"

"No," I lied again.

"Well, they're very pretty. And your eyes remind me of them."

s.h.i.+t, this girl was going to kill me.

I scrambled up. "I... need to leave. Go back home. It's not safe to be alone here."

"Why?" She whined. "I was having fun with you. Will you play with me?"

"Leia, please go back home."

She did that thing with her doe-like eyes. Lowering them and s.h.i.+t. And I was a goner.

"What do you want to play?"

She smiled and I noticed a dimple on the right side of her cheek. My heart stuttered.

The first time I lay my eyes on Leia, I was definitely a goner.

She was going to break my heart.

I knew she was.

And she did.

Leaving me to deal with the disintegrated pieces.

I lost my sanity.

I lost everything.

The day she abandoned me.

Just like everyone else had.