Give Your Heart a Break

Chapter 3

Give Your Heart a Break.

Demi Lovato

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From the moment that my alarm began beeping, I knew that it was going to be a long day.

I groggily reached over, attempting to hit the stupid button on my alarm-clock, and end the horrific beeping. Only I found that the table by my bedside was empty. I groaned when my mind clicked with the fact that I had moved it, just for mornings like this. Between my hatred for school, mornings, and my growing case of senior-itis, I knew that I would be hitting the snooze button a lot. So, I went ahead and moved my alarm-clock all the way across the room, and placed it on the shelf above my TV.

The remote for it was on the TV.

I moaned loudly, not wanting my perfect weekend to end.

I had spent my entire weekend 'getting to know' Anthony, my body-guard. I knew that it pointless, because as soon as I graduated, he was going to move on with his life. But that didn't stop me from enjoying him while I had him. So, I took advantage of my first weekend with him and spent every second of it by his side.

I didn't even once think about returning back to school on Monday.

Slowly, I sat up and got out of my bed. Just as I was walking over to my alarm-clock, there was a knock on my door. I walked over and opened it, knowing that Anthony was the only person in this house, and wasn't surprised when walked in. He had a major case of bed head and his eyes were still sleepy, as he watched me shut off my alarm. I smiled apologetically and put everything back where it went before walking over to greet him.

“Morning Gracie. I just wanted to make sure that you got up.” He smiled and rubbed the back of his neck. “I'm going to go on down and make us some breakfast.”

I nodded, hugging him with one of my arms, hoping that the hug would show my thanks. He pressed his lips to my cheek in an all too friendly way before walking away and back to wherever he had come from. I let out a small sigh before heading on into my bathroom to get ready for my day at school.

When I arrived downstairs, Anthony had already poured me a bowl of Lucky Charms. I looked at him questioningly.

“So that you have good luck at school. I know you probably won't need it, as you're incredibly smart...but still. Just in case, you know?” He shrugged, his eyes hopeful. I couldn't help but grin at the goof.

Everything Anthony had done was so simple. From the moment he spoke up at my parents, to making me a bowl of cereal in the morning. Somehow, even though his notions were all small, they meant more than anything to me. I had never ever been put first. Not even with my own two parents. It was nice to lean on someone, even if I knew that it wasn't going to last forever. I hated being the center of attention, but what person would have liked to be ignored?

I couldn't think of anyone.

“Now, sit and eat. I'm going to get dressed and then I'll drive you.” He pulled a chair out for me, and then he was off. I watched as his figure disappeared up our staircase. As soon as he was out of my sight, I returned to my bowl of cereal.

It didn't take long for me to finish the food. Even given the way that Anthony had absolutely no control when it came to how much cereal he put in the bowl. It was overflowing, but I couldn't bring myself to not finish it. I was going to take advantage of everything. I wasn't leaving anything out. After I had eaten until I felt like I could explode, Anthony walked in and chuckled.

“Sorry I put so much in there.” He eyed the way that I was slouched in my seat, my hands on my swollen stomach. Maybe I should have at least slowed down. “I figured that you were already skinny and that some food could do you more of a favor than not. I just didn't think you'd actually eat it.”

I smiled sheepishly at him, wishing I could have asked what he meant. I hated that I couldn't just talk to him. I hated that he had no idea as to what I sounded like. I hated that I would never be able to really talk to Anthony Wolfe. It was the least the guy deserved, that was, unless I was actually as annoying as my parents claimed I was when I did talk. I mentally sighed to myself, knowing that it was a stupid question and that the answer was impossible.

I got up quickly and grabbed my backpack. Anthony held the garage door open for me and then raced around to hold the passenger door open as well. I felt my face grow warm as I shot him a thankful glance.

The car ride to school was peaceful. Anthony had Debussy playing low on the radio, and seemed to be off in his own little world as he kept his emerald orbs on the road. I, on the other hand, couldn't help but watch him. His perfect profile �" a straight nose, proportioned features, and messy hair. Even when he had only spend minutes getting ready, he was more beautiful than any man I had ever met.

Even the grease-ball, Jacob Jackson, who played on the football team at my school. Everyone thought he was a hunk. I was sure that he spent at least an hour in front of the mirror in the morning. I didn't care how popular he was. He was scubby.

When we pulled up outside of Concord High, a lot of heads turned. I knew that Anthony's BMW was going to attract attention in a parking lot like ours, but I hadn't expected what we had gotten. My face was burning with a fury as I waived goodbye to Anthony and slid out of my seat. He winked at me and told me to have a good day before going on his way.

I was used to people staring. They all thought that I was some sociopath, plotting to kill them all. They knew I was smart because I was at the top of the class. The problem was that if you weren't normal, you weren't in when you lived in Concord. I was far from normal. I was the rich, nerdy, and weird girl. They always stared, and sometimes they went as far as to pick on me. But for that morning, they were all stunned by my chauffeur.

When I got to my locker, Karen DioGuardi was standing there. Mary was nowhere to be seen. I assumed that she was skipping. It wasn't unusual for the two of them to miss school. Karen was usually the one to miss. Those were the days that they left me alone. Mary didn't have the guts to pester me without her b***h.

“Look, it's the freak.” She smirked at me as I opened my locker and began organizing my things. Her eyes pierced through the side of my skull as I attempted to break through my poor coordination and get my s**t together. She was talking again before I could get away. “I saw you with a guy this weekend. An older guy? I didn’t think you were that big of a s**t.”

I shot her a dirty glare. I couldn't do much else, given my situation. The worst part was that she never seemed to care what looks I gave her. She saw right through me in all of the wrong ways. Unlike the other students who feared me, Karen saw me as a challenge. At least, that was what I assumed. She may have also saw me as a weakling, someone in the way and easy to stomp on. The thought made me huff and turn around.

“Seriously, Gray. Ugly. Whatever.” She laughed to herself. Her laugh was like a harpy's laugh. It was shrill, loud, and way too obnoxious. “You're no better than some disgusting prostitute. You're nasty and unneeded. I think I've met more useful hookers myself.”

I'm sure you have, Karen. I'm sure you and the prostitutes are on a first-name basis by now, right? My mind hissed back. I opened my mouth, wanting to say exactly that, but the words never came. I snapped my jaw shut with a clack and looked at my feet. It was no use.

“Ha. You're retarded. You can't even talk!” She sneered and I suddenly stopped walking. My foot had turned out, due to my lack of coordination. Though in turn, Karen kept walking and tripped right over it. I giggled, watching as she face-planted in the middle of the crowded hallway.

People laughed!

“I hate you!” She screeched, attempting to get herself back up and onto her stilts. I meant heels.

I smirked at her, knowing that it was an accident, but not caring. I had never once considered using my body to get at these girls, and I knew I'd never do it on purpose. That didn't mean I wasn't willing to play pretend when the opportunity arrived. With another snicker, I turned and speed-walked to my class. I wasn't taking any chances for a repeat performance. Especially since the odds were not in my favor. I would have the shorter end of the stick next time.

I got to class and sat in the back. Trigonometry was up first. It went the same as the rest of the day, and the morning. Kids were staring blatantly, and when they weren't staring, they were taunting me. They were making remarks, or sly jokes, or they were simply throwing things at me. I ended up just putting my head down for the rest of the school day, deciding that the school work could have been finished at home.

After the bell rang, I didn't even go to my locker. I had been collecting my books all day so that I could go home and do what I missed during the day. It was practically a routine for me. I sighed to myself as I walked out into the parking lot. Anthony was picking me up, but I didn't know where to look for him. I decided to walk over to the pick up lot.

Instead of going all the way around the school, I cut through a parking lot. As I was cutting through, I forgot to look both ways. Right when I stepped off the curb, a giant blue van came crashing towards me. I couldn't even scream as it ran right through me, knocking me up and over the hood of it. I landed behind it, having literally rolled across the top of it, and I watched in a daze as it sped off.

Nobody noticed that I was just laying in the road, until I heard a scream. My eyes had drifted shut and my brain began to spin in the commotion. Some girl, with a voice I didn't recognize, had found her way to me and was calling for help. It was too late though, as my thoughts were already depleting. Before I could find out who was sitting over me, it all went black.

“Gracie! Oh, God, Gracie!” An angel cried out as I felt my body get jostled a little bit. “Gracie, please. God, hang on. Just hang on, honey.”

I smiled to myself as a warmth washed through my body. I was finally able to peel my eyes open. I wanted to see my angel before I had to lose him too.

“Gracie? Oh, you scared the hell out of me! Keep those brown eyes open. Just look at me.” The smooth voice spoke. I finally connected it to Anthony's face. His eyes were red-rimmed, and tears were streaming down his face. I couldn't hold my focus though, and he quickly fuzzed in and out of sight. He was sobbing by that point, I could still hear the broken angel, but I couldn't seem to get a hold on anything else around me. There was nothing but the sound of my angel. “Gracie. Gracie stop. Just look at me...please...plea-”

When I was finally able to open my eyes again, I couldn't see Anthony anymore. Instead, I found myself with some woman. She was dressed in pink scrubs, her hair pulled back into a straight ponytail. I frowned, looking at the shade of her hair. It was Anthony's hair, right down to each highlight. I smiled when she finally looked at me, her eyes the exact shade of green. If Anthony wasn't there, then this nice doctor must have been the next best thing.

Either that, or I had officially gone out of my mind.

“Well, it's nice to see a smile on your pretty face,” she spoke, her voice soft as she patted my cheek with her hand. “We were awfully worried about you.”

I frowned, trying to understand. Who was 'we'? Finally, I slowly rolled my head to the side. I flinched at the feeling of a very stiff neck. On top of that, my head thundered with the worst headache I had ever had. I moaned and shut my eyes, trying to understand the pain. I was just utterly confused. I didn't know where I was, who I was with, or why I was there. Panic was beginning to set in when I heard my angel's voice again.

“God, I'm so sorry, Grace.”

I slowly peeled my eyes open and looked at him. He sighed.

“I should have gotten there earlier...I should have told you where I was picking you up at.”

I gasped, remembering the van as it hurdled towards me. I was hit by a monster van. Slowly, I began to nod, but it was very slight and slow. I didn't want to trigger what was surely a concussion that had rattled my brain. Finally I began to shake my head at him. It wasn't his fault. Nothing was ever his fault. It was all me and my parents' problems.

“You sure had Anthony here freaked out,” the woman was talking again, and her eyes were soft as she looked towards Anthony. “He was bawling when you were brought in.

“Mom!” He hissed and I smiled at him.

“So, honey, is there anyone you want to call?” His 'mom' asked me and I felt my brow come together.

I could have called my parents but I knew that they either wouldn't answer, or they would have had nothing to say. I could have called my older sister, Madison, but I knew that she was in Texas, and that she was probably busy with her life. Anthony was already with me, and I had no friends. I had nobody to call. Not that I knew anyone's phone numbers anyway.

I shook my head at her, finally building up the guts to show how much of a loner I was.

“Do you feel okay? Is there something wrong with your throat?” She asked, her face suddenly concerned. I bit my lip and glanced at Anthony.

“She doesn't talk.” He told her. “I'm her body-guard, in a way. I mean, there's nobody presumably after her, but her parents are away and were afraid that she was incapable of handling herself. If something were to happen while she was home, she wouldn't have been able to contact anybody.”

“I see.” The woman nodded. She then turned to me. “Well, you're very lucky to have Anthony. He was very worried about you, and he really cares. Now, my name is Doctor Mia Wolfe. Given the circumstances, you're very welcome to call me Mia.”

I smiled, nodding at her, and then held out my hand. I may not have been able to talk, but I didn't want to come off as rude to this sweet woman.

“Now,” she began talking again. “You're suffering from many injuries. I'm sure you're feeling the concussion right now, right?” I nodded and she sighed. “Well, you've broken your femur and your right arm. You're pretty banged up other than that. You're a very lucky girl, Miss Gray.”

I nodded, knowing what she meant. I was used to getting hurt, but I had never been hurt to that extent. It really hurt. Anthony took my good hand into his and smiled half-heartedly at me. I couldn't help but shoot him a soft smile back. Even knowing that I wasn't doing my headache any favors.

“I have to go scrub in on the reconstruction of a cleft palate now,” she said, glancing between the two of us. “I'm sending Joseph down to make sure you get her out the door when you're ready to go. Gracie, you're going to be on strict bed-rest for about six weeks.”

I felt my eyes widen.

“Anthony, it will be your job to make sure she's doing well. I want her back in here in about three weeks for a follow-up, and then three weeks after that. As for you, Gracie, if your headaches get much worse than where they are now, I want you to tell Anthony. I don't care how you do it, but you'll need to come to the ER if that's the case. Normally, we would keep someone who has suffered to this extent for another week, but I trust Anthony's judgment. He grew up with two doctors.”

I nodded sternly, wanting to look serious.

“Good. You two be safe. No playing in parking lots, dear.” She winked at me and kissed Anthony's cheek before disappearing behind the curtain.

I smiled at Anthony after she left. He shook his head at me, his lips pursed.

“Gracie.” He finally sighed my name and I smiled reassuringly at him, urging him to continue. “You scared the life out of me. I've never felt so scared.”

I raised my eyebrows at this.

“Please...for the sake of me. Just...don't do that again, okay?” He asked, his eyes still grim. Suddenly, he grinned evilly, his dimple showing. “At least I’ll know you're safe for the next month. I get to keep you locked up in the house, all safe and sound.”

I bit my lip, hiding the smile that I wanted to give him. I knew better than to take him too seriously, but I couldn't help it. I'd never had anyone care so much. It was literally shocking to me. Finally, the smile beat out the awkwardness and I ended up smiling back at him. He just shook his head and ran his fingers through my hair, which had been taken out while I was asleep, and then smiled even wider.

We were interrupted, nearly bouncing away from each other, when a blond doctor walked in. He was dressed in a blue button-down and a lab-coat. I looked questioningly at Anthony as he laughed at our uneasiness. Anthony murmured something about it being his dad and I nodded knowingly before looking back to the blond doctor.

“Well, are you ready to go home?” He grinned.

When we got back to my house, Anthony had me tucked comfortably into my bed. He smiled and sat down on the other side. For once I was grateful that I had asked for a twin-sized bed. It made us closer together. I smiled at Anthony, and he just sighed, shaking his head. That was when I noticed the phone in his hand.

“We need to call your parents.”

I shook my head, my eyes growing wide.

“Gracie, they need to know. I could get fired over this.”

Suddenly, a new fear rushed through my veins. My heart stopped at the thought of him leaving me. They could have fired him because he didn't watch me close enough. They could fire him because he kept things from them. Worst of all, they could have fired him because they needed to make it look as if they cared about me. I felt my eyes grow wet with tears. Anthony sighed loudly and pursed his lips for a moment. He had caught my train of thought through my eyes, I could tell.

“How about Madison? We could just call her.”

I huffed but nodded. If we had to call someone, Maddy was the best answer. She never really cared about me, but at least it wouldn't look as if we were being secretive. I couldn't put Anthony in a position like that. I couldn't.

Anthony dialed the number faster than I had time to answer him. The phone only rang once before it was answered. I raised my eyebrows, surprised as Madison's voice filled the room.

“Doctor Madison Kane. Who am I speaking with?”