Page 27 of Broken

"Shit, " she said. "I must have forgotten to tell you. But yeah, just a few classes. You know I've always loved doing hair. I can only scam for so long, right?"

"Truth...damn girl that just made me think real hard about my life."

I drained what was left in the class. The peach wine began to make me feel warm inside as I heard my best friend sigh on the other end of the line, once again.

"What is it?"

"You gotta promise you won't judge me, Nov. Promise me...."

"Hold on, I feel like I need another glass of wine," I replied getting up.

"Okay," Astrid said.

She was quiet and listened to me pour my third and final glass. I had been killing this bottle of wine for two days. Placing the bottle in my silver trash can that matched the stainless steel appliances, I trudged back over to the couch.

"I'm ready," I said and took a sip.

"Okay, so, me and Capone...we been seeing each other for like six months. He's the first guy I've ever really just let...stay over. I really like him Nov. Like really, really, really like him. I haven't felt this way since..."

"Since?"

She let out a breath, "Since Lexi's father."

Astrid never mentioned her daughter's father. I had no idea who he was and had never even met him. He was this mystery man that had shown up, gotten her pregnant and disappeared. Me being me, I had never asked. Whenever she decided to tell me about him, she would. Until then, I just didn't push her on the subject.

"Okay, so what's the problem."

"The problem is... I had an abortion."

Wine that had previously been on the way down my throat, came back up due to me coughing and sprayed from my mouth. "Holy shit, what?"

"I know...I...if he finds out," she whispered.

"If he finds out then he finds out...I think you should be honest with him though," I said.

"I'll think about it," Astrid replied. "Anyway, I'm gonna go and chill out. Don't forget what I said about going out. I need a night of fun as you can see."

"Plan it, and I'll be there," I said.

"Night, Nov," my best friend said.

"Night." I hit the end button on my phone.

The screen glowed with the time. It was already fast approaching ten thirty, and I felt as tired as ever. The wine had really relaxed me and was making me sleepy. I drained the rest of it and then placed the glass in the sink and turned off all the lights except for the one above the sink. I figured the twins would need some light when they came in.

My bedroom at this apartment on the first floor had a balcony to my bedroom. I went over and cracked the window to let fresh air flow into the room. The chilly night air surrounded me, and small shiver went through my body. After putting on a black negligee, I peeled back the covers and slipped into bed. The sheets were cool and welcoming. Sleep came over me within a matter of minutes thanks to the alcohol, but it didn't last long as the whir of sirens blazed through the apartment. From where I lay in the room, I could see the blue and white lights flashing all around the room.

I wanted to check the time, but my phone was in the living room. My eyes strained to open, but they finally did, the lights still dancing a dizzy waltz across the walls and ceiling. With a yawn, my feet found the carpeted floor of my bedroom and I opened the door to my room. It felt as though something other than the lights had woken me, but I was unsure what. My phone was still on the couch where I had left it and the time read after midnight. Walking back towards our bedrooms, I cracked the door to the twin's room and found them already in bed and asleep.

I watched them only for a moment, before uttering, "My babies."

A few steps away, I found my own door and went back inside and closed it. It was then that I noticed a shadow that hadn't been there before, and it caused my breath to hitch in my throat. My hand had never left the doorknob, and I thought about screaming.

"I would think long and hard about screaming." The voice came from out of the dark and slid along my skin like a snake on the forest floor.

"Whoever you are...you should go," I said, the lights of the cops still flashing nearby.

"Now why would I want to do that, Nova?"