Page 2 of Broken Harmony (Heartbreak Melody #2)

After scrubbing my face clean, I throw my curly hair up into a messy bun and slip on some sweat pants and a crop top. I don’t put on a bra because right now, I really couldn’t care less.

“You look lovely this morning,” my dad, Malcolm, chuckles as I stumble my way into the kitchen.

I give him an evil glare, flipping him off before plopping down into one of the chairs.

“Hey, that’s no way to treat the person who went and got your car for you,” he teases as he places some pancakes in front of me. “Aaaand made you food.”

“You got my car?” I ask. He nods. “Thanks,” I sigh. “And sorry. Bad night.”

“I heard.” He gives me a sympathetic look. “Mom told me. It’s going to be okay, kiddo. Lulu is your best friend. There’s nothing you two can’t get through.”

I just stare at him because, boy, is he so damn wrong.

Rolling my eyes, I dig into the pancakes. I want to puke with every bite I take, but my stomach is screaming at me to eat, so I take the risk.

When I’m done, I grab my phone and car keys before heading out.

The whole drive to Lulu’s house, I'm freaking out. All I can think about is her angry, hurt face and her telling me she hates me, that she never wants anything to do with me again. I’d rather get hit by a bus, honestly.

Pulling up to her house, I get out the second the car is in park, not wanting to let my nerves get the better of me and chicken out.

Giving the door a good knock, I wait for someone to answer. With every second that passes, I feel like I’m going to pass out. I’m so damn nervous.

The door opens, and my stomach bottoms out when I see it’s her mother.

Her face morphs into one filled with fury as soon as she sees me. “What are you doing here?” she hisses.

Swallowing hard, I take a deep breath and stand tall. “I’m here to see Lulu. Can I talk to her... please?”

“No. You cannot talk to her,” she huffs. “Lucinda is never allowed to see you again. So, get in your car and leave. Now.”

“Lulu is an adult. She can make choices for herself,” I grind out, using the name she prefers because I know she hates her real name.

“She is my daughter. And is not yet of age. It’s my job as her mother to protect her and keep her safe.”

“And you think she needs protecting from me?” I ask, raising a brow.

“Yes.” She glares at me. “You are a sinner, Alisha. A lost soul with no redemption. And I will not allow you around my daughter anymore. You’ll only continue to corrupt her.”

“She’s going to be eighteen in a month,” I point out.

“You can’t control her for the rest of her life.

She has every right to choose what she wants to do with it and who she wants in it,” I growl.

“You and your crazy husband and the whole fucking cult you worship can’t have her,” I snap.

“If you really loved your daughter, you would let her go.”

“Leave,” she snaps. “Leave now before I call the cops. You are trespassing on private property.”

“Lulu!” I shout over her shoulder.

“Leave!” she screams. “Now!”

My fist clenches, and it takes everything inside me not to punch this stupid bitch in the face. I hate her. I hate her so fucking much. But I know she’s just dying to have any excuse to ruin my life.

If I get arrested, I can kiss the contest goodbye.

“Fine,” I grind out. “I’ll leave. But until I hear it from her myself, I'm not leaving her alone. Do you understand me?”

“Go!” She points towards my car, fury blazing back at me.

“Go fuck yourself.” I flip her off.

She gasps as I turn around and storm back to my car.

Throwing the door open, I get inside and slam it shut. I’m so damn mad when I put it into drive that I speed off down the street, leaving tire marks behind on the pavement.

I’m too angry to drive right now, so I pull over into the nearest parking lot. Grabbing my phone, I call Lulu.

It goes straight to voicemail, so I try again and again. When I get nothing, I growl in frustration and send her a text, begging her to talk to me.

I toss my phone on the seat and turn on the radio. “Untouched” by T he Veronicas comes on, and I can’t help but snort out a laugh. Ahh, how relatable.

Shaking my head, I sing along mindlessly, looking out the window, waiting for my racing heart to slow down and the rage inside me to simmer. It’s taking everything in me not to go back there and make a scene.

Lulu deserves better. Her parents are monsters in my eyes. Their beliefs are barbaric. Knowing she’s trapped in that house with those people has me going out of my mind.

And the fucked up thing is... no one can do anything about it. Even though I know the cops hate the vile church her parents are a part of. But unless they have proof of anything illegal, they can’t do anything.

Trust me, I can only imagine the fucked up shit they do. I’ve heard the stories. They’re enough to make me sick. Still, there’s no evidence, at least not anything severe enough for something to be done.

So, we just have to sit and watch, waiting until something bad happens. I don’t want to just sit on my fucking ass, though.

But really, what can I do? I’m only seventeen right now.

One day, I’ll make enough money to fight them. I’ll do whatever I can to get places like that shut down and free whoever they have trapped in their grasp.

My phone dings, letting me know I have a notification. Quickly, I turn my music down and grab my phone.

A text message from Lulu.

My stomach flutters with nerves, hands sweating as I open up the chat. My eyes scan it, seeing that it’s pretty long.

I lick my lips, heart pounding as I start to read it.

“My mom told me you came by the house. After last night, I think it would be best if we part ways. After taking some time to think about everything, I’ve come to the realization that we are two very different people with very different futures ahead of us.

Thank you for your friendship. But as of now, we no longer have one.

You live a life of sin, and I see that now.

Homosexuality is wrong. It’s the devil's work. I can not be around someone who has those thoughts and feelings about me. I’m straight.

I like men. Only men. I will find a nice man to love me, care for me, and I will live a happy life devoted and faithful to my husband.

I will no longer be going to California.

I will be staying here and attending the church college program.

After years of you getting into my head, trying to turn me against my parents, I now see how toxic you are.

I’m sorry, but I can’t have someone like that in my life any longer.

My life is for God. And I will no longer stray.

Goodbye Alisha. I wish you all the best in your future. ”

I stare at the phone, blinking in complete shock.

No. No fucking way.

A laugh slips free, and I shake my head. “Nice fucking try, bitch,” I growl, throwing my phone into the back seat. “But I know that woman way fucking better than you do.”

That message wasn’t Lulu; most likely it was her mother. Even if she didn’t feel the same as she did before what happened last night, Lulu would never talk like that. The only way she would go down that road was because she felt forced, not because she chose to.

That text was either her mother or her mother forcing her to say those things. That's not my Lulu. I refuse to believe it.

By the time I get home, I’m worked up again.

I feel so damn helpless. I don’t know what to do.

“You will never believe it!” I shout as I storm into the house, slamming the door behind me. “That crazy bitch. I swear!”

When I get to the living room, I find my parents all sitting around. They look up at me, worry on their faces.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, looking between the four of them. Mom looks at my dads before looking over at me.

“We just got off the phone with Lulu’s mom,” Mom says.

My heart stops. “What did she say?”

“She said you came over,” my dad, Calvin, growls, anger lacing every word. “She said you made a scene. Told us that you are not allowed over there again. To never contact their daughter, and if you try, she will get a restraining order and press charges.”

“What?!” I shout, fist clenching. “God, she's fucking crazy! You know she’s crazy, right?”

“Yes, honey, we know,” Mom says sadly. “Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do.”

“They control Lulu!” I argue. “She’s not safe there.”

“We don’t know that,” my dad, Ryder, says. “Have you ever seen her with bruises?”

“Well, no. But that’s not the point!”

“Has she ever gone hungry? Without proper clothes?” my dad, Calvin, asks.

“No,” I growl out. “But again, that’s not–”

“Unless Lulu wants to do something about it, our hands are tied, sweetie,” Mom sniffs, like she’s just as upset about this as I am. “I love that girl like she’s one of my own, and I’d do anything for her, but if she doesn’t want help, we can’t do anything about it.”

“So that's it?” I demand. “We just leave it? What do you expect me to do?”

Mom gets to her feet and walks over to me, placing her hands on my shoulders.

“You're going to take the summer to allow you and Lulu to focus on yourselves. You're going to go to California, compete in the competition, and kill it.” She gives me a sad smile. “You’ve worked so hard for this, Ally. You're so dedicated and talented. You have a bright future ahead of you. And in the meantime, we will do our best to let Lulu know we’re still here for her. If we see her around town, we will remind her, okay?”

“I can’t just leave, Mom,” my voice breaks as tears fill my eyes. “I can’t leave without her.”

“She’s not going, sweetie,” Mom says, and I hate the pitying look she’s giving me. “But you are. She wouldn’t want you to miss this opportunity. She knows how much this means to you. How hard you worked to get here. She’d want you to go and kill it.”

“She’s supposed to come with me!” I feel like someone's sitting on my chest, making it hard to breathe.

“Who knows, with some time, maybe she will join you. She turns eighteen soon. Maybe that's all she needs to get away. I’ll make sure to check in on her, okay? If I can get her alone, maybe I can convince her to get help. Maybe knowing she has me and your dads’ support, it could help.”

“Mom!” I hate how sad and broken I sound.

“I know, baby, I know.” She hugs me, and like last night, I cling to her, needing the support she gives me when all I feel is helpless.

Heading up to my room, I flop down on my bed and stare up at the ceiling. I’ve never felt so lost in my life.

Knowing I shouldn’t, but doing it anyway, I call Lulu. But instead of a ringtone, I get an operator letting me know that the number has been disconnected.

“What the fuck?” I stare at the phone in shock. “Really!?” I shout. “Fucking really?!” In a rage, I throw my phone at the wall, watching it break.

How could my life go from amazing to crashing and burning around me in under twenty-four hours?

If I could go back, I’d keep my mouth shut. If I could go back, I’d have taken Lulu to the movies. Or not have snuck her out at all.

I’d have waited until we were both out of this fucking town and free.

Now, that’s never going to happen.

Now, my future looks a hell of a lot different. And I don’t know if I like it. No. I know I don’t.

Without Lulu, what's the point?

Sadly, life keeps going, and time keeps moving forward.

Question is... do I stay here, knowing that if I keep trying to change things, I’ll most likely wind up arrested? Or do I go, give us some time, and try again when the dust has settled? They can’t keep her forever, right?

Damn, being young and in love only leads to heartbreak.