Eclipsed Hearts

Chapter 11

Parker

I leaned against the cold brick wall, my breaths coming in sharp, ragged bursts. The alleyway, bathed in the dim glow of a single, flickering streetlamp, felt like a safe haven after the whirlwind encounter with Kyle. I closed my eyes, trying to steady my racing heart. His scent lingered in the air around me—sweet roses with a hint of rain. It was intoxicating, a stark contrast to the grit and grime of the city streets.

For a moment, I allowed myself to revel in the memory of his warm smile, the way his eyes lit up when he saw me. It was a look I hadn't been on the receiving end of in years. My hand subconsciously traced the burn marks on my other arm, the permanent reminders of my father's volatile temper.

Kyle's presence had stirred something deep within me, something I had long buried under layers of pain and self-preservation. His welcoming demeanor, the way he reached out to me, it all felt so alien yet painfully familiar. A guy like that would never want me, I thought bitterly. He was too pure, too kind. And me? I was damaged goods, the broken product of a fractured home.

Love only led to pain. I knew that better than anyone. My father made sure of that. He could be charming, even loving, when he was sober. But once the alcohol took hold, he became a monster. A tear escaped my eye as I recalled the countless nights of terror, the stinging blows, and the burn of cigarette butts pressed into my skin. He blamed me for my mother’s departure, took out his rage on my young, defenseless body. I never blamed her for leaving. I only wished she had taken me with her.

I hastily wiped the tear away, anger welling up inside me. Crying was a waste. It solved nothing. It changed nothing. I had learned that lesson the hard way. The weird ache in my heart felt heavy, a gnawing emptiness that I tried to ignore. I let myself slide down to the ground, curling up against the wall as exhaustion washed over me.

Sleep was my only escape, my brief respite from reality. As I closed my eyes, images of Kyle danced in my mind. His voice, gentle and soothing, echoed in my ears. I drifted off, hoping the dreams would be kinder than the memories that haunted me.

---

I woke with a start, the early morning light filtering through the narrow opening of the alley. The dream lingered, leaving me with a strange sense of loss. I pushed myself up, wincing as my muscles protested. The streets were beginning to stir, the city waking up to another day.

I couldn’t let myself get distracted. There was too much at stake. I needed to stay focused, keep moving forward. Kyle was a distraction, a dangerous one. I had survived this long by keeping my guard up, by not letting anyone get too close.

I brushed off my clothes, straightening up as best I could

I blinked. The words didn’t register at first. “What do you mean?”

Mark crossed his arms, looking uncomfortable, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something in his eyes—maybe guilt. But then it was gone, replaced by something cruel and careless.

“It was a bet, Mattie,” he said flatly. “I only dated you because of a bet.”

The hallway suddenly felt very small, the walls closing in around me. “What? No… That’s not true.”

Mark’s expression didn’t waver. “It is true. I mean, come on… pizza face girl?” His words hit like a physical blow. I winced, instinctively raising a hand to touch my cheek, feeling the remnants of the bumps and scars that had once been so much worse.

“You actually thought someone like me would be into someone like you?” His voice dripped with disdain, the mockery sharp and biting. “I only did it because the guys dared me to.”

The world around me shattered. I could hear the laughter from his friends and see the way their eyes gleamed with amusement. Everything inside me went numb. The girl who had been on cloud nine just minutes ago was crashing down to earth in a fiery blaze of humiliation.

I turned around without saying a word, pushing past the crowd that had gathered to watch. My vision blurred as tears filled my eyes, but I couldn’t let them fall. Not here. Not in front of everyone.

I needed to get out. I needed air. I needed—

Ryan.

I almost didn’t see him standing near the doors until I nearly crashed into him. He grabbed my shoulders just as I stumbled back, his eyes widening in concern.

“Whoa, Mattie! What’s going on?” he asked, his voice laced with worry.

I shook my head, unable to form words, my throat tight with unshed tears. I felt so small, so worthless. The look on Ryan’s face softened as if he understood something terrible had just happened. He didn’t press me for answers. Instead, he simply pulled me into his arms, holding me tight as the first sob broke free.

I clung to him, burying my face in his chest. The scent of his cologne, the warmth of his embrace—everything about him felt safe. But I was anything but safe. The walls I had carefully constructed around myself had come crumbling down, and I had no idea how to build them back up again.

When I finally pulled away, I couldn’t bring myself to look him in the eye. “I—I have to go,” I whispered hoarsely.

“Mattie, wait,” Ryan said gently, reaching out to stop me. “You don’t have to do this alone. Let me—”

“I just need to be alone,” I cut him off, my voice cracking. “Please, Ryan.”

He hesitated, clearly torn, but after a moment, he nodded. “Okay. But I’m here if you need me. Anytime, okay?”

I nodded stiffly and ran, not stopping until I was far away from the school grounds, far away from the whispers, the laughter, and Mark’s cruel words. I didn’t even know where I was running to. All I knew was that I couldn’t stay.

* * *

The next few days passed in a blur. I didn’t go back to school. I didn’t need to. I had enough credits to graduate early, and I had already been accepted to Cambridge University. There was nothing keeping me in that place anymore.

My parents didn’t ask too many questions. I think they knew something had happened, but they also knew better than to push. I spent most of my time locked away in my room, trying to piece together the fragments of myself that Mark had shattered.

Ryan visited a few times, always checking in on me, always making sure I was okay. He never pressured me to talk, but he was always there, quietly offering his presence when I needed it. He was the only person I could stand to be around, the only one who didn’t make me feel like I was about to break.

It was during one of those visits that everything changed again.

* * *

It was late, the moon high in the sky when Ryan showed up at my house. My parents had gone to bed, and the house was quiet. I let him in without a word, grateful for the distraction.

We sat in silence for a while, the air thick with unspoken words. I could feel the tension building between us, the weight of everything I hadn’t said pressing down on me.

“Mattie,” Ryan finally said, his voice soft, “I know you don’t want to talk about it, but… I hate seeing you like this.”

I swallowed hard, looking down at my hands. “I’m fine, Ryan.”

“No, you’re not,” he said, his voice firmer now. “And that’s okay. You don’t have to be fine.”

I looked up at him, and for the first time in weeks, I felt something stir inside me. It wasn’t the sharp pain of betrayal or the cold numbness that had taken over my heart. It was something warmer, something I hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Why do you care so much?” I whispered.

Ryan looked at me, his eyes full of something I couldn’t quite name. “Because I’ve known you since we were kids, and I can’t stand seeing you hurt like this.”

His words hit me harder than I expected, and before I knew what I was doing, I was leaning toward him, closing the space between us. The kiss was soft at first, tentative, but then it deepened, and suddenly, I was lost in him.

Everything that had happened with Mark, all the pain and humiliation, melted away in that moment. All that mattered was Ryan—his touch, his warmth, the way he made me feel like I wasn’t broken beyond repair.

We tumbled into my bed, our bodies tangling together in a desperate attempt to feel something—anything—other than the emptiness that had taken root inside me. It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t something I had thought about, but in that moment, it was what I needed.

Afterwards, we lay in silence, the weight of what had just happened settling over us. I stared at the ceiling, my mind racing.

I didn’t know what this meant. I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring. All I knew was that I wasn’t ready for any of it.

And so, the next morning, I left without saying a word to him or anyone.

I was ready to start a new way from all the years of bullying and away from the one person who might truly care about me. With the tears rolling down my face, I boarded the plane, leaving everything and everyone behind without a care.

my body to be mine and the huge amount of money you can stay for and I had had a plan to stay in touch and have a pup came up in the city with the Silver wolf packs and a huge argument for me to the United States to be mine and the huge amount of money in my mind racing in a way that you have.