Shattered

Angelica's P.O.V-

"Thank you, I really need to get his Christmas presents" I said, thanking for the fourth time Mrs. Dawson, but who's counting?

"Oh hush now! You've thanked me enough already! Plus, I needed to do some shopping too" She laughed. Mrs. Dawson wasn't old, she was in her mid 30's or so. She had been married, but her husband died three months after Mathew and Samantha's 5th birthday, which was about a year ago.

"So... I can tell something is bothering you honey, spill it out" She nudged me. Sometimes she acts as if she's younger, but that makes me a lot more comfortable actually.

"I don't want to trouble you with my messed up brain" I laughed. She rolled her eyes and we got in her car. She was waiting for someone, although I don't know who.

"Oh stop it. I don't mind, you need a friend, when was the last time you had one?" She insisted.

"About five or more years" I shrugged.

"That's too long, consider me your friend!" She smiled hugging me. It felt good, to be hugged by her. I can see her becoming a motherly figure and best friend.

"Hey! Sorry, Ashton wanted to talk to me about his present" The girl rolled her eyes, getting in. I looked back and my eyes widened. It was the cashier.

"Fancy seeing you again!" She laughed.

"Indeed!" I laughed back.

"Oh, you've met Jessica!" Mrs. Dawson smiled. I nodded and told her I shopped at the shop Jessica worked at. We made small talk until we reached the mall/ shopping center.

"I'm sorry if I sound rude or too curious, but aren't you too young to be Jake's mother?" Jessica asked. I was dreading this question, although I knew it was going to come.

"Yeah, I was 12 when he was born..." I trailed off.

"Uh... How?" Mrs. Dawson asked.

"My father was a heavy drinker..." I said, a tear escaping. I told them my story and by the end I was quietly crying, not sobbing, which is new!

"I'm so sorry for you!" Mrs. Dawson said hugging me and wiping her tears away.

"You'd think you would've killed yourself!" Jessica exclaimed.

"I tried... I chickened out" I sheepishly said. They both shook their head and hugged me again. It was a weird situation really. Three women hugging in a parking lot, crying. Okay, I feel really crazy.

"Okay, I'm over it though, I'm happy" I smiled, genuinely. They nodded and laughed. We walked in and began going through shops and more shops. Honestly, I hate shopping, it tires me.



"Come on! Only three more shops, I promise!" Laura, or Mrs. Dawson, said.

"But we've been shopping for about two hours!" I whined, almost dragging the thousand bags in my hand.

"You're so whiny!!" Jessica rolled her eyes, walking perfectly straight in her heels. I sighed and looked down at myself, feeling a bit self conscious.

"Okay, let's at least stop for food, I'm starving!" I begged. They both laughed at me and we headed to the food court. I ordered a medium sandwich from Subway and Jessica and Laura ordered some salad from a restaurant I don't remember the name of.

"So, any guys in mind?" Jessica winked. I blushed and looked down smiling.

"Oh! So there is!" Laura gasped, making us all laugh.

"Yeah, but I'm not sure he liked me, well, he kissed me but that doesn't mean anything, right?" I didn't even bother denying.

"OF COURSE IT DOES!" They yelled together. I jumped a bit but laughed at them. We all sounded like 14 year old teenagers talking about boys, it was honestly hilarious to watch. I mean, three grown women (two not so much) acting like teenagers, come on, admit it's at least interesting.

"Guys don't kiss you unless they really like you" Laura said wisely and Jessica agreed.

"Ashton made the first move, that's when I found out I had feelings stronger than I thought" Jessica pointed out. I sighed and nodded, still confused.

"I can see you're confused, so just try to express in words what you feel around him” Laura suggested.
“Well... I feel happy, giddy, excited, scared, overwhelmed, emotional, strong, weak, important, irrelevant, and the list goes on...” I trailed off. They were a bit taken back by my little rant but they both nodded and Jessica was the first to talk.
“How can you feel so many feelings opposite of each other?” She asked a bit confused.
“I don't know, you said to try to express the feelings in words so...” I shrugged.
“Can you try and explain why are there so many mixed feelings?” Laura begged. Sometimes it feels like she's the youngest out of the three of us, but it's a good thing, it makes all of this sound playful and it makes me relax a bit more.
“It's more because of him” I began, but Jessica interrupted.
“No, really?!” She asked with sarcasm dripping from her words. I glared at her and she snickered. I rolled my eyes and continued.
“Sometimes I think he's bipolar, because one moment I seem to be his air the next I'm dirt” I explained.
“How so?” Laura asked.
“I'll tell an example: One moment he's back talking and being all mean and the next he's massaging my back” I said, referring to when the boys dragged me to a fun day for the first time.
“Well, I never saw a case like this one....” Jessica confessed.

“I have” Laura said with a smug smile, that made me a bit concerned. In case you haven't noticed, every smile, look, gesture, body language, counts to find out what a woman is trying to say.
“What's with the smug smile moma?” Jessica asked. I find it so cute that they have such a great relationship. Usually the son's mother doesn't really get along with the girlfriend...
“He basically loves you” Laura replied motioning to me. My jaw dropped and my eyes widened. No, that can't be it, maybe he hasn't been feeling well for the last six months, that would make a lot more sense...
“No, that's impossible” I said shaking my head violently. They both began laughing and I just glared at them and finished the last of my food.
“Honey, it's kind of obvious ya know?” Laura said holding my hand in hers and smiling sweetly.
“The only thing that's obvious is when I almost drool over him” I grumbled.
“OMG!” Jessica said in an extremely loud voice and began laughing. Hard.
“IT IS NOT FUNNY!” I yelled at her. Some people turned to give us dirty looks but I didn't really care right now.
“It's okay, it comes with being in love” Laura said casually.
“I am not in love, it's just a stupid crush” I defended myself.
“Whatever you say, but just a reminder: Harry is not your father, he would never hurt you like that” Laura said, smiling. We changed the subject and began getting up to head back home. Gosh, I just wish these stupid feelings would go away...

Notes