Chapter 1

I can tell he’s hiding something, but I’m not sure what. I’ve never seen him this…afraid? For a split second I thought I saw something flash on the shelf behind him.

“It’s a…ball. Just a black, crystal ball,” he says, as if he’s identifying a speck of dust or a pencil.

“Pretty.” Too pretty, I wonder who gave him a thing like that.

“Yes, it’s a nice, fat paperweight, now will you go upstairs? You’re going to catch cold.”

Even though he sounds like I really hurt his feelings, I’m not sure I care anymore. There’s no way I’m going to let this go without one of us walking away the winner. Either he shows me his research, or I’ll get that stupid paperweight and walk away victorious–for once.

“Give it to me.”

He picks the ball off the shelf and rolls it around in his hands, muttering something to himself about “options” and “trouble.” I try to take a closer look at it sparkling, but I’m too far away to get a good look.

A pang of fear hits me in my stomach. Maybe challenging the one person who’s loved me, cared for me, and rehabilitated me isn’t such a good idea. Maybe I should just turn around, walk upstairs and make us both a nice breakfast. Over orange juice we’ll have a good laugh about all the things we said to each other; by the time we get to the cinnamon rolls he’ll forgive me.

“You know what?” William whispers, turning the ball over and over again in his hands. I wait for him to finish his sentence, afraid he’ll break up with me or worse–tell me to get out of his house or worse. After a few, slow minutes he turns, and gives me “the look.” It’s the kind of cold stare that sums up your entire relationship—where you’ve been, where you’re headed.

“Catch.”

Please Continuing Reading Chapter One Break: The First Piece