Broken Pieces - L. S. (read any book TXT) 📗

or her future will be extremely unacceptable,” she calmly said.

I closed my eyes, I knew she was referring to the incident last week where I told one of the senior students that beauty will not take her anywhere after she told me that she isn’t planning on going to college instead she will just pursue her modeling career. That was the day when Dr. Sullivan told me that Carter is marrying Adriana. It was indeed a bad day for me, and I knew that I shouldn’t take it out on her. I already apologized to the student but knowing how sensitive students here are I wasn’t surprise at all when I found out that the issue elevated to the Headmistress’ office.

“I know that my behavior towards Margaret Sheppard wasn’t exactly what was expected from me and I regret that. There are things that are happening in my life right now and I am sincerely asking for your understanding,” I told her. “Looking forward I am very much certain that it won’t happen again,” I promised.

She stared at me with quite blank an expression on her face.

“Ms. Williams, the objective of this school is to provide quality education to its students and they’ll be able to get that from the competent faculty staff that we chose very well in helping us achieve that goal,” she said with sophistication. “The board knew about what happened since Mr. and Mrs. Sheppard wrote them a specific letter in which you have been quoted such terms, so that being said, we will be putting you on a preventive suspension for seven days starting today, which I think will be the best time for you to deal with whatever tough going on with your personal life right now,”

I was shocked, I really am. I can’t believe that this is happening. I am on a preventive suspension? For what? Because I said I was Margaret Sheppard’s beauty will not take her anywhere? But maybe, Headmistress is right, maybe I need this time to deal with everything.

“I understand Headmistress,” I said in defeat.

I stood up.

“I am leaving the school premises as soon as I get my things from my office,” I said almost a whisper.

I took a deep breath as I turned my back at her and started walking to the door.

“Elizabeth,” she called out and I stopped. “Out of all the hundreds who applied for that position, you were chosen because we saw a huge potential in you, do not let your personal life get in the way of a great future ahead of you,” she added.

I nodded at her.

“I won’t,” I said. “Thank you Headmistress,”

She smiled and gave me a slight nod which I took as my cue to leave her office.

 

 

“You got suspended but you are going to dinner with Dylan Grayson, what else could you ask for?”

I threw at Nicole the green dress I just tried which didn’t look right for me to wear tonight. I just finished telling her my conversation earlier with the Headmistress as I rampage my closet deciding on what to wear for this evening.

“How can you make suspension sound so good to hear?” I asked.

I am not sure where Dylan is taking me tonight but I just want to look nice which I don’t really understand since the last time we’ve had dinner I didn’t even care if I was wearing one of my work clothes.

“Well, I am staying for another day here with you, so with you being suspended will mean I don’t have to wait up 9 hours before we could hang together,” she said.

She was lying on my bed taking pictures of me with every dress I tried.

“Are you sure, you’re okay being left here tonight? I mean, I could totally cancel and reschedule this dinner so we could just hang instead.”

It was last minute when I realized that I am leaving Nicole all alone at the apartment tonight when I go out to dinner. It was strange on why it did slip my mind when she was in my bed snoring as I was saying yes to Dylan earlier this morning.

“Of course it’s totally fine with me, besides I want you to have fun, and I was kind of rooting for you two,” she said.

“Nic, I am not dating him,” I said shaking my head.

“Why not? He looks hot, he’s young, rich and he’s totally into you,” she said.

“Wait, how did you know he was hot?” I asked since I kind of wondered because she hasn’t seen Dylan yet.

“I Googled him, and he’s one popular dude in the Upper East Side,” she said. “But kidding aside, I don’t see why you shouldn’t, okay, so you still have feelings for Carter, but maybe the reason why even after six years you still haven’t moved on is because you haven’t let anyone in your heart,” she said making total sense. “Jillian, and I am calling you with the name I knew you, there are people who can move on from a heartbreak as time passes but there are also people who can move on in finding a new love and I certainly believe that you are the latter,”

I sat beside her, I don’t know if I was going to agree with her or not. When I got exiled from California, I promised myself that I will have a better life, that I will not sell myself and will work hard so I won’t get hungry anymore and I will have a decent place to live. And I did that. I also knew that my departure causes pain for him and I swear that I will carry that pain with me and that I will never be happy unless I will know that he is. For the past six years, he frequently date models, celebrities and It Girls but none of them lasted so I knew he was still hurting so even though there were plenty of guys I have met and showed interest in me I never entertain a single one of them, but now that he is marrying Adriana Krueger, I am not quite sure if he is happy which leads to the question: Should I be happy knowing that he will be miserable?

“I don’t know if I deserve to be happy knowing that he isn’t,” I muttered.

Nicole rolled her eyes at me and put her hands on my shoulder shaking me slightly.

“Jillian, you left him meaning that you are no longer connected with him,” she tells me. “Besides, you shouldn’t even think of him, you don’t have the right to even be concern with his life. Carter is old enough to think or find what will make him happy, another thing is, how do you know he isn’t happy? It has been six years, maybe he fell in love with that Adriana, you are not part of his life anymore, you have your own life, being Liz Williams, and Liz Williams is going out with Dylan Grayson and she must find the perfect dress for tonight’s event,” she said with a matter of fact on her tone.

I smiled on her.

“Being happy, will not make you a bad person,” she added.

“Thank you, I am really glad that you are here,” I said holding her hands and pulling her into a tight hug.

“Well, be thankful I found you,” she said while holding me.

She released me from her hug and reached for the green dress that I tried earlier, it is a sleeveless knee-length dress with A-line cut from waist down, it has a black belt and thick straps.

“This one looks good on you,” she said as she handed me the dress.

“Thanks,” I replied as I took the dress from her and walked to the bathroom.

 

The car service was parked outside my building just as the same time I walked into the street of Madison Avenue. I was wearing the green knee-length dress Nicole said I will look good on and she was right, I paired it with my nude platform high heels and a nude trench coat. Dylan texted me earlier saying that there will be a car service waiting in front of my building, he didn’t say if he was on it or not.

The driver standing beside the car wearing a black uniform immediately opened the back seat door as soon as he sees me walking towards his direction.

“Ms. Elizabeth Williams?” he asked politely.

“Yes,” I replied.

“My name is Arturo and I will be your valet for tonight,”

“Good evening Arturo,”

“Good evening Madam, Mr. Grayson will be meeting you at the place,” he said as he reached for my hand and helped me get inside the car.

I opened my silver purse to check if there was a message from Dylan, but there was none. I was kinda disappointed for not seeing him here and I don’t even know why. Maybe because I spent two hours dressing myself up and he isn’t even here to see me.

As Arturo started the engine and pulled away my phone rang, I immediately checked it, hoping it was Dylan, but he isn’t, it was Nicole.

[U deserve 2 b happy, give dat hottie a chance, enjoy the night ;-)]

I smiled and shook my head as I typed my response.

[Thank you 4 wanting me 2 B happy, I don’t know what I feel 4 him yet, 2 days ago I was sad & hurting, I don’t think I can just jump into a relationship ryt away]

My phone beeped again.

[No one said b in a relationshipK U can just see him every now and then, kiss him back wen he kisses you and have sex wid him after the second or third date since you are a bit of a nun:-P]

I blushed after I read her text. The last guy I slept with was Carter and I can’t imagine doing it with another guy. He’s also the last guy I kissed. Am I being pathetic again?

[I will go out wid him but I don’t know if I cud kiss or have sex with him. U r aware of who’s the last guy I did it wid ryt?]

She replied after a while.

[I know, but it’s time 4u2 make use of dat thing in between your legs. It does exist you know,]

I slightly laughed. Nicole hasn’t changed a bit, she is still the same entertainer she was six years ago. Until now I still envy how brave she is. From the moment we ran away from home, when we became strippers and when we parted ways. She’s still doing the stripping but she was okay with it. She embraced her life with so much courage without any complain. I just wished I met her sooner, maybe I am not this miserable if she was with me six years ago.

[I’ll try my best 2 b happy, thank you 4 everything Nic. I love you.]

[Like what I have said 2 U, being happy will not make U a bad person, I love you too. Be safe and kiss that handsome man]

I put my phone back inside my purse while sitting there waiting for us to reach our destination. Nicole was right, being happy will not make me a bad person, my fate is not with Carter, there was a reason why we were apart, maybe he is indeed destined to be with Adriana and not me. I should believe that I am destined for something else and maybe someone else.

Moments later, the car pulled over in front of the New York Palace Hotel. I’ve seen it in movies but I have never been here. I heard that a night here cost a fortune.

The back seat door was opened by a valet attendant of the hotel and got off, he is wearing a pair of black slacks and a black shoes, well polished. A white long-sleeves shirt with black vest and a black bowtie. His nametag says Jude.

“Good evening Ms. Williams, welcome to the New York Palace Hotel, Mr. Grayson is waiting for you, this way Madam,” he said to