Heart Broke (Broken Home Book 1) Read online

  “Bambi, be quiet.” Franny tries harder to plant her hand over her friend’s mouth. “Did you hear what he said? He’s not from this side of town. He’s not a student. He works here.”

  I’m excited to see Franny making a fuss and I’m enjoying watching the two girls push on one another, except they are beginning to make a scene. The other students are congregating, watching. I grab Franny by the arm to calm her.

  “What the hell is going on here?” grunts a low voice and I turn to see a preppy Prick about to stick his nose where it doesn’t belong. “Get your hand off her,” he barks and shoves me.

  I don’t let go of Franny right away. She even grips my hand over her arm as if she doesn’t want me to let go either. Under normal conditions, I’d punch this Prick. Just because he’s taller than me, doesn’t mean I wouldn’t throw him down and stamp the soles of my boots all over his face. But there is a bit of a crowd now and I fear an older gentleman in a suit and wearing glasses, might take notice of the commotion as he exits his car in the parking lot—which reminds me of the discussion I had with Teddy about staying off the radar if we want to make this hustle work.

  Releasing Franny from my grasp, I stand up straight. “Relax, man. I thought she needed help.”

  “Help?” he scoffs, stepping up to me. “Help for what? From where I am standing, she looks like she’s in desperate need of help from you. You’re a Prank, aren’t you? From the poor side of town?” He sizes me up. “Yeah, I recognize dirty Pranks when I see ‘em.”

  My face flushes hot and I’m seeing red.

  “Shut up, Lance,” Franny comes between us. “He was going to help me with my car,” she lies, turning around to face me. “You’re a Prank. From Downtown. Is that right? All Pranks know about cars, don’t they?

  I’m licking my bottom lip that is stretched taut over my teeth, still eyeing the asshole that is out of reach because Franny is between us.

  I want to punch his face in.

  She yanks at the collar of my shirt. “Are you going to help me or what?”

  I look down into big, beautiful, round, blue eyes. Eyes more blue than mine are filled with worry and it pulls at my heartstrings. After all those commercials and dreams of meeting up with this girl, I’d never imagined those eyes looking so in despair.

  “Mmm.” I nod in agreement and she wraps her hand around my elbow to tug.

  Franny drags me into the parking lot. My eyes trail behind to check on Lance. He’s watching us as we zigzag between Porsches, Benzes, and BMWs.

  It’s still not too late to kick his ass! I think.

  When we are far enough from the crowd and Lance has disappeared, Franny turns with ferocity to face me. “You’re a Prank?”

  I scratch my head, giving Franny the puppy dog eyes. “What’s the matter? Are you not in love with me anymore?”

  She gasps, her jaw dropping. “Of course, you’re a Prank. Only a Prank would be so cocky and so... so...”

  “Good lookin’ and irresistible.”

  She gasps again, her mouth popping into an “O.”

  “You know, if you keep opening your mouth like that, I’m going to have to stick something in there.” She rolls her eyes and I laugh which only infuriates her more, but I like how excited she is—squirming. “Now that you know who I am and where I’m from, I figure I can be myself from here on out.”

  “There is no here on out,” she sasses, crossing her arms.

  I reach out grasping the knot of her preppy white shirt and tug her towards me until I’m looking directly down at her again. “That’s right. No ‘here on out.’ Only in and out, in and out,” I chuckle.

  She flicks my hand away and sighs. “You’re so rude. This isn’t funny.”

  “What’s not funny? That you’re instantly attracted to a guy that’s not just from the shady side of the city, but the darkest corner on the planet? Just because I’m a Prank, doesn’t mean I’m a bad guy, Franny. I might’ve been raised on the streets, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to clean up good or take care of all I have.”

  She bows her head. “I heard Pranks are hustlers, that they do a lot of bad things. My father always told me to stay away from Pranks. He said if I should ever run into a Prank that I should immediately turn around and run in the opposite direction. He warned me that Pranks are nothing but wicked devils.”

  It’s unfortunate Franny’s father left out the most important descriptor—handsome.

  I pick up Franny’s chin with a knuckle. Her eyes meet mine. “If you believe that’s true then why are you still here? Why are you still talking to me?” I turn around to spy the parking lot emptied of people as well as the rest of the pristinely groomed campus decorated with late-blooming, springtime red and white flowers. “And why are you late for class?”

  She looks up to the sky with a shake of her head as if she’s searching for a clue and I hate to tell her that no matter how hard she prays for answers, no one is looking out for you up there and sometimes you have to just learn for yourself.

  I move my hand to grip behind her waist, pulling her so she’s flush against me. “Are you busy tonight?”

  She pushes my hand away, pressing my palm back into my chest giving it back to me. “It’s a school night. I’m busy.”

  Fuck, I feel it. I’m losing her.

  “How about tomorrow night? I’ve got a Thunderbird. I’ll pick you up. There’s a party in—”

  “I’m not going to a party with a ton of Pranks.” She steps away, avoiding eye contact.

  I knew it! I don’t know why I’m even trying. This girl is way out of my league and she knows it.

  I attempt to clarify the situation. “It’s not a Prank party, but whatever. That’s fine.” My feet shuffle beneath me as my hands make their way into my pants’ back pockets to rest with the cigs I have in one and the condom I keep in case of opportunity in the other. “I have to make an appearance at this party. I have some shit I promised to drop off, but I’ll pick you up right after I deliver and then I’ll take you out. We’ll stay Uptown if it makes you feel more comfortable? C’mon. Go out with me.”

  She shakes her head. The end of her ponytail swings. “I don’t think so.” She swallows. “Sorry, I don’t date Pranks.”

  Fury burns from the pit of my stomach, up through my chest, and into my head. I swear I feel like I’m about to blow my top...

  Fuck! I stomp one foot towards the car in front of me and swing my opposite leg to kick the passenger door of a Mercedes Benz that I’m sure belongs to some preppy, undeserving rich Prick and Francesca yelps.

  “Oh my God, Rick! You just dented my car!”

  Chapter 4

  FRANNY

  I can’t freaking believe it!

  “Th-that’s my car. My Daddy’s gonna kill me.”

  I kneel beside the boot-sized dent in the passenger door and run my fingers over it. Aghh! There’s no way Daddy won’t see this when I park it back home. Tears sting my eyes and I just know I am gonna cry in front of the moron that just got me grounded for six months.

  The stupid Prank is kneeling next to me now, his face as white as a sheet. “Fuck, I’m sorry, Franny. Hey, look I can fix it. Your dad will never know.”

  Rick springs to his feet and jogs off back across the parking lot leaving me to stare at the dent while tears slide down my cheeks. What am I gonna do? I glance at my phone and see math started fifteen minutes ago. Great, now I’m gonna get written up too! Meep! If I get a detention for this, I will never forgive this Prank. I should have listened to my Daddy, should never have stopped Lance chasing the guy off.

  “Here move your pretty little ass, so the maestro can work.”

  I swing around and Rick is back, holding an electric kettle in one hand and a…

  What the heck is that? A freakin’ toilet plunger? Gross!

  That big fat cocky grin is back on Rick’s face and that darn adorable matching-dimple-to-mine is making my insides turn smushy. I swat at the wet patch on my cheek and
his face turns serious. He puts down the kettle and steps closer, his hand goes to my cheek and I suck in a breath. My skin burns underneath the gentle swipe he does with the pad of his thumb. Catching the tear, he brings it to his mouth and while those intense blue eyes hold mine captive, he sucks the tear off his thumb.

  Oh. My. God. My Goddamn heart just about stops.

  “Don’t cry. It’ll be as good as new when I’m done, baby.”

  I nod. It’s all I can do because somewhere between the dimple appearing and the thumb sucking thing, I have forgotten how to speak. His hands go to my shoulder and he twists me to the side. With another one of those cheeky winks, he says, “Watch ‘n’ learn, sweet lips.” He takes the lid off the kettle and pours boiling water all over the side of my car! “What the…?”

  He looks over his shoulder at me, his eyes sparkling. “Trust me?”

  I’m back to nodding again because every time Rick’s eyes meet mine, I am struck dumb.

  The Prank sweeps up the plunger and suctions it to my car door then, taking hold of it with two hands, he pulls. His biceps bulge as the plunger fights him, but then it releases with a pop and a little bit of that dent vanishes. He finds another spot and with a squelch, the thing is in place once again and my eyes widen as I see his crazy idea is working. Three more pop-and-squelches and the door looks brand freaking new!

  I kneel beside him and run my fingers over the surface. There is nothing there! The whole thing is smooth. “Huh, how did you…?”

  Rick is staring at the astonished expression on my face and suddenly my cheeks begin to heat. We are inches apart now, and his bare forearm brushes against my bare thigh and I think at any moment, I’m gonna gush again.

  Rick stands and looks down at me, the sun is glinting behind him and from here he looks like a Hollywood film star. A hand appears in front of my face and it is seconds before I realize his hand is there to help me up.

  There’s barely any space between us now, and I can feel the heat radiating off his body—or perhaps that’s just my body about to combust. His hand is in my hair, stroking it and he mutters, “So damn cute.”

  A siren screams across the school yard and the little bubble we are cocooned in pops, and I remember how to speak. “Thanks, um, for that. You saved my life.”

  Jeez. Melodramatic much?

  But it’s all true. Daddy would have had a hissy-fit like no other. I’d not be able to sit down for a week after he swatted the backs of my legs with his belt. My legs tingle and I remember the last time he punished me, four months ago.

  “I-I have to go.” Kids are swarming from the building and that damn siren is still blaring. It’s too early for the end of class so, I’m figuring it is probably a fire alarm and my one chance to slip into Math unnoticed and avoid losing my perfect attendance.

  Rick shuffles. His eyes drop to the floor. For a second, he looks disappointed or nervous and I sense a softer side to this Prank boy.

  “Well, thanks for making my day, Miss Francesca.” He does this stupid little bow and takes a step back.

  I really need to join the line I see forming outside the cafeteria so Mr. Matthews will check me off, but I fear if I go now Rick will never talk to me again. I lunge at him, aiming to place a kiss to his cheek before I lose my nerve, but he sees me move and turns in my direction. My lips land on his and for two seconds, they are glued together. I leap back, startled, and my cheeks turn scarlet.

  My head is still there in the parking lot, but my feet are carrying me across the blacktop and onto the end of the line. Three panted breaths later, Mr. Matthews is staring over his clipboard at me, “And… Francesca Hancock. Well, that seems to be everyone. Great job guys, now let’s file back in. Quietly please.”

  “Mr. Matthews, are we still having that quiz?” Krystal is an opportunist. “With all the excitement of the fire alarm, I don’t think I can do my best. My poor heart…”

  “Your palpitations will just have to calm down and you, young lady, will have to suck it up. The quiz is on.”

  Their voices drift away from me and I’m scouring the parking lot and yard for Rick. Just as Mr. Matthews yells at me to hurry, I see Rick climb back up the ladder. His shirt is in his back pocket again and I get a good look at that perfect V shape of his body. Closing my eyes, I commit it to memory and run after my class.

  “Tell me again!” Bambi is on the edge of her seat leaning into me, her mouth open and her lettuce wrap hovering at chin level. She wants to hear the whole story about me meeting Rick for a fourth time. “It’s soooo romantic, don’t you think, Krystal?”

  “No,” snaps Krystal tossing another fry in her mouth.

  I look between my two friends, one short and tubby, force feeding herself rabbit food so she’ll be able to buy a size smaller prom dress at the end of term and the other, tall and skinny chain-eating French fries like they will be extinct tomorrow.

  At the moment, they are playing Good Angel and Bad Angel on my shoulders. Bambi is head over heels in love with my Rick encounter. I know she is living vicariously through me, but she is one hundred percent for accepting his date.

  On the other side, Krystal’s wearing black wings and a scowl on her face. “Mr. Hancock will have a fit.”

  She’s right too. There is no way Daddy will let me date a boy like Rick.

  “He’s no good, Franny. All he’ll wanna do is get in your panties.”

  And that’s a problem? My damn panties still feel damp and uncomfortable from earlier, and I’m beginning to think I have a serious medical problem because every time I think about that cute bad boy they get wetter.

  Bambi sighs and shrugs. “Oh, well, perhaps you shouldn’t date him. After all there are plenty of nice boys at Saint Mary’s Academy. Anyway, you can’t possibly go to that party he invited you to because we are going to the Secret Football Party.” She lowers her voice all conspiratorially and I have to laugh.

  That party is the worst damn secret in the whole school. Every senior knows about it because all of them are going. This thing is gonna be huge. Lance is holding it at his parent’s McMansion while they are out of town. We’ve been looking forward to it for weeks and it is the day after tomorrow.

  Of course, my Daddy wouldn’t let me attend that either, but he has let me go to Krystal’s after school so I can work on a “project” and then, because we will be working hard to get it finished, he’s letting me sleep over. This has taken weeks of careful planning and I still can’t believe Daddy agreed last night to let me do this.

  But now, all the excitement I was feeling about the party rushes out of me like someone let go of the end of a balloon. “Yeah,” I look through the huge windows of the cafeteria, hoping to catch sight of Rick somewhere on the grounds, but there is no sign of him. “You’re right. Daddy would skin me alive.”

  “See, it’s not worth it. Not for a Prank.”

  Krystal swallows the last of her fries and runs her finger inside the packet picking up the salt and grease then licking it off. Her eyes fall on my fries and I push them over to her. My appetites gone now along with any hope of ever kissing Rick again. We’re from two different worlds and our lives are heading at warp speed in opposite directions.

  “He’s still hot, though!” Bambi’s words are all breathy and I swear she might be having an orgasm.

  I glare at her, she better not be getting any ideas about stealing Rick out from under my nose.

  “Just calling it like it is.” She shrugs and grabs her bag. “Did anyone do their Biology homework?”.

  I never thought the night of the S.F.P shindig would get here. I’ve been hiding my outfit and makeup in Krystal’s car all day. By the time last bell went at school, you could hear the crackle of energy pulsing through every senior.

  Sucking in my nonexistent belly, I turn from side to side in the mirror and smooth down the stretchy skirt of my figure hugging red dress. Lord, if Daddy ever finds out I spent my allowance on this, he’ll have me wearing a nun’s habit for the rest of
my life. It’s like a second skin hugging all my curves and falling mid-thigh. The front dips in a low V and I’m wearing a push-up bra that Krystal helped me pick out from Victoria’s Secret. It makes my cleavage look super sexy and has matching teeny-tiny panties too. It is the most scandalous underwear I’ve ever owned.

  “Is this dress too much?” Despite the half glass of wine, I have been sipping from a red solo cup, I’m feeling so nervous about tonight. This is the first grown up party I have been to and it is my chance to impress one member of the football team enough to take me to prom.

  “Lance will love it.” Bambi coos.

  She’s wearing red skinny jeans and four-inch Jimmy Choo’s and for once her legs look really long. “You look adorable tonight,” I say and I think she is about to burst into tears.

  But she doesn’t, she just whispers, “Thank you.”

  Krystal has done Bambi’s makeup and her eyes look huge. If she doesn’t walk out of this party with a date tonight, I’ll eat my purse.

  “I don’t care what Lance thinks,” I say to Krystal and look back at Bambi. “When he sees you, honey, he’s gonna have a boner all night long.”

  I’m not sure why this stuff is coming out of my mouth. For two days now, I’ve been obsessing about sex. Not that I have any practical knowledge on the subject. Two French kisses and a gropey hand under my shirt after the Home Coming Parade has given me very little idea about what it might be like. But I know I want it, and my body is hoping it happens soon so I can go to college and not have to worry that I’ll be the only virgin there.

  I grow hot and begin to squirm a little. See! My hormones are off the charts and I have the feeling that this has something to do with that Prank I saw at school. I haven’t been able to concentrate in class since because I’m always trying to catch sight of him out the window.

  “Drink up.” Krystal knocks her white wine back and I take a couple more sips. In truth, I have never really drunk anything before and the little I’ve had already is making me giddy.