Fracture Me (Shatter Me, #2.5)

by Tahereh Mafi

That’s when I understand.

no you dont stop assuming know-it-all

Sometimes I think this whole movement is led by a bunch of idiots.

like you could do any better

I’m glad Kenji’s not dead, but sometimes all I really want to do is kick his ass.

oh because he forgot one thing about your precious life, real mature

God, she’s so obsessed with him. She has some weird fascination with his twisted life that I don’t understand, and it makes me crazy. I can already feel myself getting angry, annoyed—jealous, even—which is ridiculous. Warner isn’t even human; I shouldn’t be comparing myself to him. Besides, she’s not his type at all. He’d probably eat her alive.

Kenji grins. “Okay then. Let’s go get our girl back.” “My girl,” I correct him. “She’s my girl.” Kenji snorts as we head in the direction of the compounds. “Right. Minus the part where she’s not actually your girl. Not anymore.”

It’s like fear has become me; it wears my body like an old suit. Fear is all I have left now.

“What do you mean? We have to get her out of there. Which means we have to break her out of there, which means we’ve got to plan another rescue mission.” He shoots me a look. “I thought that was obvious.” I clear my throat. “But what about James? And Brendan and Winston? And Castle? We’re not doing too well over here. Is it okay to just leave them here and—” “Dude, what the hell are you talking about? Aren’t you in love with this girl? Where’s the fire under your ass? I thought you would be dying to get to her right now—”

But I know I have a responsibility to Juliette. What would she do if I weren’t there to help her? She needs me.

no she doesnt you narcissistic freak

love Juliette. I really do. I want to help her and support her and be there for her. I want us to have a future together. But sometimes I wonder if it’s ever going to happen. This isn’t easy to admit, but part of me doesn’t want to put James at risk again—on the run again—for a girl who broke up with me. A girl who walked away from us. I don’t know what the right thing is anymore. I don’t know if my allegiance is to James or Juliette.

Finally, after a long moment of silence, he speaks. Three words. “Juliette is dead.” Chaos.

I trip backward until I hit the wall, leaning against it for support. I know who to blame. I know where the fault lies. Juliette is dead because of me.