Fracture Me (Shatter Me, #2.5)

by Tahereh Mafi

I like to keep most people out. Juliette’s the only real exception to that rule.

“Hi,” she says, so happy so suddenly you’d think James had hung the moon for her.

I’ll never love anyone the way I love this kid.

I wish I could reach for her; I wish I could wrap her up in my arms. I want to protect her—I want to be able to take care of her, but that seems impossible now.

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

Kenji says. “And I won’t be happy if I stay here. I’ve got work to do. People to save. Ladies to impress. He’d respect that.”

KENJI ✋🏼😭

A weak link can bring everything down with it, and I don’t think this is the time to be taking chances.

I might walk onto that battlefield with a beating heart and be dragged off with a dead one.

I’m one part furious and one part terrified, and the two are having a battle of their own in my mind.

Kenji grins. “Okay then. Let’s go get our girl back.” “My girl,” I correct him. “She’s my girl.”

“Right. Minus the part where she’s not actually your girl. Not anymore.” “Shut up.” “Uh-huh.” “Whatever.”

i love their bond

The tension is so thick it’s practically its own person, taking up a seat we don’t have to spare. I can barely think straight. I’m trying to breathe, trying to stay calm, and I can’t.

The planes are already overhead, and I feel sick in a way I don’t know how to explain. It’s deeper than my stomach. Bigger than my heart. More overwhelming than just my mind. It’s like fear has become me; it wears my body like an old suit.

We hear the bombs explode far off in the distance, and that’s when I feel it: the bones inside of me fracture, little earthquakes breaking me apart.

James must’ve been terrified. He must’ve been scared out of his mind and still, he snuck out of Omega Point because he wanted to help. Because he wanted to fight alongside us. I could kill him for it. But damn if he’s not one of the bravest people I’ve ever known.

Death and destruction. Slivers of hope.

“Good morning, sunshine.” Kenji blinks in our direction.

Kenji is definitely one of my new comfort characters

The elephant in the room has made an appearance, and now no one knows what to say.

I beam at her. So touched that she would speak for James.

The sun is high and the wind is bitingly cold and though the rain has stopped, the air smells like snow,

James gives my life purpose.

Kenji falls to his knees, shouting, “Hallelujah!”

no amount of words can describe how much i love Kenji

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.

I 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.

Kenji is saying, tears falling fast down his face.

and he gets sentimental! omg, he just keeps getting better and better