Shatter-Me-PDF-Shatter-Me-Series-Shatter-Me-Shatter-Me-1-Tahereh-Mafi (1)

I wonder if Adam has a plan.
James’ door squeaks open. The two brothers step out, the
younger before the older. James looks a little pink and he
can hardly meet my eyes. He looks embarrassed and I
wonder if Adam punished him.
My heart fails for a moment.
Adam claps James on the shoulder. Squeezes. “You okay?”
“I know what a girlfriend is—”
“I never said you didn’t—”
“So you’re his girlfriend?” James crosses his arms, looks at
me.
There are 400 cotton balls caught in my windpipe. I look at
Adam because I don’t know what else to do.
“Hey, maybe you should be getting ready for school, huh?”
Adam opens the refrigerator and hands James a new foil
package. I assume it’s his breakfast.
“I don’t have to go,” James protests. “It’s not like a real
school, no one has to—”
“I want you to,” Adam cuts him off. He turns back to his
brother with a small smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll be here when
you get back.”
James hesitates. “You promise?”
“Yeah.” Another grin. Nods him over. “Come here.”
James runs forward and clings to Adam like he’s afraid he’ll
disappear. Adam pops the foil food into the Automat and
presses a button. He musses James’ hair. “You need to get a
haircut, kid.”
James wrinkles his nose. “I like it.”
“It’s a little long, don’t you think?”
James lowers his voice. “I think her hair is really long.”
James and Adam glance back at me and I melt into pink
Play-Doh. I touch my hair without intending to, suddenly
self-conscious. I look down. I’ve never had a reason to cut
my hair. I’ve never even had the tools. No one offers me
sharp objects.