Thick, angry tears rolled down Emma’s face. No matter what happened to her, something always managed to tear her down, to remind her how horrible her life was. “Why is everyone being so horrible?” she thought of Will leaving cash, and treating her like a sex worker. She hated herself for ever thinking she could mean something else to him. And Vivian, coming to attack her like that? All she wanted was to never see her again, but Vivian wouldn’t leave her alone. Emma wanted to throw herself in her bed and have a good cry. Her plan was to come to her room, pack a few things and go to the hospital to be with her father, but now she didn’t have enough time. Vivian was always around, getting in her way. Emma cleaned herself off, and went back downstairs. She’s hoped the driver would be gone, but much to her dismay he was still there. “Don’t you ever go home?” she asked, but then blushed as that was harsher than she intended. “I’m so sorry. That was mean.” “It
“She wouldn’t do that!” Will yelled. “She wouldn’t do that to me!” “I hate to be the one to tell you,” Bryan lamented.“Then you should have kept your mouth shut,” Derek added.“When did it happen?” Will asked, venom oozing from his every pore. His friends didn’t answer. They looked around at each other, wishing that they were anywhere else. “When?” Will shouted. “Last night!” Alex shouted back. “I happened last night, man. I’m sorry.” Will sank back into his seat, his head falling into his hands. Emma was almost afraid to breathe. What was happening here? “Why did you even say anything?” Alex reprimanded Bryan. “Because he’s got a right to know!” “Yeah, but you couldn’t wait until tomorrow?” The three friends stared at Will. He was breaking down in front of them. “How did you know?” he asked. “There was a party last night,” Bryan said. “Dude, shut up,” Derek muttered under his breath, but Bryan didn’t listen. “He proposed and
Emma regretted the words as soon as the words fell from her mouth. Her hands flew to her mouth, and tears of shame stung her eyes. Will stared at her with cold indignation. She’d hurt him, exactly as she wanted to. Who had she become? She had finally had the courage to stand up for herself and expressed her true emotions. But she had to hurt someone to do it. Before she could apologize, Will left without a word. “What have I done?” she cried, as she sank to her knees. Violent sobs quaked through her body. What would become of her now? She angered the man who held her life in his hands. He paid her father’s medical bills, and provided private round the clock care. She owed him $300,000, and was under a contractual obligation with him. After a few minutes of trying to catch her breath, Emma got her crying under control. “I have to get out of here,” she said to herself. She pulled out her regular phone and called Sabrina. “Hi, Emma!” Sabrina’s chipper v
“Wake up, sleepyhead,” Sabrina sang. Emma groaned as she opened her eyes and was assaulted by sunlight. Pain throbbed behind her eyes, and each movement brought on a new wave of nausea. “Ugh, I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus,” Emma remarked. “You look like it,” Sabrina teased. “Here, I’ve got you a nice greasy breakfast, a tall glass of water, and some Tylenol.” “You’re an angel,” Emma said. She began by guzzling down the water and attacked her breakfast. Sabrina laughed. “Hungry?” “Starving,” Emma replied through mouthfuls of food. After she ate her food, and tossing back the medicine, she began to feel more like herself. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome,” Sabrina smiled. After a few moments, her demeanor changed and she stiffened up a bit. She looked at Emma with concerned eyes. “So last night was wild, huh?” “I…” Emma didn’t know what to say. She had lied to both Sabrina and Jess so much. *And for what?* She scolded herself. *None of it was worth i
Emma spent the next day moving her things from her old room into her father’s room. She was going to sleep in there now in case her father needed her at night. The room was large enough for her old twin bed, but Jane would allow her to move it.“This is my room now!” she screeched. “I will not share a room with that useless man!”Emma was given an old sleeping bag as a bed. Going through her old things was hard. Among her things were many mementos of her childhood. Photos of her mother, of the three of them together, and some of her mother’s jewelry and clothes, her old toys and baby clothes, and some of her father’s old things from before he let the alcohol take him. Her mother was beautiful. Emma wished she looked more like her. Skye Wells had long, thick and luxurious, shiny black hair. Her golden skin glowed in the sunlight, and her hazel eyes were bright with love. Pieces of a life, long gone and forgotten, were scattered around her. Emma sobbed for a long time, with the re
The world had frozen around her. Everything around her faded away, and the only thing she could see was Vivian’s hands rubbing all over Will. And she had no idea why it affected her so much. She wanted nothing to do with Will, and even less to do with Vivian. And yet a vile mixture of anger, hatred and jealously swirled around within her. Emma’s heart slammed against her ribs, and it felt like there wasn’t enough air in the club. “I need to leave,” Emma said, turning around to get out. All she could think of was how she needed to escape for her own sanity. Nothing good would come of any conversation with those two. “Emma!” Vivian called in feigned enthusiasm. “Why on Earth are you leaving? Come over and bring your friends and join us for a drink!” “Counterfeit bitch,” Sabrina muttered. “Don’t run from her. It’s what she wants.” Sabrina was right, and Emma had promised her father that she wouldn’t let anyone bully her anymore. She plastered on a fake smile, and tur
Emma was under his spell again. The familiar scent of his cologne enveloped her. It was dark, musky sort of floral scent. Like a meadow under a full moon. The hard lines of his body were pressed against hers and she could feel every inch of him. No one else existed around them. He could have made love her to right there in the club if he wanted. She wouldn’t have stopped him. She hated him, and the effect he had on her. But there was denying the way her body responded to his. “Just admit how much you want me,” Will whispered to her so that no one else could hear. The moment probably lasted no more than a minute, but it felt like an eternity. “It’ll make all of this so much easier.” Sabrina yanked Emma away from Will, and stepped between them. “I don’t know how you two know each other, and frankly I do not care. You will not bully my best friend in this manner. Keep it up, and you’ll have to answer to me,” Sabrina seethed. “She’s got a good right hook,” Alex comment
Of course, he would defend her. Why was she even surprised at that point? It was the last thing Emma wanted to see. It was all so confusing. Why was this affecting her so much? Isn’t this what she wanted? She was the one who gave Vivian the blessing to chase after Will. It was idea. Vivian would never have known how to even find Will. Emma essentially handed him over. So why was she so mad about it? Sabrina was fuming, and tossed back a drink. She poured another two for Vivian. “Drink up, bitch. Cheers,” she drank another. Alex touched fer face, and gave her a gentle kiss. “Slow down, babe. I don’t want you to overdo it and regret this in the morning.” He smiled at her, and Sabrina melted into his touch. This was very different from the flirty Alex she met. But she was happy for her friend. “You’ll take care of me either way,” Sabrina slurred. “You know I will,” Alex smiled, and leaned in to kiss her. Will leaned into Vivian, and offered her a drink. The