Emberly Emerson world is turned around when she learns her best friend is coming to Beverly. While she is excited about the arrival of her friend being there, others not so much. With these new changes, comes new problems and Emberly has to go throu...
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THE CAFE BUZZED WITH THE sound of clinking dishes and muffled conversations, a welcome reminder of normalcy. Emberly sat with Olivia across from Spencer and Asher, the four of them squeezed into their usual booth near the window. It was the first time Emberly had gone out since leaving rehab, and though she'd been nervous about stepping back into the world, she found herself surprisingly at ease. The smell of coffee and fried food, the comforting chatter of friends, and the hum of life outside the window—it all felt like a warm embrace she hadn't realized she needed.
"This is nice. I haven't been out in public since I left rehab," Emberly admitted, looking around the café with a small smile.
"It's good to have you back," Olivia said, her tone genuine.
Emberly smiled in return, picking at the fries on her plate. Stepping back into the world felt a little like walking on a tightrope, but so far, it seemed like her footing was steady. "I thought it would be harder, you know? Getting back to normal. But... it's not so bad."
"Like you've been living in a bubble?" Olivia asked, tilting her head thoughtfully.
Emberly frowned, caught off guard by the comment. "A bubble?" She glanced at Spencer and Asher, silently asking if they understood what Olivia meant. Both guys shrugged, equally clueless.
"From the podcast," Olivia clarified.
"Oh," Emberly said, realizing she hadn't even had the chance to catch up on Olivia's show, Liv the Truth.
"I wanted to listen to it together," Asher chimed in, nudging Olivia playfully.
Spencer leaned back in the booth, grinning. "It's on my list. My Wi-Fi's down," he lied with a smirk.
Olivia rolled her eyes. "You know what? Whatever." She crossed her arms in mock indignation as the group laughed at her. Then she leaned forward, her expression turning mischievous. "Okay, so let me catch you up on what's happened since you've been gone."
Emberly wiped her hands on a napkin, raising an eyebrow. "Alright, lay it on me."
"Let's see... JJ took Layla's spot and is now president."
Emberly froze mid-bite, staring at Olivia in mock horror. "Oh no. Stop. That's enough. I don't want to live in this scary new world. Maybe I should just check myself back in."
The group burst into laughter. "No way. Don't you dare. We have a cotillion to be at tonight," Olivia reminded her.
Emberly groaned. "I cannot believe you're excited about some fancy ball."
Olivia snorted. "Who said I was excited? If I have to try on one more pair of frilly white gloves, I'll cut my hands off in protest."
"You'd still need gloves for the stumps, though, right?" Spencer teased.
