The Next Chapter

Chapter 36

Get ready for a hectic chapter. He he he he he he. He.

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Emery's POV

I don't think I've ever yelled so much at someone as I have at Jake. He just brings out this- This rage. I get so angry but I still want him near. MY MIND CAN'T DECIDE. And this isn't making things easier either.

"So? You wanted to say something?" I ask, crossing my arms. It's still heavily raining outside. 

"Promise me that you'll let me speak without interrupting me."

"Jake, I can't-"

"Promise." 

"Fine. Talk."

"Thank you." He says and takes a big breath. "Like I said before I was hanging out with a couple of friends, one of them being Peter, before school that day. We were just sitting in the living room and talking when Peter got some drinks. He said that they didn't have any alcohol in them so I took a sip, clearly noticing the alcohol and I stopped drinking. But after a few minutes, they started talking about girls, to be more specific they started talking about you." He clenches his jaw as he says this. "They asked me questions about sex and how you were in bed and I lost it. While they were laughing I was drinking-"

"You didn't have to drink, you could've left-"

"You promised." He stares at me.

"Fine..."

"Anyways, I drank way more than I thought because the next thing I remember is being at school and you were gone. I don't even remember talking to them about us in some bathroom."

I just stay quiet. 

"Emery, say something."

"Are you done?" I ask.

"Yes."

"1. These 'friends' of yours. Why are you even friends with them and what were you doing at their house before school? 2. If you knew there was alcohol in the drink why did you keep drinking? 3. When they brought me up in their conversation why didn't you just tell them to stop and to talk about something else? 4. Why did you keep drinking way more than you should? 5. Why didn't you leave? 6. If you did remember things after everything happened why didn't you tell them that they were wrong? 7. Have you even told them that it didn't happen? 8. You had so many opportunities to just get up and leave, yet you stayed. Why?" I count the points I take up on my hand while saying them. 

"All of these- What, 8 points? They just prove that you could've done something but you didn't. You just let it be."

"No, I didn't! I-"

"Yes, you did and don't try to tell me otherwise!" I'm full-on pissed again. 

I start walking in the direction back to the building when Jake suddenly screams out, "Emery stop!" I keep walking.  "For fucks sake Emery! Can't you see that I love you!?" That stops me right in my tracks. Rain pouring over me but I couldn't care less.

"You love me?" I turn around and shout. "You love me?! You don't even know me!" He walks to me, grabbing my arm and standing face to face with me.

"Yes, I fucking love you! Your favorite color is blue, your favorite movies are Titanic and Star Wars, you love to wear hoodies, you love Freddie Mercury, scary movies don't scare you but the dark does! You love it when we're laying down and I'm playing with your hair." He calms down and grabs my face. 

I thank the gods for the rain because if it didn't rain he'd see my tears.

"I know you more than you know. And I love you more than you know too. Can't you see that I'm head over heels for you? Just let me love you. Please Emery." He touches his forehead to mine.

"No. I'm not... I can't forgive you for this." I say, taking his hands away from my face and distancing myself from him.

"Emery don't do this. My life's been a living hell without you. I can't go through that again." Is he- Is he crying?

"I'm sorry, but I can't..."

"Emery please, I'll do anything."

...

"Time." I say quietly.

"What?"

"Give me time. And space. I have to think."

"No. Anything but time and space. I-"

"Time and space. That's what I need Jake. That's what I need from you." And with that, I leave. 

I walk right into the school, drenched in rain and of course, the whole school is here and looking at me. 

"Why don't you take a picture? It'll last you longer." I say and walk back to my classroom. I tell Mrs. Williams that I'm not feeling so good and she gives me my homework and lets me go home. I quickly tell Andrea that I'll text her when I'm better and then I walk out again. 

Jake is still standing where I left him. I just walk straight past, and he lets me.

* * *

It's been three weeks now.

Three. Weeks.

Unbelievable.

Jake has kept his distance and is giving me time and space just like we said. I do catch him looking at me from time to time but no messages, calls, letters, anything. He completely stopped. 

It also took a while for Ally to get used to Andrea but the three of us are actually pretty good friends now. Ally and Andrea are planning for college and I keep putting off telling mom and dad about not going. I have no idea how they're going to react. They'll be happy right? Why wouldn't they?

As I'm thinking about this I gather the courage and walk downstairs. I find mom in the living room watching some movie. 

"Hey, ehm... Where's dad?" I ask.

"He's in the bathroom, why?" 

"I just- Want to talk to you guys." I say, trying my best to give her a smile.

"Anything serious?"

"That's kind of up to you to decide." I whisper to myself.

"What?"

"Nothing." I smile nervously. Dad walks in as on cue and sits down.

He looks at me and mom. "What's going on?"

"Emery wanted to talk to us." 

"Wait." Dad says and puts his arm around mom. "Okay, go."

"Well, as you know I'm going to be graduating pretty soon-"

"Yeey!" Mom says and starts clapping.

"Yeah, hehehe. Yeey... Thing is. I'm not really sure about this whole college thing."

"What do you mean?" Dad asks. "We can help you if you're in between two colleges. We'll look both up and see which suits you the best." He smiles.

"No. Ehm... The thing is-" I nervously laugh. "I don't think I want to go."

There's a pause. 

"At all right now."

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Thoughts? Hahaha.

There will be a time jump soon...