The Next Chapter

Chapter 40

Emery's POV 

We all grab our bags and wave goodbye to Andrea's dad, Robert. When we can't see him any more we walk to our group. Some people are already there waiting with their bags.

"Where's Mr. McPelt?" Ally asks.

"I have no idea." I look around. "He said that he'd be here earlier so he should be here now."

After about 20 minutes (yes, 20 minutes) he runs up to our group.

"I'm sorry for being late. I couldn't find my car keys." He laughs. "Alright then. Will the following enter the bus..." He goes on to call a bunch of names and they board the bus. "Andrea and Ally you have seats 18 and 19. Emery and Jake, you have seats 20 and 21." I'm starting to think that God isn't very into me right now.

Andrea and Ally board the bus and take their seats. Jake gestures for me to board before him and I give him a small smile as a thank you.

"Do you mind if I take the seat by the window?" I turn around and ask him. He shakes his head. I take that as a no. I take my seat by the window and take my jacket off. It's pretty hot in here.

Either it's because it's a bus full of students or it's because of Jake sitting next to me. He still has too much power over me.

After a while, Mr. McPelt gets on the bus. "Now that everyone is here, I'd like to remind you of all the rules." He goes on to say that no boys are allowed in the girl rooms and the other way around. That no alcoholic beverages are allowed and so on. When he's done he takes his seat and we start driving. 

I can see how rigid Jake is. He's almost not moving at all and just staring straight ahead. This isn't going to be awkward at all...

Jake's POV

Fuck, this gym stinks. 

"As you know, the school always arrange something fun for the seniors to do before they graduate. Something to remember your classmates by. This year the school has decided to go into the city and do escape rooms!" Mr. Smith says and everyone starts going crazy. What's so great about escape rooms? They're just a test on how stupid you are. 

"Still talking!" He says. "They didn't have as many rooms as we had hoped for so we had to divide you up into two large groups and split it between two days. One group will do their escape room the first day and the other group will do theirs the next day. Now-" He quiets down and scans the room. "I don't want ANY complaints about this next part. You are already split into groups of two and there will be NO changing." Great. I swear to fucking God if I get paired up with Peter. 

A couple of names later and mine still hasn't come up. Neither has hers... 

We wouldn't get paired together, would we? Everyone in here knows about our... History. 

"In escape room 18 we have Emery Scott and Jake Evans." 

My heart skips a beat. Literally fucking skips a beat. I should not be smiling this much. But why does it feel like I just won the lottery?

"We do have one more surprise." Mr. Smith says. "Since we'll be going into the city we decided that we could stay there a while. We have also booked, besides the escape rooms, hotel rooms for you all." Everyone goes crazy again. I'm just trying to calm down, I'm still riled up from the last names he called.

"You will stay three in each room. No boys in the girl rooms and no girls in the boy rooms! You will live opposite to the person that you're doing the escape room with. You can spend time with them too but in common areas like cafes or in the hotel lounge. NOT in each other's rooms." He has no fucking idea what I'd do to her if we were still dating. I'd devour her.

 "Today is Monday and two weeks till graduation. We'll be leaving for the city on Friday, one group will do the escape rooms on Saturday and the other group will do the escape rooms on Sunday. If you're in the group that isn't going to do the escape room, feel free to explore the city. Go shopping or sightseeing or what you want to do. Just be back in the hotel by curfew." Curfew? Fuck, this school is boring.

He speaks some more and by the time he's done, I feel like I could just go to bed. We go back to our classrooms and finish our lesson there. I watch as Emery walks in but she doesn't notice me. I've been looking at her every day since she told me to give her space and time. 

Anything but fucking space and time, it's killing me. I miss- No, I need her touch. Her kisses. Her hugs. Her comments on everything. I need her back.

And I'm going to get her back.

* * *

I can see her. She's standing over by the bus with Andrea and the other one. Didn't know they'd become such close friends. It's because of me probably. 

I keep my distance from her like she asked, even though it's tearing me apart. Every single bone in me aches for her. 

Before I can begin to think further Mr. McPelt comes running towards us. "I'm sorry for being late. I couldn't find my car keys." He laughs. "Alright then. Will the following enter the bus..." The students he calls board the bus. "Andrea and Ally you have seats 18 and 19. Emery and Jake, you have seats 20 and 21." Sit next to her? And give her space and time? This is going to be a challenge... 

I let her go on the bus first and she gives me a small smile in return. Fuck, I've missed her smile. "Do you mind if I take the seat by the window?" She turns to me and I shake my head. I don't want to say anything to scare her off. 

When everyone's on the bus Mr. McPelt gets on too. "Now that everyone is here, I'd like to remind you of all the rules." He says everything Mr. Smith said in the gym earlier in the week but I don't give a fuck. She's next to me. Our arms are almost touching. Fuck I need her.

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Well! Long time since I did a Jake POV, hahah.

Thoughts?