i wanna be yours | clara x emily

twenty

congratulations to making it to the end of the book!🥳

quick salem life update: i've been super busy with all of my classes that i haven't been able to do much of anything outside of them. my two advanced courses are kicking my behind. that being said, i will NOT be uploading my newest books until i have a chance to breathe. you guys deserve the best and more, but i promise not to leave you hanging for too long😌

big sister reminder: stop and smell the roses. enjoy life while you've got it. 2023 should be the year of self-improvement. end of rant before i get all mushy and feelings are gross

again, no trigger warnings will be at the beginning because they contain spoilers. if you're hesitant to read, please feel free to message me☺️

20/20 chapters of not proofreading ✨

word count: 6211

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Clara: "When I discover who I am, I'll be free." Ralph Ellison.

The chilling December air haunted Emily like a ghost. She laid on the couch in her lounge clothes, not wanting to get up and do anything. She had been crying for a few days straight that it felt like her head was chronically throbbing with a headache.

The team had heard about what happened through Derek. They decided to hold off on the cheerful holiday celebrations in order to spare Emily with optimism. JJ, Penelope, and Tara all went to visit at some point, but they were met with a closed door and a quiet, "Go away, please. I don't need to hear how I was wrong, I already know."

Now, on the fourth day of disparities, the team all started to take turns on who showed up to Emily's door and tried to get her to come out. JJ initially went first due to guilt and got no answer. Penelope showed up with a basket of various charcoodery items and left with them all in her hands. Tara went and was met with the same silence. Spencer and Rossi both went together, which resulted in Emily slamming her bathroom door so loud it rattled the front door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"My God, go away!" Emily shouted as she pulled the blanket over her head. "Can't I wallow in my own misery in peace?"

"I can't leave you like this," a voice shouted from the other side of the door. Emily furrowed her eyebrows as she didn't recognize the voice at first. "Emily, just open the door. We all want to know what's going on."

Luke huffed as he leaned against the frame of the door. He looked around the empty hallway, and for a split second, he thought about how he can sleep here tonight. Luke knew it would be strange, but he wanted to check in on Emily.

"I brought Thai food! We don't have to talk about what happened. We can sit in silence for all I care. I just want to make sure you're okay," Luke said and pursed his lips. He leaned in and tried to listen to any signs of movement coming from the apartment. He didn't hear anything which caused him to drop his shoulders. "It's going to suck when this food gets cold! There are certain things you can't heat back up and make them taste good."

Luke waited for anything to happen. A door slam, the TV volume raising, Emily's defeated voice telling him to go away, he waited for it. Luke sighed softly as he turned, placing the bag of food on the floor. His hands reached up and slipped off his jacket before tossing it to the ground.

Just then, the door to Emily's apartment swung open. Luke looked over stunned to see Emily there in tears. It looked like she hadn't slept good in a few days. Her hair was in a messy bun, her body was wrapped in a large blanket, and her eyes had both dried and wet tears in them.

"Hey," Luke said and stuffed his hands into his pockets. Emily let out a shaky breath as she tried to hold back her tears.

"Did you bring Thai spring rolls with that chili sauce?" Emily asked quietly. Luke nodded his head as he grabbed the bag and his jacket once again. Emily didn't say anything else as she stepped aside and gestured for him to come in.