Can I Have That in Writing?

Riley: In my Arms

This was deja vu to the max. Only this time, I was the one frozen in place.

It all made sense now. Emily was like me. Well, maybe not exactly. It sounded like her rejection from a first female crush wasn't as amicable as mine was. And what was that about her father? My father would never lay a hand on me or my mother, and he would never insult us like Vera's dad. But feeling the anger that could sometimes radiate from him was enough to make me shrink in fear. Hopefully, that's all it was with Emily and her dad.

Even so... making Emily, of all people, that scared? Over something she couldn't control? Is that why she barely spoke at the start of school?

The man who had started out as "strict but well-intentioned" had been upgraded to "asshole" status in my mind.

I couldn't dwell on that anger for long, though. It wouldn't be any help to Emily right now. Right now, she was ashamed, afraid and alone. I wanted to go after her. She was in an unfamiliar neighborhood, after all. Then again, what if I made her worse? What if I was the last person she wanted to see?

"You should go after her."

Noah's trembling voice brought me out of my head and back into reality. He smiled warmly through his tears. "You want to. I can tell."

It was as if his words were a magic command. Without a second thought, I moved towards the door. I heard Seth's voice from behind.

"Make sure to grab her coat. It's supposed to be snowing."

I nodded and headed to the coat rack. I put on my own jacket, grabbed Emily's, and headed outside.

Snow had started to fall from the gray sky. Sprinkles of white already coated the ground. I looked around and caught her blonde hair out the corner of my eye.

Emily was shaking all over. I guessed that it wasn't solely because of the cold. Sure enough, I could hear her crying into her hands.

I felt a stabbing pain in my chest. Honestly, I'd rather have been stabbed than see her like this. But I pushed through the pain with each tentative step closer.

I kept my voice gentle and calm when I called her name. "Emily?"

Emily didn't turn around, just like last time. But unlike last time, I wasn't giving up. She meant so much more to me now.

I took two more steps forward before extending the hand that held her coat.

"You forgot your jacket," I said.

Great job, Riley. Friend of the year.

Emily steadied her breathing. Without turning, she reached behind her and grabbed her coat. I watched as she slid her arms through the sleeves. We were both silent for a few moments.

"Why?" she finally asked. "Why are you still being so nice?"

My eyes widened in disbelief. "You're my friend. Why wouldn't I be?"

I paused. "I'm sorry that girl and your dad reacted the way they did. But to me, you're still Emily. And... I'm here for you."

That, and I also like girls. In fact, I like you, but I'm too much of a coward to say it.

Emily finally turned around. The pain in my chest grew worse as I looked at her tear-stained face.

"But I... I'm not..."

A sob escaped her lips. As if it were a reflex, I closed the gap between us and wrapped my arms around her. I had never hugged her before, yet it didn't feel new. She fit perfectly in my arms.