The Fate Of The Marked

Chapter Twenty-Two

Jax made a frustrated noise in the back of his throat, though it was more like a growl.

"What do you want?" He snapped.

"Is Emma here?" I asked as calmly as I could, keeping my eye of the knife.

"I thought you weren't even friends." Jax sneered.

"It's none of your business, anyway. I thought you weren't friends with her, either."

If looks could kill, I would have dropped dead right on the doorstep. Instead, I crossed my arms and waited.

"Just so you know, we're not friends. Emma's my stepsister." He said. "Now, why do you want to talk to her?"

"She left her notebook in Mr. Perkins class. I came to give it back." I snapped. "Is she here or not?"

"I thought I told you to stay away from her." Jax said angrily.

"Since when do I have to listen to what you say?"

We glared at eachother. For a moment, I considered just leaving. After all, I would see her tomorrow morning. But a part of me knew that I couldnt. It would just show Jax that he could intimidate me, and I refused to let him think that. After another long while, he turned on his heel.

"EMMA!" He yelled. "Your boyfriends here!"

I felt my face turn blood red, but I didn't move. Jax walked away, into the hall and up the stairs. I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. Emma came down the stairs not long later, hair soaking wet and stuck to her face on places. As I expected, she glared at me.

"How do you even know where I live?" She asked, livid. "And why are you even here?"

As explanation, I pulled out her notebook and offered it to her. Her face paled and she snatched it away.

"You left it in Mr. Perkin's class." I siad. "I figured you'd want it back as soon as possible."

She crammed it into her pocket.

"You didn't read it, did you?" She asked, voice higher than normal.

I shook my head. She sighed after a minute.

"Thanks." She mumbled. "For bringing it back."

Something slammed upstairs. I jumped, but Emma didn't seem worried.

"Its just Jax. You get used to it." She said, rolling her eyes.

"I didnt know you were siblings." I said hesitantly.

"Step siblings." Emma said quickly. "We dont get along very well."

We both listened as Jax broke something glass.

"Im sorry about earlier, at school." I said. "Jax told me not to talk to you."

"I know. I heard." She said, a little more quietly. "I don't get why he hates me so much. It's not like I'm that terrible."

I didn't know what to say to that. Carefully, I asked her about the knife. She sighed again.

"He has that thing again? His dad told him not to mess with it a thousand time, but Jax keeps finding it wherever he hides it." Emma said. "Sorry if it scared you."

"It's fine." I said.

There was an awkward pause.

"I should get home." I said. "It's getting kind of late."

She nodded and opened the door for me.

"Do you want me to walk you?" She asked.

"No, it's only a street away. I'll be fine." I said. I really didn't want her to walk home alone in the dark. At least I had the ruins that might protect me. "See you tomorrow?"