Behind the Screen

Chapter 35

"What? I mean yeah I can, but is everything okay?" Emily asked.

"Chloe was just here," I said with a shaky voice.

"Oh, shit okay, yeah I'm coming," she said.

I heard her hang up on the other end and I let my phone fall to the floor next to me. I sat there hugging my knees and trying to calm down, but I wasn't having much luck.

I had let myself get in way too deep, and I was clearly regretting it.

There was a knock at my door a few minutes later, and I hoped to God that it was Emily and not Chloe again.

"Katie? It's me," Emily said from the other side of the door.

I let out a sigh of relief  and leaned my head back against the wall.

"Yeah, come in, it's open," I said.

She opened the door and looked around the kitchen before she realized that I was sitting on the floor.

"Oh, there you are," she said quietly.

She didn't question why I was sitting there, she just sat down next to me.

"Do you want to tell me what happened, or do you want me to shut up?" Emily asked with a grin.

I forced as much of a smile as I could in return, but I wasn't sure what I wanted to say.

"I guess - there's not that much to tell honestly," I mumbled, "I called her out on it at work and she didn't deny anything, then she came over here and basically tried to say it wasn't what it looked like and she's been trying to break up with him."

"How the hell is it not what it looks like?" Emily asked.

"I don't know Em," I said as I put my head down against my knees, "I didn't want to hear her explanation."

"That's fair, I don't blame you," she said as she put her hand on my back.

"I'm just - I'm mad at myself for getting this invested when it had only been a few months," I said.

"Don't be too hard on yourself," Emily responded, "from what you've said she was acting like she felt the same way."

"Yeah...acting," I scoffed.

"Maybe I shouldn't have dismissed Spencer so quickly when he tried to give things another chance," I continued.

"Hey, you know I love Spencer," Emily said, "but give yourself some time to think about that, there was a reason you broke up with him."

"Well I - I don't know, I think Chloe clouded my judgment on that one," I said.

"She might have, but I wouldn't jump to that conclusion right away, but that's just me," Emily responded.

"No, you're probably right," I sighed, "I just don't get why she kept stringing me along like this."

"Well maybe she's telling the truth about trying to break up with him," Emily said.

I narrowed my eyes as I looked over at her.

"Okay hold on," she quickly said, "I didn't say that made any of this okay, I'm just saying that could be why she was still with you."

"Well if that's the case, she should've tried harder," I said.

"She probably thought she could keep both of you until she got the guts to break up with him," Emily shrugged, "what a nice plan that was, huh?"

"No kidding," I mumbled.

"Okay," Emily said as she stood up, "come on, I'm going to go grab us something to eat."

She held her hands out and I reluctantly took a hold of them as she helped me up.

"Pizza okay?" She asked.

"Yeah, I don't care," I said.

"Okay, I'll be right back," Emily said as she walked back out the front door.

I went into my room and changed out of my work clothes while I waited for Emily to come back with dinner. I wasn't really sure that I felt like eating, but I knew I probably should.

A few minutes before she got back, I was sitting in the kitchen when I heard my phone go off. I looked around before remembering that I had left it sitting on the floor. I went over and grabbed it and saw Chloe's name on the message that popped up.

My heart sank as I started to read it. Could she not just leave me alone so I had some time to think about all of this?

"I really still want to talk whenever you're ready," she sent.

I rolled my eyes as I set my phone down on the counter just as Emily got back.

"You look like you're mad at your phone..." she said hesitantly as she set the box of pizza down.

"Chloe, she just texted me," I said.

"Damn, she really is persistent," Emily said as she grabbed us a couple of plates.

"Seriously," I agreed, "she still said she wants to talk whenever I'm ready."

Emily shook her head, but she didn't say anything.

"That's not going to be any time soon," I continued, "or maybe ever."

"Understandable," Emily said, "she definitely doesn't deserve your time unless you want to give it to her."

"Yeah, we'll see about that," I mumbled.

Emily stayed for a while longer as we ate dinner and she made sure I was okay. She really was a life saver.

When she got ready to leave, I felt like I was ready to pass out. I wanted to forget everything that had happened the last couple of days.

"Call me if you need me, okay?" Emily said as she gave me a hug.

"Yeah, I will," I said, "thanks again Em."

"That's what I'm here for," she grinned as she walked out the front door, "see you later."

I waved to her before going back inside my house and walking straight to my bedroom.

I laid face down on my bed, and I wasn't sure how long I ended up staying there. All I wanted to do was forget that any of this had happened. It made everything much more complicated.

And of course the girl had to be my damn boss. A new job and getting the hell out was sounding pretty great right about now.

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