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CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: ALIVE
"Dude, where the hell did she go?" JJ thought out loud, pacing around the porch. It's been twelve hours since Emma left the Chatéau and hasn't returned. It was six in the morning now as Kiara, JJ, and Pope waited for her. Just an hour before their first day of school.
Emma wasn't answering her phone and they had no idea what happened. They knew she went to see Rafe, of course she did, but they just didn't know what happened. They tried sneaking into Tannyhill earlier and looking from behind the fence, but JJ's motorcycle wasn't there.
They should've looked harder, though. Emma had parked the bike at the dock, they just didn't see it because they didn't think she'd go to the Druthers of all places.
"I'm scared Rafe did something to her." Kiara muttered, her hands in her hair. Her voice held a lot of guilt because this was technically her and Pope's fault. "I shouldn't have brought it up."
JJ wasn't focusing on what Kiara was saying, his mind fixated on where Emma went. He took his cap off and ran a hand through his hair. "She should've been back by now," he leaned forward as he placed his elbows on his knees, his cap in both hands.
Pope bit his lip nervously. "I don't know, guys. This whole thing with Rafe... it's seriously messed up. Emma shouldn't have gone alone."
"Yeah, well, she's stubborn like that," the blonde said bitterly, thinking back to the look she had in her eyes when she took his bike, keys, and left. "But this is different. She's not answering any calls or—"
The sound of a motorcycle engine interrupted JJ as everyone looked up. They saw Emma get off the bike and their faces instantly brightened up, all of them relieved. They walked down the porch steps and approached her as she let out a sigh.
"Oh, thank God," Kiara smiled, instantly hugging the girl. "I'm so sorry, Emma. I said some mean stuff and I was just mad and I took it out on you and—"
Emma was a little bit taken aback by the hug, snapping back to reality. "It's okay," she told her as she hugged her back.
"I'm sorry, too," Pope added and once Kiara let go, he hugged her as well. "We all told you at a wrong time. It was dumb."
"No, it's fine, all right? I'm not mad at you guys..." She trailed off for a moment. "Actually, I am a little. You should've told me earlier."
Pope let go and kept a distance as he stared at her. "Well, what'd you do anyway?"
"Yeah, are you okay? Are you injured?" JJ stepped in, examining his best friend closely. He put his hands on her shoulders and studied her, internally praying that she was okay, and thankfully, she physically looked unharmed. Once he was sure she was fine, he wrapped his arms around her into a tight hug, practically squeezing the air out of her. She wrapped her arms around him too, melting into the embrace. She felt so comfortable like this. So much better.
