Welcome to the family || Johnnie Guilbert story

You don't have to be okay - Chapter 11

Emily's P.O.V

The light of the moon filtered through the leaves of the trees, casting dappled shadows on the grass where Amelia and I sat. The world felt like it was moving in slow motion, as if time itself was enjoying this moment of escape. I leaned back against the coolness of the earth, the screams of a couple fighting in the distance morphing into some kind of distant melody.

"Emily, you gotta try this," Amelia said, a playful grin stretching across her face as she passed me a tiny plastic bag. It's not like I needed convincing. At that moment, anything felt better than being trapped in my head.

"Just one more hit before we head back?" I said, looking at the bag with a mix of eagerness and apprehension. The high was ethereal, but it wasn't long before I heard my phone buzzing in the pocket of my hoodie. With hesitant fingers, I pulled it out, squinting at the screen.

It was a message from Johnnie: "Jake's coming to pick you up. Be ready."

"Fuck," I whispered, feeling the high twist and crash against the reality of the message. I looked at Amelia, my heart racing. "I have to go. Jake's coming to get me."

Amelia's smile faded into a frown, her brow furrowed with concern. "You sure you want to?"

"I don't have a choice," I replied, stuffing the bag into my pocket. "It's just a ride home."

As I got to my feet, the ground felt unusually wobbly, almost like it wanted to toss me back down. I took a deep breath, trying to push away the growing unease in my gut. Jake was almost a stranger, Sure i had seen him online and met him one time, but he was the kind of person whom I barely knew.

When Jake pulled up, I recognized his car before I even saw him. I took a quick moment to compose myself before stepping inside.

"Hey," he said casually, glancing at me as I plopped into the passenger seat. I was almost overwhelmed by the scent of old pizza mixed with cheap air freshener. "You good?"

"Yeah, just been hanging out," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. I felt my heart race.

We lingered in an awkward silence, the kind of silence that stretches until it feels painful. I could feel him stealing glances at me, probably sizing me up, noticing how I fidgeted with my fingers and avoided looking directly at him.

"You know your gonna get in trouble, right?" he finally asked, his tone light but laced with genuine concern.

I swallowed hard. "What do you mean?"

"You smell... kinda funky," he said, attempting a laugh, but it came off forced. "Just lookin' out for ya. I heard some things about what happened... you know, in the hospital."

My heart sank. "Great, just great. News travels fast," I mumbled, wishing I could sink through the seat and disappear. The quiet resumed, wrapped in the tension of my thoughts and his curiosity.

"So, how are you doing?" Jake probed softly, his voice warm.

"I'm doing... I don't know," I said, staring out the window, watching trees blur past. "I guess I'm trying to find some normal again."

"Normal's overrated," he chuckled, but I could sense he was being serious underneath it all. "You don't have to be okay, you know?"

I turned to him, surprised by his honesty. "What do you suggest? Just hide and wait for good feelings to come back?"

"I think just... be real about what you're feeling. Talk to Johnnie, talk to your therapist again, just don't bottle it up. You could reach out to me too, if you ever need a non-judgmental ear."

I hesitated, feeling the bubble of vulnerability rising in my throat. Did I want to lean on someone else? "Thanks, but it's not that easy. I don't want to burden anyone."

"Believe me, talking helps," he urged gently. "And you're not a burden. People care, even if it feels like they don't."

I looked out the window again, letting the words settle in what felt like the chaos of my brain. It was puzzling hearing such kindness, especially from someone I hardly knew. I longed to say something back, something real and honest, but the raw emotions twisted tightly in my chest blocked me.

Before I knew it, we were pulling up to the house. I felt a wave of relief wash over me, afloat like a leaf on water, but there was also this lingering thought that gnawed at the edge of my mind.

"Thanks for the ride, Jake," I finally said as I hopped out of the car.

"Anytime. Just... you're not alone, okay?" he replied, dropping his gaze for a quick moment while locking the car door.

As I walked towards the door, I felt anxiety inside of me, nervous about facing Johnnie.

.