The Boy Next Door

Chapter 17: The World is Your Oyster

Author's Note:
Thank you for reading this chapter and make sure to vote and comment! Listen to the song up top and I hope you like it..and until next time...

~The Late Night Book Addiction

Ashton's POV:
Beep..beep..beep!
     I immediately jolt awake at the sound of my phone going off with an incoming call. "Hello?" I answer.
     "Hey..um it's Noah. I..uh." I hear Emilia hitting him in background and then I hear Noah say,                         
"Ow, okay I'll invite him, hand me the phone, babe,"
      "Hey, anyways we were wondering if you wanted to go with us and some of our friends to the beach today, a bonfire type thing," he says.
     I don't know if I should accept the offer, Noah is obviously being forced to invite me by Emilia.
     "Um..sure. What time?" I ask wearily.
      I hear Emilia grab the phone away from him again.
     "About 3.. see you then!" She says cheerily.
     "Bye Emmy," I say smiling, maybe we can all be friends.
     After we hang up I hop in the shower and head out the door. Maybe some coffee and food will cheer me up. Lately I've just been in a stump, really sad and shit and it's just not me.
     I pull into the coffee shop parking lot and go inside. It's a pretty cool place, with tan walls, booths, and a coffee bar. I quickly place my order and stand while I'm waiting.
     The coffee shop is pretty empty, except for Matt and his stepbrother who are sitting in the back. I can't remember the stepbrother's name, but he's a tough dude and I know not to mess with him.
      They seem to be in some sort of argument, so I listen in since I'm just waiting. They're talking in hushed tones and I can barely make out what they're saying.
     "Jace, you can't just go around blackmailing me, it's not right. Also Emilia will find out it was you, she's not stupid," Matt says.
     "I know she's not but I'm not ready, she doesn't remember our childhood, she doesn't remember me," he says with sadness in his eyes.
     "Whatever you do, just figure your shit out," Matt says before walking out of the shop.
     I quickly pretend that I wasn't listening and take my order. Something isn't right here, I wonder what Emmy has to do with it?

Emilia's POV:
     I'm at Noah's apartment this morning, it is a weekend after all. Alec was already up so he let me in and him, Noah, and I watched SpongeBob.
     Don't make fun of me, it's a classic! Not long after we switched off the TV we decided to go to the beach today.           
     We quickly called everyone(Amy, Sam, Jace, and Ashton) and invited them for a beach day. I have so much planning to do!
     Alec tells us he's going to shower, so right now we're on the way to the store to get supplies for the bonfire.
     "So..when were you gonna tell me?" Noah says angrily.
     "Tell you what?" I ask.
     "About the note Emilia, you didn't think Amy would say something to Sam? He told me about the note in your locker.." Noah says.
     Amy Wilson! I will have a bone to pick with her later.
     "I didn't want you to get all jealous and make accusations, I know how you get when you're angry," I tell him honestly.
     "It was Ashton wasn't it?" He growls, gripping the steering wheel tighter.
     "No, it wasn't. I really wish you would stop blaming him for everything, we're just friends," I reply snapping.
     "Well you don't see the way he looks at you Emilia, it's like you're oblivious to everyone's emotions," he snaps.
     I can't take this, I just can't. I feel a silent tear stream down my face. I don't respond, I can't. That was so uncalled for.
     "Emilia, I..I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that," he says.
     "Whatever," I reply.
     The rest of the car ride to the grocery store is silent. I'm pissed, you could say that.
     We go to the first aisle and start throwing things in the cart.
     "Emmy?" He says putting his arms around my waist and pulling me closer.
     "Yes," I say, my breath getting heavier the closer his face gets.
     "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it," he says before kissing me softly.
     He pulls away first, he always does this to me, he knows exactly what to do to shut my brain off. I can't think when he's this close to me.
     "I forgive you, I know you're just worried that Ashton will take me away from you, but that will never happen, I promise." I tell him.
     "I love you babe, thanks for understanding. Now smores, or oreos?" He asks me laughing.
     "Why don't we get both," I laugh too.
     And we continue like that, throwing junk food in the cart and teasing each other.
     We drive straight to the beach, and everyone is already there, so we start to set everything up for our bonfire.    
     After we're done setting up I go over and talk to Sam and Amy, who are cuddling by the ocean.
     "Thanks for snitching, Sam." I say annoyed.
     "I'm sorry Emilia, I was torn between girlfriend/boyfriend code or bro pact, I had to tell him." Sam apologizes.
     "It's fine. I knew I would have to tell him eventually, I just didn't want it to be today, I wanted everyone to have fun." I say.
     "And everyone will, we just have to make the best of it," Amy interjects.
I smile, I know she's right.
      "Okay but next time don't say a word to Sam, I hear he has a big mouth," I elbow her.
     "Hey!" Sam protests. Amy and I laugh at him.
     "Sorry babe, it's true," Amy shrugs.
We head back to where all of our friends our and sir around the bonfire.
     "So...who wants to play truth or dare?" Ash says mischievously.
     Everyone agrees but me, I hate that game. I always end up spilling my secrets.
     "No Ash, I will never play that game ever again," I whine.
     "Come on babe, don't be a chicken," Noah says grinning at me.
     "Ugh..fine," I agree, leaning my head against Noah's shoulder.
     I lace our fingers together, "Why don't you go first then, babe," I suggest.
     Noah nods his head and agrees.
     "So, babe truth or dare?" I ask.
     "Dare, truth is for babies," he says raising his eyebrow at me.
     "Hey I resent that, you don't even know if I'll pick truth on my turn," I say glaring at him jokingly.
     "You're right, but I have my suspicions," he says.
     We hear coughs followed by the words whipped and I laugh, because Noah is totally whipped and will agree with anything I say.
     "You guys are assholes, babe give me my dare," he says.
     "Okay, Noah I dare you to jump in the ocean naked," I say giggling.
     "You're that desperate to see me naked, Emmy. You could just ask if you want," Noah says winking at me.
I blush at his words. "You wish," I fire back.
     Five minutes later Noah is in a towel after completing his dare.
     "Okay Emilia, truth or dare?" Jace asks.
     "Truth," I reply.
     "Pansy!" Everyone shouts.
     "I'm playing it safe," I reply.
     "Do you really love Noah?" He asks. There is an emotion I can't read in his eyes.
     "Yeah, I do," I say. Everyone but Jace makes gagging noises.
     "Piss off you guys," Noah says kissing me. When we look up Jace is gone.
     "Hey guys, where did Jace go?" I ask.
     No one knows and so we decide to go searching for him. We split off into groups, me with Noah (obviously), Amy with Sam, and Alec with Ashton.
Noah and I look in the parking lot first, his car is still there, but there is not sign of Jace. Next we look by the lighthouse, but we still have no look.
As a last resort we go to the rocky cliff that we saw on the trek to the beach. We see a shadowy figure sitting on the cliff by them self.
     "Jace, is that you?" We ask.
     "Go away, I don't want him here," he growls.
     "Why?" I ask confused.
     "Because, you were mine first. He stole you from me, Emmy. You don't even remember, and I was your best friend before he was, and even as a child he took you away from me," he says with anger.
     "What are you talking about Jace?" Noah asks. He's just as confused as I am.
     "I knew Emilia before you did, we were even best friends, and you took her away. Tell him, Emmy. You remember, don't you, Pumpkin?" He says sadly.
     That nickname was when I knew, he wrote the letter. When he said Pumpkin I also knew that this boy wasn't Jace Adams, this is Jack Parker...

Hehehe I'm evil, I'm sorry. I just had to leave you guys with a cliffhanger. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and please comment and vote. So what do you think about Jace being Matt's stepbrother him writing the letter? Stay tuned...