Without Myself

Chapter One

     "Em, do you want a ride to school today?" Nate asks as he comes around to the back of my chair.

     "No, that's ok. But thanks." I tell him as politely as I can. I need to walk, or better yet, I'll call one of my friends.

     "Please Emilie, I need to talk to you," He leans down to whisper in my ear, "Without Gemini." Before I can say anything he's already in the living room talking to Gem.

     "I'm driving Em to school this morning, so she doesn't have to walk." I hear him tell her. And before I do something that will hurt them... or me, I get up to go upstairs and get ready for my first day of highschool.

*

     "What did you want?" I cringe at how harshly it came out but when Nate just laughs, I go back to scowling.

     "Whoa, hun calm down. I wanted to run a few things by you." He says and looks at me as if he wants permission to go on.

     "And?" I roll my eyes and nod my head, not really caring what he has to say.

     "Gemini wanted to know if it would be alright to name the babies Walter and Allie," I turn to face him, my facial expression lit up with surprise... No, make that horror. Why on earth would they want to do that?! I mean sure, maybe Gemini might want to pretend she misses them as much as I do but, I know that's not true. I quickly compose myself and nod, "Go ahead, they're your kids. Name 'em what you want." I tell him, ignoring the fact that he told me Gemini is having twins.

     I used to like Nate. Hell, I used to love the guy, Ellie even told me a had a little crush on him. Back when I was five. But now, I blame him. It's his partly his fault that Gemini is happy without our parents, while I'm stuck in a never ending dream, and it's not a very good one. If it weren't for him, Gem and Ellie might've had a normal vacation. At least that's what everyone has told me. I don't really remember anything except that I don't have a mom or dad anymore.

     "Well we're here, you want me to walk you in?" Nate asks, and I know he's only trying to be nice, but that doesn't stop me from glaring at him.

     "Oh please, do you want me to look like a loser?" Before he can say anything, I jump out of the car and slam the door.

     "Emilie!!" I hear so I turn around and find two of the very best friends I could ever ask for.

     "Your brother is so hot!" Cameron squeals as his black car pulls away from the curb.

     "Ewww, he's like 30 and married!" I laugh, ever since grade one, Cam has been obsessing over Nate. 

     "You should see my uncle Pietro-"

     "You mean your sister's hot Italian ex boyfriend from when she was like seventeen?" Tessa yells and I laugh but only because even I'll admit that back then, and even now, Pietro was pretty attractive.

     "And next time he's visits, you totally have to invite me over!" She tells me, but I shake my head. The one time Pietro came to visit, Nate was so mad he would've killed if Pietro so much as touched Gem.

     "No, Nate said Pietro wasn't going to visit again." I watch as Tessa's face grows cold.

     "Why? What a jerk! Who in there right mind would ban a hot Italian guy from their house?!"

     "Because Nate can get a tad bit jealous when it comes to my sister." I sigh as we all walk inside.

     "We go to the gym... right?" Tessa asks uncertainly as she leads down the hall.

     "No we go to the auditorium. Oh didn't Mark say he was going here?" Cameron smirks but I just wave my hand dismissively.

     "No... Ya he did but I don't really care. He chose to ignore me the whole summer so now it's my turn." I laugh loudly as we walk into the auditorium and find a seat. I watch as the principal walks onto the stage and clears his voice.

     "Good morning boys and girls, and welcome to John Finnick High School. Our goal is to make each and everyone of you feel as welcome and comfortable as we possibly can. Now the first thing we do every morning, is sing our national anthem. So please could you guys all stand and sing O'Canada. We sing the anthem before taking our seats again and Mr. Kirk again begins to drone on and on.

     "Ugh, why can't school be fun?" Tessa complains but I hardly hear her.

     "I need to go-" I mumble as I stand up quickly.

     "What? Emilie sit down before you get in trouble." Cameron whispers harshly.

     "No, I need to go. Now!" I make my way down to the back of the auditorium.

     "What? Emilie!" They call me back but I have to leave. When I get to the hallway, I break out into a run. Dark brown hair that's almost black, and almost navy blue eyes. Cold and hard. I've never met her and I have absolutely no idea who she is but I have to get away from her.

     I'm just about out the door when I run into a warm expanse of someone's chest.

     "Umpf!" I gasp before tumbling to the ground.

     "Oh! I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"

     "No, it was my fault," I start as he reaches down to help me up.

     "Are you skipping school? Because I'd be more than happy to join you," He winks and I laugh nervously.

     "No, I mean I'm not skipping school. I just forgot something really important at home and-" I stopped to look outside, looking for any kind of dark car, making a mental note to avoid it at alls costs. Only there is no car, at least not a dark one, the only car parked in front is a green SUV. And in the driver's seat is- Oh my gosh!

     "Listen I'd love to stay and chat, and maybe if I wasn't in such a hurry, I'd even skip with you, but I really have to go!" I blurt before politely pushing past him. Without even really making sure it's who I think it is before opening the door and jumping in.

     "Jake! Oh thank goodness it's you! Do you know how happy I am to see you right now?" I cry as I throw my arms around his neck.

     "You've grown." He says and strokes my hair. I pull away and buckle myself in.

     "You came for me didn't you? How did you know? Do you know Gem is going to have twins?!" I say so fast I'm not even sure he heard me properly.

     "Emilie, calm down!" He chuckles to himself, so I take a deep breath and tell him who I saw and how I'm not exactly sure who she was.

     "And I got this really weird feeling," I whisper and when I look over to Jake, I see him nod.

     "Remember how you never liked me?" I say quietly and I jump when he laughs loudly.

     "And now? You think I like you now?" He says, only half joking but when I fail to smile along he turns to me and playfully chucks my chin.

     "Yes I remember, but I'm here right? I knew you were starting school today and I've wanted to see you for awhile but your sister wouldn't let me. So I thought I'd come pick you up from school, I thought maybe we could do something together." He says and I nod as he turns up the radio and turns onto the highway.

     "Are you ready to have some fun?" He yells and I wonder to myself where the sullen, depressed Jacob went. The one who always frowned, escpecially after he lost Ellie to Jonathan.

     "Sure, but promise to take me to Costa afterwards," I tell him and he just balks.