Our Secret Game

Chapter 9 - Holding On and Letting Go

Emma's POV:

I scarfed down my breakfast, groaning slightly. My head hurt like hell. I dropped my spoon and pushed my plate away, resting my head on the table.

"Mortez! We have some shit to solve!" The voice of my best friend forced another groan up my throat.

"Kyle, leave me be!" I whined, pouting. "My head hurts."

"It's called a hangover, idiot." He deadpanned, sitting opposite me. "Anyway, what do you remember from yesterday?"

I racked my brain, a smile crawling onto my face. "I got drunk-."

Big mistake." He spoke, placing his phone on the table. "Look."

I grasped the phone in hand as various photos of Rowan and I flashed on the screen. Almost immediately, my face morphed into one of horror. "How did.. wha-what?" I mumbled, scrolling down. You could tell I was drunk in all of them. Puking on the floor, grinding on Max and they got even more gruesome.

I scrambled off my seat and picked up my keys. "I have to talk to Rowan."

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

The sound of laughter and chatter echoed as soon as I walked through the front door. The voices became louder until I stood at the living room doors. There, on the couch, sat mum, Kyle's mum (Brooke) and Jess.

"Brooke?" Her head whipped around to look at me and her eyes brightened. She stood from her seat and held her arms out. I walked into her, hugging her softly.

Brooke was like my second mother. When mum was not here, she was.

"Emma, I haven't seen you in so long. How are you?"

I pulled back and sat down next to Jess.

"I'm good."

"How's school?"

I opened my mouth to speak but a snicker from Jess sent all eyes to her. She bit onto her lip and spoke, "it's been great." She glanced at me and tipped her head to the side. "Right, Ems?"

Raising a brow, I spoke: "Mhm."

Brooke smiled, returning to her conversation with mum.

Pressing my lips into a thin line, I leaned in to whisper in Jess' ear. "Talk."

She rolled her eyes and smirked, "you and Max got busy." She whispered, winking at me. "Did you go all the way, Ems?"

My eyes widened into saucepans and I shot out of my seat, dashing into the kitchen. I shut the door, shutting my eyes tight. 

"Ems?" 

I slowly peeled my eyes open to come eye to eyes with Kyle. "Ky? What are you doing?"

"Uh, eating?" He spoke, mouth full.

I grimaced. "That's disgusting."

He shrugged, shoving another handful of chips in his mouth.

I rolled my eyes and leaned on the door. "Kyle."

"Hm?"

"Jess has seen the photos."

His eyes met mine and he scoffed. "Let's hope she's not as crazy as you.." I glared at him as he gulped, "when drunk."

"Anyway," I huffed, "I'm worried she might see them."

Kyle remained silent.

"This is the part where you say 'oh, don't worry Em, she won't see them." I said, breaking the silence. 

Kyle sucked in a breath, "I can't say that Em."

I raised a brow. "Why not?"

"Uh, well.." Kyle rubbed the back of his neck, peering at me through his eyelashes. "She's already seen them."

A squeak left my lips and I slapped a hand over my mouth. "What?"

"She called me this morning. I came over and she asked me about the photos. She'd seen them a few hours after the party but wanted to ask me first."

I slowly let my back slide down the door. "I'm screwed." I mumbled, clutching my head in my hands.

"Hey, she was pretty calm. Maybe she doesn't mind."

I sighed, "I hope so."

Kyle chuckled. "Lesson learnt for the future, then." He chirped, sitting beside me on the kitchen tiles. "By the way, who's Rowan?"

I smiled slightly, "the girl in the photos."

"Did she get you drunk?"

I shook my head, "it's the other way round."

Kyle frowned slightly. "I don't understand something, Ems. I have urged you to drink so many times and you always said no but as soon as you meet her, you do."

I stared at Kyle as I thought of Rowan's words.

'I love him, but.. he's in love with someone else.'

Taking a deep breath, I spoke: "She was just going through a tough time. I helped her let loose for a while."

He smiled "You're a good friend, Ems."

A grin spread onto my lips. "I know."

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

After Kyle and Brooke's leave, I faced mum.

She called me into the living room and told me to sit.

Literally, sit.

Already, she had opened up a page where the photos lay.

I watched her cautiously. 

"Mum-" I began, but she held up her hand, automatically making me clamp my mouth shut.

She pressed her lips into a thin line. "Why did you do it, Emma?"

I blinked, "Huh?"

"Why did you do it?" Her voice was calm, surprisingly. I certainly wasn't expecting this.

"Uh, I-uh... I was helping a friend. She was upset and had too much pressure. She needed to let loose for a while." I mumbled, staring at the floor.

Mum was silent for a few moments before she spoke: "Her or you?"

I snapped my head up to meet her eyes. She held her ground, staring right into my eyes.

"What?"

"Was it her who needed to let loose, or you?" Her voice became harder at the last part. 

I sucked in a breath, rubbing the palms of my hands on my jeans. "I don't want to talk about it."

Mum nod. She understood what I was going through and she knew she was partly to blame. Her words didn't mean much.

"Just be carefull, Em."

"I will."

Mum cleared her throat, "I would also like something from you." She spoke, her eyes meeting mine. 

She paused for a moment then spoke. 

"I want to meet Max's parents." I gulped, breaking eye contact. "I understand you're serious about Max and I'm glad you're happy, Emma. So, I want to be there for you. I want to make up for the times I wasn't."

I nod curtly, standing from my seat and turning my back to her. "I'll talk to Max."

We all get what we deserve.