Unraveling Who We Are

19: My Poor Hand

(Pic of Jackson and Lyla)

Gracen's view

I was starting to get pretty worried about Emery again. She hasn't answered any texts or calls from me or to Jordie and Clare. I understand that the news was hard, but she didn't have to shut me out. I deeply care about her and I want to help comfort her.

I couldn't stop thinking about the story that Aiden and Ethan told me about Emery's dad. Apparently he had an affair and one day Emery found out. Instead of keeping it a secret like her dad wanted to, she told her mom. Her mom ended up filing for a divorce and her dad has treated her like sh*t and blames the breakup of the family on her. Which is an absolutely horrible thing to do, I can't imagine how she feels. Then Aiden went on to tell me how her dad left and stayed with the woman who he cheated with. Apparently the woman had kids, Jackson and Lyla, who did whatever they could to hurt and mess with Emery. That especially tore at my heart. How could anyone, even people who didn't really know her treat her that way. I already hate Lyla and Jackson with everything. Not because I'm siding with Emery, but because they thought it was okay to torture and bully someone. I was going to make sure they never hurt Emery ever again. Like I've said before, I'd do anything for her. Someone needs to be there for Emery for a chance and show her it's okay to not be fine.

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Emery's view

I hate Mondays. Forced to go to school that I share with three people that I hate, who have hurt me so much in the past year. But I can't let them do it again. I can't give them the satisfaction. So I'm going to do one thing I do best, pretend to be strong and not let them bring me down. I have to act like I don't give a sh*t, so that maybe one day I'll believe it enough to not have to pretend.

So I push myself to get through my daily routine before heading out the door to the car with my brothers. When I got to first period I went to my desk and slouched. I didn't want to be here at all, but if I want to make something of life I have to be. I rested my head on the desk and kept repeating that today was going to be a breeze and that I'd get through it.

I felt someone lightly touch my right shoulder and I looked up to see Gracen giving me such an adorable smile, but you could see the worry in her eyes.

"Hey Emery. How are you?"

"Gracen I'm fine, okay. No need to worry." I replied giving her a half smile.

She still looked pretty worried, but sat down because class was about to start.

The day ended up going bye fast because I kept facing out so much today. I honestly didn't bother to try today, I just wasn't in it to try.

So during lunch, I just couldn't handle being in the crowds of people all talking about stupid stuff, so I went to the library. I walked around looking for something to read, but I couldn't make a decision, so I just kept walking around and around until lunch ended.

When the final bell rung signaling the end of school, I couldn't have been happier. I started walking because today my brothers were busy and I didn't feel like asking my friends for a ride. But I heard someone yell my name and looked back to see Gracen running towards me.

"Hey. Where are you going? Plus where the heck were you at lunch, I was looking everywhere for you," she said pretty loud.

"Gracen, I was in the library and I'm going home now okay. So calm down."

"Calm down?! I was worried sick Emery."

"You don't need to be," I replied kind of pissed off. I didn't want to worry her or anyone, but I just couldn't do talking today with anyone. Of course after I said that she gave me a look of disbelief and was about to say something before someone interrupted.

"Aww having a fight with your girlfriend Emery?" Asked Jackson in a mock sympathetic way.

"We aren't together. And you shouldn't be listening in," I replied.

Jackson laughed before saying, "It's nice to see you too. Not. And I can do whatever the hell I want," he said before stepping closer to me.

"Besides what are you going to do Emery. You going to break down and cry like last time. You're weak, you always have been. No wonder your dad didn't want to spend another second with you."

The moment he said that, I felt my hear tearing a little. But I couldn't show him he got to me.

"Who the f*ck are you to ever talk to her like that........Never mind I know, you're the a**hole with the b*tch of a sister," said Gracen. Woah, she surprised with her language, in all honesty I'm not one for bad mouthing, but it was hot coming from her.

But I didn't want to get Gracen on his bad side, I know he's good at getting back at people. So I grabbed her hand and pulled her away as I told her he wasn't worth the trouble. She gave me a puzzled look but followed me to her car.

But of course, Jackson couldn't give it a rest.

"You're just going to run away like always? So typical of you Emery..... I guess now I know how Danny died. Let me guess you ran too huh?"

Every second he kept talking, my anger kept building up. I hated him so much.

"Well, he probably deserved to die anyway right. He was a piece of sh*t. He was worthless."

I stopped walking. I could hardly breathe because I was so angry. How dare he talk about Danny like that. It wasn't fair, he didn't even know him. I was practically shaking now, I was balling my fists so hard.

"What did it feel like. To leave him behind to die Emery? Does it haunt y......."

I didn't give him time to finish his sentence before I turned around and punched him as hard as I could in the eye. He immediately cupped his eye with his hands and I froze in shock of what I just did. My hand throbbed from the pain.

I guess I couldn't hear Gracen over the pounding of my heart beat because she then grabbed me by my waist and pulled me back. She made me look her in the eye before giving me a reassuring tight hug. I guess she could still feel me shaking because she held on for a while longer.

"Wow. Didn't know you had that in you Emery. Don't celebrate though, I'll get you back," Jackson said as he was on the floor covering his eye.

Gracen and I both flipped him off before going to her car. My hand hurts so much, so Gracen drove me to her house which was closer.