Loving You (Sequel: Friends To Lovers) (GXG)

Dispute

A few days had passed after the right had broken out at school. Taylor nor Jane had contacted Emily or anyone for that matter, leaving things unsettling between the six friends. Jordan hasn't been seen since, but her friends that had been poking fun at Emily and terrorizing her had still not let up on their bullying. Each day before, during, and after school they all try to catch Emily in a secluded part of the school to gang up on her and continuously attempt to attack her. Since Taylor and Jane had been injured, Emily had to fend for herself. She didn't want to involve Anne, tormented by the idea that she may end up like her other two friends, so each time she was cornered by them she dealt with it on her own. Rocky and Alix began to distance themselves from the small friend group as well, scared that they too will be targeted, so Emily is sticking up for herself to protect her other friends.

It was a day before Taylor and Jane would be released when Jordan's friends cornered Emily once again after school. She was dragged to the oldest part of the school and was bashed on by a few girls that made sure to hit where the bruises wouldn't be seen. During the one-sided fight, Anne had called Emily's phone only to be left to ring while she had been hit numerous times. After it was all over, Emily called Anne back and calmly apologized for missing her call by saying that she had gone back to the orphanage to check on Connie and the kids. Anne cleared her throat very clearly through the speaker and sighed.

"You're not here. Connie said you haven't been here at all since school let out. You told me to go on ahead, but I'm so sick of this. Are you keeping something from me? You're breathing awfully heavy, Emily. Is something wrong?" Emily took a deep breath, sucking in as much air as possible. She tried to speak her mind, but all that came out was a saddened and soft squeek. A quiet sniffle resounded through the phone just as Anne had hung up on Emily without another word.

"I'm such a wimp! If I hurry and run to the orphanage maybe I'll meet Anne on the way there!" Emily grunted, struggling to stand up to dash out of the school. She tried to make it look like she wasn't hurt by hiding her pain while she chased after Anne to explain herself. "I really screwed up this time! Why am I so selfish?" Emily cried, running as fast as she could towards the orphanage.

When she reached the front door, her legs gave out and Emily fell to the ground. Her hand snakes up the door and knocked on it and was immediately met by a concerned Anne who had swollen red eyes. Rather than yelled or argue with Emily, she quickly picked her up and guided her inside.

"You've been acting strange ever since Taylor and Jane were hospitalized. Why aren't you telling me what's wrong? I am your girlfriend, aren't I?" Anne questioned her. Emily looked up at Anne, holding back tears and everything that was on her mind. Instead, she smiled and nodded as if everything was fine.

"I'm really sorry! I just got a little winded from running here. Where's Connie and the—Owww!" Anne pressed onto Emily's legs, arms, and torso that were all hidden away by her clothing. As soon as she saw Emily's reaction, Anne lifted up Emily's shirt to reveal multiple bruises, cuts, cigarette burns, and more.

"Who did this to you? I need to know, Emily! This is not ok, in fact, I'm furious!" Anne argued, letting go of the tears that she had been holding back. "I thought that you had finally begun to trust me, so why is it that we are moving backwards after all this time?" Emily opened her mouth, but said nothing in return and instead shut her mouth right back up again. Multiple heads peered into the room, waiting to see what would happen next.

"I love you...! I really do, Anne! I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... Please don't hate me... Please...!" Emily choked out finally, pulling down on Anne's shirt to stop her from doing anything drastic. Anne pulled Emily's hand off of her, but instead of leaving her she leaned down to wrap Emily in a tight and warm hug.

"I know you do... I can tell that people have been doing more than picking on you, so why don't you just tell me who they were so I can have a civilized talk with them before I beat the absolute crap out of them?" Anne asked with a high pitch and fruity voice. Emily managed to chuckle slightly and then explained everything to Anne. Her expression of somewhat kind exterior had quickly evolved into seething fury. Just when Emily had finished, Anne let go of Emily to charge out the door. Her hand opened the door, but Emily yanked her back inside by pulling her shirt back towards her.

"Please don't start anything! I don't want to drag you into my little issues..." Emily trailed off. Anne turned back to face her, giving off a disappointing look that was filled with misery.

"That's the thing. It isn't just a 'little issue.' This is serious, Emily, because it involves people beating the absolute crap out of you for no reason. Did you really think that I would see this as not a big deal?" Anne questioned Emily. Both stood in silence at the door for a few moments before Emily's hand slipped off of Anne's shirt and back to her side.

"I just... You know... I thought it would be fine... I saw this as a way to keep them from hurting you... Is that so wrong? I didn't want them to go after you because, if anything, you are the one that Jordan wants there's no doubt in my mind that they would've went after you instead to 'convince' you to dump me..." Emily choked out, lowering her head after she finished speaking. Anne continued to face the door, looking as if she was going to walk out at any minute. A soft and pained sigh was her response to Emily before she spun around to pull Emily into a loose embrace.

"You really worry too much, you know? I wouldn't leave you even if I would be persecuted for it. If I say that, what makes you think that some childish girls, who have nothing better to do besides degrade others, will make me change my mind?" Anne smiled. Emily fumbled on her words before returning Anne with a a smile instead.

"You're right..." She giggled, realizing how much she had been doubting Anne. "This isn't even the first time I've been like this... I'm sorry Anne..." She continued. Anne placed a finger to Emily's lips before shaking her head.

"It doesn't make me feel any better if you apologize to me. From now on, you are not allowed to say the words 'I'm sorry' to me. Nothing you could ever do would make me hate you, Emily. I can promise you that." Anne said, taking Emily's hands in hers as she let her out of the embrace.

"Alright, I understand... I love you so much. You know that?" Emily asked with a slightly more upbeat attitude. Anne grinned and rubbed her thumb over Emily's knuckles.

"Yes, I know that for sure"