The Killing of Emily Rose

Chapter Five

              Waking up to a hangover was not an unusual thing for Emily Rose Wilson. Over the course of her high school career, she'd done her fair share of partying, though she always stayed away from drugs (that was one line that she wasn't willing to cross). New Year's Morning, however, Emily awoke to a particularly bad headache, groaning as the light from her window scorched her eyes. Pulling a pillow over her head, Emily tried to block out the light to no success. Finally giving up, she reached for her headboard, using the strong wood to pull herself up into a sitting position.

            Looking across the room, Emily could see her reflection in the mirror on her vanity. She was a total mess, her mascara was running, her makeup was smudged, and her previously curled hair had worked itself into near dreadlocks. Groaning, Emily considered going back to sleep just as a loud knock sounded on her door.

            "Emily?" Suddenly wide awake despite her pounding headache, Emily sat straight up in her bed. The sound of her mother's voice rang through her ears and Emily flinched automatically, not wanting her mother to see her in such a state.

           "Mom?" Emily's voice came out scratchy and stiff. She cleared her throat. "Sorry, mom?"

           "Can I come in? I know you were out last night and I just wanted to check up on you." Piper Wilson was never one to beat around the bush. Sighing, Emily attempted to smooth out her hair and called out to her mother that she could enter the room. With a soft squeak, the door to Emily's room opened, and her mother's eyes narrowed at the sight of her daughter.

          "Before you say anything, yes, I know I look like a mess." Emily held up her hands, and her mother cracked a small smile.

          "Honey, you look worse than a mess. You're lucky that you have such a pretty face, I'm not sure even mother's love could love you at the state you're in right now." Piper teased. "Want some help with that hair?"

        "Yes please." Emily groaned. "I don't think I could brush through this mess even if I shaved my head." With a chuckle, Emily's mother came around the side of the bed, grabbing Emily's hair brush off of her vanity.

          "Andy told me that you saw Nico last night." Piper began slowly after a few unsuccessful tugs at Emily's rat nest. Emily's breath caught in her throat.

           "So that's why you're here. He told you about that." Emily said bitterly. "He had no right to do that, and just so you know, I'm perfectly fine. Nicolas and I are done."

          "Emily, your brother is just trying to look out for you—"

          "Yeah? Well I don't need him to." Emily snapped, moving away from her mother and crossing her arms defensively. "You obviously didn't come here to help me, so you can leave. I can take care of myself."

          "Emily." Piper's voice took on a stern tone. "I'm your mother. It's my job to help you. So don't you dare use that tone of voice with me. You may be almost seventeen now, but you're still my daughter and I still have to protect you from the ugliness of this world. I get that you're hurting and I get that you're mad that Andy told me. But you have to open up to someone. You don't just move on from your first love." She said wisely, and Emily struggled to maintain her cold face.

        "I already told you. I'm over Nicolas. He means nothing to me." Emily insisted, taking the brush from her mother's hand and beginning to brush her hair by herself. "I don't need to talk to anyone. What's done is done. Seeing him again last night didn't mean anything, my heart isn't broken, and I'm not the same girl who was head over heels in love with a boy a year ago."