EMILY

The Date

Justin's POV

"Mom." I said as soon as she answered the call. "I need your help."

"What kind of help?" she asked worriedly. "Are you fine sweetheart? Don't tell me you're in a jail or something."

"I'm perfectly fine Mom." I told her and she let out a deep exhale. "Is Dad around?"

"No. He's out of town." she informed.

"Great. I need the keys to our lake house." I said.

"Why? Are you planning to do something?" her voice was concerned. I can't blame her for being conscious because I haven't been the most behaved child in the past.

"I want to bring a girl there for a date." I told her and waited for her to act dramatically.

"Girl? What girl? One of those arrogant and pompous girls like Chloe?" she interrogated.

"Emily is nothing like Chloe mom. She is special." I said.

"Emily? Isn't she the girl you used to bully?" she asked and blood rushed to my cheeks. Even my parents knew what Chloe and I used to do to her. Mom even stopped me once but I was out of my mind at that time.

"I love her Mom." I admitted and received silence from the other side. Hearing a son like me admitting love for a girl he bullied for four years, the silence was understandable.

"I'll be sending Richard and Stella over with keys. They will help you with anything you want." she replied and I mentally jumped in excitement. "Don't disappoint the girl, son."

"Love you Mom. You are definitely the best." I said and heard chuckles from the other side of the phone.

...

Emily's POV

Wrapped in the bathrobe, I was cautiously staring at the dress hanging against the cupboard. It was a dark blue off-the-shoulder dress that I bought last month. It was perfect for a no-date date. Everything was ready, the dress, the shoes, the jewelry, everything except me.

I was lost in my thoughts when the phone vibrated. It was a text from Justin.

"Ready? When should I pick you up? :)"

I gazed at the text for a good five minute. To say I was conflicted would be an understatement, I was actually drowning in conflict. Accepting a date from Justin was probably the biggest mistake I have ever committed.

Finally putting my mobile up, I began typing my reply.

"I'll call you after getting ready." I hit sent and then threw the mobile away.

Hugging my knees, I hid my face in between my legs. He had hurt me so much in the last few years. He had insulted me, bullied me, made fun of me, even hit me physically once or twice in his rage. I was like a toy for him. Whenever he was angry, he would take it out on me. Whenever he was sad, he would make me his emotional punching bag. Now he was acting like everything was fine but it wasn't.

He was still the same person and so was I.

Clearing my head, I dragged myself to the dressing table and stripped out of the bathrobe. The dress was comfortable and his my stomach perfectly so I didn't have to worry about the stomach rolls.

"You eat like a pig." he had once said to me.

"Stop stuffing your mouth. I'm feeling nauseatic by just looking at you." Another thing he said to me once at a party.

"You think these boys are admiring your looks. They are feeling disgusted by you Emily." he said at the same party. This was probably the last time I went to a party before meeting Alicia.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as all the memories one by one made an appearance in my mind. He broke me, he broke the little girl inside me. I was always shy but never so awkward, but he made me like this.

Fighting my tears, I slipped out of the dress in hurry, ignoring the sound of tear that it made. It remimded me of all the bad times I was insulted or made fun of. I didn't want to wear it for even a second.

Flopping on my bed, I looked for my phone. I was feeling really claustrophobic at that moment. I needed to talk to him. I needed to tell him what he did to me was unforgivable. My love for him was toxic, it would kill me one day.

...

Justin's POV

"Shit shit shit." I said as I looked at my reflection in the mirror. What if this three piece is too much? Should I ignore the coat? Should I change into a casual T-shirt and jeans? But what if she is dressed formally?

Ugh.

I groaned out loud. Hearing this, Stella, our housekeeper came inside my room and gaped at me.

"Do I look bad?" I asked because of her reaction.

"No sir. It's just.."

"Just? Just what Stella?" I asked in a terrified voice.

"I haven't see you dressing up for a date like you." she said and I felt heat crawl up my neck.

Ignoring her comment, I asked her to show all the arrangements. She took me to the back of the house where I had set up the date. Everything looked more than perfect, the table, the flowers set on it, the white balloons lying around, the aroma coming from the kitchen, the assorted chocolates arranged in the centre of the table. There was a lake right beside the arrangement and I knew it would look breathtaking in the moonlight.

Then she took me to the kitchen and showed me everything they had prepared. There were almost five different dishes, including her favorite pasta and then there was dessert that she would love the most, Red Velvet cupcakes. Her favorite.

Thanking Stella and Richard, I returned to the lounge and sat down on a couch, waiting for her to call. I had put a gift for her in my pocket already, a small delicate necklace that would look beautiful around her smooth neck.

Lost in her thought, I only broke out of the trance when my phone rang. Answering it hurriedly, I began to speak, "Should I come now? Are you ready? Do you need anything?"

"Justin!" her voice was low.

"What happened?" I asked, despite the fact that my heart was drumming inside my chest.

"I can't." her voice broke down. "Please don't force me.. I can't come."

"Emily!" I emitted a sigh.

"Please Justin. I can't act like I am fine. Because I'm not." her voice made my heart ache. "I can't do this to myself."

My hands felt numb after listening to her. I felt like the most powerless person in the world who had failed badly in love. There was no way to make it right. "Give me this one chance. Just once." I almost cried out in pain

There was a long silence after that. I waited for her to speak something but she didn't. For a minute, I just listened to her uneven breaths and a small sob that left her mouth.

"I can't." She cut the call after saying this.

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