Abhor

Chapter 18

"Well here we are" I said as we stood in front of her house. I switched hands, as her bag was weighing heavily on my hands. She stayed silent, starring at her house, lost in thought. As for me, I was freezing, and pretty sure my hands were frost bitten. I nudged her up the front steps until we stood on her porch, in front of the door. She starred at her reflection as she entered one of those moods. I nudged her with my elbow.

"Quite checking yourself out" I teased. Her eyes lit up, her head turning towards me, snapping back into reality. The corners of her lips pulled into a smile, showing off her brilliantly white teeth. 

"I was just admiring your bangs" she replied, reaching up and ruffling my hair. Usually I gelled my hair so the front stood up. With the snow I guess it must have gotten flattened against my forehead. I laughed, not having expected such a quick response. I shrugged.

"Whatever. My bangs are bangin'." I said reaching for the door. She rolled her eyes, the smile still plastered onto her face. I turned to cool door knob, pushing the door open. It opened revealing the inside of Emma's house. As we stepped inside, I was not greeted with a gust of warm air like I had expected. Emma shut the door as we walked into the front room of her house. "Is it actually colder in here than it is out here?" I asked, dropping her bag on the floor, and blowing warm air into my hands. 

"Dad?" she called, walking towards the thermostate. She cranked the heat up to 70 degrees. It was seconds before you could hear the sound of the hot air rushing in through the vents. I smiled as the warm air melted my frozen fingers. She leaned against the wall, her eye brows furrowed together in thought. She brought her hand up to her mouth as she began to bite her nails.

"Penny for your thoughts" I said as I slipped off my shoes, placing them in the closet. I had seen Emma do it when she first entered the house so I assumed it was their family custom. She glanced at me, quickly stuffing her hand into her pocket. She stood up straight, pacing around the room.

"I'm thinking where the hell is my dad. I mean first he is a shitty father in the fact that he isn't around because he is working, but now" she shook her head, her sentence trailing off. Then she refocused. "Now his daughter is in the hospital and he doesn't even show. He isn't even home when she gets home. He doesn't even leave the heat on for her!" she shouted. Her face calmed as she took a deep breath. "Whatever. I don't need him. I've lived without him and I can continue doing so just fine" she told her self as she strolled out of the room, into the living room. I grabbed her bag off the floor following her. She threw herself down on the couch, closing her eyes. I imagine she is trying to find her happy place. I attended her first therapy session with her when she was still in the hospital. One methode for when she was really sad or stressed out was to lie down and find your happy place.

"Hey if you want I can stay here, with you, until your dad gets back. I'm sure my mom would be fine with it" I offered. Emma's eyes opened suddenly. She sprung up off of the couch and in seconds, was right in front of me. Her eyes starred deeply into mine.

"Really?" she finally asked after moments of silence. I laughed softly.

"Of course" I replied. She continued starring at me. I began to feel as if she didn't want me to. "That is if you want me to" I added, trying to take a step back. In second, her arms were around my neck, her head leaning on my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around her back after I got over the initial shock of the sudden hug. She pulled away, grinning. 

"I suppose I can allow that" she said, trying to make it sound like she didn't really want me to stay. I smirked.

"I mean I can go. I've got other girls houses I can stay at" I joked, pretending to turn around. She grabbed my hand.