He Stares Back

Chap. 10: I Know

Emily tiptoes into her apartment she shares with her best friend and coworker, Kaley Fields. She knows her blonde friend never goes to work on time either so she has to sneak in. The brunette holds her heels as she tries to dash towards her apartment bedroom.

              "Hmm, a little late are we?" Kaley says from the kitchen.

                 Emily freezes, wincing at the fact she has been caught.

              Can't get anything past Kaley. Emily thinks.

              "And in such a beautiful dress too? Wow!" Kaley says with false enthusiasm. "I know you didn't go out with Ethan last night. You never come home dressed that smoking hot."

                  Emily turns and arches a brow at her friend. "Flirty this morning, aren't we?"

                   Kaley rolls her eyes at her friend. "Pff, please! It's just that I haven't seen you wear anything that nice since..."

                 The blonde's brown eyes grow wide, her mouth a perfect 'O' shape. She sets her red coffee mug with a large K with fancy lettering on the side down. Kaley is at Emily's side instantly. She grabs her friends arm, her eyes wide and serious.

                   "Tell me you didn't." Kaley says firmly. "PLEASE tell me you didn't get in contact with the one man who ruined our lives!"

Emily's voice goes soft. "I can't."

Kaley's brown eyes go wide. She begins to smack the brunette, who runs away. The blonde chases Emily until the door is slammed in her face. Her tight fist bangs on the door.

"Emily! Open up so I can pulverize you!" Kaley shouts angrily.

"Not until you hear me out!" Emily shouts through her bedroom door.

Kaley think about this for a minute or two before surrendering. "Fine! Tell me quickly."

Emily slides down her bedroom door, exhausted. The sex, walking home, and being chased by Kaley the "cheetah girl" has tired the brunette out.

"You know how I told you that Mr. Hardon wants me to get close to Christian again for his secrets in his business?" Emily says with her eyes closed.

There's a long period of silence. "Tell me you didn't."

Emily winces. "I went to interview him...."

"Oh my God!" The Blonde roars from the other side.

"And he didn't comply and instead, he asked me to this huge party at the Plaza." Emily further explains, "I went and Christian and I danced for a while. I tried to interview him but I got drunk."

"Why can I tell where this is going?" Kaley says annoyed through the door.

"And we hooked up....twice." Both girls face plants, "And he confessed that he found out I didn't cheat on him."

"And that means everything he did to us is automatically okay?!" The blonde shouts angrily.

Emily closes her eyes. "I don't know if we're back together. I doubt it."

"Knowing that bastard, who the hell knows!" Kaley says annoyed, rolling her eyes.

"He told me that he'd let me know." The brunette covers her eyes, "You should have seen him, Kaley. He was in tears and so broken, it took everything for him to let me go but I wouldn't let him."

              "Wow." Kaley says with false enthusiasm, "Sounds like an average Hallmark romance movie."

               "He made love to me." Emily says in a small voice, tearing up. "And it just felt...right."

             There's a long silence. "What do you mean by it just felt right?"

              Emily stares up at the ceiling confused. "Well, when we were doing it, it felt like I was where I was meant to me."

              "Ohh!" Kaley says through the door, "I thought you were saying you're a human Twinkie."

            Emily covers her mouth. "Well, I kind of am."

            "YOU'RE A TWINKIE!?" The blonde shouts through the door.

               Kaley's fist bang hard against the door. Emily scrunches up and preys that the door holds up. The blonde eventually kicks the door.

               "Emily, do you even understand what happened six months ago? Do you need a recap on all the misery the S.O.B. as put us through?!" Kaley growls angrily.

           "I know! I told him everything and then he came undone and broken on me." Emily pouts, "I wish I wasn't already addicted to him."

              The blonde growls. "Christian may be an asshole, but he's got half a brain. He'll figure out that you're using him to find his inner most hidden secrets."

            "That's what I'm afraid of." Emily covers her dark, teary eyes. "That I'll get Christian back and then he'll find out the truth and unleash his wrath upon me."

           "—Upon us." Kaley reminds her brunette friend.

             "I want to confess to Christian about what I'm doing because I know it'll catch up to me." Emily thinks out loud, "But Mr. Hardon already found out about my past and made me spill my side of the story. If I don't give him anything or quit, he'll expose me and I'll still lose Christian."

                 There's another long period of silence. Emily begins to wonder if Kaley is even there anymore.

                "Open the door." The blonde's soft voice makes is calm.

                  Nervous, Emily unlocks and opens her bedroom door. Kaley walks in and immediately hugs her friend. The brunette begins to cry, knowing the pickle she had gotten herself into.

                "I don't want to lose him." Emily cries softly.

                Kaley sighs. "I know."