Emily, Come Home

Nine

 "So, I finally found it. It was in a box in the attic," Gee stated as he pulled a DVD from the black plastic case. I raised my eyebrow as he put the disc into the DVD player. The previews played through, and when the title menu appeared, I couldn't help but smile.

"The Princess Bride." He beamed as he plopped down on the couch next to me. He grabbed my hand and intertwined our fingers as I rested my head on his shoulder. I stole glances at him through the opening scene. His eyes were fixed on the screen as he mouthed the dialogue.

It had been almost three months since we'd moved to this place. For the better part of that time, it felt like old times. I could see that he was trying so hard to make me happy, and in all honesty, it wasn't the worst feeling in the world. I still felt trapped, but at the same time, I also felt safe. Most days, it honestly felt like a relatively normal relationship.

Truth be told, I didn't hate him for basically kidnapping me. I guess, subconsciously, part of me had really missed being with him. It was strange to me, actually feeling these things towards him after everything he had put me through. I couldn't decide if it was a defense mechanism or if old feelings were stirring up. Either way, it wasn't bothering me near as much as it probably should.

As my thoughts cycled, I glanced over at him. He watched the TV in an almost child-like wonder, silently quoting the script. As though he felt my gaze, he turned his attention towards me.

"What?" He whined in embarrassment. I just giggled and shook my head.

"Nothing, I was just thinking," I dismissed. "You are fucking adorable, by the way." His cheeks turned a light pink as he playfully tossed a pillow at me. We continued to watch the movie, and once it had ended, he turned back towards me.

"Em, can I ask you something?" He asked, nervously fidgeting with his hands.

"Sure."

"You're happy, right? You seem to be, or at least more so than you were." I thought about it for a minute before responding.

"Well, even though the situation isn't ideal, I would have to say that I am." He smiled faintly.

"Would you say that you love me again?" I could hear the hope in his voice. I looked down and picked at my nails.

"I don't know, Gee..."

"Oh, well... That's okay," he shrugged casually. He tried to make it seem like it didn't bother him, but I could tell that it did.

"Let me explain."

"No, it's okay. You don't-"

"No," I cut him off. "I actually want to. I do feel something. I'm not sure if it's love, but there is a feeling there. When I fall asleep in your arms, I feel safe. When you smile at me, there is a warmth in my heart. When we touch, my heart skips. I'm not sure if this feeling is love, but whatever it is makes me happy."

There was a moment of silence as we both stared at our hands. I heard him make a sound somewhere between a sniffle and a laugh. I looked up and noticed that he was smiling at me.

"Well, if it's not love, it's a pretty good start," he chuckled as he grabbed my hands. He leaned forward to kiss me, but he was interrupted by a sudden vibration. He groaned as he pulled his phone out of his pocket.

"Who is it?" I asked as I saw his face scrunch up with worry. He put his finger up as he answered the call.

"What's up, Mikes?" He was quiet for a moment, and I watched as he furrowed his brow. "I've been off doing my own thing, trying to get a fresh start. I haven't heard much of anything." He shook his head. "No, man. Haven't heard from her."

"What is going on?" I mouthed. He shook his head as he listened to his brother.

"It's been quite a while. Doubt she'd really wanna see me." His eyes widened for a second before they narrowed at me. "Oh, really? He did? Hmm, I don't know, man. Maybe he's still paranoid about it. I never got the chance to make amends with him, so he must not know that I've gotten better."

Oh god. Frankie must've gotten in touch with Mikey.

"I don't know, man. If I hear anything, I'll let you know. It's been a really long time, and I just tried to keep my distance from the whole thing. If you hear anything, let me know, okay? Even if we aren't together anymore, I do still care about her well-being. Okay... Yeah, you too. Bye."

He ended the call and shut his phone off before shoving it back into his pocket. He didn't say anything, just closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. We stood in an intense silence until he took a deep breath and looked at me.

"So, that was an interesting phone call. Evidently, Frank tracked down Mikey to ask him if he's heard from me lately. Something about the cops wanting to ask me some questions."

"That's weird. Why would he go through all of that trouble? I told him I was fine. I never said I was with you." He clicked his tongue as he pointed at me.

"Yeah, you see, that's what I thought too. Then, he says that Frank had gotten a phone call from you. Said you were using some kind of code to let him know you were being held against your will. Naturally, my name came up."

"You were right there, though. You heard-"

"Yeah," he laughed bitterly. "I was there, wasn't I? But, what I heard was weird phrasing and strange emphasis on seemingly random words. I just didn't want to believe that you would lie to me like that."

"Gee, I didn't-"

"Just stop. I trusted you. All of this," he said, motioning around the room. "All of this was for you. I've taken care of you and kept you safe. I've done everything I could to make you happy. Why am I never enough for you?"

"Don't say that. I just-"

"Go to your room," he ordered harshly. I stepped forward, reaching towards him.

"Gerard, I-"

"Go!" The sudden shift in volume startled me. I felt the tears well up as I ran towards the bedroom. As I threw myself onto the bed, I heard the door close and the locks click.

Great. Back to square one.