pieces | ethma

The 1 (Part 1)

Emma

I've been in a toxic relationship with Jordan for a year and a half. We got together towards the end of my freshman year of high school, and now I'm a junior. Ethan and Grayson hate Jordan.

I've been friends with the twins since 5th grade when our school went on a camping trip, and I lost my backpack. They stayed behind the rest of the group and helped me find it, and we've been like the three musketeers ever since.

I've always known how I've felt about Ethan, but the timing's just always been off. He was dating Lydia for a year when Jordan and I started dating. Sure enough, two months later, he broke up with Lydia.

There was no reason he needed to break up with her (at least that I know of, and Ethan pretty much tells me everything), but then I was dating Jordan. I totally would've dressed up my feelings if it weren't for my own relationship.

It started out amazing with Jordan. Going with him and his family on vacation, going on little dates, hanging out all the time. Until something switched and he just became a huge jerk.

I told you about how Ethan and Grayson hate him, but I didn't tell you that he hates them too. He doesn't trust that I'm just friends with them, but I don't care. I love them like family, and Jordan's not gonna take that away from me.

Jordan also belittles me for no reason. I can't wear jeans and a sweater or else he calls me a prude, but if I wear a tank top and shorts, I'm apparently a slut.

He would get mad for no reason sometimes and verbally attack me. It got to the point where I wasn't being myself anymore, and that's when Ethan and Grayson sat me down in their living room after school one day.

"You have to break up with Jordan." Grayson said.

I wanted to, but part of me was scared about what Jordan would do if I did. I didn't want to get hurt, and I didn't want anyone else to either. Jordan has a very bad temperament.

"I want to, but what if he—"

"Emma, if you don't, we will for you."

"He won't listen to you. It has to come from me. I'm just scared."

"About what?" Ethan said, sitting down next to me.

"I'm scared he'll finally explode once and for all."

Grayson sat down on the other side of me. "We won't let anything happen to you, Emma. Promise."

I nodded. "I'm giving myself two weeks."

-

I procrastinated. It was exactly two weeks and an argument between the twins and I until I finally was done with Jordan once and for all.

I had went to a party with E and Gray the night before, and they took me back to their house to make sure I'd be safe for the night. They've always been protective of me, and I was glad to have best friends like them.

I woke up in the middle of the night to throw up when Grayson came into the bathroom.

"You okay, Em?" He asked.

"Can you please get me some water?" I asked, leaning my head against the bathtub. He nodded before running out of the bathroom and to the kitchen.

I took a deep breath, trying not to puke again. I got way too drunk tonight.

Finally, Grayson came back and sat next to me, handing me a bottle of water. "Drink this."

"Thanks."

I took a chug of the water before leaning my head back again. And then I started crying.

"Woah, what's going on?" He said, pulling me against his chest. "I think I'm still in love with Ethan." Grayson rubbed my back to soothe me as I cried. "And I really need to break up with Jordan."