Leather Jacket Girl (girlxgirl)

Chapter Sixty

I soon made my way out of the house with my jacket because it looked as though it was going to rain soon...or snow. It had become so cold in a matter of hours, it seemed. 

I walked outside and soon stopped in front of Emmy's car. She unlocked the door for me to sit down next to her. 

Once I turned to Emmy, I found that she was fiddling with her hands. I could understand that. Emmy had always been an anxious person and it certainly wasn't surprising that she was anxious now, when her grandmother was extremely sick and probably didn't have long left. 

"Emmy, Emmy, Emmy," I said quickly, as it looked as though she was about to screw her hand off her wrist in her anxiety. 

"Sorry..." Emmy trailed off, as she met me with an apologetic expression. I realised that there were tears in her eyes and my heart could have broken for her, then and there. It felt as though it was starting to. I loved Emmy so incredibly much and to know that she was in any sort of pain hurt me, too. I had often thought that I cared for the people around me more than I cared about myself. The person I knew that was true for without any doubt was Emmy. Thinking on it, though, I supposed that Courtney was now a significant part of my selflessness, too. 

"It's okay. I know you're struggling right now. I wish that I could say it's going to be okay but I know that isn't exactly going to solve very much. Just know that I am here for you, alright? I'm never going anywhere," I vowed. 

Of course, eventually, I was going to have to leave Emmy's car but I didn't plan on doing that any time soon. 

"I just feel so unsettled by this whole thing, Phoebe. Nana has always been there for me, without fail. What am I going to do without her?" she asked me. 

I placed a hand on her shoulder. 

"Hey, you have me. You have her looking over you. You have all of the fond memories of her. I love you and I'll be here to look out for you, Ems. Whatever you need, I promise you that I will get it for you," I said, with kindness in my voice. 

Emmy's eyes glanced towards me and a small smile managed to form on her face. 

"I am so lucky to have you," she told me. "I know it's not practical for me to get so upset but...I find myself jealous. I know that you don't have this perfect family life but my whole life I've felt like the only people that have ever truly understood me in my family are nana and Elijah. You, on the other hand...you have your mother and Bow and Callie." 

"Well, you're wrong. They're not the only ones. I consider you part of my family, Emmy. We've known each other for so long and we have always been there to look out for one another. That is something that I know isn't going to change overnight. I know that you're struggling but I will forever be your best friend, Emmy, for as long as you want me," I assured her. 

Emmy's eyes seemed to brighten a little at my kind words and I felt somewhat relieved that my words had a positive impact on her. 

I reached out to take her hand in mine. 

"You're not alone through any of this, alright?" I reminded her, with a warmth to my voice. "You never have to face any of this alone. You have Lois, Elijah and all of your friends. You have me." 

Emmy squeezed my hand gently, then. 

"I'm so lucky to have you, Phoebs," she told me. "I feel like I've spent so much time recently making sure that my parents are okay and that my nana isn't alone in the hospital that I've almost forgotten my own needs." 

"Well, that's what I'm here for. I'm here to make sure that someone is looking out for you, Emmy. I was so immature when it came to the whole Lois situation, before. I know that she is there to look out for you, too. She's older and wiser and a perfect match for you and I should have accepted that you were happy with her from the get go," I stated, as I smoothed my top down over my waist, with my free hand. I had been slouching in Emmy's car and I hadn't really noticed it with all the thoughts running through my mind. 

 "I need to get back to the gym, too. I feel like I've been stress eating. You know what I'm like. Sometimes I try so hard to be calm that I end up becoming the opposite," Emmy told me, as she moved a hand over one of her braids. Her arms were still fairly toned, despite her worries. I couldn't say that I was surprised by this matter when I knew that Emmy had become a key component of Ryder's sport team, as well as being a loyal member to the gym in town. 

I allowed my own hair to fall over my shoulders, as I looked towards her with an understanding expression. 

 "I think that I relied on you for so long but...you're my best friend, too. You deserve to be able to rely on me and I need to be able to rely upon myself. I think that I could have saved myself so much heartbreak, if I had only taken a step back from the situation and realised that I didn't need to be in a relationship with you to be happy, Emmy. I simply needed you to be a part of my life," I told her. 

Emmy nodded as she thought over my words and then turned to me with a smile. 

"And I will be a part of your life, Phoebe. I will always be here for you. I will always be your best friend," she told me. 

I felt my heart warm at her sweet words and moved in a little closer, so I could wrap my arms around her in a hug and Emmy hugged me back. 

"You're the greatest," she said, with a smile, in spite of the tears in her eyes. 

"So are you. That's why you're my friend, Ems," I reminded her. 

"Forever," she said. 

"Of course," I replied.