Chapter 7
Their conversation lasted another 5 minutes before they left the bedroom.
I wanted to intervene. I did. But my legs betrayed me, making me stay put.
Which was probably for the best, anyway.
What was I gonna say? What was I gonna do? Confront them of their lies? Punch them?
All I could do was sit back, and listen to the conversation they probably wanted me to listen to.
It was a joke.
A lie.
Everything they said was lies.
And because of their lies, it ended up with me crying for the first time since I returned to this damn town.
"She should know, shouldn't she? Her mom said she told Jessica, so maybe she told Emma?"
"I doubt it Jason, she seems pretty clueless. Not anything new."
"If Jessica knows, so does she. I know it."
I choked back on a sob, trying to will my tears to stop, but this led to them spilling out more.
They don't deserve to speak about her. Or my mom.
I was doing fine. Perfect. Just perfect. Why did they have to ruin that?
Why did they force me to listen to that conversation about my sister, about my mom, as a part of a prank?
What feels like hours later, my eyes finally stopped producing tears.
Standing up, I dust myself off and leave the room, only to face the beating music.
I guess I wasn't in there for too long.
Jogging downstairs, I text the girls in our group chat that I'm heading home and that they can stay over if they wanna avoid seeing their parents drunk.
Once I've reached my front door, Anna texted saying she'd be over soon.
Responding with an okay, I rush upstairs into my bedroom, and open my nightstand.
Once I've found what I'm looking for, I sit down on my bed silently.
A tear slowly starts traveling down my cheek, and I quickly swipe it off before it reaches my chin.
I put the photo of me, Jessica and mom on the bed beside me and release a shaky breath.
I was doing fine. No, I'm still fine. I'm even better actually. I'm great.
I put the photo of us back inside and slam it shut. Plastering a smile on my face, I begin to walk to the bathroom.
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True to her words, Anna arrived less than an hour later. I didn't speak the whole night, but I knew she wanted to ask me what was wrong.
The next morning her brother picked her up, leaving me with my own thoughts.
"You're a witch."
"She should know."
"If Jessica knows, so does she."
Shaking my head, I try to remove all my thoughts about their conversation, only to end up failing.
So I decided to put Google onto the test.
Who knows, maybe it'll actually be smarter than siri.
I open my laptop and search up do witches exist, only to find countless of links on magic tricks, and things about modern witches.
None of them answering my question of course.
Shutting my laptop, I sit with my back against the headboard and wonder when my life started to get fucked up.
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Sleep wasn't really my friend last night. Being in bed consisted in rolling around trying to find a comfortable position, but failing each time.
Somehow in the middle of the night however, I fell asleep. Thankfully.
I wake up this morning without a wake up call from my dad or my alarm. When I look at my clock I realize that's because it's only 7.00am.
Will dad let me stay home?
I instantly begin shaking my head. No, he'll ask what's wrong, and I'm not necessarily ready to have a conversation about what's wrong with the man who was silent in my life for almost 2 years.
I also have to hand in my English assignment.
Groaning, I hop out of bed and brush my teeth. Once that's finished, I don't bother to brush my hair so I just put it in a ponytail.
I begin looking around my room to find comftorable clothes, shortly ending up with black sweatpants, and a black t-shirt.
Looking at myself in the mirror, I feel like something is missing so I pluck out my black baseball hat from the corner of the mirror and put in on my head.
I look like I'm either gonna bomb the school, or am just feeling anti-social.
Hopefully people assume the second one.
I don't go downstairs until I hear the front door shut.
Once I'm downstairs, I spot the same note my dad has been writing, warning me to drink my orange juice.
I know he's doing something to the juice, which is why I pour it down the sink, killing me in the inside in the process. Why did he have to ruin orange juice for me?
I leave my house later than usual, and end up being 5 minutes late to class.
Just last week I would have pissed myself in fear, but right now I really don't give a fuck.
Thankfully, when I get to class people are scattered everywhere talking to their friends.
I slip inside of the class and pull out my notebook, showing her my completed calculus homework.
Once Mrs. Carlton nodded her head in approval, I put my head down and walk to my seat, where all my friends are staring into my soul.
"You okay?" Jasmine whispers once I'm seated. Just as I'm about to answer, I begin to feel a stinging feeling on my right shoulder.
I turn my head and glare at Lauren, knowing that she can't see it because my cap is hiding my eyes. I would rather not get hit again.
"What the hell Emma! Why did you leave us? The night was so young!" She shouts.
"I-I know. I'm sorry Laur," I mumble as I'm staring down at my fiddling hands.
"Emmy? Are you okay? What happened on Saturday? You were so quiet," she mumbles the last part, worry laced in her voice.
"Nothing! It's nothing you guys should worry about. I promise," I look up until my eyes connect with Anna's. I send her a smile to ease her worry.
I turn to look at Lauren, seeing her mouth open ready to argue, until the teacher interrupts. "What is this, a free period? Get to your seats!"
"We're gonna talk about this later," Lauren says under her breath as she walks to her seat beside Dylan.
Watching more closely, I see Dylan smirk devilishly, and Lauren just smacks him behind his head.
Smiling, I turn my head to look outside and stare at the trees that are dancing from the wind.
In the corner of my eye, I spot Jason looking at me and I instantly look down to look at my lap.
This is gonna be a long day.
â¡
First period finishes longer than I've expected, but I don't waste any time rushing out.
Feeling slightly guilty for leaving Lauren to fend for herself, I look behind me and see her walking to class with Jason.
I bite my lip and jog to the girls bathroom.
Once I'm in the last stall, my mind begins swarming with thoughts that I keep rethinking.
Why did they leave me? Why did death grab them from my reach when they were mine.
Even if that... story was true, did Jessica really hide it from me? Why did mom hide it from me?
Don't think that Emma, don't fall into their prank. Don't let them win. Most importantly, don't let Lucas win.
Suddenly, the entry door swings open.
"Emma? You in here?"
Jason.
I didn't realize I had to be quiet until I felt droplets of tears running down my face.
I hold my breath until suddenly it's too much. I silently gasp for a breath of air, and I immediately hear Jason's sharp intake of breath. "Emma?"
In a matter of seconds, his feet are right in front of my door, with his hand over the door hanging for me to reach.
"Are you okay?" He whispers.
I glare at his hand, and continue ignoring him. I rip a piece of toilet paper and begin drying my face.
Once my face has no previous evidence of tears, I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
Unlocking the stall door, I slam it open. Just as I'm in front of the exit, I hear Jason suck in a deep breath.
"Ow," I hear behind me.
I hit him with the door? Awesome.
I rush down the stairs to make it to my English classroom. Once I'm inside, I pull out the assignment and hand it over to Mr. Becker. "Hi I was just wondering, could be dismissed from class? I'm not feeling like my best self right now."
He narrows his eyes at me, but his hard look disappears when he sees my pleading eyes.
Sighing, he stands up from his position on his desk and makes his way to the class phone. "I have to call your parents to conform it's alright."
I nod my head in understanding and begin listing my fathers number.
Once he has dialled the number, my dad answers immediately, and Mr. Becker asks if I could leave. His face softens, and he nods his head, saying I could leave. I give him a grateful smile and leave the class.
As I'm walking past the staircase, I see Jason running down the stairs. "Emma? Where the hell are you going? Class is this way," he shouts.
Ignoring him, I walk a little faster to the main exit and push the door open.
I breathe in the fresh air and smile in relief.
15 minutes later, I open the front door of my house.
Once I've locked the door, I stare around my surroundings, trying to see if I could find a picture of mom anywhere.
I can't, of course.
I'm pretty sure dad threw them all out after that argument they had 2 years ago.
Pictures of Jessica and I are gathered everywhere he could put it. On top of the fireplace, against the wall when you enter the house, and on the walls when you go upstairs.
Everywhere.
Slowly walking up the stairs, I spot the one picture where we are all in.
Jessica was 9 years old, and I was just about to turn 8. We all went to visit mom's sister in Vancouver but it was so boring, so my dad decided to take us all to the aquarium.
It was so much fun, my parents wanted a picture to remember it by, so they asked a worker there to take a picture.
Every single one of us had a huge grin on our face. Jessica and I were squeezing each other in a hug, while my parents hugged each other behind us.
I smile sadly and continue my journey up the stairs.
I lie down on my bed and start thinking about my mom and Jessica.
The only way I'm okay is when I believe that they're still there - in Vancouver. So I put the blame on myself for leaving them. It's easier that way.
I grab the photo from my nightstand, and look directly at their faces.
I instantly know, they're in a much better place.
â¡
I wake up the next morning, feeling much better than I was yesterday.
I know I was in denial. I tend to be in that state of mind a lot.
But I always remember, denial doesn't make anything go away. It just ensures that it never really gets resolved.
And deep down I already knew the truth.
It's hard, but I have to do what they would have wanted me to do.
Live.
Getting out of bed, I brush my hair, which ends up really hurting more than usual.
Probably because I didn't brush it yesterday.
Once my teeth are brushed, I pull off my pajamas and shimmy on denim shorts, and a loose chiffon floral tank top.
After putting on deodorant and perfume, I slide into my grey toms and run down the stairs.
My dad left the cup on the table without no note, so I assume he's getting paper to write one.
I quickly spill the drink, just as I hear his footsteps coming down the stairs.
I hold the glass near my face, and close my eyes. "Ah, so good."
Dad comes to the kitchen and smiles. "Hi hon, you feeling better?"
I nod, and set the empty glass in the sink.
"You want me to drive you?" He asks, and I nod again.
He chuckles, and nods his head once towards the door. "Okay then, let's go."
When I get to school, I check the time to see that the warning bell is only gonna ring in 15 minutes.
To kill time, I head to the library and read on my kindle.
When the warning bell rings shortly after, I go to class and send a small smile to my friends. I feel really bad for leaving like that out of the blue with no explanation.
Thankfully class goes by fast, so I walk to Lauren and ask if she's ready to walk to class.
Nodding she grabs her stuff, and heads my way. "So, are you and Dylan a think now?" I casually ask while we're walking.
She immediately starts coughing frantically, and hits her chest with her hand.
I push her aside of the hall, fear written on my face. "Are you okay?" I whisper-yell.
She clears her throat, and with a groggy voice she responds. "I swallowed my gum."
"One peice?"
"Two."
I flinch, and send her an apologetic look. "Sorry," I drag out the word, and she rolls her eyes.
She begins walking again, and I rush to follow her. "Well, are you?"
"No, we're not. That ass can go and suck his own dick," she lashes out.
She walks faster, and I stare at her back in shock.
â¡
Lauren beats me to class, and is silent for the remaining period.
At lunch we are sitting with each other and Lauren acts like her casual self, but I see through her act.
When the lunch bell rings, Lauren jumps at the chance to leave, which doesn't seem suspicious to anyone.
At least the rest of the day passes smoothly.
Even Lucas. He wasn't annoying today in class, which is something new.
Walking out of Chemistry, I walk past my peers and begin walking through an empty part of the hallway.
Just as I'm about to turn the next corner to go to my locker, a hand suddenly clasps my mouth, and shoves me into a dark room.
â¡
Yay Back to writing!
Exams are done, which equals a happy Lisa.
Thank you all for being patient with me, and also thank you for 1k reads!
You guys are the best.
I also want to bring up what Emma was feeling in this chapter. Denial is a natural thing we all tend to do when we don't want to accept reality, but this can really affect you.
Talk to someone for help, or just to let it out, because you shouldn't be holding it all in without anyone's help.
You are loved, and appreciated.
And if you don't think so, you are to me!
I'll see all you lovelies in the next chapter xx