Chapter 49: sacking

Emilia

New York sounds good you know

Lu

does that mean what I think it means?

It does

you're coming with me?

I'll come to New York with you

te quiero mucho Em

yo también Lu

„So that was our last year at school. What are your plans, García siblings?", Guzman joins Samu and I as we sit in school waiting for our next lesson. „I'll probably apply for the law study programme", Samu answers his question, „And I'll need another job. What are your plans?" „I'll study business administration. Em, what about you?"

I don't know if it's even the right moment to tell him but I don't want to lie to him either. „I'll go to New York with Lu." „You.. What?!" „Em, what?", Samu and Guzman exclaim almost at the same time. „She asked me a few days ago and I wasn't sure about it. But Ander broke up with me yesterday. So when you two are done with fucking Las Encinas, there's nothing holding me here."

„We're still here in Madrid. Em, don't leave.. why haven't you told us anyways?" „I've decided yesterday so I didn't even have the chance to tell you before this moment." „Em", Guzman says softly and gives me a sad look, „Don't tell me that you're serious. We finally have the chance to see what might happen between us."

„I-", I begin but am soon interrupted by screams coming from the other side of the lockers, Polo and Valerio. I don't even understand what they are talking about but as soon as they start to beat each other, Guzman, Rebe and Samu run up to them and try to pull them away from each other. I try to help but Guzman tells me to keep distance and even when I try to come closer he makes me stay away from the dispute.

„What is going on here?", Azucena immediately comes out of her office, the look on her face telling us that she's disappointed and that this will have consequences. „You four wait here. Emilia, Polo, you can leave." „What?! Polo? Is this about his parents again?!", Samu yells and tries to start a fight with Polo but both of them are held back luckily. Azucena repeats herself and tells the others to stay and Polo and me to leave. I look at Guzman and Samu worriedly but they also tell me to go and that they would see me when they're done so I decide to wait in front of the school's building.

„Shit, mamá", I hear Ander above me. „I'm sorry, Ander. I didn't know what to do." „Samu is Em's brother. He doesn't deserve it." „Ander, I didn't do it because I wanted to. I had to do it. I'm being watched by my own principal already. Too much has happened in the past two years at this school. I had to be strict." „It's just not fair." „I know and I also know that you don't want Emilia or her family to have problems but they will deal with it. It's not your own issue." „She.. I just.. They don't deserve it." „I know but we have to concentrate on ourselves now."

As soon as everyone found out that Guzman, Samu, Rebe und Valerio are kicked out, new troubles arise. Guzman told me that he's talked to Ander about it and now Ander wants to quit school as well. That's why we decided to visit him together. „Why don't you get it? And why are you even here, Em? Wasn't I clear?" „We do get it", Guzman denies and looks at me softly because of Ander's comment.

„You, for example, they threw you out and then? Nothing happens because you can graduate next year but I don't have that next year. Is that so hard to understand?" „Okay, you don't have next year. But what do you want to do? Your mom said you want to be alone all the time and that's a stupid plan, man." „Guzman, you're not going to understand me, never."

„I understand that you want to spend your time the way you want to and if you want to quit school, then do so", I intervene calmly, „You can also go skydiving, I don't care, but please don't push us away. Because if it's really true and you die, I don't think that you want to be alone the last days." „She's right, Ander. Without your family, your friends, Em." „Don't-" Ander tries to push us away already but Guzman pulls him into a hug quickly.

„I'm sorry", Guzman finally speaks when we are on our way back home. „For what?" „For earlier, for what he's said, for asking you to decide between us." „There's no need to apologize for any of that." „No, it was stupid of me to make you decide. I shouldn't have done that." „Why do you regret it so suddenly?" „I've realized that you will never like me as much as you like Ander. You've always been meant to be together."

„Even if that was true, it's a fact that Ander and I are not together anymore." „What about New York? Isn't that why we wouldn't even have a chance?", Guzman suddenly stops and looks at me sadly, „I don't want to lose you, Em. I can't." „You won't lose me, I promise. But can you please also promise me that we will enjoy the rest of the time that I will spend here? Please let's just have a good time."

„What are you thinking about?" „I still need a dress for graduation. Will you help me find one?", I ask with a kind smile knowing that he hates going shopping. „I see, you want to be the only one who enjoys this time", he replies chuckling but nods so we walk to the city and enter the first store. I see a lot of good dresses as soon as I look around and take a few of them with me to the fitting room.

„Are you done yet?", Guzman sighs after I've changed for the fifth time and haven't asked him to take a look at it so he must think that I'm still trying on the first piece. This time, I feel a bit better especially since there's nothing left that interests me so I open the curtain and wait for his opinion. Guzman waits for a second, then opens his mouth and comes closer to me to look me into my eyes. „You look incredible, Em", he says as softly as I've never heard him before.

„Really? Should I take this one?" „Please", he nods and lets his hand rest on my cheeks slowly moving his head closer to mine. I close my eyes and kiss him softly. Guzman's hands move down my sides quickly and I let my hand rest in his neck so I can pull him closer to me.

„Excuse me, would you please relocate this to somewhere else?", a woman behind us clears her throat making us pull away from each other quickly. „Yes, sorry", I apologize with a nervous smile until she leaves us alone again. „Well, where should we relocate this to?", Guzman smiles while I close the curtain again and change my clothes. „Our apartment is the closest and I think Samu isn't at home." „I can't wait."