And Then He Fell

Chapter 15

Happy Easter!  Here's the next chapter. I hope you like it!

I included a little pic of a campfire by a lake.  :-)

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DREW

Em was quiet on the way home. She kept opening her mouth like she wanted to say something, then she'd look away and stay silent. She looked upset, and I was convinced that Ellie must have something to do with it.

"What did she do this time?" I asked, mad that Ellie had upset Em yet again.

"You'll have to ask her," she answered, wiping her hand across her forehead.

"Did she hurt you?" I asked, careful not to sound like I was willing to break Ellie's arm if she was mean to Em.

Em laughed. "Nope, this time, she might have hurt you. You need to talk to that girlfriend of yours. Just give her a day or two to come to you first," she said.

What now? My patience with Ellie was running out. On one hand, I felt terrible for not being a better boyfriend. On the other, I felt like Ellie brought some of it on herself. I had never realized how superficial she could be until the Mitzy incident. Not to mention, I'd been living with her polar opposite lately, and liking it way more than I should.

"That girl," I started.

"Give her a break, Drew. She's pretty messed up about this mistake. I think she honestly regrets what she's done," Em exclaimed.

I couldn't get over how nice Em was to Ellie, even when Ellie did not return the sentiment. A feeling of warmth spread through me as I appreciated Em's big heart, and I wondered how I'd managed to survive with her despising me all these years.

"If you say so," I responded.

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A few of us guys and our girls decided to spend Sunday afternoon at the lake. It was the usuals : Jacey and Manny (this week's guy), Mike and Jen (his fall back date), Kristy and Tommy, Justin and Katie, as well as Jake and Em. We had built a fire, and we were all sitting around it, talking about what was happening this week. I was trying to contribute to the conversation, but my eyes kept gravitating toward Em and Jake, who were making out across the fire. His hands were all over her, and I was slowly becoming irritated. I knew he was pretty handsy. Why did I ever set him up with Em?

Because she thinks you cheated her out of a chance with Colin from middle school, I told myself. She doesn't realize that I did no such thing.

"What's the matter, Sweetie?" Ellie asked. I thought about the fact that she had yet to tell me whatever it was Em had alluded to in the car the night before. When I looked across the fire, and saw Jake lying on Em in the sand, despite all of us still being there, and her arms wrapped around his body, I could feel my blood pressure rising.

"Nothing," I managed to say, even though I wanted nothing more than to rip off Jake's arms, so that he could no longer touch Em. I was being irrational. He was her boyfriend, he had a right to touch her if she liked it. And it looked like she really liked it.

"You look mad," she said. I knew she was just concerned, but I couldn't take it.

"I am mad, okay? And I can't do this anymore," I exclaimed, as I stood up and stormed off.

I knew that they were all probably wondering where I was going and what I was doing. I was wondering where I was going and had no idea what I was doing. All I knew was that I had to get out of there. I knew that I didn't want Jake touching Em. I knew that I could no longer deny what I had been trying so hard to ignore for awhile now. I knew I was completely and totally in love with Emily Martin. I couldn't run from it anymore, and I had no idea what to do about it.