Before It Ends • Hessa • Emery Scott

𝔽𝕚𝕗𝕥𝕪 𝕋𝕨𝕠

"I get what you mean." Mrs. Scott nods her head. "I went to WSU in Washington. That's actually where I met Emery's father."

"I've researched WSU. It sounds like a good college and the location is pretty nice." I nod my head, "it's expensive as heck though. I've got to find a job around here soon or all my savings for college will be gone in no time." I chuckle a little, "no rush for me yet though. Just turned seventeen last month. I've got time."

A huge smile takes Mrs. Scott's face and I look down at Emery to see her looking at the floor, her face pale. I almost question her, but catch myself before I do so. She wouldn't like that. Her mother doesn't seem to notice as she continues, "you let me know if you ever plan to go there. I might be able to hook you up."

I suddenly feel awkward. I hate when people try to help me out with things. Especially things so big. It makes me feel obligated to return the favor. "I'll let you know." I mutter and Emery sighs.

"I think I'm going to head out, mom. I want to get to the hotel and take a long bath."

"Okay honey. It was nice meeting you Cole." She waves to me and opens her arms for Emery. I can practically feel Emery's nerves as she tenses but she gives her a small hug anyways. "Bye Emery. I love you."

"Bye." Emery says, walking out the door with her eyes to the floor. I furrow my eyebrows. She isn't going to say I love you back? Mrs. Scott doesn't seem to mind as she waves at the both of us, asking us to tell Mr. Scott to come in.

Emery spoke a few words with her father before we left, but I could tell she was ready to get out of there.

We walked silently to my rum contaminated truck. I can see the gears turning in her head as we part ways, me to the drivers side, her to the passengers.

It takes her a minute to hop into my truck because she's doing something on her phone. As she plops her butt into the seat, she also plops the phone onto the dashboard, displaying the maps and an address. "Take me here." She demands and I can tell she's in a bad mood.

Why is she in such a bad mood? "Wh- what?" I mutter mindlessly, picking her phone up and scanning the address. "This is a bar, Emery."

"Yeah..." she replies sarcastically, pulling the seatbelt over herself.

"Emery, you aren't old enough. They won't let you drink—"

"I'll find a way."

"Tell me why first." I insist, moving my hand away from the gear shift.

"I think you know fucking why." She snaps as if I can read her feelings like a fucking book. It's not that easy. I can't read minds.

"No Emery. Please enlighten me on this sudden urgency to drink." I fling my hands as I speak, my eyes widening.

"Take me to the bar first." She crosses her arms, looking out the window. "Take me or
I'm fucking walking there."

I don't move, my head pushes back against the headrest and my eyes fixated on the white Toyota Sienna parked in front of me. I quickly turn my head when I hear the truck door open and I speak up quickly. "Alright, Emery. Get back in." I snap aggressively, putting the truck in gear. "You are really damn difficult, you know that?"

"Oh no... please enlighten me." She mocks me, leaning her head onto the window.

"I'm going to the hotel." I say as I pull out of the driveway and she only shrugs.

"I'll walk to the bar from there too."

I sigh, trying to think of my options. Either she walks there alone, not having a way back, or she has me to drive her back to the hotel when she's wasted. I turn left as Siri tells me to, letting out an aggressive sigh as I do so.

What else am I supposed to fucking do? And why the fuck is she so damn mad?

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EMERY.

He used his fucking college savings to get me a hotel? Why the fuck would he do that? I'm not that important. Definitely not as important as college, somewhere he actually wants to go. To me, college is fucking stupid, but if he wants to go there, why stop him?

When I don't see him move for the gear shift, I pop open his door, unbuckling my seatbelt, "okay, Emery." He snaps, "get back in." He sounds very angry. I would be too, I guess. So if he's so angry, maybe he'll stop fucking using his savings for a hotel. I'm not worth it. He should fucking know that too. "You are really damn difficult, you know that?" He spits as we inch out of the parking lot.

A soft sliver of pain spreads through my heart, but I push it to the back of my mind. "Oh no... please enlighten." I say sarcastically.

After a few more aggressive lines from each other, I have won, and he is taking me to the bar. Maybe then he will see how fucked-up I am. I am no one to use your college fund on.

"You coming in?" I ask with lifted eyebrows and he rolls his eyes pulling his phone out of his pocket.

"Don't bring me into this." He mutters, sinking into the drivers seat.

"I'll be a minute." I shut the truck door, the closer I get to the glorious liquid, the more I feel at home. Not only is Cole using his fucking college funds on me, but my mom is in the fucking hospital and I've finally moved passed my shock and am now grieving. I have technically been grieving ever since it happened, but I've gotten to the next stage: Getting rid of this pain. Let me grieve how I want to.

I open the door to see multiple people circling tables and filling in the stools at the bar.

I plop down into one of the seats, staring down the bartender until he'd look at me. He sees me and gives me a small smirk, asking what I want. "Anything strong would do the trick."

That's Tailey's line. Every time we'd go to a bar instead of the house party, she'd always say that. I huff as I think about it. I haven't been out with Tailey since Robby was alive— before she fucking touched him.

"Here you are m'lady." He passed me the drink, quickly leaning in to whisper into my ear. "And I know you're not of age... but you seem old enough to pay me back for this."

I flinch at the seductive tone laced in his voice and I shake my head. "Not interested in bartenders." I reply shortly, taking a sip from the drink.

It burns my chest as I swallow and I squint my eyes. The familiar burn feels comforting. I love it.

◉‿◉

𝙰𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛'𝚜 𝙽𝚘𝚝𝚎

I'm sorry but I had to.

Chapter fifty two: Feb. 20, 2021