Tip Toe [Sequel to Could only Imagine]

Chapter 9

I walk into work with my heart and head pounding. 

"You don't have to do this on your own Emily!" Alex says, following me with gabe on her heals. "Please let us stay and help you!"

"Come on Emily! We know that you are strong. You don't have to prove that to us! There is a very high chance that Cole will be here wanting answers! And by the way that he treated you before, he is going to do everything in his power to get them!" Gabe try to explain. I turn around annoyed.

"I know that I don't have to prove anything to you two. But what about Cole? It will make him even more mad if I have two bodyguards watching every single person who enters this restaurant." I argue. The truth is though that I didn't want to prove anything to Cole. I just can't stand anymore pity. Every day of my life since I have lived back with Gabe and Alex is pity. They look at my and treat me like I am an emotionally messed up child that could break at the slightest touch. That is why I need to do this on my own. Plus I need to prove to myself that I didn't need them. How are you supposed to know if you can live without the pity and babysitting without breaking free of it.  

"Emily Come on! You don't need to prove anything to Cole! Please just let us be here for you!" Alex begs.

"No!" I shout. They both wince and my loud voice and I instantly regret it. "I'm sorry. I just need to do this. I highly doubt that Cole will come today. He will probably confront me after my shift is over because when I'm in my shift I am working and can't talk." I lie. "And then you guys can be here once my shift is over, so you can make sure that he stays away.

"Okay Emily. Call us if you need anything."  Alex finlay says. 

"Be careful" Gabe commands before pulling me into a hug. Then they left. The worry grew as I flipped the sign from closed to open.

 The truth was I know that there was no chance that Cole would leave this alone. He has changed since I knew him all of those years ago. I guess I have changed too, but not as bad as he has. He is more violent and needy.   And sadly, I'm right. Five minutes into my shift Cole Pendery walks up to the counter, luckily without his group. 

"What would you like to order?" I ask comely as if nothing was wrong and Cole doesn't know that I am Emily the girl that he loved. Cole was having none of it.

"I would like a tall explanation on why the Hell you lied to me." Cole says. I gulp.

"I'm sorry Cole but I am at work right now and I can't talk. If you aren't going to order anything please let the next person go." I state. That is when I realize that there is no one but me and cole here. Dalton called in sick. Cole turns around and changes the sign to closed. As he goes I turn and run for the back door. 

"GET BACK HERE!" Cole screams in anger and runs after me. I get out and run through the ally. But just like me I trip and Cole catches up. He hauls me up and pins me to the wall. I gulp as my heartbeat quickens. "Now Emily, you need to tell my why the hell you lied to my face about who you were. I thought you were dead Emily. DEAD! And then suddenly out of no where I get a twitter alert that the only girl that I have ever truly loved is still alive. And when I go to her new youtube channel so I can hear her beautiful voice again what do I learn. THAT SHE HAS SEEN ME AND KNOWS WHERE I LIVE! And did she even try to tell me who she was? NO!" He lets me go but keeps me cornered as he looks around in anger and dismay. "I loved you Emily." He says softly. But then he shouts "AND I STILL DO! No matter how much I try to forget and move on, you still find a way of getting into my head. Everyday I looked at my texts, my twitter, and my email for word from you. FOR FIVE YEARS!" And then he smacked me. My cheek burned. His eyes were pits of angry fire. There was none of the boy I fell in love with who would never get mad and yell at me. I had destroyed the only person I have ever loved and turned him into a monster. I try to run past him, to get away, but he grabs my wrists hard and throws me up against the brick wall.

"C-Cole please" I stutter tears threatening to spill. I lay crumpled on the ground when I finally started to cry. I cried for the pain in every part of me. I cried for the Cole Pendery that I had ruined, and the pain in my head enveloped me and I blacked out. 

Cole POV

That is when I finally snap out of it. That the sound of her broken voice. I am a monster. Why would she ever tell a monster who she really is, just so he can hurt her even more? And that is what I did. I broke her. I was the only one that she has ever loved, and now she is probably never going to love again. And it is all my fault. I look down at her broken form, my vision blurred by tears. And that is when I see her eyes shut.

"Emily!" I scream in horror. I bend down and try to get her to wake up. "Emily! Emily I am so sorry. Please stay with me! Wake up please!" I can barely see now as I pick her up into my arms. I grab her follen phone and found Gabe's phone contact. 

"Hello? Emily are you alright?" Gabe asks.

"Gabe! Gabe I fucked up! I fucked up! A-and now sh-she i-is bl-blac-cked out-t a-and it-t is-s a-all m-m-my fa-fault an-d p-please h-hurry!" I sob. 

"Cole is that you? I'm coming. Breath. What happened?" Gabe says and I hear his car starting and two car door's slamming.

"I-I am a m-monst-ter gabe! I-I'm-m a mon-onst-ter! Th-this i-is a-all m-my fau-ault-t!" I sob, running her inside Starbucks and laying her down on a table. 

"What is your fault? I am almost there Cole. Calm down and tell me what happened." Gabe sooths.

"I-I wa-as m-mad a-and le-et m-my a-anger cont-trole m-me. I fo-orgot-t t-o tak-ake my m-medisin th-this morni-ing." I sob harder.

"Wait your medicine? So you can't control your anger?" Gabe asks. 

"N-no I-I g-got th-the me-edicine th-the oth-ther we-week. E-every ti-time Emi-ily ha-as seen m-me I-I am- wi-ithout m-my me-edic-cine" I explain, not even sure if Gabe can understand me thru the sobs.

"I understand. I am outside. I'm coming in" And with that Gabe hangs up. Seconds latter Gabe and Alex run in. When alex sees Emily tears come to her eyes. I am sitting in the corner with my knees up to my chest. When Gabe sees me, he stares at me for a second. The last time that he saw me like this was right after Emily was taken. I was a complete wreck for weeks. I meet his gaze, and his face is expressionless. 

"Alex take her to the car. I'll deal with Cole," Gabe commands. Alex nods and takes Emily out of the building.  Gabe just stares at me for what seems like forever, but was probably only seconds. My eyes are puffy and red, and I still have tears falling down my face. Gabe walks up to me and offers me a hand. I take it, thinking he is going to help me stand up so he can punch me. Instead, he pulls me into a hug. 

"I missed you bro" He whispers.

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GUESS WHOS BACK BACK BACK BACK AGAIN-GAIN-GAIN. EMILY'S BACK BACK BACK PLEASE DON'T BE MAD MAD MAD.

So I don't have any excuses. I have had major writer's block this summer, and have been majorly lazy. So, to make up up to you guys I am taking my other book of Hiatus and I'm giving you a nice long chapter on both of my stories! And don't worry, this story will have a happy ending. Or will it? BUM BUM BUUUUUUM!