Emily
I could feel the tears about to start coming down. And I hated myself for it. I didn't want to cry. Not for this.
"Emily please, let me just explain."
"Go ahead. Tell me why you lied to your parents about being at my place. Tell me why you just got out of your ex-girlfriends car. Tell me why you've ignored all my texts since yesterday. Did you know my mom's back?"
"I-"
"Of course you did. You had to have checked your phone. You just didn't care. Didn't care enough to text back your girlfriend when you know she needed you. So tell me why. I want to hear your explanation."
"Emily please. Calm down, let's just take a breathe and relax. Okay? Come on, sit down." She sat on the couch and motioned for me to sit next to her. I can't let her rope me in, so I stayed standing.
"I can listen from here. Explain why you were ignoring me. And why you were with her."
"I didn't mean to. I just... lost track of time. I was so upset about Ryleigh, and I just got angry."
"Really? This is still about her? I don't like her! It's been barely a week since she got here and you're doing all this because of her? You've got to be kidding me." I turned away from her. I can't believe what I'm hearing, she's so stupid.
"What was I supposed to do? I couldn't talk to you about it, you'd just get mad at me."
"So instead you go to your ex? Right, because I'd never get mad at that."
"Okay, yes. In hindsight, it wasn't the best idea to do that. But-"
"But nothing. You know how I feel about her. After everything she's tried to do to us, you still talk to her. About us."
"Emily I really think you're blowing this way out of proportion."
"Of course you do! Because you're at fault, so I must be the crazy one here."
"I didn't do anything wrong! You're the one that started acting differently when Ryleigh showed up, and then when I finally try and give you what you want, you don't want to do it anymore! Doesn't that seem suspicious to you?"
"Are you fucking kidding me? I knew it, Ryleigh bothered you all this time and then I said no to sex. I knew that's why you were acting so weird."
"Yes. I got upset because of it. I'm not apologizing for that."
"So I guess you aren't apologizing for not being there when I needed you, either." She remained silent and looked away from me. Of course.
"I'm leaving. Don't text me." I started heading for the door, but she grabbed my arm.
"Are you... are we over?"
"I don't know." I pulled away from her, holding back any tears that were trying to come out.
I got back into the car and wiped my eyes. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket.
Jake: dinner is ready. Come home soon
Alright. Time to play this off.
Jake
"I thought I told you to call your sister."
"I texted her. She said okay, she should be on her way back." I was picking at the food in front of me. Apparently moms on some new health kick and we have to suffer with her.
"Fine. So how's school been so far?" She said between bites.
"Good. I guess. Nothing major." I can't tell her about what may or may not be happening with Gabriel.
"I see you're making yourself some new friends. What was his name, again?"
"...Gabriel? He was just here."
"Right, sorry. So you two are... friends, than." She stated more than asked.
"Yup. Just friends. He's straight." Immediatly she relaxed and smiled. Here we go.
"Oh, good. So how come you and Kim didn't work out? You were such a cute couple." Great, let's just bring all those memories back.
"We just didn't, I don't know. We grew apart I guess."
"Oh don't worry, you'll find another girl soon."
The front door opened before we could continue this conversation, thank god. I turned and saw Emily walking in, looking very upset. Oh no.
"Emily, you've joined us. Come, sit. It's still warm."
"In a minute, I'll be right there." She walked upstairs, leaving us in silence. Shit, something happened. Time for me to be a good brother.
"Uhh, I'll be right back mom. Bathroom." I stood and went up, heading right to Emily's room.
I slowly pushed it open, finding her sitting on her bed, taking off her shoes.
"Hey Jake."
"Emily. Hi. Uhh, everything okay?" I asked as I sat down next to her.
"No." She fell back onto her bad, throwing her hands over face. Oh man.
"What happened? Where'd you go?"
"I think Dani's cheating on me." Woah. Wow, that's not at all what I thought she'd say.
"What, seriously? What happened, what did she do?"
"I... I don't know. She's lying to her parents about being with me, and she's ignoring my texts while she's out with her ex."
"Her ex? You mean Tara?"
"Ugh, yes. God, this is all my fault. I told her I didn't want to have sex yet and so she went and-"
"Hey, woah. No, this isn't your fault. You didn't make her go to anyone." I've been down the road of self-pity. Not fun.
"I really think it is. And then the whole Ryleigh thing, I just don't know anymore." I could hear the pain in her voice. Dammit Dani, what the hell? I thought she was over the whole Ryleigh thing.
"None of this is because of you. I can promise you that, it's not your fault that shes upset about something as little as the new girl. And especially not if she's mad about not having sex, she can't force it. Just like you didn't force her."
"I know. I know, I just... I don't know. This is all too much, what am I supposed to do?" I could hear her voice breaking as she spoke, sobs starting to surface.
"Want me to talk to her? Set some shit straight?"
"No, you'll just make things worse."
"How much worse could it possibly get? You're home blaming yourself over something that she did. That's not okay." I pulled out my phone from my pocket and saw a new message. From Dani, perfect.
Dani: I need to talk to you
"Please Jake, promise me you won't get involved. I can handle this just fine."
"Emily.... okay. But only because I don't want to make you any more upset right now."
I stood and headed for the doorway.
"Tell mom to keep some food out, I'll eat it later."
"Alright. I'll be back if you don't eat today." I shut her door and got my phone out again.
Jake: tomorrow. After school
Dani: ok
Well than. Tomorrow should be fun.
Emily
Ugh. Why does Jake always feel the need to do something? Just let me wallow in piece.
But he is just trying to help. Maybe I should just let him talk to her or something.
I checked my phone to see if she tried texting me, but nothing. Of course not, why would she? Gosh, I'm such an ass sometimes. I didn't even let her explain herself completely. I just kept yelling. Maybe I was just overreacting.
I need advice. But I don't wanna bother Jake, especially not today. He just had like, the best day of his life probably with Gabriel over. I don't want to put him in a bad mood. I wonder if Ryleigh... no. She's part of the reason this is happening. I just have to get through this, I'll be fine.