Emily wished she could hide her face under a paper bag as Angela wheeled her from the emergency room to the car in a wheelchair. How embarrassing she thought, cringing at how stupid she must seem. Angela had raced to the ER as quickly as she could, both women terrified that Emily must have something very wrong with her. When they'd gotten into the ER and found out the wait time, Angela had caused a scene, screeching about the severity of head injuries and how she would sue the pants off of everyone in the hospital if Emily wasn't seen immediately. Even then, Emily wished she could disappear from sheer embarrassment, but she was grateful that there was someone that worried for her wellbeing. She'd eventually calmed Angela and apologized to the hospital staff for the hullabaloo, before sitting in a corner, far away from everyone else where she could die in shame.
Eventually, they had called her back and she had explained what had happened to her up to this point. The doctor decided they should take a scan of her head, just to be safe. After the anxiety of waiting through the scan and then waiting for the results, Emily had been about to lose her mind when her ER doctor walked back in and informed her that other than slight swelling to the back of her head, and probably bruising there was nothing wrong with her. There was no reason for the sudden, severe pain that had ripped through her head earlier that day. Horrified that she had apparently made a mountain out of a molehill, Emily tried hard not to cry. Angela could see that her friend was losing it and had started rubbing comforting circles on her back and murmuring reassurances. I've wasted everyone's time. I'm going to owe so much money for nothing. Maybe it wasn't as bad as I thought it was. Embarrassed and condemning thoughts plagued her mind all the way to the car.
Emily was shaken out of her self-deprecating inner monologue when she felt Angela patting her shoulder. She blinked her eyes rapidly and looked up at her friend, biting the inside of her bottom lip as her face began to crumple.
"Oh, Emily," Angela said, kneeling down to wrap her arms around her friend. She patted her back as Emily's shoulders shook with silent sobs. "Emily, it is okay."
"I f-feel so stu-stupid," she choked out, as she tried to stop her tears. Angela continued patting her back and tried to gently calm her friend. Emily shook her head back and forth, pulling out of Angela's hug, gasping for air. "I-I w-wasted everyone's t-time! And-and now I am going to o-owe so m-much money and th-there isn't even anything wro-wrong with m-me!!" Emily's voice sounded ragged by the end of her outburst and Angela's heart broke just a little bit to see her friend so embarrassed and worked up. She released Emily and made her way to the passenger side door of the car, opening it so Emily could get in. Once Emily had dragged herself into the car and buckled up, Angela re-locked the doors and ran the wheelchair back into the ER.
As she hurried to the car she thought about how to help Emily feel better. Emily had always been more sensitive than most; it was one of the things that made her such a sweet person and friend, but it was also something that hindered her and at times would drag her under if she didn't use logic to think things through. Emily was very capable of using logic, but she was more of a feelings person if Angela had ever met one. As she rounded the car, she knew what she was going to do.
"Emily," Angela began as she opened the door and slid into the driver's seat. "You don't need to be embarrassed." She glanced at Emily and fixed her with a look when Emily opened her mouth to protest. "No. You do not need to feel embarrassed. Something scary happened to you and you wanted to be sure that there was nothing wrong with you." Emily started shaking her head in disagreement. "I'm serious, Emily," Angela continued. "It is always better to be safe than sorry. What if you had brushed it off and it had been something serious?? You'd have felt even worse then and would owe way more money than you do now. You know Ralph and I would be happy to help you with the cost if you need it."
Emily nodded her head as Angela talked. Everything she was saying was true and Emily knew it. Why do I overreact like this she thought irritably to herself. Looking over at Angela, she wiped her tears before shooting her friend a small smile. "I know you're right, Angela. And I'm sorry I overreacted. I can't accept your money though. I can make it work, things will just be tight."
Angela leaned over the center console and wrapped her arms around Emily. "I understand, Em. I'm so, so glad you're okay," she murmured quietly.
"Me too," Emily answered, appreciating that Angela never judged her, no matter how ridiculous her actions. She pulled back from the hug and Angela shot her a grin, sticking the key in the ignition to start up the car.
"Are you ready for some fun??" Angela asked, a mischievous look on her face.
///
When Angela had asked if she was ready for some fun, she hadn't thought she meant hanging out at Angela and Ralph's house. Angela almost never wanted to hang out there, unless Ralph wasn't going to be cooking. As she exited the car and made her way to the house, she couldn't help but admire her friend's beautiful home. Beautiful, colorful flowers lined the drive and the front of the house. The house itself was brick and had a beautiful wrap around porch where she and Angela usually ate Ralph's concoctions so they could throw most of it into the bushes in front of the house. When they reached the front door, it was yanked open before Angela could even insert her key in the lock.
"My darling," Ralph crowed, throwing his arms wide for a hug. Angela shook her head, and though Emily couldn't see her face she was sure that Angela had rolled her eyes before hugging her husband. Ralph was very tall, and Angela, though taller than Emily was still dwarfed by her husband. Emily stifled giggles as she watched the pair. From the outside it made no sense for the two to be together, and honestly, sometimes knowing what she knew about the two as individuals, Emily was surprised they were married, but opposites attract and all that she supposed. Angela was was whimsical and bohemian, always favoring flowy skirts and colorful scarves. She was caring and dependable, which came as a shock to some people, based solely on her appearance. People were typically shocked by Ralph, too. With Ralph's professional appearance everyone always assumed he was very serious and dour. The assumption was wrong; Ralph was almost never serious. The man loved joking and being overly silly, much to his wife's chagrin. Ralph was tall and slim, with pitch black hair; he was a very good looking man and he never let anyone forget it. Ralph released Angela from his very enthusiastic, apparently nearly bone crushing hug and fixed his sparking, mischievous eyes on Emily.
"Emily," he cried in a sing-songy voice. "How good to see you!! Are you joining us for dinner?" Emily smiled and nodded at the eager man. "Wonderful!" Ralph said, turning abruptly and making his way into the house. Emily and Angela shared a look, before following him. Emily kicked her shoes off at the front door and let Angela know she was going to use the restroom before joining them in the kitchen. After having taken care of business and washing her hands, Emily made her way to the kitchen. She was almost there when she heard Angela and Ralph having a heated discussion.
"We cannot let this happen!" Angela whispered, strain evident in her voice. Emily paused in the hallway, not wanting to eavesdrop, but curious what was causing Angela and Ralph such strain.
"What do you want me to do??" Ralph whispered back, obviously trying to remain calm.
"Something. Anything. But not this. Never this." Angela replied, her voice softening from anger to sadness by the end. Feeling guilty for having listened this long, Emily forced a smile on her face and made her way out of the hallway and around the corner into the kitchen.
"So what's for dinner?" Emily asked, infusing as much perkiness into her voice as she could. Ralph and Angela jumped when they heard her voice. Angela leaned back against the counter, placing a hand on her chest, eyes wide as she looked at Emily, and Ralph placed both hands on his head, turning his back on the room. "Uh, is everything okay?" Emily asked, hating that she was pretending to not know that everything was decidedly not okay.
"Everything's fine!" Angela chirped, straightening as she spoke. "I was just convincing Ralph that after the ordeal earlier today you probably wanted something simple, like pizza, rather than something more. . . adventurous like he was originally planning on." Ralph's back was still to the two women so he missed the appreciative grin Emily shot Angela.
"Pizza sounds great," Emily said. Thankful that Angela was saving them both from whatever crazy thing Ralph had planned on cooking up.
"Great," Ralph said, turning to face the women. "I'll call in the usual." He shot them a smile as he left the room, but it never reached his eyes. There were creases between his eyebrows that weren't typically there, causing Emily's chest to tighten. Whatever was going on was causing both Angela and Ralph obvious stress. She felt like a terrible friend. Have there been other signs before this that something was the matter she fretted. She picked at her thumb nail and looked up at Angela, who was watching Ralph's retreating back. She couldn't be so absorbed in herself and Jimin that she wasn't there for Angela when Angela obviously needed her. No matter what, she was going to be a better friend to Angela; she was going to find a way to help her friend.
Y'all I can't believe that Wish has over 900 reads!! What?! That's crazy!! Thanks for all your support!