Chapter 23

Emma spent the next day moving her things from her old room into her father’s room. She was going to sleep in there now in case her father needed her at night. The room was large enough for her old twin bed, but Jane would allow her to move it.

“This is my room now!” she screeched. “I will not share a room with that useless man!”

Emma was given an old sleeping bag as a bed. Going through her old things was hard. Among her things were many mementos of her childhood. Photos of her mother, of the three of them together, and some of her mother’s jewelry and clothes, her old toys and baby clothes, and some of her father’s old things from before he let the alcohol take him. Her mother was beautiful. Emma wished she looked more like her. Skye Wells had long, thick and luxurious, shiny black hair. Her golden skin glowed in the sunlight, and her hazel eyes were bright with love.

​ Pieces of a life, long gone and forgotten, were scattered around her. Emma sobbed for a long time, with the remnants of her happiness strewn about. Her mother would be horrified to see what had become of them.

​ Emma set a framed photo of the three of them on a nightstand next to her father’s bed. It was taken on Emma’s fourth birthday. Doting parents stood on other side of a giddy child with a cake covered face.

​ “Here’s something for you. A memory of when we were happy.”

​ Emmett managed a small smile, and Emma smiled back. She fed him, cleaned him and changed him, gave him his medicine, and made sure he was comfortable. He fell to sleep in the early evening, and Emma decided that would be the perfect time to go back to her dorm room, and take her things. She’d let Vivian know she could move back if she wanted. She would also have to notify the school she was leaving the dorms.

​ “I’ll be back, Daddy,” she kissed his forehead.

​ “Where are you going?” Anna asked as Emma was walking out.

​ “Going to get my stuff from the dorm,” Emma answered. Talking to Anna was on the bottom of her priorities list.

​ “You can’t be gone long. You know Mom isn’t going to take care of him,” Anna jeered. “And I won’t either. That’s your job.”

​ “You won’t have to. He’s asleep, and won’t need anything. I’m going now. I’ll be back in the morning,” she said before Anna could stop her with anything else.

​ She would have to commute to classes now. It was a good thing she didn’t live far from campus, but she would have to rearrange her entire life. Emma wondered if there would be a day that her life could finally belong to her. It always seemed that someone else owned her. Jane had turned her into a servant in her own home, and then sold her to some random old man. Then she turned around and sold herself to a rich, egotistical playboy. Now her father needed her around the clock. When would she ever get to live for herself?

​ “Get real, Emma,” she said to no one. “That’ll never happen.”

​ She arrived to the dorms, and was surprised to find Sabrina waiting for her outside.

​ “Hey,” Sabrina greeted with a large hug. “I was just about to call you.”

​ “Hi,” Emma smiled. “Sorry. Have you been waiting long?”

​ “No, I just got here. How are things with your dad?”

​ “He woke up yesterday, and was discharged from the hospital.”

​ “That’s great!”

​ “Yeah, but he’s got a long way to go. He wanted to go home, so… I have to move back to take care of him.”

​ “Emma no,” Sabrina lamented. “You can’t go back there.”

​ “I have to. You know Jane and Anna won’t take care of him, and he’s basically a vegetable right now. He can’t take care of himself.”

​ “Sweetie, I’m sorry. You know Jess and I are here for you.”

​ “I know,” Emma said taking Sabrina’s hand.

​ “Well, I came by because there is something very important that I want to share with you. Can I steal you for a little while?”

​ “Sure, I guess.” Emma answered.

​ “Great!” Sabrina dragged Emma away and back towards her car. Sabrina was practically vibrating with joy as they got in her car. Her smile was electric and Emma couldn’t help but smile back.

​ “What are you so excited about?” Emma asked with a giggle. She’d never seen her friend in such a state.

​ “I am taking you to meet my boyfriend!” Sabrina squealed. Emma was surprised. Sabrina was beautiful and popular. She’d gone on a few dates, but she never had a real relationship. And Emma had never met any of the men Sabrina dated. Who could have been so amazing that Sabrina wanted her best friend to meet them?

​ “He must be pretty awesome,” Emma commented.

​ “He is! You know him.” Sabrina winked.

​ “Really? Who is he?”

​ “You’ll see.”

​ They pulled up to a small club, and Emma balked.

​ “I’m not dressed for a club, Sabrina!” She was dressed in black leggings, and one of her mother’s old tunic tops. Her hair was down, but it was a mess and she didn’t have a stitch of makeup on.

​ “You look great, and we’ll only be there for a bit,” Sabrina assured and ushered Emma out of the car and into the club. As they got to the bar, Emma saw a familiar someone. And much to her surprise, they were heading right for him.

​ And to her shock and amazement, Sabrina wrapped her arms around him, and he reciprocated with a kiss.

​ “Hey, Brina,” he greeted, his eyes soft as he looked at her. The bruise around left eye was healing, but it didn’t seem like he minded at all.

​ “Hey, Alex. You remember my friend Emma, right? Emma, you remember Alex?”

​ What a surprise. This was the last person she would have expected. Their first interaction involved Alex being punched in the face. But they looked positively smitten with each other. They must have hit it off after that night.

​ “Hello, Alex,” Emma greeted.

​ “Hey there Emma,” he said with a small smile. She could tell he was slightly uncomfortable, but she believed maybe he felt awkward around her. There was a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach, but she pushed it away. This man was with her best friend.

​ “I know we met under… interesting circumstances,” Alex began. “but I really care about your friend.”

​ “You better,” Emma said, trying to sound intimidating. “If you hurt her in anyway, I’ll give you worse than a black eye. And don’t even get me started on what Jess will do to you.”

​ “Noted,” Alex smiled.

​ “Let’s go to our table,” Sabrina said, clapping her hands together.

​ “No!” Alex said, a little too fast. “I mean, it’s really loud back there. We should stay up here a while.”

​ “Don’t be silly,” Sabrina scolded. “We’ll be much more comfortable at our table.” Sabrina grabbed Emma’s hand and began to lead her through the club. Alex was visibly distressed, but followed close behind. The club was loud, and dark. They navigated through an ocean of sweaty, gyrating bodies dancing to hip hop music. Emma longed to be that carefree. Her only worries should have been her grades, her job, and what to wear to go clubbing. The weight of the world sat on her shoulders, and she wasn’t sure how much longer she’d be able to hold on.

​ Sabrina kept a firm hold of her hand as they weaved their way through the dancers, and Alex was close behind them. As they neared their reserved table, they heard a familiar, but unwelcome, voice.

​ “Shit,” Sabrina cussed under her breath. “Of all the places, why here? Why is she always around?”

​ Emma cursed internally. That voice would be burned into her mind, and always seemed to find her at the worst times. Vivian Stone.

​ “Oh, you’re so bad!” Vivian’s repulsively sweet, overtly flirtatious carried over the din. “We’re in public.”

​ Sabrina’s face was screwed up in disgust as she looked over in Vivian’s direction. Alex came up next to them.

​ “Oh no,” he lamented.

​ Emma followed their gaze, and saw Vivian tangled up with a man. Emma froze. Vivian hadn’t wasted any time.

​ It was William Stewart.