Chapter 31

Emma woke up the next morning with a sore, stiff back, and battered brain. There was so much for her to do. She still had to move her stuff from the dorm, let the school know she was leaving the dorms, go to class, and be back home in time to make sure her father wasn’t left alone. As she prepared his breakfast, her mind raced with the thoughts of last night. William Stewart was always on her mind somehow. He occupied her thoughts in a way she couldn’t stand, but brought her a strange sense of joy. She really didn’t like that.
“Oh great, I’m starving!” Anna called as she walked into the kitchen. “Please make sure it’s not too greasy. I’m watching my figure.” Emma rolled her eyes.
“This is not for you,” she said over the sizzle of the stove. “It’s for my dad.”
“What am I supposed to do? Make my own breakfast?” Anna screeched. Emma turned the stove off, and served the food onto a plate. She loaded it onto a tray and walked towards her father’s room.
“I don’t care what you do. Starve for all I care,” Emma answered without looking at her.
“You can’t treat me that way!” Anna shrieked. “I’m gonna tell Mom!”
Emma looked over her shoulder and spoke with all the venom she could muster.
“Go ahead. She’s not my Mom.” Emma left Anna in the kitchen and tended to her father. She fed him breakfast, and gave him his medications.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can, okay?” She said, and she stroked his hair.
“Good… day… Emma,” he managed to say. He lifted a shaky hand, and Emma grabbed it.
“We’re going to be okay, Daddy. I promise.” She kissed his forehead and left. Anna was still screaming in the kitchen.
During the bus ride, Emma decided to call the Office of Resident Life for school and explain her situation. She was ready to relinquish the dorm room, but they explained that it was already paid for through her financial aid. So, it was hers for the rest of the school year, until graduation. This worked out well for her. She had a place to rest between classes, and now didn’t have to worry about moving her things. With a little extra time to her morning, Emma figured she would spend some time in her room before class. A nap sounded amazing after a long night of tending to her father.
“One thing off the list,” she said. “One less thing to worry about.”
Emma felt lighter as she got to her resident hall. That light feeling was gone when she saw there was someone standing in front of the building, hiding behind a rather large bouquet of flowers. It was beautiful, filled with all of her favorites. Freesias, lilies, tulips and magnolias. A large crowd of girls had gathered to ogle the bouquet. As gorgeous as the flowers were, Emma had no interest to stop and stare at them. She had 90 minutes before class started, and she wanted to spend 80 of them taking a nap. She pushed past whoever it was, and walked into the building.
“Emma, wait,” someone called. Emma turned around, and saw who it was holding the flowers. Matthew David. “I, um… got these for you. I want you to know that Vivian and I have broken up, and I want you back. You were always the girl for me. And, I’m sorry for how things went down between us.”
Emma was flabbergasted. Matt stood before her in a suit, holding all of her favorite flowers. And she felt nothing. Nothing except for aggravation at the sight of him.
“You’re sorry for how things went down between us,” she repeated. “You mean for how you cheated on me with my roommate, tried to blame me for it, then humiliate me in public at every chance you got? Or that I dumped you public and you got stuck with someone who didn’t actually care about you? And now you’re lonely? Which is it?”
Matt was at a loss for words, as he expected for Emma to be pleased about him wanting her back.
“I… well…” he stammered.
“Let me make this easy for you. I. Do. Not. Want. You. Not now. Not ever.” With that, Emma turned around and continued on to her room. Her room was down the hall from the laundry room. And as she neared it, she heard a couple of girls talking.
“I’m only washing a few things because soon I’ll moving to my new boyfriend’s apartment.” It was Vivian’s voice. Of course, she’s here right now.
“You’re moving in with Matt?” the other girl asked.
“Oh no, haven’t you heard? I broke up with Matt. I’m talking about my new boyfriend, William. We’re pretty serious.”
Emma did not want to hear this. The hallway was empty, and there was no avoiding the conversation. Unless she covered her ears and screamed until she got to her room, she would be forced to hear the whole thing.
“Most of my things won’t fit in with my new lifestyle,” Vivian continued.
“So, what? Are you just going to throw out your old things?” The other girl asked.
“Yes. Will is going to buy all new clothes, more elegant and stylish. His family comes from old money, you know. Matt’s family had money, but not like this. Will is the heir to his family’s entire fortune,” Vivian bragged. “He’s got much better taste than Matt did. And he’s hotter, and so much better in bed.” The girls laughed.
Emma tried to walk faster. She really didn’t want to hear this. The last people she wanted in her life were Matt and Vivian. And she’d gotten both of them on the same day.
“Oh, Emma!” Vivian gushed as she exited the laundry room with her friend. “I was just thinking about you. I’m moving in with Will, and these old clothes of mine just won’t do anymore. Would you like them? They’ll be a bit small on you, but I’m sure they are much nicer than your clothes.”
“How nice of you,” Emma answered with a fake smile. “But no thank you. I enjoy getting my own things. I don’t need your hand-me-downs, or a sugar daddy’s new wardrobe.”
“You always did like to play like you’re such a good girl,” Vivian laughed. “Playing innocent for Matt, and playing like you didn’t want Will’s money. How else could you land both of them? You’re not even that pretty.”
“Whatever, Vivian!” Emma called as she reached her dorm, and slammed the door. “I just wanted a nap,” she whined to herself once she was safe in her room.
***
After her nap, Emma went to class. Her first couple of classes passed without incident. But in the afternoon, she noticed people were acting strange. People would be whispering and giggling, but stop as soon as she got close to them. Everyone looked at differently. Boys looked at her with suggestive stares, and girls looked her with disgust. She walked into her last class of the day, and greeted a couple of girls she was acquainted with.
“Hi, Heather. Hi, Nikki,” Emma waved at them as she walked in. They ignored her. What is going on today? She wondered, as she took her customary seat two rows in front of them.
“Well anyway,” one whispered. “I heard she was sleeping with both of them at the same time.”
“I heard that she lied about being a virgin and then slept with both of them for money.”
“Yeah?” another voice joined the conversation. “Well, someone told me that she saw all of them at the club the other night. And Emma was all over that Will guy, even though he had dumped her. She was begging him to take her back.”
Emma’s heart fell into her stomach. Everyone on campus had been gossiping about her, and she was pretty sure she could guess the source of all the rumors. The gossiping got worse, and she couldn’t focus in class. When class ended, she ran out as soon as she could. The gossiping had gotten worse. The rumors were crazier and more scandalous. She ran to the bus stop to escape, and saw a familiar car waiting at the entrance. It was Will’s. She stopped running and stomped towards him. He was with Vivian now, and she was sure he was just as responsible for spreading the nasty rumors about her.
Vivian grabbed her from behind and turned her around.
“Why are rushing towards him? He doesn’t want you anymore. Why don’t you just leave us alone?” Vivian yelled, trying to attract attention. Emma saw red. She slapped Vivian with all the force she could muster. But she didn’t connect with Vivian’s face as she planned to. Instead, it was Will she hit.
“Will,” Vivian pretended to cry. “She’s crazy. You see how she attacked me?”
Emma gasped as she looked up at Will’s stormy eyes.
“Are you done?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous. Emma was frigid with panic. Will pulled his phone from his pocket, and dialed a number. “Alice? Let Sam to go ahead and move forward with prosecution of Emm…” before he could finish, Emma jumped and snatched the phone away from him. She hung up, and hid the phone behind her back.
“Please, no. Please,” Emma pleaded. Will’s stony face softened, but his expression wasn’t kind. He looked down at her.
“Please no, what?”
“Please don’t hurt my dad. Don’t do anything that will hurt him.”
“All right, I won’t. But you’ll have to beg,” he purred.
“What?” Emma staggered.
“You heard me. On your knees.”