"Go ahead," Emma said with a smile on her face. She pat the open spot next to her and the stranger made herself comfortable. The two of them read in silence before the Emma took a break from her book and looked at the girl. "So what's your name?"
"Sarah. What's your name?"
"Emma. How long have you been going to this school?"
"Since January. My mom and I moved here in December of last year."
"Since January. My mom and I moved here in December of last year."
"That's nice. Do you like it here so far?"
"I guess. This school is huge, though, so getting to class on time is kind of a hassle. My old school was a lot smaller than this." Sarah was surprised with how nice Emma was being to her. It felt like she was just talking to an old friend. Of course, she's heard all the gossip about the girl in front of her and how she doesn't fit in, but sitting next to her now, she really didn't understand why people would make such big assumptions about her. She seems very nice and friendly.
"Well it was good to talk to you," she said. "I should get to class now before the bell rings."
"Same here. Where are you headed?" Emma asked, now sitting up herself and slinging her bag on her shoulder.
"Trigonometry with Mr. Peters."
"That's funny, because I'm about to go there as well."
"Awesome! I'll let you lead the way then," Sarah said, feeling relieved now.
Greg and Matt decided to play hooky today and go watch the new King Kong movie. The two of them had just found a place to sit down in the halfway crowded theater, each of them holding a bag of popcorn and a large cup of soda. Once they sat down, Matt told his brother he needed to run to the restroom. Normally Greg wouldn't go along with the idea of skipping school, but because of how much fun he had with his brother on the camping trip, he decided to do it just this one time. He took a handful of popcorn and put it into his mouth while staring at the big screen. All these advertisements were boring him some, so he ate another handful of popcorn then checked his phone. He thought about leaving a message for Emma, but then he saw Matt coming back into view, so he tucked his phone back into his pocket.
"So how are things with Emma doing?" he asked.
"I think they're doing fine right now. Should I tell her where I am? I don't want to worry her."
"Hey, she's in school right now, so don't worry about it. Plus I don't want her to rat us out." Matt gave his brother a wink and then settled into his seat. He picked up his bag of popcorn from the seat next to him and ate some of it. He then turned to face his brother and said, "Thanks for allowing me to do this, by the way. I've missed hanging out with you."
"Same here," Greg said with his mouth full. Matt let out a small laugh and playfully punched him in the arm.
"Same here," Greg said with his mouth full. Matt let out a small laugh and playfully punched him in the arm.
Emma and Greg had plans to meet up after school, but Greg got home a bit later than usual. He told his girlfriend about what he did today with Matt and she seemed surprised, but also happy. "Well I'm glad you got to hang out with him again," she said as she smiled at him from across the kitchen island. "Just make sure you tell me the next time you pull a stunt like that."
"Believe me, this was only a one-time thing. It's not going to happen again."
"And why is that?"
"Because my brother and I both take our work seriously despite recent events."
"Alright, if you say so," Emma said in a sing-song tone. She liked hearing about this more frisky side of Greg. It made her wish that she could be included. This thought gave her an idea, however, so she called up Sarah and asked if she wanted to hang out some time.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Sarah called out, feeling nervous. "I've never skipped school before. Then again, there are a lot of things I haven't done in my life. I guess I'll just have to learn to trust you."
"Good answer. Now just play it cool and keep an eye out for any teachers or the principal." Emma was sitting in car which was parked next to the curb, and Sarah was standing a couple feet ahead under the archway of the front entrance. It was 6:45 the next morning and there were only a few cars out in the parking lot. The school was dimly lit inside and none of the students were here yet. Once Sarah swept the perimeter of the parking lot and peeked inside the school building, she made her way to Emma's car and got in. "So where are we going?"
"Wherever you want to go. School starts in forty-five minutes, so we better not stay here much longer. Are you hungry?"
"A little. I didn't eat anything this morning before leaving."
"Alright. We'll stop by Sonic first, but let's go to the one that's five miles from here. I don't want anyone to see us." Despite Sarah's best efforts to stay calm, she was starting to feel a little shaky and was taking shorter breaths. She grabbed her inhaler from her backpack and worked the nozzle into her mouth for a good two minutes. This made Emma shift her eyes onto her for a quick second, but then she focused them back onto the road. A sudden gust of warm air came out from the crack of passenger window, so Sarah rolled it up and turned on the air slightly. The two girls didn't say much on the way over, but once they pulled up into the drive-in, Emma asked, "So what do you want to eat? I'm thinking about getting myself a bacon, egg and cheese wrap."
"I think I'll just go for the same thing with orange juice."
"Coming right up!" Emma rolled down the window and pressed the red button. Once she voiced her order into the speaker, she laid back into her seat. She looked over at her new friend and noticed that she was feeling a little more calm now than she was about an hour ago. They both sat in silence, not knowing what to say to each other. A girl then came outside and made her way towards the car, announcing the order back to Emma. Once she paid the carhop, she handed the food over to Sarah and asked, "So what do you want to do next?"
"Doesn't matter to me. I just don't want to sit here all morning."
"Okay. How about we go to the mall?"
"Sounds good." After eating in silence for about five minutes, Emma put the car in drive and headed over to the mall.
The two girls had just came out of Hot Topic with a couple bags in each hand when suddenly, Emma's phone went off in her pocket. She picked up and saw that Greg had called an hour so ago and left a voicemail. Sarah then decided to check her own phone, but no messages were left for her. "I should listen to Greg's message. You can go off on your own now if you want to." Emma offered a smile to her friend, then her made her way over towards the bench across from the store. As she sat down, she lifted the phone up to her ear and listened to the message. "Hey, it's Greg. Just wanted to see how you're doing. Why aren't you in school today? Did something happen? Call me back."
I wonder if I should call him back, she thought to herself. For a moment she thought about doing that, but then decided against it, so she rose up from her seat and made her way over to Urban Outfitters.
Greg was standing outside of the school building underneath the archway, wondering why he hasn't seen Emma all day. Was she sick, or did someone in her family need her for an emergency? Did she have any car problems on the way over, like a flat tire or something? All this worry was making Greg feel nervous, so he called her again. She didn't answer and the phone went to voicemail. "Please call me, Emma! I'm starting to get worried here." Once he hung up, he walked over to his car and drove home in silence.
Emma sat on her bed, listening to Greg's other voicemail. She wasn't sure if she wanted to tell him what she did today with Sarah. Luckily Sarah's mom wasn't too disappointed, but she did wish she had known sooner. Her mom on the other hand would probably ground her for life if she ever found out, and her dad would probably take away her cell phone. What is wrong with me?, Emma thought to herself. She knew that not telling Greg would only stir up another fight, but how would she explain her jealousy for his relationship with his brother? From what she's been told, the two of them seem very close and that only made her miss Rebecca even more. Emma let out a heavy sigh and laid down on her back, facing the ceiling. She couldn't stop the thoughts swirling around in her mind. Greg and his brother, her own sister, her parents and what they would always say to her. Every time she brought up the subject of visiting Rebecca to them, they'd say that she's too young to go out on her own or shouldn't bother her, plus she doesn't have enough room in her apartment for visitors. At this point Emma was getting irritated and decided to call her sister. She answered on the second ring.
"Hello? Is that you, Emma?"
"Yeah, it's me. How are you?" Emma felt nervous. She wasn't sure of what to say, or if she could say anything at all. She could hear other phones ringing from the other end along with some indistinct chattering. "I'm kind of busy at the moment. Is everything alright? How's Mom and Dad doing?"
"They're fine, I guess. I just wanted to say hi and catch up with you. I miss you."
"I'm sorry, but now's not a good time. I have two other people waiting for me on the other end here. I miss you too, though." Emma let out a heavy sigh and hung up the phone. Tears started to form out of the corner of her eyes, but she wiped them away and got up to her feet. If I can't get Rebecca to spare two minutes with me over the phone, then I'm going over there to see her, she thought to herself.
The weekend had just arrived and Greg tried to keep himself busy with homework and played with his dog some, but he couldn't stop thinking about Emma. Paranoia and anger was starting to take over and he was beginning to think that she could be dead somewhere. Just when he was about to leave his room, Matt appeared in the doorway. He had just gotten out of the shower and had nothing but a towel on wrapped around his waist. "Hey, are you alright? You don't look so good."
Greg looked down at his feet and tried to avoid eye contact. "I'm fine. Just need to take a walk. I'll be back before dinner."
"Well I'm here if you want to talk, okay?" Greg didn't respond and pushed past his brother. He just needed to get out and clear his mind. He wanted to know where Emma was, but she won't answer his calls. He took a leash from the bench of the entryway and Jeff immediately trotted over to where he was standing.
The two of them walked around the neighborhood for a good forty-five minutes before the old Cocker Spaniel stopped and decided to lay down in the grass. Since Jeff wouldn't budge despite Greg's best attempts to wake him up, he decided to sit beside his dog and pet him for a moment. After a moment of stillness, a sudden chill had overcome his entire body despite the heat of the sun peering out from behind the trees. His hands started shaking and he could feel goosebumps forming on his arms. For a minute he thought he was going to cry, but then his phone buzzed in his left pocket. Matt had just made dinner, so he and Jeff quickly made their way home.
"Still no word from Emma?" Matt asked as he placed two full plates down on the large island. He looked at his brother with concern for a moment then grabbed the salad bowl. Greg hadn't said much of anything to him after his walk outside. Maya was out in the living room talking on the phone to someone, and the TV was turned on with the sound on low.
"C'mon, little brother, you gotta say something to me. What's going on?" Greg still said nothing and fiddled around with the food on his plate. "Look, I know you're worried about Emma. I wish I knew what was going on with her, but she can't stay silent forever, and neither can you." He took a bite of chicken then put a hand on his brother's shoulder, which made Greg let out a long sigh before turning to face him. Matt could notice the dark circles under his eyes. He hadn't slept in days, and he noticed a faint odor coming from him as well. Seems like he hasn't showered in a while either. Just as he was about to take another bite of food, he thought he heard Greg say something. "I love her," he mumbled. "I loved her and she just left without saying anything." With that, he planted his face onto his plate with no regard, and Matt could hear his brother sobbing silently.
"Okay. How about we go to the mall?"
"Sounds good." After eating in silence for about five minutes, Emma put the car in drive and headed over to the mall.
The two girls had just came out of Hot Topic with a couple bags in each hand when suddenly, Emma's phone went off in her pocket. She picked up and saw that Greg had called an hour so ago and left a voicemail. Sarah then decided to check her own phone, but no messages were left for her. "I should listen to Greg's message. You can go off on your own now if you want to." Emma offered a smile to her friend, then her made her way over towards the bench across from the store. As she sat down, she lifted the phone up to her ear and listened to the message. "Hey, it's Greg. Just wanted to see how you're doing. Why aren't you in school today? Did something happen? Call me back."
I wonder if I should call him back, she thought to herself. For a moment she thought about doing that, but then decided against it, so she rose up from her seat and made her way over to Urban Outfitters.
Greg was standing outside of the school building underneath the archway, wondering why he hasn't seen Emma all day. Was she sick, or did someone in her family need her for an emergency? Did she have any car problems on the way over, like a flat tire or something? All this worry was making Greg feel nervous, so he called her again. She didn't answer and the phone went to voicemail. "Please call me, Emma! I'm starting to get worried here." Once he hung up, he walked over to his car and drove home in silence.
Emma sat on her bed, listening to Greg's other voicemail. She wasn't sure if she wanted to tell him what she did today with Sarah. Luckily Sarah's mom wasn't too disappointed, but she did wish she had known sooner. Her mom on the other hand would probably ground her for life if she ever found out, and her dad would probably take away her cell phone. What is wrong with me?, Emma thought to herself. She knew that not telling Greg would only stir up another fight, but how would she explain her jealousy for his relationship with his brother? From what she's been told, the two of them seem very close and that only made her miss Rebecca even more. Emma let out a heavy sigh and laid down on her back, facing the ceiling. She couldn't stop the thoughts swirling around in her mind. Greg and his brother, her own sister, her parents and what they would always say to her. Every time she brought up the subject of visiting Rebecca to them, they'd say that she's too young to go out on her own or shouldn't bother her, plus she doesn't have enough room in her apartment for visitors. At this point Emma was getting irritated and decided to call her sister. She answered on the second ring.
"Hello? Is that you, Emma?"
"Yeah, it's me. How are you?" Emma felt nervous. She wasn't sure of what to say, or if she could say anything at all. She could hear other phones ringing from the other end along with some indistinct chattering. "I'm kind of busy at the moment. Is everything alright? How's Mom and Dad doing?"
"They're fine, I guess. I just wanted to say hi and catch up with you. I miss you."
"I'm sorry, but now's not a good time. I have two other people waiting for me on the other end here. I miss you too, though." Emma let out a heavy sigh and hung up the phone. Tears started to form out of the corner of her eyes, but she wiped them away and got up to her feet. If I can't get Rebecca to spare two minutes with me over the phone, then I'm going over there to see her, she thought to herself.
The weekend had just arrived and Greg tried to keep himself busy with homework and played with his dog some, but he couldn't stop thinking about Emma. Paranoia and anger was starting to take over and he was beginning to think that she could be dead somewhere. Just when he was about to leave his room, Matt appeared in the doorway. He had just gotten out of the shower and had nothing but a towel on wrapped around his waist. "Hey, are you alright? You don't look so good."
Greg looked down at his feet and tried to avoid eye contact. "I'm fine. Just need to take a walk. I'll be back before dinner."
"Well I'm here if you want to talk, okay?" Greg didn't respond and pushed past his brother. He just needed to get out and clear his mind. He wanted to know where Emma was, but she won't answer his calls. He took a leash from the bench of the entryway and Jeff immediately trotted over to where he was standing.
The two of them walked around the neighborhood for a good forty-five minutes before the old Cocker Spaniel stopped and decided to lay down in the grass. Since Jeff wouldn't budge despite Greg's best attempts to wake him up, he decided to sit beside his dog and pet him for a moment. After a moment of stillness, a sudden chill had overcome his entire body despite the heat of the sun peering out from behind the trees. His hands started shaking and he could feel goosebumps forming on his arms. For a minute he thought he was going to cry, but then his phone buzzed in his left pocket. Matt had just made dinner, so he and Jeff quickly made their way home.
"Still no word from Emma?" Matt asked as he placed two full plates down on the large island. He looked at his brother with concern for a moment then grabbed the salad bowl. Greg hadn't said much of anything to him after his walk outside. Maya was out in the living room talking on the phone to someone, and the TV was turned on with the sound on low.
"C'mon, little brother, you gotta say something to me. What's going on?" Greg still said nothing and fiddled around with the food on his plate. "Look, I know you're worried about Emma. I wish I knew what was going on with her, but she can't stay silent forever, and neither can you." He took a bite of chicken then put a hand on his brother's shoulder, which made Greg let out a long sigh before turning to face him. Matt could notice the dark circles under his eyes. He hadn't slept in days, and he noticed a faint odor coming from him as well. Seems like he hasn't showered in a while either. Just as he was about to take another bite of food, he thought he heard Greg say something. "I love her," he mumbled. "I loved her and she just left without saying anything." With that, he planted his face onto his plate with no regard, and Matt could hear his brother sobbing silently.
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