Emily POV

I hated lying, which was ironic considering how I had been living life for the past year. But desperate times cause desperate measures. Even now two months after Maya's departure I was barely able to make eye contact with my mother. Since I had developed into a professional liar it was hard to tell the truth about anything personal. It was easier to keep things from her due to the lack of 'communication' between us, but my friends actually know me….so it makes lying to them a lot more painful. Sure I could tell them the truth, but honestly I didn't want to. No looks of pity or concern in their voices. The truth was surprisingly simple. Since Maya left my life seemed to be tunnelling down one long road which lead to unhappiness and despair, the dark skinned girl had shown me what it felt like to be loved and appreciated, something Allie or Ben had never done. I was drawn from my musing by my phone ringing.

"Hi Paige". I shifted slightly rising from my position on the bed and began pacing.

"Hay what you doing?".

"Homework, math is kicking my ass".

"Can I come over? I got a movie I think you will like".

"Sure see you soon".Without even saying bye I hung up the phone. Jesus, why did I say yes? Oh right because I'm depressed and lonely. Smirking to myself I brought the cup once again to my lips, the liquor not for the first time tonight began its familiar route through my body burning as it went.

Approximately five drinks later I made my way stumbling to the front door. Using the doorframe to keep myself upright I inhaled a deep breath, hoping the extra gulp of air would clear the haze in my head. The door handle seemed to shift as I adjusted my eyes to bring it into focus…"you can do this", I tell myself, my mind wonders to a vivid memory…

*FLASHBACK*

It had been a few days since Maya left, my mother had just returned from a party at a friend's house. She was quite drunk so she opted to retreat into her bedroom for the night, but not before speaking to me….

"Honey, I met Sarah's son tonight, do you remember him?"

I paused slightly, already getting a funny vibe about this conversation and its direction. I take a deep breath before bringing my head up from my pillow to look her dead in the eyes. "Yes, we used to swim together when we were kids…"

Waving my hands around I leave the statement hanging in the air.

"Good because he's coming over for dinner tomorrow night".

Suddenly I feel my anger rise to uncontrollable levels, she actually thinks she can set me up with this putz!

"gay means gay, there is very little space for shades of gray". I stand up and walk towards her, she looks so mad, maybe even more so now than when she found out about me and Maya.

"Listen carefully Emily, as long as you live in my house you will do as I tell you to do, if that means sitting down and having a meal with a boy then that's exactly what you will do".

Before I can even reply she is already slamming my door shut behind her. I shudder as the force from the slam caused a small vibration in my legs. I waited until I heard the shower in my mothers bathroom start before I made my way downstairs, my intentions were to sneak out, maybe to Hanna's. I grab my coat from the rack and slip it on, I make my way into the kitchen figuring leaving through the back door would attract less attention from our nosey neighbours. I notice a bottle of wine on the counter top and pause. Smiling to myself I slip my coat off and throw it on the kitchen floor with my left hand, using my right I grab the wine, I don't skip a beat as I make my way hastily to my room. I kick the door closed behind me as I flop down on my bed, suddenly I had the overwhelming urge to see Maya, reaching into my bedside cabinet I pull out the picture of me and her kissing in the booth, I bring the picture to my lips and kiss. I undo the bottle cap and put the picture back in the draw, I don't want her to see this…..I close my eyes as I bring the wine to my lips, maybe if I drink enough I can block out the pain?…..

A loud pounding on the door brings me back to reality with a harsh headache, I steady myself and pull the door open.

"What took you so long?".

"Sorry was in the bathroom".I move aside allowing her space to come in, she gives me a smile before strolling past me into the living room. After I close the door I turn around to find Paige staring at me with a devious smirk on her face.

"So I found this movie in my basement the other night, it was in the boxes with my mothers old college stuff".

She shifted obviously uncomfortable. Seeing her like that made me nervous. "What is it?".I reach over and take the dvd from her hand.

"What the hell is Bound?".