Chapter 2, part 1: Confessions

I'm back home, and it feels pretty good, even though I wasn't all that far from home in the first place, just a couple hours away. I've missed my own room, and being with mom, Snake, and Jack. I must confess that I am pretty okay with my life. After all I went through in high school; it feels good not to have all that drama on my plate. My stress level hasn't gone down though, work is so tough. I work as an environmentalist/journalist. I just finished a peace rally for animal rights, and lately I've been writing articles for animals, or the earth, showing people how much trouble our world is in. One of them even got picked up by the New York Times! I have another rally coming up, this one is against violence (yeah, I should be pretty familiar with those, but this time I'm not held back by high school rules). I have the campaign started, and put together a march, with all the proceeds going towards battered women shelters. I feel really good about this campaign. All those years spent getting teased and ridiculed finally paid off, I knew they would. I really like my job, but I'm not going to go as far as to say I love it, because I do not want to jinx it.

I also feel good about my current boyfriend, Tristan. We met several months ago at some club, called The Dive, where indie bands or bands trying to get started play. Manny begged me to go with her since I hadn't been home (in Toronto) for awhile because of college, so I had to say yes to her. I'm pretty glad I did too. The first time I saw him play, we kept our locked on each other. It was so weird that of all the people in the club, he was only looking at me. I didn't get a chance to see him that not, and was kinda bummed about it, but the next time Manny mentioned she was going there, I jumped on the chance to tag along. We had just pulled into the parking lot, and he was standing outside, talking on his cell phone. Manny and I headed for the doors, to wait in line, but he decided he was going to let us cut up front with him. When the security guard let us in we got a tone of 'no fairs' from the people who had been waiting. Tristan (the lead guitarist) introduced himself, and his band, Manny and I also introduced ourselves, and said hi. Then Manny found some guy doing something, and just HAD to talk to him, which left me alone with Tristan. We talked until he had to go up on stage, and then he motioned for me to join the stage as they played the last song. Manny literally pushed everyone out of the way and dragged me through the crowd; one of the security guys helped me onto the stage. I pleaded with Tristan to just let me stand off to the side, not wanting anyone to be looking at me, and he let me... from then on we have been pretty inseparable.

He is part of the reason I want to move back home, along with missing my friends and family. I want to be closer to him, and to everyone else. I also found a good college to get my bachelor degree at right here in Toronto. For once in my life, everything is falling into place. I really hope it stays that way...

Chapter 2, part 2: The Party Scene; part 1

Emma hurries down the street, adjusting her brown halter dress with a twist detail under the bust. This morning she decided to walk to work, since the building she had a meeting at was only a few blocks, five or six to be exact, but now she was running late. She walked as fast as she could in her brown Mary Jane's. Damn it, I should have drove. Emma pulled her bag to her shoulder as she rounded the corner. Finally, she reached her destination: The Dot. She hurried inside, looking around the room. Nostalgia hit her; she thought back to the countless times that she had been at The Dot. She quickly snaps back to reality, remembering why she came here in the first place. The bell jingles on the door and the person she had been looking for entered.

"Hey, I tried calling you, to tell you that I'd be late."

"You did?" Emma opens her purse and digs around in it. "Oh shoot, I must have left it at Tristan's."

"Shoot? You still say shoot? Emma, your twenty-one, I think you're allowed to use the word shit."

"Oh shut up. I'm hungry, let's get a table." Emma sits down across from her friend. "So Sean, how have you been?"

"I'm okay. The army was an amazing choice for me. I learned a lot." Sean nods his head and opens his menu.

"You're reading the menu? We've practically grown up here and you have to read the menu?" Emma mocks him.

"Can I take your order?" A waiter asks, pen in hand, flipping to a new page on his notepad.

"Burger and fries, with a coke." Sean tells him, closing the menu that he never actually read.

"Veggie burger and fries with a vanilla shake." Emma says, giving him a warm smile. The waiter leaves with their orders. "So do you have anything new to tell me?"

"Nope, not really." Sean shrugs a little. "I've missed seeing you."

"Yeah me too... which is why..." Emma trails off, in the hopes of creating some type of drum roll affect.

"Which is why... what?" Sean asks, placing his elbows on the table and leaning in a little.

"I'm moving back here." Emma says excitedly. The waiter brings their food. Emma automatically takes a sip of her shake.

"Cool, what about school?" Sean asks, picking up his burger.

"I'm going to get my bachelor degree here. I miss home, I miss my friends." Emma says, looking at Sean for a brief moment.

"Good, because I've missed having you around." Sean gives Emma a small smile, and the two dig into their food. I've missed Sean. It's so great that after all we've been through we can still be the best of friends. The two finished their meal and got ready to leave.

"Bye, I'll see you soon." Emma gave Sean a peck on the cheek and a hug then walked out of The Dot.

She went back to her house and remembered she didn't have her cell. She went to call Tristan to ask if it was okay that she came over, but she didn't remember his number. Is it sad that I don't know my own boyfriend's number by heart? Well, that is what cell phones are for, storing numbers. I've never had to actually look at his number; I just go to his name and press send. I guess it couldn't hurt to just drive over there. The worst that happens is I get there and he's not home. Emma got in her car and took the half hour-ish ride to Tristan's. She knocked on the door, which is answered by Jes.

"Hey Emma, everyone's in the living room." Jes motions for her to come in.

"Thanks, I just came for my phone, didn't mean to interrupt." Emma follows Jes into the living room.

"Oh you're not; feel free to join in, if you want." Jes took her seat on the floor. Emma took a look around at everyone. As her eyes scanned the room, she saw Nick (the bassist) rolling up a joint, and Sam (a friend of the band) taking a hit from a bong. Tristan looked up at Emma, and automatically stood.

"No, you don't have to get up; I just left my phone in your room." Emma says to Tristan. She walks up the stairs, making sure she keeps her composure. He does drugs. I've been going out with him for like five months, maybe even six, and he does drugs. How did I not know this? Did he keep it from me on purpose? He must have, I mean the whole band does from the looks of it, even Sam and Jes. I must have hung out with them half a million times and they never do it when I'm over. Why would he hide it... more important, why does he do it? Our relationship is based on a lie... and drugs. No it isn't, come on Em, it's just pot, and maybe there's a reason he didn't tell you. Okay, I really need to get out of my head. Oh, there's my phone, I did leave it here...

Chapter 2, part 2: The Party Scene part 2

Tristan had gone upstairs and saw Emma looking at the dresser. She picked up her phone, put it in her purse, and went to turn around.

"You mad?" Tristan asks her, leaning against the doorway.

"Um, no, I mean you can do whatever you want." Emma says to him. I just don't understand how I could not have known. Why did you keep it a secret?

"I don't do it that often, only when I'm stressed or something. It's really relaxing." Tristan tells her, moving a little closer to her.

"Yeah, okay, so..." Emma doesn't really know what to say.

"Are you sure you're okay with it? Is something else bothering you?" Tristan steps closer to her so he is directly in front of her. He rubs his hands up and down her arms.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just work." Emma tells him, drawing in a deep breath before exhaling. "I'm working on a huge violence campaign."I've told you that before, but you never seem to remember.

"Oh, do you want some pot? It will take your stress level down." Tristan looks at Emma, and she seems apprehensive about trying drugs. "I'm not gonna pressure you, it was just a suggestion."

"Yeah, I don't think so, thanks for the offer." Emma tells him. I can't do drugs. I've been against stuff like that my whole life. I'll just have to deal with my stress some other way.

"No sweat, so you wanna stay for a little?" Tristan asks, keeping his voice sounding cool as he hinted towards something.

"Hmm..." Emma says with a coy smile forming on her lips. She plants her lips on Tristan's. He held her tighter by the waist as he returned it. As their tongues found each other, Tristan moved one hand to the bottom of her shirt. He slowly reached up her shirt, grazing her stomach, up to her breast, and back down. He broke the kiss to lift Emma's shirt up, but stopped when he noticed her shirt. It's a cream colored shirt that says 'Have you ever...'

"What does that mean? Have you ever... what?" Tristan asks her, intrigued by her shirt.

"I don't know, but it's cute." Emma tells him, shrugging her shoulders. She put her hands at the bottom of her shirt and slowly gripped the edge. Gradually she pulled the shirt up, teasing Tristan with her playful behavior. Tristan kept his hands at her sides, watching Emma's shirt slowly rise. Once Emma pulled it over her head, Tristan hungrily kissed her lips. The two walked towards his bed. Tristan lightly pushed her down onto the bed; he pulled off his shirt before joining her. They resumed kissing and Tristan let his hand inch her way up her leg, to her thigh. He liked the way her skin felt under his hand, and the soft material of her azure drawstring heart patch skirt. Emma broke the kiss to catch her breath, while Tristan's hand continued its path higher and higher up her thigh. A mere minute later, the two continued kissing and undressing each other...

Emma pulled her clothes back on and grabbed her purse. "I'll see you soon, bye." Emma gave him a kiss on the lips before heading out of his room and down to her car... She got back to her house, greeted everyone and sat at the computer. Emma thought to use her time wisely and look for her own place. I wonder if... I don't know... Tristan and I have sex every time we see each other... is that how a 'grown up' relationship works? I feel like he doesn't know anything about me, and he never remembers anything I tell him. Maybe I'm just reading too much into it. He's in a band, and they are always writing or recording or playing gigs... or smoking pot. I hope he doesn't do anything worse then that. I mean pot is natural, and he says he doesn't do it all that often. I hope it stays that way...