You've Been Gone(For Far Too Long)

Part Two

When Emma Drake opened the door and walked into the house that spring afternoon, just after school let out, she didn't notice the woman sitting on the sofa. Not at first. Her mind was elsewhere, on what she and Josslyn were going to do that weekend.

It wasn't until she heard the person clear their throat as she was heading to her room that she turned to look toward the couch. Her brown eyes widened in shock at the sight before her. There was her "mother", Robin Scorpio, sitting on the couch and smiling at her as if she owned the place, as if everything was completely normal and she hadn't been absent from her life for years.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Emma hissed shrilly, hands balling into fists at her sides.

Robin's smile wilted from her lips. "Emma, sweetie, you have every right to be angry at me."

"Damn right I do!" The girl growled, stalking off toward her room, intent on ignoring her "mother".

The woman's hand wrapped around her wrist and whirled her around.

Emma's eyes turned fiery and she pushed Robin back harshly, making the woman stumble back. "Don't you ever touch me!" She screeched, running out of the house and to her car, climbing inside and driving to her best friend's house. The only person she knew who'd understand.

She parked her car in the drive and swallowed as she ran to the door and knocked.

It swung open and she came face to face with Carly.

"There's no need for you to worry, Patrick. She's right here." The woman nodded as he spoke. "Okay. Since it's the weekend, I'm going to let her stay the night, okay? She should be able to talk-or not talk to Robin when she's ready." She quickly said goodbye and pushed the end call button on her cellphone.

"Is Josslyn home, yet?" Emma asked, lips quivering.

Carly looked at her sympathetically, ushering her inside with a hand on her back. "Not yet, honey. She's still at the school for cheer practice. She called to say she'll be home in about an hour if you'd like to wait up in her room for her."

Emma nodded her head and smiled, leaning in to give the woman a hug. She really liked Carly. Her best friend's mom was just a rather understanding person and so much like Josslyn that it was hard not to love her. "Thank you." She breathed.

The woman smiled at her gently, brushing the strands of brunette hair from the teenage girl's face with the tips of her slender fingers. "No need to thank me, Emma. I understand why you're so upset."

The girl gave a grin and hurried toward the staircase, opening Josslyn's bedroom door and walking inside. She hurried to the bed and fell back on it without any hesitancy. Over the years since they'd become friends, the family home of Carly and Josslyn had became a second home to her. She spent so much time here. She must've drifted off at some point because she was awakened by the bedroom door softly shutting. Her brown eyes opened when she felt a small, slender hand run through her hair gently, soothingly. They locked with Josslyn's brilliant, bright blue eyes that were peering at her softly, sympathetically.

When Emma looked closer, she noticed that Josslyn was dressed in a a baggy blue tee-shirt from their highschool that hung off her shoulder and a pair of short black and white shorts, hair falling around her in silky, flowing strands. She'd obviously showered before she'd come home.

"Mom said that something happened when you came home from school that made you upset." Josslyn told her, still running her hands through her best friend's hair as the other girl rested her head on her lap. "What's wrong?"

Emma sat up slowly, knowing she must look a mess, eyes all rimmed in red, mascara and tear streaks running down her cheeks, hair messy and uncontrollable. She didn't try and straighten herself out, though. Feeling comfortable enough in her best friend's presence, knowing she wouldn't judge her. "My mom is back in town." She confessed. She felt anger well up inside of her once more. "I walked inside my home, happy about the three day weekend and saw her there, sitting on the couch as if she belonged there. She doesn't belong in my home and I don't need her! Why would I need the woman who abandoned me? She wasn't there for me like Sam or daddy were. Or like you or your mother have been. She could've cared less about me. So why does she suddenly care now?"

Josslyn hugged her close, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I'm so sorry, Ems. I wish I had the answer for you. All I can say is that she sucks and she doesn't deserve to have you in her life. You have every right to be pissed at her. If it were me and my dad suddenly showed up back up in my life-it wouldn't be pretty. But you have so many people that love you. Just know that. And maybe, when you're feeling better, tomorrow you can confront her about how much she hurt you by leaving."

The other girl hiccupped and moved her head up and down affirmatively in agreement. "Thank you for being there for me, Joss." She said sweetly.

The blonde beamed at her, wiping the tears from her best friend's cheeks. "It's okay, Ems. That's what best friends are for." She replied in answer. "Now, how about we go downstairs and bake some cookies, order pizza, and then watch the Captain America and the Black Widow movies to cheer you up?"