Emma Jay and Sean:

by emili henry (me)

Chapter three: Dark Places and Happy Places

Her eyes fluttered open, and the sun seeped into her blurred vision. She sighed, and looked over to the sleeping man beside her and smiled. Then his eyes opened, and they looked at each other, and he smiled too. "I love you." She said.

"Mmm," He moaned, putting his arm around her naked body from under the white covers. "I love you too." After a moment, she looked away from him and up at the ceiling, still smiling. He laughed slightly to himself, and then asked, "What are you smiling so much about? Was I that amazing?"

She laughed, and hit him lightly, "It's not that... It's just..." She paused, still looking up at the white ceiling. "When I used to think of sex, the only memories I had were of Jay. I'm not going to sit here and tell you I hated it, but... It just made me feel, I don't know... not myself. Like I was going back to a dark place. A place I never should have gone." She sighed, then smiled and looked back at him, "But now I can think of you. And it feels like a good place. A happy place. The place i should have been all along."

They smiled, and looked into each others eyes as if saying "I love you" again and again.

At the ravine

Jay sat alone by the fire. No one was coming down to the ravine tonight, but that was good because he wanted to be alone. He couldn't believe he admitted to loving her. He'd never felt that way about someone, and it was so new; and strange to him. And for his first experience with love- so far it sucked and he hoped it never happened again. Then he saw her. She came out of the darkness and sat next to him under the dim camp fire light just like that fateful night. Emma. He didn't know what to say, so she spoke first, "Hey."

"Hey." He said back, trying to sound nonchalant.

She didn't look at him, only deep into the flames. After a long while of silence, she finally said, "Sean told me you said... you loved me."

The words were like daggers in his chest, and he almost chocked as he laughed and said, "Yeah right. I have sex with girls; I don't love them." His smug act was taken when her lips met his. His eyes widened in shock, but they slowly closed and he got lost in the kiss. He wrapped his arms around her, and she did the same. It felt like an eternity and not nearly long enough at the same time before their lips parted. They looked into each others eyes, on till finally Emma whispered, " I'm sorry..." Jay was confused as she stood from her seat next to him, and quickly added, "D-don't tell sean that happened-" And left as quick and unexpected as she left. Leaving Jay alone, more confused than before.

"What!" Sean asked surprised.

Amy shook her head, "Yeah, most people know... Jay used to give girls that did what he wanted these bracelets. But he hasn't done anything with anyone lately, and he never comes to the ravine anymore."

"So those bracelets..." Sean said again, practically shaking in anger.

"Look," Amy said, looking around nervously, "I godda go now..." And she went off to her classes, and Sean went off to get Emma.

She was in class, but he didn't care. He barged into her class, surprising everyone, and quickly and violently grabbed her from her seat and pulled her put of the class room just as the teacher was about to start. He slammed the door behind them, and Emma looked at him, in shock. "What the hell Sea-" She started to yell but he beat her to it.

"TAKE THEM OFF!" He screamed, pain cracking in his loud voice.

"What!" She asked, confused, trying to pull her arm away.

He pulled her arm back, and forcefully pulled her sleeve up to reveal several bracelets on her right arm. He sneered at them, hating how many there were. "Take them off now! Why the fuck are you still waring these!" He screamed, tugging forcefully at them. She didn't answer, and it only made him more mad, so he tried to rip them off by force. He was over helmed with anger, and the thought of them together. He pulled harder and harder till they finally snapped. He felt satisfaction for a moment. Then he looked at Emma. Tears poring down her cheeks, her whole body shaking, and blood slipping from her cut, bruising wrists. His eyes widened, and he backed away from her, dropping the broken bracelets on the floor. "Emma-" But he couldn't find the strength to say anymore, so he ran away.