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Chapter 4: down hill

He changed a little bit since the last and only time they faced each other. He died his hair, he had a beard…but she still could recognize him and that made every inch of her body scream for help. She did not do anything though. She just stood there, her heart racing, her hands shaking, trying her best not to show how scared she was.

"Little Emma, how have you been? I missed you, you know. I've been thinking a lot about you. Did you get to use your computer a lot lately?"

Emma was just paralyzed. One could read fear and incomprehension in her eyes. "how did he find me ? why is he even out?"

Ellie was still in the bathrooms, she could not bring herself to go out yet. Ashley entered "here you are, I've been looking for you everywhere ?! I heard about your little reunion with Sean, why are u here and not with him?

- Well Ash

- Ellie, have you been crying, is everything ok ?

- I don't know, I mean I wanted Sean to come back but now that he's actually here, I'm not sure of anything anymore. I'm just so confused and plus, he went to see Emma first, not me,

- Well, I think that if Sean knows what miss Emma has been up, he's probably not gonna want to spend that much time around her…

- See, I believe you're wrong on that one. Sean has a tendency to have the attitude of a knight in a white armor. And as much as he cares for me, he always had feelings for Emma…I just feel it and I don't want to be second choice, the one he stays with out of habit and pity maybe.

- Oh Ellie…I'm sorry

- I don't even know if the same goes for me, maybe I'm just staying with him for the same reasons…Ok just let's drop the subject. I'm sad but I'm not desperate…So what's up with Craig ?

- He's great, we're great!" replied Ash, her face glowing and with a big smile. She hugged Ellie and they headed towards their classroom.

Sean ran into Manny as he was making his way back to school. He wanted so much to ask her what was going on with Emma. He knew that the two girls had their ups and downs in their friendship but he also knew that Manny will always be there for Emma as Emma will always be there for Manny. He was afraid of the concern he felt over the entire situation. He could not put away the image of Emma and Jay together and it was getting him so angry and so sad. He could not deny that he cared more about her than he thought. Memories were also coming back to him, he would give anything he had to see Em smiling to him as she used to.

Lost in his thoughts, he did not hear Manny calling his name. She had to tap him on the shoulder to make him realize that she was talking to him.

" - Oh My Gosh ! isn't it Mr Cameron himself? And since when is Mr "I'm running back to Wasaga Beach" back in town" Sean looked at her a bit confused but smiled and hugged her.

" Please do not start explaining at once the reason of your return, have you already seen Ellie ? or let me guess did Mr Bad boy here could not stop thinking about a beautiful blonde I happened to be friends with?

- Well, no matter why I came back, that beautiful blonde you're talking about seems to have change a lot. I saw Jay and Alex and I found out what happened when I was gone. It seems that miss Nelson found a way to cope with everything! She apparently did not miss me and did not need me.

- Sean, what you just said was soooo stupid. I can't believe that you out of all people would think such a thing about Em. And why would you care anyways? How do u think she felt when u decided to stay in Wasaga Beach? and for crying out loud, you guys were not even together anymore, remember ? or did you lose what you had of brains ? and if you do care, don't judge her. I still remember you telling in class the only person you've ever loved was her. When was that, like an eternity ago...if you still feel that way don't screw it up and do not dare screwing HER up." She was really getting angry at him and was going to turn away when he said :" Manny, I need help. I just don't get it, all I know is that I don't want Em to be hurt…

- It's a bit late for that, don't u think ?

- Manny, can you just tell me what you know? All I heard was some bits from Alex and Jay…

- I'm not sure that's my place to tell you anything...

- Manny, please…" Manny was not sure what to do. She got closer to Emma with everything that happened and she knew that she had been waiting all along for Sean to come back. Would she betray her by explaining to him what she had been up to?

Emma finally found the strength to say something : "what are you doing here ?"

He was standing right in front of her and she could not escape him.

"Well little Emma, I got released for good behavior as they said. Of course I do have a restraining order that states that I should not be around you. Though I could not help it, see how my little chat friend had been doing. Jordan misses you, you know" he laughed

"There was no Jordan, just leave me alone.

- Emma, Emma, Emma, you grew up nice. Oh and I don't understand why you did not change your screenname. Maybe you were waiting for somebody to write to you ? I liked all these away messages. Especially the ones when you were saying you were at the ravine. I actually went there once and I gotta say you're not as prude anymore. So how about you show me what you learned there?." Emma tried to push him but he was a rock. He raised his hand towards her but stopped himself when they heard somebody calling her name from a car.

Emma turned around and saw Jay. For once, she was relieved he was around. "hey Nelson, do u need some help? Or at least a ride?.

- I'll take the ride"

"We'll see each other again" he whispered in her ear before walking away. Emma took a deep breath, composed herself and got in Jay's car.