Chapter 5, Part 2: Ignorance
Takes Place During "Vitamin D"
"Will for the last time I'm not-"
"Emma," he breathed, taking her hands in his. "I know you aren't mad... but... let me be sorry? At least?"
"Will, you have nothing to be sorry for. Don't be silly... it was stupid. I was half asleep anyway, Will. I don't even remember what happened, really."
"That's a lie," he said bluntly, looking into her eyes. Her brown eyes were the gateways to her heart, and he could tell anything about her just by glancing into them. She opened her mouth to protest, but he raised his eyebrows in speculation. "I can see it in your eyes, Em. You're a terrible liar."
"I doesn't matter if I remember what happened or not Will, I don't... It's stupid, Will. Things like this are going to happen, and we just have to learn how to deal with them. It's... it's fine, Will." Her voice faltered on her last sentence, and she turned away from Will, trying to keep the tears at bay.
It was a Monday morning, and they hadn't spoken since Will had left her apartment on Friday night. Truthfully, she was heartbroken. In every way. She knew that this- what she and Will had together- was special, but it was going to be hard. Nothing could have prepared her for the sinking feeling in her stomach when he had left, or the pain of seeing the tears fall from his eyes as he left her bedroom.
As he left her alone in the darkness as he went home to his pregnant wife.
The thought alone made Emma choke out a soft sob, and she brought her fist to her face, pressing it against her nose to try to block out her crying, willing herself to keep it together. In a second, he had turned her around so she was facing him. "Emma..." he peered over his shoulder, checking to see that hallways were still deserted in the early morning hours. Will gently lowered her clasped hand from her face, holding it desperately between their bodies as he leaned into her to kiss the tears off her cheeks. She sighed, the heartbreak and pain easing for a moment as she realized that Will felt the same pain she was undergoing.
"Will, I'm sorry, I shouldn't be... breaking down like this. It's fine. It's fine... we knew this was going to be difficult, I can't be..." she tried to convince him, and herself, that this whole ordeal was stupid, but Will had taken her into his arms in a second. He dropped a kiss onto her hair and let a tear or two slide from his own hazel eyes. "It is not fine, Emma, for me to be hurting you. In any way... it is not fine for us to be in this sort of pain right now... I can't deal with this guilt, Em. I can't... keep going in this promise knowing that every time I go home, you're hurting inside. And so am I, because you are my home. And I... I love you, Emma." He finally said it. He braced himself for her reaction, unsure if she was ready to take this step.
"Will," she whispered, pulling away. "I-I... I don't know what to say... I... I love you too," she said, placing a soft kiss to his lips before turning to face her desk. She took a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing, and she knew what she had to do. "You could never hurt me, Will," she stated, her voice building in strength as she walked over to the opposite side of her desk, her fingers finding the soft petals of the purple tulip that rested by her jar of pencils. The petals that were slowly, but surely, beginning to bloom. "Do you see this flower, Will?" she asked quietly, meeting his eyes. He nodded, unsure of where this was going.
"I got it when Ken took me that silly tulip festival. It was the only one, out of all the bouquets, that I could possibly want." Will cocked his head in question, but Emma continued anyway.
"It was the only one I wanted because it reminded me of you, of us. You see, when I first saw it, it was little and protected and silly. And nobody even looked at it twice. Thought it was anything close to beautiful, or worth it. And that was me, Will. That was me before I met you. Before I knew you, and before... before you gave me the best gift in the world. I mean..." there were tears in her voice now as she croaked, "Who knew a silly little post-it note could change someone's life? Make them feel... beautiful?"
"Emma."
A tear slid down her cheek as she said. "This flower grows when I water it, and pa y attention to it, and set it on my desk for the world to see. And I feel like I'm blooming, and that I'm beautiful, whenever I'm with you. You make me better, Will... and you could never hurt me, because you hold me up so high, and you show me more love than anyone has ever given me before."
In two strides, Will crossed Emma's small office and pulled her in for a passionate kiss. "I love you," he said, the tears evident in his voice. His throat was thick as he whispered, "You are the most beautiful person I have ever met. On the inside, and on the outside, and everything in between." Will tilted Emma's chin up so that she met his eyes. "And I'm so in love with you right now... more than ever. And that isn't ever going to change."
Emma let out a half laugh, half sob, and as he kissed her chastely on the lips and eyelids to make all of her hurt go away, she knew that the upcoming battle, though fierce, would be worth it.
XXXXXXX
The following two periods had dragged on, the only sparks of enlightenment in the dreary two hours being the constant chime of a new email from Emma on Will's computer. He could barely focus today, so he ended up just passing out a worksheet to his first two classes of the day and telling them to do some homework when they finished. Eventually, he had to turn the volume on his computer off, because Rachel (who sat in the front row, right by his desk) began raising her eyebrows skeptically whenever the device chimed with a new email. "Who are you so avidly chatting with, Mr. Schue?" she giggled, earning a laugh from Tina, who sat beside her.
"Someone special, hmm?" the usually shy girl teased, and Will felt his ears turning red.
"Do your work, ladies," he said, almost unable to wait for his free period when he and Emma could go have a coffee in the teacher's lounge and just be together. He had missed her, painfully so, all weekend. And her revelation this morning made his ache for her even more prominent.
Will felt like a schoolboy as he rushed from his classroom soon after the bell, blissfully unaware of the turn of events currently taking place in Figgins' office. He paused happily at Emma's office door, watching her through the glass. She was bent over her paperwork, biting her lip as she signed off on countless college recommendations.
He had no idea how long he stood there, just taking in her beauty, but nothing could break Will's trance. Maybe it was the way the sunlight caught her hair just right, igniting a fire in his heart, or the way her lips curved into a gentle smile as she clicked the top of her pen. It could possibly have been the gentle curve of her back and she hunched over her work, but it was just as probable that it was her eyes or the way she would align her papers into a perfect stack before beginning onto the next document.
Suddenly, she looked up, finally sensing his presence. And as her face lit up in a huge grin upon seeing him, he realized that it was absolutely everything he loved. But, most of all, it was how she looked from his eyes to the flowerpot on her desk, then back to him again. She blushed as she did this, realizing he had noticed, but beckoned for him to come inside.
"Hi," she said, a blush tinting her cheeks. "I missed you."
"I missed you too," he said, smiling the lopsided grin that Emma loved so much. She blushed a little, and he took a step forward, extending his hand for her to take. Without hesitation, Emma took Will's hand and let him pull her out of her chair, a twinkle in her eyes.
"Want to go grab some coffee before lunch?"
"Of course," Emma smiled, "Let me just grab my bag."
"I'll get it," Will interrupted, and Emma swooned as he lifted her tote onto his muscular shoulder.
The chatter remained happy and jovial for the remainder of the free period. Will lamented a little to Emma about the glee club, and how complacent they were becoming. "They're just getting so... complacent, Em... I feel like I'm not doing a very good job of inspiring them anymore, you know? Ever since they found out their competition, they're bored, and they're comfortable where they are-"
"Will. Don't be ridiculous. The kids love you. And... you inspire me to be better every day, you know. Don't get down on yourself. Maybe it's... good. In a way, it might be good, that they're so confident. They're so wonderful at everything they do, Will, and maybe you should just let them enjoy it for a little bit. Don't rush, don't push them too hard. Just keep being... you. And that's perfect, I think."
He smiled warmly, taking a sip of his coffee. When he set the mug down, he sighed, his eyes glowing. God, he didn't know what he would do without Emma. He had come into the lunch room today with all the troubles in the world, but she had simply made them dissolve. She made him feel good about what he cared about, and himself, and he hadn't had anyone do that for him since... well, since ever. "Em, you are so wonderful," he said bluntly, taking her hand in his.
She squeezed his fingers lightly, "So much of me, Will, is because you helped me to be that way." A soft blush graced Emma's cheeks, and if they hadn't been in such a public place, Will would have kissed it away. She was so beautiful. Inside and outside and everything.
"That isn't true." He croaked, his voice thicker than he expected it to be. Emma raised her eyebrows in a questioning manner, cocking her head to one side. Her red waves fell over her shoulders, and he imagined running his fingers through them and kissing the radiant smile that currently lit up her lips. "Em, from the day I've met you, you've been so lovely, and honest, and everything I could ever wish-"
"Well, isn't this nice." The voice pierced through Will and Emma's very private moment, shattering any remnants of the spell they had been under. Emma snatched her hand away, blushing fiercely, and began examining the table in great detail. Will swallowed, turning his head around slowly.
This couldn't be happening. This could not be happening.
But it was.
"T-terri...?" Will cleared his throat, struggling to find his voice. Somehow, the sight of his pregnant wife looking down at him so expectantly, so ominously, had seemed to have sucked the very breath out of him. "W-what, umm, what are you doing here? You never visit me at work..." He stood to greet her, but Terri took another step closer, keeping him in his seat. She liked this position of power, of intimidation, of feeling bigger than he was. He swallowed nervously.
Emma was concentrating on her coffee mug, breathing in and out in short little puffs, and trying to maintain her composure. If Terri hadn't been there, Will swore that he would have taken Emma into a warm embrace and absorbed every last ounce of her panic. But the thing was, Terri was there, she was in the teachers lounge, and she was resting a hand gently over her swollen stomach as if she was wielding a sword at the both of them.
"Oh, I'm not visiting, Will," she chirped, overly cheerful, yet her tone still managed to sound menacing and harsh. She cocked her head with a heartbreaking smile, her eyes widening a little as she said, "I'm the new school nurse."
One could have heard a pin drop. Will felt a rock settle in the pit of his stomach, and he struggled for a response. Meanwhile, Sue Sylvester had begun packing up her lunch rather loudly across the room. As she passed Will and Emma's table during her hasty exit, she muttered, "Well, God bless the both of you." Emma could feel herself flushing ten shades of pink as Terri shot Sue a pointed look and pulled out a chair to sit down beside Will. The tension in the air was so thick that it felt hard to breath, and with another small cough, Will finally spoke.
"But Terri, you have no training." His hand massaged the back of his neck as his mind ran a mile a minute. There would be no escape now. No middle-of-the-week dates for he and Emma. No meeting in the morning for a quick kiss, no staying at her apartment while Terri worked the late shift. Their small relationship as they knew it was ending, and Will felt tears begin to prick his eyes at the very thought.
"Oh please, Will, it's a public school," Terri sighed, raising her eyebrows. "Plus, two incomes will help for when the baby comes. Our baby." Will's cheeks reddened and he blinked the tears from his eyelids, sighing. Terri turned to Emma, her vicious smile returning. She seemed hungry, almost, and Emma coward in her chair.
Seeing the woman he loved shrink so visibly in the presence of the woman he was supposed to love made Will incredibly uneasy. He carefully maneuvered his foot underneath the table so that it rested against Emma's primly-crossed ankles, hoping that the small physical gesture would offer some comfort, give her some strength. I'm on your side, he thought, hopeful that his telepathic message would successfully reach Emma from across the table. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I'm Terri, Will's pregnant wife," Terri offered, her words biting and cold. "You must be Emma."
"Y-yeah," Emma said, attempting a smile.
"Will's mentioned you a few times," Terri stated, and Will reeled in anger. He tried to keep his breathing even and calm, but it was almost impossible when Terri was acting this way. He applied more pressure to Emma's ankles with his foot, trying to soothe her, but she pulled away suddenly, her chair scooting back on the floor, her eyes wide.
Terri's hand was making a beeline for the rim of Emma's coffee cup. Shit shit shit shit. "You've got a little lipstick," the blonde explained before wiping the edge of the cup with her spit-coated thumb and smiling icily in Will's direction. Will could not bring himself to look at Emma, to see the horrified look in her eyes, because he knew that his reaction would be one that he'd regret.
"Well," Terri said, rising from her seat and resuming her careful hold on her belly. "I'd better be going. Time to keep the students of McKinley healthy and happy, right?"
"R-right," Will choked, struggling to form a coherent thought as his wife left the lounge. As Terri's heels clacked down the hallway and became inaudible, Will slowly turned to face Emma. Her porcelain face was painted with shock and fear, and Will's heart went out to her.
"Em-"
"Don't, Will," she whispered, swallowing. "Just don't."
"But Emma..." his voice trailed off, and he felt his eyes grow teary again. He was being such a baby, but he didn't care. Emma was the most important thing in the world to him, and now, it would be almost impossible to show her. With Terri as the new school nurse, there would be absolutely no time for Will to be alone with her. No time for him to show Emma how much he loved her.
"I know," she said softly, her hand finally daring to cover his. She gradually looked up, her own tearful eyes meeting his. "Don't say it, Will... I know. This... it's going to be even harder than we thought."
"Em, I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry..."
"Will. What do you have to be sorry for?" Her voice was thick, laced with emotion, her accent heavier than he had ever heard it. He sighed deeply as she explained, "You have priorities, Will. Priorities that include your wife. And your baby. And... and until Someday... it's going to be really hard to make me... to make us... one of them."
She felt like her heart was being ripped out, but she had to do the right thing. She had to walk away now, or else she knew that she would never be able to.
"Emma, wait-"
"I have to go," she whispered, unable to speak louder. She managed a small smile as she left, a tear trickling down her cheek. She swallowed, unable to form words. I love you, she mouthed before she turned her back completely to him, and their relationship, until there was no Terri standing in the way.
X
Sue Sylvester was a good person. If, and only if, one is on her good side, that person could rely on Sue for almost anything. Really. If you were someone that she even remotely cared about, then she would not let anything touch you, or anything harm you. Ever. And she might get angry easily. She might hatch terrible plans behind your back. But if ever you were in trouble, and if ever you needed a friend, Sue would be there. Sue would be the first to come running to your aid. Sue would be the first to kick the ass of someone who might have hurt you.
Although she would never admit it, not in a million years, or at gunpoint, or during a zombie apocalypse, or over her own dead body, or as she took her last breath of life, Sue considered Will Schuester and Emma Pillsbury to be her friends. And she thought that-as annoying as they both were- she had never laid eyes on two people more in love than they were.
So when she overheard the chilly exchanged between the duo and Will's wife, Terri, Sue decided that this was one of those times that a friend needed her. Sue knew that Will and Emma's relationship had been growing stronger, and that they were falling harder and harder every day. And despite his curly hair and obnoxious club of mouth-breathing acne factories, she thought that Will Schuester deserved a chance at happiness. And despite her obsessive habits and fussy blouses and hair and timid, squeaky voice, she thought that Emma Pillsbury deserved that chance too.
For two days, she had been essentially stalking Terri, searching for any tidbit of information that could possibly get the woman fired. It was a Wednesday when Sue finally found was she was looking for. She was camped outside the nurse's office, leaning casually against the doorframe, and staring into space when Finn Hudson, the school's star quarterback, ambled through the door.
"Mrs. Schuester?"
Sue struggled to make out what they were saying.
"Yes... oh, Finn Hudson... dating Quinn Fabray?" That was Terri.
"Umm... Yeah..."
"... bone structure."
"...Thanks."
"...help you?"
"Just... really tired lately..."
"Well... is anything... keeping... awake?"
"... Girls, football plays... girls."
"... dating Quinn Fabray... cheating..." The woman's voice grew slightly sharper, and Sue rolled her blue eyes. She wasn't even a certified nurse, how could this woman possibly be allowed to give such advice to the kids?
"... Nap now?" That was Finn again.
"You know, when I was in high school... cheerleading, 4.0 GPA, cultivated a loving relationship..." Sue blocked out the woman's monologue. She could care less about Terri's endless high school accomplishments. For a second, she contemplated leaving, but a feeling in her gut made her feet stay glued to the floor. "... I know how I did it!... Two of these little blue meanies every morning... firecracker for the rest of the day!"
And with that, Sue Sylvester turned sharply on the heel of her custom-made Nike sneakers. She had work to do. Good, innocent, pregnant Mrs. Schuester was administering over the counter drugs to students with no training whatsoever. Having them in her possession at all was enough to get her fired, but giving them to students? This was gold. This was exactly what she had been looking for.
She walked as fast as possible to Figgins office, the bell for last period ringing sharply in her ears as she reached the main hallway. She groaned inwardly- according to the lunch gossip as of late, Will was hosting a glee club competition today. Figgins was supposed to be the guest judge or something or other, and would be busy last period.
Sue trekked back to her office, settling herself in her chair and pulling out her journal as she decided that the news would have to wait until tomorrow. She flipped the little book open and clicked the top of her blue Mont Blanc pen.
Dear Journal,
I believe that there should be an entire day devoted solely to the greatest woman to ever walk the planet Earth. ME. Every ninth of December, right in the midst of all the biggest holidays, students will have off from school, and people will have off from work, and they will all gather round a huge statue of me created by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel himself in honor of National Sue Sylvester Day...
X
Will leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples with his fingers. This could not be happening. This could not be happening. Sure, Finn had seemed a little more exuberant yesterday, but it was nothing too unusual. Will had overlooked his favorite student's odd behavior, writing it off as a good night's sleep and excitement over the competition. Even Figgins hadn't noticed anything.
But now... now it all made sense. He snapped back into reality as Figgins shook his head, looking in the direction of his wife. "We're sorry Mrs. Schuester, but we have to let you go. We do not support drug abuse in any way at this school! And William..." Figgins looked from Will to Terri to Sue, who loomed against the bookcase behind them.
"You should know your students, Will. You should have been thinking when Mr. Hudson began acting so irrationally yesterday afternoon- Why, if Sue hadn't come to me like she did this morning, who knows what could have happened? Do you realize that your own ignorance, and the poor decisions of your spouse risked the well being of the entire student body of McKinley High School! Does the name of the best president who ever lived mean nothing to you, Schue?"
Will swallowed. He hadn't been himself all week. After Monday, after Terri arrived and drove a huge wedge between himself and Emma, he hadn't been able to focus on anything. Including the obscene amount of energy and enthusiasm that was spewing from Finn yesterday. Even Rachel had seemed taken aback by her classmate's behavior. "I-I know, and I'm sorry..."
"Sorry isn't going to cut it this time, William! From now on, Ms. Sylvester will be the co-director of your glee club. She has a perfect track record and reputation, and will hopefully influence your decisions in regards to your students!"
"But-"
"No 'buts' William. Not this time. I'm sorry."
X
Terri Schuester was desperate for answers. For anything, really. Here she was, feigning a pregnancy, and plotting to take a student's baby, and with a husband who obviously had feelings for someone else. She loved him, she really did. Or at least she used to. Some time, a long time ago, Terri Del Monaco fell in love with Will Schuester, the boy next door. But now the love was gone. Now, she just loved the idea of him. And the income he brought home every third Friday of the month.
She sighed. Without her constant supervision, she knew that Will and the doe-eyed harlot would grow ever closer. She remembered smelling another woman's perfume on his jacket last week, and bile rose in her throat. They were supposed to be the golden couple, the sweethearts with the perfect marriage, perfect life, perfect clothes and house and children. She wondered fleetingly how much money she would get from child support if she divorced him now for cheating on her. Her accusation would probably land her more cash than she could fathom now, and the constant stream of money over the years for their baby would-
No. She stopped herself. She couldn't think so far ahead because honestly, as of right now, there was no baby. No child support. And she would continue to fight for her perfect life. It hadn't completely slipped from her grasp yet, but every day that Will spent with that horrible ginger pushed her fantasies farther and farther away from her reality.
She knew that Will could not be swayed. He, as much as she hated to admit it, was falling for that skittish bimbo. But Emma? Emma was so in love with Will that she would do absolutely anything for him. Even leave him alone, forever, if that meant that he could happy with his child and his wife. Terri pulled on her favorite blue sweater, happy to finally shed that god-awful lab coat, and stalked down the hallway in the direction of Emma's office.
"Hi, Mrs. Schuester," Quinn said as they passed in the sea of students, and Terri flashed the girl an icy smile.
"Quinn! How are you doing lately?" she glanced down to Quinn's stomach, noting that the control panel in her Cheerios uniform was still keeping her completely flat looking. Was that normal at this stage in pregnancy? She exhaled, making a mental note to research more when she got home. She lowered her voice, "And how's... the baby?"
"Good, actually," Quinn said, her eyes looking a little sad, a little scared. "Just difficult with all the bills. I mean, each ultrasound is so expensive, and you want all the DVDs... and soon I'm going to need maternity clothes and-" tears sprung to Quinn's eyes, and the popular teen fought to maintain her composure. "I was hoping that you could help me out a little." Her voice was soft and needy, and Quinn swiped impatiently at her eyes with her knuckles.
"You want money? From me?" Terri scoffed, her eyebrows climbing skyward. Truthfully, she didn't know what was driving her to act like such a bitch. She wouldn't have been able to handle a teen pregnancy, and Quinn was being so strong and selfless. Terri was supposed to be the girl's support system, and yet, she found herself incapable of doing even that. She felt incredibly guilty, and suddenly sick, but her lips kept moving, forming horrible words that she didn't really mean. Who was this person? This terrible witch? "I'm going to be paying the bills for eighteen years, sweetie. You can handle nine months," Terri deadpanned icily. Quinn turned away, and Terri swallowed thickly. She felt more bile rise in her throat, and she placed a hand over her stomach, hoping to find some level of comfort in the padding underneath her shirt.
No wonder it was impossible to love her.
But, as that thought entered her brain, Terri picked up the pace towards Emma office. That was all the more reason to nip whatever was going on between Will and that little hag in the bud. She was relying on this baby to keep she and Will together, and she needed to do everything in her power to make sure that there were no alternate options. When everything that mattered to her was hanging so high on such a breakable thread, she needed to insure the fact that there was nothing sharp nearby to break it.
X
Emma Pillsbury sighed. This week was the hardest of her life. She stared intently at the sunny skies outside her windows, the weather greatly contrasting with her mood. She hadn't realized how much she needed Will in her life until she had gone without him for almost a full work week. God, he was the only thing keeping her sane.
She let her stomach twist into uncomfortable knots as she stood there, her eyes blurring from the combination of tears and staring at the sun for too long. Someone cleared their throat, and she heard the door to her office pull open.
Emma swiped hastily at her brown eyes, hoping that they didn't look too red rimmed. She had no idea how long she had been staring out the window, or how much she had been crying. She had just been so lost in her thoughts of Will, and impossible dreams of Someday. "Terri." Her voice rose and octave as she looked uncomfortably around her office. Why was Terri here? With her? "H-how, umm, how can I help you?" For some reason, her tone was icy, not nervous and skittish, and it scared Emma to think that her own voice reminded her so much of Terri's. She swallowed thickly, fear rising through her small frame and bubbling in her chest.
"Emma. I just wanted to clear the air about this week. Things have been a little... awkward." Terri's words seemed genuine and her hands were rested gently on her pregnant stomach. Emma got the feeling that Terri was holding a gun to her head instead of softly caressing her swollen belly, but blinked rapidly to chase the thoughts away.
"That's, umm," Emma finally found her voice as she sat down. "That's actually really nice of you." She managed a quick smile as she let her eyes wander from the tulip on her desk back to Terri. But instead of the warm look she was expecting in return, Emma was faced with the iciest look she had ever seen.
"Yeah, nice," the blonde deadpanned, stepping closer. Tulip tulip tulip tulip, Emma thought, searching for inner strength. She opened her mouth to speak, but Terri was faster. "You think you are so high and mighty Emma, because you're so innocent, and you have a crush on a man that you see for an hour or two a day. You don't know Will, Emma. You aren't married to Will. You aren't carrying his baby, the baby that he loves very much."
"Terri, I-"
"Oh, don't even, Emma. You think that you deserve him, because you're always so kind to him, and you deserve some special award for sharing your sandwich with him sometimes and giving him advice about his stupid little club. You think that you're better than me because you live in your little, tiny, clean bubble. You don't have real problems, Emma. You are a coward. You're a child."
"Terri, Will is a good man. A-A wonderful man and-"
"And what? You think he thinks the same of you? Have you ever heard of pity, Emma Pillsbury? Because that is all your freakish friendship with my husband is or ever will be."
Tulip tulip tulip tulip.
Someday Someday Someday Someday.
"Listen up, ginger. You competing with me is like saying that a nail is in competition with a hammer. And how can you be so mighty, Emma, so good, if all you really are is a home wrecker? Hm?" Terri smirked, her eyebrows arching menacingly. Emma tried to stop the tears that leaked from her eyes. Her cheeks reddened- she had never felt so hurt, so angry. She found the strength to stand, even though her knees wobbled and knocked together. She gripped the desk for support, but let go, and took a step towards Terri.
"Will is the most wonderful, amazing man I have ever met." And I love him. So, so, so, ungodly much. She bit her tongue. "And he... h-he deserves a lot better than you."
"And who would that be, you?" Terri scoffed, rolling her icy blue/gray eyes. "Right. Go out with Ken Tanaka, Emma. He's the only one who is willing to date a freak like you. And even he could do better." She took a final step closer to Emma's desk, and Emma swallowed, a single tear slipping down her cheek. Terri glanced down at her desk, her blue eyes falling on Emma's meticulous jar of pencils. With one flick, she pushed it over, the wooden pencils and metal container clattering to the floor. "Oops." And with that, she was gone.
X
Emma sank into her desk chair, feeling as though she was dreaming. This didn't feel real, not the confrontation with Terri, or the mess of her pencils, or the mess her life had become. She realized that she was openly sobbing when her hands reached to cover her face, and she felt her body contract and lose her normally perfect posture. The hot tears seeped unchecked down her cheeks, and she wished for one thing.
Will.
But instead, it was Sue Sylvester who had witnessed the scene. And with no words exchanged between the cheerleading coach and guidance counselor, Sue entered Emma's office and began picking up each and every one of the spilled pencils. She set the jar upright again, dropping the group of wooden instruments inside, all facing the same direction. Erasers up, like always. For some reason, the simple gesture only made Emma cry harder.
The older woman simply placed a hand on her shoulder for a split second, rubbing the curve of it gently and quickly, before removing it as though Emma's shoulder was burning. As she turned to leave, Sue faced the broken woman before her, who had reduced her sobs to a few shuddering gasps and sniffles, and said, "Don't give up on him yet, Urma."
And that was all.
A/N: Sorry for the lack of updates! My other stories will be updated as soon as possible! Thanks for reading! Please review and comment, all critism, ideas, and everything in between are greatly appreciated! Feedback=LOOVVEEE
Thanks!-Liv