Hope you enjoy this new chapter! I had no other choice but to split it in two parts; the first one, let me warn you, it´s gonna be kinda angsty but I hope you find the end of the second part better and more fluffy/romantic/smutty.
Thanks for reading and thanks to Taylor (purple-wemma) for being my beta!
VII (Old Friends)
Opening his eyes every morning and seeing his red haired girlfriend lying next to him was something Will still couldn´t believe. She would sleep peacefully; her arms resting lightly on the pillows she would use the night before for her nightly reading. He woke up earlier that morning, which was quite untypical of him. Usually Emma was the one waking him up with a gentle touch on his cheek.
Will rested his weight on his elbow, turning on his side to face a sleeping Emma. Her breathing was serene and her lips were curved in a slight smile. He couldn´t help to chuckle at her loveliness. All morning could pass and he would stare at her, captivated by her unflustered doze.
"Stop staring at me" she told him with her eyes still closed and a wide smile appearing on her lips.
"You were awake…" Will replied mischievously dragging his body above hers, brushing their lips together seductively.
"Of course I was… it´s time to work" she informed when he pulled away.
"We have plenty of time to get ready, you know?"
"Really…?" Emma raised an eye brow, guessing her boyfriend´s intention; "´cause the clock doesn´t say so…" her words got lost in her throat when he buried his face on her neck, and slightly sucked her pulse, "Will…" she called his name with heavy breath.
"You have no idea how happy I am to wake up next to you every morning" he told her slowly, his voice coming out almost in a buzz. There was no distance between their bodies and Emma could feel him budding against her belly.
"Are you happy, Will…?" she teased him unequivocally
He laughed loudly, "I´m not… " He buried his face on her neck again, and he lifted up before some seconds to confirmed, "I'm electrified"
"Electrify me, Will" she hummed hotly against his ear.
-xx-
Life together turned out to be better than they expected and thanks to Dr. Begler's conductive treatment Emma could manage some of her old habits and control many of her OCD behaviors.
She discovered what a great partner Will was when she started to find done many of the domestic tasks. He loved pleasing Emma by giving her the assistance she never asked for and she awed by the realization of how deep inside her mind Will was.
Several months had passed, and the colorful summer landscape granted its turn to the opaque autumn to cover Lima. It was a cold and windy season which none of them was fond of that much: a great deal of work and too much grey around; but Will and Emma didn´t mind at all because each other company was enough to make them feel blessed.
One afternoon, while they walked through the park (it had become a habit for them), someone unexpected came across their way.
"Will Schuester!" a feminine voice called his name. Both turned around to face a brunette woman with a kind smile; she was taking hands with a man who was smiling as widely as her, "Oh my God, how are you?"
"Cynthia!" Will exclaimed surprised, letting go Emma´s hand and walking forward the familiar couple, "Phillip!" he hugged them warmly, "How are you, guys?"
"We´re great…" Cynthia replied and her eyes traveled to Emma, who was standing shyly behind him.
"Oh! I´m sorry…! This…" he took his girlfriend´s hand, bringing her closer, "is Emma".
The couple looked at her kindly and introduced themselves in a very friendly way. They were both Will´s old friends from High School and Cynthia, as he, was a member of the Glee Club and Phillip was his close buddy. Will was amazed by meeting them in the park, as he knew they were no longer living in Lima, and when he asked them what were they doing back there they told him about the 15th graduation anniversary, which Will wasn´t aware of.
"You need have to stop changing your number, man…" Phillip said with a sigh, shaking his head, causing Will to chuckle, "It´s tomorrow, at Gold Diggers Bar, we´ll have some snacks and drinks there… Nothings fancy. Emma you´re more than welcome too, please come" he asked her smiling
"Thank you, that´d be very nice", she replied squeezing Will´s hand.
"So, we´ll see you there! At 7…!" Cynthia exclaimed waving her hand while they walk away.
"She´s quiet, but she looks so much nicer than Terri" Phillip whispered to his wife when they were alone.
-xx-
On Saturday night, Emma and Will arrived to the bar Philip mentioned. At least 25 people were there.
"Hey, Will, Emma!" Cynthia welcomed them, "Come, everyone is in the back"
Everyone was there indeed and it took them at least half hour to greet them all. After a while, Will and Emma took a spot near the table with Phillip and Cynthia; they asked Emma about her work and her relationship with Will. She really liked Will´s friends; they were kind, polite and funny. And Will was happy they got on so well. Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by a feminine voice.
"Will! Will Schuester!" They all turned around to see a tall fitted brunette woman approaching them with grace, "Oh my God, it´s been so long!"
"Shania!" he respond with a smile, "How are you?" The woman walked with charm towards him and took him in a profound hug. Emma looked at her with a smile but it gradually started to vanish when she saw the way this new friend was squeezing her boyfriend´s body. They eventually pulled away and she wasn´t taking her hands off him, on the contrary, she fondle his chest with her covered in rings fingers. She saw Cynthia´s eyes contemplating the scene taking part in front of them and Phillip excusing himself and going to the bar.
Emma cleared her throat to catch Will´s attention, seeing he was still smiling at Shania´s words.
"Uhm, Shania let me introduce someone to you…" he said showing a little embarrassed, "This is Emma…"
"Oh, hi!" she exclaimed shaking Emma´s hand
"It´s nice to meet you" Emma replied trying to smile. She didn´t like Shania. There was something in the way she greeted her boyfriend made Emma uneasy, and when she actually took the time to observe the woman she saw Shania had very flirtatious manners and a body that allowed her to.
"Same here" she immediately returned her eyes to Will, "So how´s Terri?" she asked casually like if Emma wasn´t even there.
"I don´t know" Will answered narrowing his shoulders as he put a hand around Emma´s waist, trying to send Shania the message.
"Oh… " she raised her eye brows and then greeted Cynthia, "Hey there, Cynthia"
"Hey" was her dry respond. She clearly didn´t like Shania either. "Wanna have a drink with me, Emma?"
"Uhm…" she hesitated as she wasn´t sure if she wanted to leave Will alone with that woman. Stop it, Emma, don´t you trust Will at all?, "Yes… Sure. We´ll be in the bar, ok?" she told him planting a soft kiss on his cheek and following Cynthia to meet Phillip.
"I´m sorry if I made you uncomfortable" Cynthia apologized once sited, "I´ve never had a good relationship with Shania…"
"It´s ok" Emma replied softly taking a zip of her margarita; a million questions passed through her mind; Why? Is she always that rude? Is she always putting her hands over men like that?, "Will seems to be a good friend with her…"
"Yeah…" was her reply. But she didn´t say anymore and Emma could sense there was something unsaid.
"Don´t worry" Phillip told her a couple of minutes later. He saw Emma´s eyes were fixed on Will and Shania and by her expression he could tell she was bothered, "She´s been always like that with men…" Emma remained silent, "that´s one of the reasons Cynthia doesn´t like her" he chuckled a little.
"What´re the others?" she asked without thinking, "Oh, I'm sorry… I shouldn´t have asked you that. It was totally inappropriate. I´m not an intrusive-" she began quickly.
"It´s ok, don´t worry" he replied with a wink.
-xx-
Summing up what had happened last weekend, Emma came to the conclusion she didn´t like Shania Simmons. First she thought she was rude when Will presented each other, especially when she asked about Terri when he wasn´t married to her anymore. Evidently.
Then she remembered the little conversation they had while Will was talking to one of his friends. She had been sarcastic and disdainful about her work and everything she would say.
And what was with all the touching? She thought. That had been absolutely out of place. The image of Shania´s hand all over Will made her sick. She didn´t respect personal space, she didn´t even care Emma herself was right there in front of her. And the feeling of an untypical anger burned inside her.
"Em? Em..?" Will´s voice took her out of her absorption, "You ok?"
She raised her eyebrows, blinking several times, "yes, of course" she lied and grabbed a sandwich from her Tupper. The teacher´s lounge was practically empty that day.
"Listen, I´m not gonna straight home after school" he told her stealing a grape from her Tupper, "Shania called me this morning; she invited me to have a cup of coffee with Sam and Krista… Remember them? From the other night…?" she nodded.
"Ok…" Emma could only say "Will you be back for dinner?" her voice was soft, almost a whisper.
"Of course" he kissed her lips with suavity, "I´m gonna go now… delayed paperwork. I´ll see you tonight!"
She watched him walk away, feeling like the worst girlfriend who had ever stood on the face of the Earth. She didn´t like Shania, that was a fact; but that wasn´t a reason to ask him to stop seeing her. She was his friend, after all.
Shania´s hand over Will´s chest.
Stop it.
But then… The thought of him not taking her hands away.
Whoa, whoa… this is definitively enough, Emma. You need to stop imagining things.
Luckily, she had an appointment with Dr. Begler that afternoon. Emma vented her worries with drain. She cried for her suspicions, and for Will not noticing how she was feeling.
"It´s been almost 6 days since that reunion… and I've been feeling like crap since then..." her sobs filled Dr. Begler´s office. "And I know you think I should talk to him, but I know what´s gonna happen if I do… I´m gonna end up saying what I think about her, about my fears, and he´ll say I'm being ridiculous and that´s gonna be it." She talked fast, her eyes firmly closed. "And today they´re having a cup of coffee-"
"What do you worry about, Emma?" she asked with caution and seeing Emma wasn´t responding she added, "Is cheating an option?"
"No... I mean, he couldn´t" she replied fast, "He wouldn´t do that…" however there was doubt in her voice, "But he… he was embarrassed when she was all over him and I had to cough to have his attention…."
"Maybe he was just embarrassed, because he knew his behavior wasn´t appropriated…" Dr. Begler adventured.
"Maybe… " She thought about Dr. Begler´s words. "I'm gonna wait to see how this evolves … Perhaps, hopefully, she just disappears from our lives; and if not… then I'll just talk to him" she sentenced with determination. "Thanks Dr."
-xx-
For the following days, Emma tried to tolerate the fact that Will met Shania a couple more times. They would get reunited at the coffee shop with Sam and Krista and Will would come home a little later every day.
Emma couldn´t stand being alone at their apartment, waiting for him. Her insides twitched and she had no idea why that happened; she hated playing the desperate housewife role, guarding her husband; so that Friday, the best think she could do to keep her head busy was going shopping.
While she examined a beautiful pair of Mary Jane's, a familiar silhouette caught her eye. Her eyebrows knit in a worried expression and when she recognized who that person was she held her breath.
"Hey, Emma!" It was Krista.
"H-Hi, Krista, how are you…?" she managed to say. What was she doing there?, "How´s Sam?" there was no chance she was asking her why wasn´t she with Will and Shania. Looking like a fool wasn´t something Emma allowed herself.
"I´m good… and Sam is good too! He dragged me here to buy some tennis shoes… I swear he´s worst than me!" Krista laughed, "And Will?"
"He had to stay at school… delayed work" Emma lied quickly and her heart ached. Will had lied to her. "I better be going, Krista. Gotta go to the store… Say hi to Sam from me, please"
"Of course! Listen, it´s gonna be his birthday in a couple of weeks, I´m gonna call you guys to let you know about the celebration." She informed warmly
"Sure", Emma replied with an unchanged smile before walking towards the parking lot. Her knees trembled on her way to the car and when she took her seat, she noticed her hands were shaking. What just happened? This cannot be possible.
Tears pound across her cheeks just by the thought of Will lying to her. Emma could only think about one reason for him to hide his encounters with Shania: affair. Plain and simple.
This is not possible. It just couldn´t be. He would never do that. She told herself while driving home as tears were dried off her face.
"Hey, Em…" he told her from the couch when she got home and hanged her purse and coat on the closet.
"Hi…" she answered quietly
"Had appointment with Dr. Begler…?" he asked casually, watching the TV.
"No. Went to the mall…" she walked towards him and stood firmly near the end of the couch.
"Got something nice?" his attention was focused on the game.
"I saw Krista and Sam…" her voice trembled when those words escaped her mouth and Will immediately turned his head to face her.
"You…?" He began standing up
"I saw Krista and Sam" she repeated trying not to burst into tears. "Apparently they had no plans for coffee today…" her eyes were fixed on his, trying to read his expression without result.
"Em, I-"
"Are you sleeping with her?" Emma spat the words in haste, disgusted by the single idea of that happening.
"What? No, of course, no!" Will replied shocked, almost horrified buy Emma´s words.
"Then why didn´t you tell me you were meeting Sheila alone…?" she asked, her voice breaking
"Shania" he corrected, "and-"
"I don´t care about her name, Will!" She cut him with a squeal, "I don´t care about her…" her voice lowered, but it was still raised "I just care that you lied to me, you lied to me; I thought I could trust you…" her last words got lost in her throat and she cried miserably taking a sit on the couch armrest. She didn´t care about her name. Sheila, Shania, Shannon…. It was all the same. The fact that he corrected it only made the whole situation worst.
"Em… please don´t cry…" he begged her coming close to her, trying to take her between her arms; but she resisted him, "Can I explain why I didn't´ tell you?" he took her chin and lifted it so their eyes could met.
"Tell me the truth" she said emotionless, trying not to start sobbing again
"When Shania called me, she asked me to meet her alone…. She´s having a rough time lately. She´s been through a tough divorced and is a little depressed-"
"You´re not saying why you hide it from me…"Emma interrupted him, "I´m sure you´re not her only friend…"
"Nobody takes Shania serious enough, nobody cares enough, Em… she´s lost many friends because the way she acts with men-"
"Still you´re not saying it…" she stopped him again roughly, her eyes locked with his, demanding an explanation, "Will, why?"
He sighed, rubbing his forehead nervously, "Shania tried to sabotage my relationship with Terri when we were married" he shook with embarrassment, "She was a very close friend of mine and also a friend with Terri; and when all that happened she almost plucked Shania´s eyes out... "
"Then why the hell are you still in touch with her?" Emma demanded annoyed, "Will, she has rubbed her hands all over you, didn´t you-"
"Em, that´s-"
"No, it´s not ridiculous!" she guessed his next reply, "didn´t you notice the disdained tone she talked to me with?" she was crying again, this time her cheeks had gone reddish and her throat hurt, "Will, I felt like a idiot when you didn´t take her hands away from you…"
"Trust me" he pleaded her, "I´d never, ever, cheat on you…"
"I don´t trust her. Not one bit… I can´t stop thinking she might-" Emma didn´t dare to express her thoughts, "it´s driving me crazy…" she sentenced, cleaning her tears away.
"Em, sweetie… I´m-I´m sorry…" he could only manage to say; he felt ashamed. How didn´t he notice Emma´s hurt before?
"I don´t like her; I don´t like the way she touches you and the way she talks and looks at me. And I hate you lied to me…" Emma sobbed fixing her eyes on her lap and choosing her next words carefully, "and I know you´re gonna say I´m being paranoid, but, uhm, if you don´t stop this something is gonna happen... And I won´t-"
"Em, it´s ok, please…" Will cut her taking her body between his arms firmly; he knew she´d resist. But she didn´t. She was exhausted, "Please forgive me, I- I was an asshole… I´ll talk to her, ok? Please… I love you. Only you."
-xx-
Will felt his heart throbbing when he came to the realization of how much hurt he had caused Emma. Tears were shared that night and loving and forgiving words were said.
He honestly didn´t believe Shania would try anything with him after what had happened years ago, and he told Emma that; but she practically begged him to listen to her presentiment. And he did; he didn´t want to hurt her again.
Several days had passed and he finally had a talk with Shania. There was no need for him to tell her all the details, so he just said their meetings were inappropriate considering the fact he was in love with somebody else. She told him the whole idea was crazy.
"If your girlfriend has trust issues that´s not my problem, Will… I wanna keep seeing you" she had declared.
"Stop it, Shania… I´ve hurt her and I don´t want to do it again" he said with firmness, "you´ll have to find someone else to talk to… you had someone for these 15 years after all". And with that, Will ended the conversation.
-xx-
That Thursday, Will got a phone call from Krista. Sam´s birthday party was that weekend and they were invited, as long as some of the people from the last reunion. He gladly accepted and that Saturday their drove to Sam´s house. Emma was quite, he could tell she was worried about Shania being at the party, so he held her hand securely trying to comfort her.
She smiled gratefully and returned the gesture by squeezing his while they walk towards the entrance.
Sam opened the door with a huge smile. "Will! Emma! You came!" he exclaimed happily.
"Happy Birthday" they greeted as they came in the house. Emma gave him the present they had bought to him ("guys, you shouldn´t have!") and he invited them to go into the living room.
"Everyone´s there" he informed hanging their coats on the closet, next to the stairs.
They entered the room and for Will´s surprise Cynthia and Phillip where sitting on the couch, next to Krista and other friends. Emma smiled widely at them, especially pleased to see them.
"Emma!" Cynthia greeted her standing up and hugging her kindly, "Hello!"
"Hi, Cynthia! Phillip! I didn´t know you were coming!"
"We were in the neighborhood" Phillip joked causing Will to chuckle.
They talked for a couple of seconds until a familiar voice came from the kitchen. It was a graceful laugh, just like an old Hollywood actress.
"I know, I know…" the voice was approaching to the living room, and once Emma saw the tall brunette carrying a tray with muffins, her stomach overturned. "Hey, guys!" she saluted them charmingly
Emma sent her a stucked and short smile, trying to hide her disgust when Shania came in, but it didn´t work too well as Will noticed her grin.
"Hey, Shania, how are you?" he asked politely
"I´m great Will, you?"
Soon the others joined the conversation; but it was hard for Emma to do so, because the truth was she couldn´t help to perceive Shania was clearly flirting with Will. Of course, her hands were not all over him as the other night, but occasionally her hand would brush his shoulder or his fingers. And that sent Emma to the edge of rage.
"Emma?" Cynthia´s voice took her out of her thinking. "Wanna help me make some coffee?"
"Uhm, yes, sure" she replied with a smile.
"Listen, Emma" she told her once they were alone in the kitchen, "I know this doesn´t concern me… " Emma stared at her not knowing what to expect, "but you shouldn´t show Shania you don´t like her" she blushed at Cynthia´s comment, "It´s pretty obvious you don´t like her and she´s gonna take advantage of that… believe me, she can upset you as fast as I can snap"
Emma avoided her eyes, while she served the coffee, but manage to stutter a soft "Thank you"
"You seem to be a great person, Emma so take it easy, ok?" Cynthia rubbed her shoulder friendly and then she added, "C´mon, everyone´s in the garden… the boys are probably trying to play football"
They watched the game as they exchanged comments about the lousy players. Phillip laughed loudly when his wife made an observation about his lack of talent. Almost 40 minutes had passed and the game was at the peak of it competitiveness.
Emma watched the players run behind the ball when she noticed Will wasn´t running along them; he was probably hydrating himself after all the exercise, she thought.
"Cynthia, do you know where the bathroom is?" Emma asked her some minutes later.
"In the corridor, second door at your left"
She took the way Cynthia had told her and when she opened the door, her eyes flew opened in horror at the scene taking place in front of her.
Will´s back was resting on the sink and Shania´s body was firmly pressed against his torso, her hands tightly gripping his belt.
Emma´s heart almost skipped a beat; her breathing became uneven and a painful lump stuck in her throat.
"Em-" he began pushing Shania away.
But she didn´t listen. Emma simply closed the door behind her and walked towards the garden.
Don´t cry. Don´t make a scene. Don´t cry, don´t cry. She told herself severely.
"Cynthia" she called her name softly.
"Ye- Emma, are you ok?" she asked worried looking at Emma´s blind expression.
"I think I´m gonna go… I´m not feeling very well… My stomach…" she lied
"Ok, do you want me to find Will…?"
"No, it´s ok…" Emma replied quickly and then she added, "I´ll, uhm, call him when I get home. Would you tell Sam thanks and explain him-"
"Of course" Cynthia cut her; she had a worried expression and Emma hoped she´d bought her lie.
"Thanks" and with furthermore, Emma left; and when she returned home she practically drowned with all the tears she cried.
He didn´t run after her.
And her heart ached like it never had before.
