Three months went by since the incident with Tom. She had moved on, she didn't think about as much these days, and she erased all memories of him from her life. It took some time, but she was slowly healing again. This is why she always had her guard up, her protective walls around her so no one could get in.
Michelle and Ian were there for her during the days after the incident. They sat there and listened to her fears, her angriness, her revenge, and then her calming period. She couldn't have asked for better friends and they really helped her get through. She surprised herself at how upset the situation made her, and she realized that Tom was the first person that she let in. He was the complete opposite of her, but yet she knew he was hurting inside too.
Bill kept in contact with her, they talked on the phone several times a week and would mail each other letters updating on their lives. A close friendship formed between the two, and he always knew the right things to say.
Several times Tom tried contacting her, trying to apologize and wanting to make things right. She never answered his phone calls; she threw away any flowers or letters he sent to her. After two weeks she told Bill that Tom needed to stop and that she was being truthful when she said she didn't want him in her life.
At times Bill would let Emilene know how upset Tom was. How he wasn't being his usual self, instead of always being loud and the jokester, now he was quiet and seemed to be just "there." Bill didn't like the tension he felt whenever he talked to one about the other, but he kept Tom updated on what she told him. Tom wanted to know, he wanted to hear if she was happy again.
But old habits do not die hard, and so enough Tom was back in his ways of sleeping with a different girl almost every night. Bill kept that information away from Emilene, he knew Tom was filling a void and knew that she didn't want to hear it.
But already three months after the incident on their last phone call, Emilene told Bill that she was coming to Europe for a few days for work. She would be helping Rico with photography at the upcoming Marc Jacobs show. Bill was ecstatic to have his new friend in town and to meet up with her at the show. It hurt him to lie and say Tom wasn't coming, when in fact he and Bill were one of the top guests at the event. Bill was even going to walk the runway! He didn't like to lie, but he knew it would be for the best.
Emilene was on her flight to Europe, she was excited and tired at the same time. The past several weeks have been hectic at work, Rico's main assistant quit and received a new job at Vogue as their new Fashion Editor. Rico trusted only Emilene and offered her his assistant's position. She thought about it for days, and after discussing the opportunity with her close friends and Bill, she determined that this would be a great boost to her career and get her out there. She wasn't aware of the long days and nights, she would go days on just having a few hours of sleep, and it was starting to show. But the thrill and excitement was enough to keep her going. Rico was someone wonderful to work for, his visions and creativity made her strive to work harder, and his inspirations at times we a bit far-fetched, but entertaining none-the-less.
Now, here she was starting a new chapter in her life. She was excited to be somewhere new, to meet new and interesting people, and to see Bill. They were both excited for her arrival and Bill commented on how he had a little list of things they were going to do while in town.
The plane started its descent and anticipation grew inside of her. She couldn't wait to explore Europe and what it had to offer. Rico and Emilene made their way off the plane, commenting on how long the ride was and how the both just wanted to sleep in a nice, comfortable bed. They spotted their driver after they grabbed their luggage and made their way to the hotel.
The Driskyll was a beautiful hotel; it was once a old castle from the late 1800's that was remodeled into the hotel. Gold, reds, browns and creams accented the hotel and brought out the beauty in it. Emilene was staying on the fourth floor in Room 581, just three doors down from Rico. She dropped her bags as soon as she entered her room and fell on her bed. She drifted away into a deep slumber.
I am staying at the Driskyll in Room 581. I have tonight free, but will have to let you know the rest of my schedule tomorrow. – Em.
Bill was so excited to see his friend, he was going to wait to see her tomorrow but his excitement wouldn't keep him still.
"Someone found themselves a new burst of energy!" exclaimed Georg.
Gustav looked up from the magazine he was reading and nodded in agreement.
"Yes! Emma is in town and is just down the street from us! I am going over to see her right now."
"Didn't she just get in from her long flight?" Georg questioned while grabbing the magazine from Gustav's hands.
"Yes! I don't care, I have so much I want her to see and do in such little time!"
Tom looked up from tuning his guitar at Bill. He wished that he was going over to see her instead of Bill, that he would be the one showing her around town. But it wasn't going to happen.
Bill noticed Tom staring, like he was deep in though. She is going to be pissed, but it must happen.
"Tom… do you want to come with me?"
Bills question snapped Tom out of his thoughts, he wanted to go, but he also knew that if he did, would she want to see him?
The knocking on the door and murmured voices woke Emilene from her sleep. She glanced at the clock and it was only five, who would be at her door? She lazily got up and replied that she was coming. The plane ride really left her tired and groggy.
She saw Bill's smile through the peephole and perked up.
Bill was going to take me around tonight!
She excitedly opened the door to find Bill and Tom standing there. She thought she would have been upset to see Tom, but she blamed it on her lack of sleep for not slapping him.
"Bill! It is great to see you again!" Emilene exclaimed while hugging Bill.
"Yes and you too Emma! I am so excited to give you a Bill Kaulitz tour of the city!"
Tom was staring at the carpet, and in a low tone said how it was nice for him to see her also.
She glanced over to Bill. "Would you excuse us please? You can help yourself to whatever snacks and drinks are in the mini fridge."
Bill nodded and entered her hotel room; he made his way to her mini fridge and helped himself to a Coke and some chocolate chip cookies.
Emilene shut the hotel room door and now it was just she and Tom standing in the hallway staring at each other. She didn't know what to say to break the ice.
"Why did you have to do that Tom? I don't think you understand how much that hurt me."
Tom looked up at Emilene and saw tears beginning to well up in her eyes. He hated himself for what transpired and wanted to make it right.
"I know I can apologize repeatedly and it won't justify what I did. I was weak, when you left there was a desire in me that I haven't experience before. I mistook it for something else, and Bridgett happened to call right after you left. I wasn't thinking when I agreed for her to come over, and when I saw you in the hallway all broken looking I realized that I made a huge mistake. I am sincerely sorry Emma, I didn't and never wanted to hurt you."
I am not going to let myself cry, I will not give him the satisfaction of seeing me like that again.
But as her words ran through her head, warm streams of tears were running down her face. She saw Tom hesitate, and then move towards her. He brushed his hand against her cheek, wiping the tears away. He cupped her face in his heads and told her how sorry he was.
She didn't want this; she didn't want to be close to him again, to smell him, to feel his soft hands against her face. But when he pulled her into him she became weak and tightened her grip around him. She nuzzled her face into his chest, mumbling to him. She missed him, she wanted him and she needed him. But she wouldn't let herself become defeated so easily, she pulled away from his gentle embrace, wiped the tears from her eyes and entered her room with Tom following.
"Everything ok?" Bill asked. He was a site to see, sitting Indian style on her bed watching a talk show with cookie crumbs around him. Emilene couldn't help herself and started to laugh.
"What is with her?"
Tom just shook his head at Bill and looked back over to her. For a minute he thought he heard Emma say that she loved him when they were in the hallway. But he dismissed the thought to his wishful thinking.
Between her laughs she explained what was funny. Bill just look around like nothing was unusual, which is true. Bill loves his junk food and will leave a mess when he has been craving sweets for a while.
"Ok Bill, I think I am ready to leave." She turned her attention to Tom; "I would like you to come also Tom, not because I want you too, but that I am being polite for Bill's sake."
Tom shrugged his shoulders and put his hands in his pockets. Bill got up and stood next to him, showing how sorry he was in his eyes. Tom nodded and the twins followed Emilene out to the city.
After several hours of touring Art Museums, historic buildings and ruins, and the occasional shopping, the three of them became hungry. The decided to stop into a little art bistro they passed while looking at the Art Museums. When they entered the bistro, Bill excused himself, as he was not feeling well, leaving it to just be Tom and Emilene.
I don't want to be mad at him anymore, I want to make things right. Turn it back to when I got nervous and choked up around him.
But whom was she kidding? She still got wobble kneed, sweaty palms and stuttered when Tom was near. After they ordered their food at the counter, they sat down in a corner of the bistro. The tension was thick between them.
I can't stand this!
"Tom?" Emilene slyly eyed him and became nervous. How was she going to make things right? She didn't want to continue this charade.
"Yes Emma?" Tom leaned in over the table to her. His eyes filled with sadness and contemplation.
"I miss you."
That was all he needed to hear, and before he knew it they were embracing and telling each other how sorry they were. He felt the flutters in his stomach again; he tried to ignore them, as he never felt uneasy around a woman before. But Emma was different to him, she wasn't like everyone else. He wanted to be a better man because of her, he wanted to show her that he could do right and decided that he would never but her through agony like that again.
When their food arrived, they took their time eating, instead focusing on catching up with what they missed in each other's lives during their time apart. Midway in conversation, Tom reached down into a bag and pulled out a small, purple, velvet box, and placed it in front of Emilene.
She eyed it curiously before picking it up with her hands. "Is this for me?"
"Yes" and with a smile Tom urged her to open it.
Emilene held her breath, she didn't know what to expect in such a lovely box. She unwrapped the white, silk ribbon that was tied around it. Slowly, she pulled open the lid and inside was a small diamond pendant of a key on a white gold chain. She pulled out the necklace and tears began to stream down her face.
"Tom, its absolutely beautiful!"
Tom sat up from his chair and moved behind Emilene. He pushed aside her hair and clasped the necklace around her neck. He leaned down next to her left ear and whispered into it.
"You hold the key to my heart."