Chapter 10
That afternoon, instead of heading home to do her homework, Emily Elizabeth went out to the pier and sat outside the bait shop. All of the usual people were there, so when the refreshment line went down enough, she got a snack and something to drink while she waited. It took well over an hour, probably two if she had to be accurate, but soon the regulars left and Charley emerged with his broom to sweep the peer. Samuel waved to Emily Elizabeth from inside, so she waved back before turning to face where Charley was working.
"I heard they had to go back on the punishments. There were too many of you," Emily Elizabeth said.
Charley shrugged, "You weren't there, which upset a lot of people. They expected you to join us. Instead you were the only one left in the entire school who actually listened to her, and people don't know what to say about that. I say it shows your character, the purity of your soul, but others are upset that they almost got a ding on their permanent record over someone who won't stand up for herself."
"I decided to stand my ground, to see if she would say something any different. I don't believe her, just like all of you, but she deserved to be heard. I don't think she realized how few people were still there until she was finished. You guys gave her a strong message today. I don't matter, but everyone else does. She left the stage in tears when she realized no one was listening to her anymore," Emily Elizabeth whispered, looking up the pier as a couple approached. She turned back to Charley, "It worked. I didn't need to be a part of that movement to get something done."
"Not everyone thinks that. I've heard things, nasty things."
Emily Elizabeth shrugged, "Their opinions don't really matter to me. Isn't that the point of all of this? People can think what they want. It's their actions that matter."
Charley smirked, "Things aren't that neat anymore. This isn't some children's book with a clear-cut lesson shoved in the middle. This is real life, your life, and I'm telling you people are pissed about this, and they are rightfully pissed. Where do you even stand on this?"
"I just want things to go back to how they were—"
"Which is one hundred percent impossible at this point and you know it," Charley interrupted, putting down his broom so he could change the trash bag in the can outside the shop. He shook his head, "We can't go back, and 'normal' means Jetta still treats you like crap. You need to make your wishes known. You want her to change and treat everyone better, not just you. You want her to stop being so selfish."
Emily Elizabeth shrugged, "Not really. I mean, I don't think she even realizes what she's doing. I don't think she knows that her actions come off as selfish because no one ever told her, and she was good enough to go along with things for all these years. Now that she knows, she's lost."
"And you're going to give her a pass, just like always," Charley huffed, lifting the bag and tying it off with far more force than necessary. He stood up and glared at her, "You're just like her, not figuring things out. It's just going to happen again! She won't stop because she doesn't know how."
"She's getting help now—"
"From the same administration that turned on you before they even spoke to her! They were ready to suspend you, throw you in detention for the rest of the year, all because she was the victim instead of you. They can't help her. They're incompetent!"
"It's all we have—"
"No, that's all YOU have. Jetta's family has money. They can afford to get her the real help she needs from a licensed professional, even if they have to send her somewhere on the mainland. They can do that," Charley said, grabbing his broom and the trash bag, "That's what you need to demand. She needs more help than we can provide. Plus, it's not even your responsibility. You're the victim, and you have a voice now. Use it wisely."
Charley went outside, leaving Emily Elizabeth alone on the pier. A lone seagull circled nearby, but Emily Elizabeth ignored it. Instead she started walking home, taking the long way so she could visit T-Bone and Cleo. When she got home, she went straight to her desk, still too small because she hadn't talked to her father yet. She had a voice, but she wasn't even using it to help herself. Maybe she was just as flawed, if not worse.