Chapter 10

After Johnny gave her the flowers and left the room, Emma sat up in bed, puzzled over his behavior.

Why is he acting so strange? Was it because of Ty?

The more Emma pondered it, the more her head hurt. She started rubbing her temples, when someone started knocking on the door.

Emma looked at the door, hoping it was Ty, and called out, "Come on in, the door's open."

She was surprised when a little boy walked in. She didn't think she had ever seen him before and figured that he was lost.

She swung her legs over the bed and walked over to the little boy. As she crouched down to his level, she felt her muscles screaming in pain, but she ignored it.

"Hey little guy, are you lost?"

The little boy shook his head and replied, "No, my uncle Bummer sent me here to get you. Your name is Emma, right?"

Emma looked taken back at what the little boy said. "I didn't know that Bummer had a nephew, and yes, I'm Emma."

The little boy just shrugged. "Well, he doesn't really talk about me much. He says I'm annoying. Anyways, he sent me over here to give you this."

The little boy then shoved an envelope into her hands and then left without another word.

Emma just shrugged her shoulders and sat on the edge of the bed. She ripped open the sealed envelope and pulled out its contents. There were two pieces of folded paper, and one looked like a map. Emma felt puzzled as she unfolded the map and saw scribbled in the corner some written directions.

Emma gently laid the map on the bed while opening the other paper. She read the scribbled letter carefully.

Emma,

Because you didn't come to work today, I have a special assignment for you. You are to follow the directions given on the map, and you will arrive at Lo's family penthouse. You are needed there to help clean and cook. You are to leave as soon as you receive this message, and if you fail to do as instructed, you will receive not one, but two strikes. So get going! Bummer

Emma rolled her eyes as she went to get her uniform out of the closet.

This is so strange! I though Fin and Lo was covering for me! And Bummer never sent me a letter before. Oh well, I might as well get ready and get this over with. I have always wanted to go explore in Lo's house, and maybe I'll even see Ty!

Feeling better about going, she pulled on her uniform and grabbed the map. She scribbled a quick note for Lo and Fin and laid it on her bed, just in case they were wondering where she was. Before she left though she remembered her jacket. After last night, she didn't think she would ever forget her jacket again.

As she closed the door behind her, she read her first direction, which told her to enter the woods right behind where 'The Office' was. She pulled her jacket together as she tucked the map into her pocket and headed to her first destination.

Johnny was sitting in the sand behind some rocks at 'The Office', waiting to see Emma entering the woods. He was so excited, his plan couldn't possibly fail! Yeah, he had to pay that kid a few bucks to deliver that envelope to Emma, and maybe he talked the kid into telling her that he was Bummer's nephew, but it didn't matter.

He silently rehearsed the plan in his head.

Emma will follow the phony directions, leading her nowhere. She'll start to realize that she's lost, and once she thinks that she'll never find her way out, I'll be there!

Johnny smiled as he pulled out his map, the directions that were on Emma's map printed in the corner on his map as well. Johnny knew that this plan was fool-proof! He knew she wouldn't be in any real danger, because he knew where she was! And when he 'finds' her, she'll be so pleased that she'll never want to be away from him again! He was so happy with his plans that he even decided to wait till it started to get dark before he went in and saved her, making his rescue seem even more heroic.

Johnny smiled as he saw Emma walking towards the woods, just where the map had told her to go. He watched as she pulled out her map, looked at it for a few minutes, crammed it back in her pocket, and continued on with her journey.

Johnny looked at his map, seeing where her next destination would be.

Emma was confused. Maps were not her thing, and she didn't think that it took this long to reach Lo's house. She pulled out her map again, just to check and see if she was still following the directions. She sighed as she shoved the map in her pocket and continued on.

Her legs and arms were aching, and her cuts were bothering her. Her knot on the back of her head was pounding, and her swollen eye wouldn't even open. But still she continued on, hoping that she would reach the house soon.

After I'm done, they better drive me back to the cabin.

Ty finally reached the cabin. Without slowing his pace, he bounded up the stairs and threw the door open.

"Emma?"

He was breathing hard, and the only sound he heard was the sound of his head pounding. He ran to the bathroom only to find the door wide open with no one in it. He was getting ready to leave when he spotted a pink piece of paper on Emma's bed. He snatched up the paper and read its contents.

Hey guys, just wanted to let you know that I was busted for not coming to work and that Bummer has sent me to Lo's penthouse to clean and stuff. Don't worry, he gave me a map. Be back later. Emma

Ty lowered his brow in concentration.

My house? Why would Bummer send her there? His parents weren't even at home.

As realization hit Ty's mind, he spun around to see Lo and Fin panting at the doorway.

Fin ran and snatched the letter out of his hand while Lo was trying to catch her breath.

Fin looked up in surprise. "Bummer sent her to your penthouse to clean? But we told him that Emma was sick."

Lo's gaze shot up to her friend's while saying, "Bummer wouldn't send her there, my mom and dad are out of town, and Bummer wouldn't let her in the penthouse unsupervised. Do you think Johnny did this?"

Ty looked into her worried eyes and said, "Lo, you go to the house and see if she's there. Fin, you find Reef and Broseph and tell them to start searching in the woods. I'm going to find Emma."

Emma had reached the final destination on the map, and there was no penthouse. There was no nothing!

Emma balled up the map and threw it against a tree. "Stupid map! I knew this would happen!"

She was so tired from walking the long distance; she had walked without taking rest. She walked over to a nearby stump and slid to the ground, resting her back against the stump. With a sigh she shoved her hands into her jacket pocket because it was starting to get chilly. When she felt something hard and cold, she grabbed the item and pulled it out.

"My cell phone! So that's where I put you! I'll just call Lo and see how far away I am from her house."

She opened her cell phone and started punching in Lo's number. As she heard the phone ringing, she kept thinking please pick up, please pick up!

After Lo and Fin received their instructions, they all headed to the door. Right before they charged to their destination, they were stopped by an irritating sound. Ty watched as Lo pulled out her cell phone and read the caller I.D. He watched as her face light up with delight as she shouted, "It's Emma!"

She flipped the phone open and said, "Emma! Where are you? We were so worried!"

Ty breathed deep, glad that she had thought to bring her cell phone. He walked up to Lo, and without her even finishing her sentence, he grabbed the phone.

"Emma? Are you okay? Where are you?"

He heard Emma's surprised voice on the other end of the phone. "Ty? Well, I'm tired, but I'm okay. And I have no idea where I am, which is why I called Lo. I must have took a wrong turn somewhere because I was supposed to go to your house and clean as punishment for not coming to work. I'm lost in the middle of nowhere and I'm going to get two strikes!"

Ty tried to calm his nerves down as he absorbed everything she was saying. "Emma, can you describe where you are?"

He heard Emma sigh as she rattled off some of the things that were surrounding her. Ty listened intently, and finally realized that she must be at the big clearing in the woods. In the opposite direction of his house.

Interrupting her, Ty said, "Emma, I'm coming to get you. Stay there, no matter what, okay?"

Ty heard her answer, "Okay Ty, I promise I won't move."

Ty closed the cell phone, tossed it at Lo, grabbed a light pink blanket off Emma's bed, then starting running to where Emma was.

Johnny looked at his watch. Emma had been wondering the woods for almost an hour. He looked up at the sky.

Maybe I'll wait a little longer. Just until it gets a little darker.

Johnny pulled out his map again, memorizing the directions to get to Emma and the directions to get them home again.

He was studying the map so intensely, that he didn't even see Ty running into the woods with a blanket flapping behind him like a cape.

Emma looked at the time on her phone again. She sighed as she realized that she had been in the woods for over an hour. She pulled her knees into her chest and wrapped her jacket around her as far as it would go. A shiver went up her spine, and she hoped that Ty would get here soon.

She tucked her phone back into her pocket and laid her head against the tree stump. She was so tired, and her body ached, and it was starting to get dark and cold.

Right before she drifted off to sleep, a noise woke her up. It sounded like someone was yelling her name. She sat up straighter, straining to hear the sound again. It took a while for her to be able to recognize that voice, and once she did relief washed over her body.

"Ty, I'm over here!"

Ty was relieved when he heard her answering his calls. He ran full speed in the direction of her voice. He pushed his way through some bushes and out into the clearing.

She was sitting on the ground, leaning up against a stump. She looked so pale and fragile. Her bruises looked darker and her cuts looked deeper. He eyes were clouded with exhaustion, although she smiled when she saw him.

He ran over to her and wrapped the blanket around her without saying anything. After she was wrapped tight, he gently picked her up and cradled her against his chest. He heard her sigh in comfort as she said, "Thanks Ty. You know, for saving me again."

Ty looked down at her closed eyes and said very softly, but enough for her to hear him, "I'll come for you whenever you need me."

He watched as Emma opened her eyes, looking up at him with what he thought was hope. Her teary eyes gazed up into his eyes, "Ty, I don't understand. Do you…..I mean……did you-"

Ty just pulled her closer and silenced her with a tender kiss. After a few seconds, he reluctantly pulled away, the cold breeze reminding him that she needed to get home.

As he began walking again, he tried to explain everything to her.

"Emma, the night I saved your life, well, you've been stuck in my mind. I think about you constantly. I'm always worrying or wanting to see you. Emma, I know it took me a while to realize this, but I love you. I love the way you smile when you surf, your perky attitude, the way the sun glistens in your hair, the way you make my heart stop when you smile. I love you, no matter what."

He looked down at her, and was stunned to see tears spilling from her eyes. Emma smiled and said, "Well, it just so happens that I love you too. From the moment I met you, I loved you."

She saw him smile, and as she closed her eyes and laid her head against his chest, she said, "Ty, we have bonds that tie us together now, and I never want them to go away."

Ty just smiled as he said, "Don't worry Emma, they'll never go away. We have growing bonds, and they just get stronger with time."

Johnny looked at his watch, and decided that it was time to go get her. He grinned to himself as he packed his things in his backpack.

This idea is so perfect, why didn't I think of it sooner? After I find her, she'll love me so much that she'll always want to be by my side!

Johnny pulled out his flashlight, just in case he needed it, and pulled on his backpack. He turned around and peeked over the rocks. Clear. He got up from his hiding spot and headed towards the woods.

With one last glance behind him, he prepared himself to enter the woods, when the most unexpected thing happened. Johnny stepped back in surprise when Ty exited the woods, and he was carrying Emma!

Johnny felt his mouth drop open as Ty spotted him. He watched as Ty stood directly in front of him, and his eyes traveled up his body until it reached Ty's fiery eyes. Johnny closed his mouth and gulped down his nerves.

This isn't what I planned.

When Ty stepped out of the woods, the first thing he saw was Johnny. Ty felt his anger rising, knowing that Johnny was somehow behind this. He watched as Johnny hesitantly brought his eyes to Ty's. Ty saw him swallow hard.

That's right, he better be scared.

He watched as Johnny searched for words to say, but couldn't seem to find the right thing to say.

Johnny's gaze dropped to Emma, which seemed to make Ty angrier. As he held her even tighter, Johnny said, "Is Emma okay? Was she in the woods?"

Ty replied in a tight voice, "Emma's okay, just tired. And yes, she got lost in the woods, but you already knew that, didn't you?"

And with that, Ty sidestepped Johnny and continued to carry Emma back to her cabin.

As Johnny watched Ty carry Emma, and that last sentence haunted him.

"And yes, she got lost in the woods, but you already knew that, didn't you?"

Johnny rubbed the back of his neck as he thought, Man, I'm screwed!

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