Interesting…

Last chapter was the highest viewed chapter with the most emotional and intense set amount of reviews.

I wonder why…

CHAPTER #10: Tease of an Aftershock

Italics means thoughts, emphasized word or action. Bolded is a flashback. (….) is an indication that time has passed.

Getting ready to clock out of an early shift, Emily is in the back room putting things away before she leaves. She's feeling a lot better than she was yesterday, hangover wise. However, the constant regret, confusion and anxiety is still as strong. Especially from this morning when she was getting ready for work.

Breathe in and breathe out. Emily exhales as she leans over her bathroom sink. "This doesn't make any sense. LIKE NONE!" She pushes herself up and looks into her mirror to apply her eyeliner except she can't even focus on her makeup since she's dealing with a crisis.

"I can't even drink and control myself without trying to get into someone's pants like a freaking hormonal boy…" Emily regrettably moans as she shakes her head. "But…But I just don't get this. I'm, thinking that I was with Alison but I'm with Amy? How and why the FUCK would Amy go along with it when I'm calling her Alison?! Isn't that like…reverse rape or something?!" Emily ponders for a second. "But was she as drunk as me? Because that's the only way I could see any of that happening."

Emily puts her eyeliner down on the sink counter as she leans against it again, thinking. "Alison…What the hell am I gonna tell Alison? How am I gonna even bring this up?" Emily's stomach falls to the pits as she imagines Alison face when she tells her what she did.

IF I tell her…

"Hey, Em!" Valerie pops her head from outside the door.

Emily takes a look towards the door, "Hey, V" she says before she continues checking inventory.

"After you clock out, you're coming with me to Lush. I want to get some things."

Emily spins her head towards the redhead immediately. "W-why do you want me to come?"

"Because I want someone to go with." Valerie steps next to the door.

Emily faces back to the shelves of alcohol, shaking her head. "I can't."

"Why not?"

Think of something!

"I've been there so many times that I think they're tired of seeing my face." Emily lies as she forced out a fake laugh.

Out of all the lies you could have told, that's what you come up with?!

"That's great! Then you can help me with my shopping. I'll drive us to and back so meet me outside in 10, OK?" Valerie taps on the door as she nods at the brunette, walking away.

"Wait, I-"Emily tries to call out but Valerie already left her behind. She huffs loudly as she puts both fists against her forehead. I can't do this. I'm just gonna tell her that I have some type of emergency to tend to. Yeah…. That'll work.

…..

"Emily, come on." Valerie looks at Emily standing right outside the doors, refusing to take another step.

"Just give me a second," Emily takes out her phone and pretends to do something on it.

"Alright," Valerie steps in and Emily starts with her thoughts moving a mile a second.

I'm gonna die.

I'm gonna walk in and die.

I'm gonna die in a cosmetic store.

Either by Alison already knowing and attacking me as soon as I walk in,

Alison finding out right then and there and attacks me,

Amy slips up and Alison attacks me,

Either way

I'm gonna die in the hands of Alison.

She going to transform from

Ali from Philly

to

Alison from Rosewood

and ATTACK ME.

Emily begins to lightly shake as she debates whether she should make a run for it or not. As closes her eyes, takes a huge breath in and walks through the doors of Lush Cosmetics. Spotting Valerie immediately, Emily hurriedly paces towards her, not looking around for Alison or Amy.

"Have you tried of any of these facial creams?" Valerie asks Emily with two different products in her hand.

"Uhmm, No." Emily responds jittery. "How long are you going to be in here for?"

"Just a few minutes…" Valerie continues to inspect the creams, unaware of Emily's impatience.

Emily starts fiddling with her hair as she looks at the products in front of her.

"Hello, Is there anything I can help you guys with?"

Emily and Valerie both turn to the Lush Employee, Emily's legs instantly becoming weak.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaamy. WHY.

"Uhm, no thank you." Valerie smiles at Amy. "Em, you need to get anything?" Valerie turns to Emily who is failing to keep her sudden surprise to herself.

Valerie, why!

"N-No-no. I-I'm good." Emily shoves her hands into her pants pockets, daring not to make eye contact with Amy.

"Ok, well can you check out their cleansers for me, please? I need the one called 'Ocean Salt'." Valerie points in the directions of their cleansers.

VALERIE FUCKING WHY?!

Emily presses her lips together as she tries to contain herself, "Ok…." Emily glances up at Amy who is wearing a worried expression. Emily walks past Amy in the direction of the cleansers in the far right hand corner of the store.

"Ok, I'm just gonna come out and say this," Emily begins as she turns to face Amy. "….Ok, I don't know how I'm gonna come out and say this." she becomes defeated, looking up to the ceiling, trying to find the right way to start off this particular conversation.

"Look, Emily-"

"You know what I don't understand?" Emily bluntly cuts Amy off. "I don't understand how someone could be so devious and take advantage of a situation in which the person is both vulnerable and inebriated. First, I didn't understand because I didn't know. But when the pieces finally came together, and trust me, they painfully did, I STILL can't grasp the concept because it's entirely fucked up!" Emily becomes heated as she tries to keep her voice at a whisper. "I just want to know how you slept that night. How did you live with yourself yesterday?" She leans into Amy, "How can you do that to your friend! With someone you just met!"

"Emily!" Amy yells out in a raised whisper looking around at the nearby customers.

"No!" Emily snaps back, "Is this how you get yourself off at night? Climbing into bed with random strangers that you hardly even know?"

Amy goes to open her mouth when she's interrupted yet again.

"Hey…what's going on…?" Alison hesitantly approaches the duo bickering in the corner.

Emily and Amy both snap their necks towards Alison, Emily's face turning from irritated to terrified.

OH FATHER DEATH, TAKE ME NOW.

….To be continued….

Be completely, super honest…

If you were in Emily's shoes at Alison's job with Amy standing right next to you…

How would YOU handle the next few moments of that conversation?

Comment & Review ;)