It had been four days since Em had seen or heard from Jon. When he had left her house Saturday afternoon she knew what he was going to do. She hated what he had to stoop to in order to keep a roof over his head. But more than that she worried about his safety.
He hadn't been in school at all this week. She knew what she was going to do, but she didn't like the thought of it, nor would Jon like it. But today was Wednesday, and her first afternoon off this week. She had decided that as soon as the bell rang, she was heading straight for his house.
Her hand shook as she knocked. Barely any sound was made.
She forced her hand up again, this time she made a fist and pounded so hard, she thought that she would knock the door off it's hinges. The door cracked open, and a lady, if that's what you could call her, looked through the small opening.
"What do you want?" She asked, her dirty blonde hair was a mess, most of it was piled on top of her head in a very loose, sloppy bun that looked as if she had her hair that way for a number of days. Her skin was pale with red blotches all over it. Her clothes looked as if they were several sizes too big, and hung off her skeleton like frame. Her eyes looked as if they were made up entirely of a pupil, and were so blood shot, you could barely make out any white, she had deep purple bags under them.
Emerson took a deep breath, and immediately wished she wouldn't. There was a smell in the air that almost made her choke, but she held it in.
"Is Jon here?" Em asked.
"You're here to see Jonathan?" Emerson stood still as the women looked her up and down. Em knew that her appearance wouldn't be anything of the girls that lived in this neighborhood. They had a huge pep-rally and she was decked head to toe with school spirit.
"Why? You bringing his home work to him?" The women's laughter filled the hallway.
"Is he home?" Em asked again, refusing to let the women get under her skin.
"What would a nice looking girl like you want with my no good son?" The women asked.
"He hasn't been at school. I just wanted to check on him. To see if he was ok." Em confessed.
"He will never be ok. He's trash, just like his father." The women spat.
Emerson couldn't take it anymore. She shoved her way into the apartment, and ignored the yelling behind her, as she made her way to Jon's room.
She tried the handle, it was locked.
"Go away." Jon's voice called. He sounded weak.
"Jon? It's Emerson. Let me in." She heard movement inside the room, and finally the door knob turned opening the door a crack.
She opened it and walked in, seeing Jon making his way back to his bed.
He had on a pair of shorts. His body was beaten. He had bruises around his rib cage.
"What are you doing here Em?" He asked ask she closed the door behind her, right in his mother's face and locking it.
"What happened Jon?" She was next to the bed on her knees.
"You shouldn't have came here. You could have been hurt."
"I had to know you were alive." She said, fighting the tears that stung her eyes.
"What happened? How long have you been like this?"
"Some fuck came in and tried to take the rent money I had. He may have gotten the best of me, but I still have the money." He tried to laugh, but ended up grabbing his ribs and groaning in pain.
"How long?" She asked again.
"Late Sunday night."
"Have you seen anyone for this?" She asked.
"Where would I go Em?" He asked.
"I don't have the money to go to the hospital, or a doctor."
"I can take you to my dad." She offered.
"Oh, yeah, just what I need. Let him see that I get the shit beat out of me, not only will I get kicked out of training, but you think he will ever let you around me again?"
"Will you let me check you?" She asked.
"I've helped my dad more than enough times to know if your ribs are broken." He agreed, and Em was as careful as she could be as her hands pressed against the bruises. He groaned but stayed still.
"It seems like you're just bruised, but you still need wrapped."
"I'm not seeing your dad, Emerson." He said.
"Ok, but will you come home with me? Dad has enough stuff there for me to get you taken care of. He's at the hospital tonight. You can stay over and rest comfortably." She asked.
"Please Jon? I'm not leaving here without you."
"Grab me a shirt and some shoes." He said giving in.