Chapter Twelve : Unraveling
Emma tiredly approached her locker the next day in the morning when she felt something warm on her eyes. Brian had placed his hands on her eyes while he was behind her to surprise her. He was so excited to see her, and he hadn't seen or heard from her in a few days. It was Thursday, he waited the two day grace period, he simply didn't see her Monday when she was in school didn't go to school on Tuesday or Wednesday and she was currently living with Sean. Emma reacted by jumping in surprise as the person whispered in her ear, "Guess who." Since he knew she wasn't facing him his hands were suddenly massaging her waist she uncomfortably hesitated.
She simply looked upward to the ceiling still not facing the person. She knew exactly who it was and she had partially thought she would dread this moment. Her gut feeling was right. "Hey Brian."
He removed his hands from her as she turned around and looked at him. Her back was against her locker now. She cracked a smile to please him to make this easier than it looked. Nothing was easy. How was she possibly going to tell Brian what has been honestly going on? As if to say, "Oh by the way, I know we went on a date last weekend and everything was hunky-dory and we kissed and I know you like me and all, you even went through all the trouble of looking for me all week until I went and realized I had feelings for my ex, after he saved my ass in a fire." That would be the day you try to say that five times fast.
Brian smiled back, "Emma. What you been doing?"
Emma sighed, "I'm living with a friend of mine. Some things have came up this weekend, I'm really sorry."
"You're in and around Degrassi still? I've been trying to get in contact with you this week. It's been nearly a week. I heard your house had a fire. Thank god you're alright."
Emma looked down, nodded and sighed, "Thanks. I wasn't even here yesterday." She cracked a smile.
"Well it's good you are here today. How are you?"
"Alright, still in a little bit of shock."
"I for one never experienced a fire, but you seem to look alright. Give it time, and I'll still talk to you."
"Look I appreciate your concern . ."
"But?"
"But, nothing I appreciate it." She knew there was a big but to it, she just didn't know how she was going to say it. So she just delayed it some more.
"Do you need to see Sauve? I'll take you I have some extra time this morning."
Emma shook her head, "No."
"That doesn't make sense, Em." Brian started. "You can't sound really upset, and then not want to see someone about it. I'm sure she's heard it all if you want to talk to someone about something - talk to her. She's a life saver."
"I think I'd be fine if the fire was never brought up again. I lived, I'm fine." Brian looked down a little bit rejected when he was only trying to help and yet Emma still needed to finally reject him. "Sorry."
"It's fine. Oh by the way what are you doing this weekend?"
"Uh Brian." Emma sighed impatiently.
"Something has to be wrong."
"No." She sighed exasperatedly, "I just have plans." She lied, delaying what she honestly had to do.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. I do."
"What about another weekend. Some other time?" Brian suggested.
"Look, I'm sorry but I can't, I can't do this."
"Do what? What's the matter? I knew something was! Just do me a favor and spit it out."
"Want me to be honest?" Emma asked, "I think we need to stop this."
"Stop what? You said yourself you had a good time with me. You said you liked me, you even kissed me . . . I don't understand. We talked, we had a really good talk, b-"
"I know, that was then. Just leave it alone." Emma looked down. "I can't lie to you, Bry, you were a great date. You'll someday make a girl really happy to of met you. I want you to go to work hard this year. You don't need me. You're going to be graduating this year, you don't need a girl. Go off to Banting learn all you need to learn work your ass off in college, meet great friends and maybe even a girl. Someone who you're perfect with. You are the perfect guy.
"Just not for you." He spat rudely. His anger was just boiling up.
Emma sensed he wasn't getting it. "I'm only going to hold you back and you know it! I'm a freshman in high school, I've got bad grades and issues up the wazzoo!"
"You think I don't have issues!? I told you everything."
"You simply let me in too soon."
"This has something to do with that ex of yours, right?"
"No."
"I would've said different last week, you totally were flirting it up with me at the Piercing Pagoda and then on our date Friday night you were fine. Now all of a sudden I hear about how you flipped out on your ex and now -
"That is none of your business"
"But you know, Em. It's true. You've been caught."
Emma didn't say a word.
"Yeah, I thought so."
Emma just looked down.
"What's so great about him? Isn't he the one that knocked up your friend? You seriously think dumping me is going to help? He's going to use you. If you're buying into anything that he is saying it's true you're more of a deluded slut than I had thought."
"How dare you." Emma's eyes narrowed. "It was a mistake."
"I'm looking out for you, Em. I would've defended you, I would've treated you really nice." Brian swallowed shaking his head, and sneered angrily, "I was a good guy, you're lucky you had a chance with me."
"You just proved to me, right here that you are not a nice guy. You just inspired me to not look back from this moment with you and maybe I just realized you are ten times less of a guy then I thought you were. I would think you would be more understanding. I was stupid to think we could be friends."
"Well if you would've opened your mouth and told me a few days ago, this would've been avoided."
"I'm not a slut, and I'm not deluded, you are for putting yourself on a fucking pedestal! Now who is deluded?" Emma got up in his face, she was infuriated now. "But you, you're the most selfish rotten self indulgent person I've ever met in my entire life, you love to build yourself up, you want a girl to feed your ego. Truth is you don't know me at all, you judged too fast. I may not be perfect, I may not be completely innocent, but I never told you, or led you to believe that I was anything close to perfect."
"Shut up."
"Me? Shut up. How about you? I could go all day."
"I think you do. I don't have time for this! Me getting showed up by a freshman?! Dream on. I don't need to stand for this. Nice knowing you. Have a nice life." He threw his fist quickly at the locker barely missing Emma's face, he was really close to her now, "You'll regret this."
He pulled away, his breath disappeared from her. Emma flew her middle finger in the air, "See you around."
She finally realized he was gone. She slid down the locker and buried her head in her hands and forced herself not to cry. Everyone in the hall was silent as they looked at her and said their little comments. She just looked at them, and they quickly returned to their business.
Amy was walking down the hallway hearing the commotion on everyone's lips. The cat was all out of the bag now. Amy knelt down by her friend, dragging her to the bathroom, "What happened."
That's when Emma started to cry, she held on to Amy and just cried. Amy stroked her friends hair.
"Am I glad to see you? How are you, I mean I would call you but - "
"I heard about the fire, I just didn't expect to see you at school, or in the area." Amy exclaimed laughing, "Is it true you're living with Sean?"
She nodded, "Yeah."
"Oh and I heard about Brian. Everyone is talking about it."
"Great, I'm never leaving this bathroom for the rest of the day." Emma sighed.
"No, Em. It's okay. He's a jerk, people were talking about how much of a jerk he's being."
"I didn't want to hurt him." Emma sighed, as she walked over the mirror and leaned in closer taking a glimpse, "I look like I've been run over by a bus or something."
Amy put her hand on Emma's shoulder, "Don't be so hard on yourself. It'll all be okay."
