CHAPTER 50

Emma's Point-of-View

"So what exactly [i]are[/i] you planning for Rob's birthday?" I asked Tom once we sat down at the bar.

"Intimidated?" he questioned laughing.

"No," I answered grimly. "Just wondering, that's all."

"Uh huh," he scratched his chin. "What makes you think I'm going to release information to the enemy?"

"I'm the enemy?" I laughed. "You are taking this way too seriously Tom."

"Am I?" he inquired seriously. "I believe I am handling the situation very well."

"What situation?" I asked. He was very mysterious in his conversation; continuously alluding to matters I didn't know he was talking about.

"You took my best friend from me, Emma," he said my name coldly. "Now it's payback time."

"Are you being serious?" I was completely baffled by his strange behavior. I didn't even know him, except for the numerous, okay hundreds, of stories Rob told about the two of them. From what I could tell they were inseparable until Rob moved to Los Angeles for his acting career.

Tom's face remained blank.

"Hello?" I waited for his answer.

He started laughing. "Oh, man. He was right. You [i]do[/i] take everything seriously."

"Who is right? What are you talking about?" I practically shouted at him. He was so damn irritating.

"Rob. He told me that you always fall for everything he says. Even if it's all bullshit," he continued to laugh.

I got up from my stool, infuriated, and stormed off to find the girls. I was so ready to go home.

"Manda!" I yelled over the loud music. She was still dancing with the same creepy guy.

"What?" she mouthed back at me.

I pulled her away from the guy. "Give us two minutes," I told him, faking a smile.

"What is it?" Amanda asked, eager to get back with the guy.

"I want to go back home. Are you ready or should I come back to get you girls later?" I asked her.

"I'll get a cab with Max," she answered and then slowly began to walk away.

"You're going home with [i]him[/i]?" I asked her, trying not to sound too disgusted.

"He's coming home with me," she smiled.

"To our apartment?"

She nodded. "His roommate is home tonight. I hope you don't mind. Bye Em!" She danced her way back to Max, pulling him closer to her. [i]Gross[/i]

I saw Andrea, Kourtney, and Brooke on my way out. They were all taking a cab back to their apartment later that night.

As I walked back to my car, I dialed Rob's number. Not only was I scared to walk through Hollywood alone at night, but I also needed to talk to him.

"Hey baby," he answered sweetly. "Calling it a night?"

"Yeah," I replied. Two speeding cop cars sped by the empty streets, their sirens blaring.

"Where are you?" he asked.

"I'm walking back to my car," I told him.

"Are the girls with you?"

"No," I answered. "They are staying a little longer."

"You're walking alone?" he asked concerned.

"Yeah, but no one will bother me when I'm on the phone," I assured him.

"Emma, please don't do this to me. I can't just jump out of the phone and help you if you need it. You're smarter than that."

"I'm sorry," I sincerely apologized. "I just needed to go home. What else was I going to do?"

"Would it kill you to wait for your friends?"

"Possibly," I responded. "Tom is so obnoxious."

[i]Oops[/i].

"Tom? You're with Tom?" he questioned, completely taken back. "What is he doing there and how did you find him?"

No matter how annoying I thought Tom was, I didn't want to spoil Rob's birthday surprise. "Um. He found me, actually. He was at the club and we ran into each other. Extremely random."

"Huh, that doesn't seem right. Where is he staying?"

Cold dry hands covered my eyes from behind me. "Ha! I found you!" he yelled, laughing.

My first instinct was to scream, drop my phone, and start running. I stomped on the man's foot and sprinted away.

"Emma! Emma, wait! It's just me," he laughed, catching up to me.

"Tom? You are [i]the[/i] most irritating person I have ever met!"

He handed me my phone, which was in two pieces. So much for the protective case Rob had given me. "Sorry," he chuckled. "I didn't think you'd freak out that much."

"Ugh. Give me that." I grabbed the phone from his hand and tried to piece it back together.

"Here let me try," he reached for the phone in my hand, but I turned away. "I really am sorry."

"It's fine," I accepted his apology. I put the battery back in and turned the phone on. Thank goodness it was working. "I need to call Rob back. He's probably worried…"

Tom held up his phone. Rob was calling him. He answered.

Tom began laughing. "Rob, calm the fuck down. She's with me; she's fine."

Pause.

"You two are the most paranoid couple I've ever met," his laughing persisted.

Pause.

"He wants to talk to you." Tom handed the phone to me.

"Sorry about that," I told Rob, eyeing Tom who was walking right beside me.

"No, I'm sorry. He can be a real jackass sometimes. I about had a heart attack. I told you not to walk alone at night. Don't do it again, ok?"

"I won't."

"Promise?"

"Yes, Rob. I promise," I responded.

"All right, good. Besides that, is everything else ok?" he asked.

I was a little uncomfortable speaking with Rob while Tom was quietly walking next to me, but I decided to tell him anyways. "Well, Amanda is bringing some low life back to our apartment tonight, so that should be interesting," I said sarcastically.

"Why don't you stay at my apartment tonight?" he suggested.

I wasn't sure how to answer. Did he know that Tom was staying there?

"Um, I don't know," I replied.

"I'd sleep better knowing you were ok. Besides, Tom will be there to keep you company."

I hesitated. "All right. I guess that would be ok. I'll figure something out."

"Ok, I have to go Em, but I will talk to you soon. I love you."

"I love you too Rob. Thank you." I hung up the phone and handed it back to Tom. "Thanks," I stated genuinely. "Looks like we're having a slumber party at Rob's apartment," I said nonchalantly as I got into my car. "Get in."