Emily walked along the pier, her hand around the ring hanging from her chain. Everyday after her classes she walked along the pier thinking of him. Everyday that she walked over the worn wooden planks she was afraid that she would forget the color of his eyes, his crooked smile, the cleft in his chin, the way he smelled, she had pictures that she couldn't look at, letters that she couldn't read, she felt like she was cheating if she looked at his picture because she should be able to remember with out help. She dreaded the day that she didn't think of him at all, that would be the day that she hated herself, because he was meant to be remembered by someone. But sometimes it was so hard. She looked out over the gray water that mirrored the grey sky above. It was mid-autumn and the cold wind washed over her, it was soon followed by even colder rain drops, she decided to get back to Kelly's before she was caught in the downpour , she turned around and ran smack into someone. He steadied her so she didn't fall but her books weren't so lucky and they crashed to the ground.
When Emily saw who it was she smiled. "Hi Johnny."
"Hello, Ms. Quartermaine, let me help you," he said bending down and helping her with her books.
"Thanks," she said as he handed her the last book. "You aren't following me are you?" she asked, suspiciously raising an eyebrow, Jason was going to have some explaining to do.
"No, I'm off duty, would you like me to accompany you home?"
"No, thanks." As she completed her sentence it started to pour down rain and within seconds she was drenched.
"My apartment is right down the street,my car's there, I can take you home."
Emily wiped water from her face, the last thing she needed was a cold, and she trusted Johnny. "Sure, thanks."
They walked to his apartment complex and into the parking garage, in the few short minutes it had taken them to get there the storm had intensified tenfold. Lightening flashed across the sky followed by crashing thunder. Johnny opened the passenger door for her and then he got in and started the car but nothing happened. He tried again, there was a rumble, a cough, and then it died. "Sonny's always telling me to get a new car," he smiled sheepishly. "Anyway you can call a taxi upstairs."
"That's okay, I have my cell," she said pulling it out and dialing the PC cab company's number, only to get a message about interference from the weather.
She put it back in her pocket, "I couldn't get through."
"We can wait in my apartment until it clears up."
Emily walked into Johnny's apartment and she couldn't believe he lived there because it looked so...unlived in. There was a couch in the main room that looked brand new, a coffee table with nothing on it, no TV was in sight and the only form of entertainment she could see was a little radio off in the corner. 'He must dedicate a lot of his time working for Sonny,' Emily thought as she walked in.
"Make yourself at home, Ms. Quartermaine," he said gesturing to the couch. Johnny left the room for a minute and came back with two towels, giving her one. She wiped her face, her arms and then wrapped the towel around her dripping hair.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome, Ms. Quartermaine."
"Emily."
"What?" he asked turning around.
"I prefer to be called Emily, if you don't mind."
"Of course."
"So how long have you worked for Sonny?" she asked taking off her wet shoes and socks.
"About seven years," he said sitting down on the opposite side of the couch.
Johnny reminded her of Jason in some ways, but where Jason was more cold and detached it seemed like Johnny was just serious, but she had a feeling that he hadn't always been that way.
"So..." she let the word drift in the air, it seemed kind of hard to carry on a conversation with someone she'd known for a long time but never really talked to, she didn't know anything about him, except he was dedicated, loyal, and respectful.
"How are you today?" as soon as the question left Johnny's lips he wanted to kick himself, could he have sounded anymore uncomfortable, he wasn't use to small talk and besides the other guards it seemed like he hadn't carried on a conversation with anyone in years.
"Well, in class today my sociology professor kept going on and on forever, I mean I know it's his job but he speaks in this like monotone that makes you really sleepy. So there he is with half of his class asleep but he keeps talking, almost like he's talking to himself, you think that he could stop to take a breath every few minutes, I think he might be related to Alexis."
Johnny smiled, he'd known Emily for a long time and she had away of turning situations around, she seemed the exact opposite of Jason, she was trusting and feeling, and she had a beautiful smile, one that he hadn't seen very often since her boyfriend Zander died. She had seemed so sad and lost, especially that first month, he really felt for her. It was hard losing the one you loved, even he knew that.
"Anyway, it looks like it's really coming down out there, huh?" she said turning and looking out of the window, just as a flash of lightening streaked the sky and the lights flickered and went out.
"Great," Emily muttered in the darkness