A new face out of the race
Chapter 27
Emily woke a few seconds after someone had momentarily stopped her breathing. She had felt something soft cover her mouth and she had to breathe through her nose. She had to blink a few times to get use to the light as she opened her eyes. She immediately saw white and her mind started to think she was dead, but then she saw Lucky. She made no sounds as she studied the room. It was a simple one with a night table beside her and a chair in the corner. Two chairs were missing and more white walls.
"Emily?" She heard a voice choke out. She immediately turned to where it came from. Lucky was sitting in one of the chairs sitting by the bed.
Emily felt an unexplained happiness as she saw Lucky. She tried to speak, but nothing came out and she started coughing because her throat was so dry. Lucky came immediately to her side and leaned her back against the bed. When her coughing fit was over he soothed her. "Don't try to speak just yet, okay? Let me get you some water and then you can say as much as you wish." He finished saying waiting for her to nod.
She did and Lucky got up to go into the bathroom. He came out with a cup of water and gave it to her. Emily took it gratefully and drank from it. The water felt great running down her throat. "Thanks" She said.
"You're welcome." Lucky said and sat down on the bed next to her and thought of what to say. There was so much to say and talk about.
"How did I get here?" Emily asked, studying the room again.
"My dad brought us to the hospital after we got away from Helena." Lucky explained and waited for another question he knew was coming.
"We got away, when? How?" Emily asked with clear confusion written on her face.
"Uh, that's a long story Em. I'll tell you when you're up for it." Lucky said with uncertainty.
Emily studied Lucky and nodded her agreement. "I guess. Where is Luke now?" She asked and looked out of the doorway.
"He took Lulu to see where mom was." Lucky answered simply.
"I thought I heard her voice." Emily silently murmured, but Lucky caught it anyway.
"You did? Did you hear mine or my dad's?" Lucky asked, interested. Maybe his dad was right. Maybe Emily did hear his speech and that was part of her waking up.
"I heard a lot of voices actually, but it was hard to tell if they were real. I was just so, I don't know. Delirious and confused, I guess." Emily said uncomfortably, wrapping her arms around her.
"I assumed as much, do you feel delirious now?" Lucky asked, hoping to catch what she was feeling like and how to go talking to her.
"Not really, a bit confused though." Emily responded.
"On what? If how we got here is it I could tell you..." Lucky said, but Emily interrupted him.
"No, no. That's not it." Emily intervened. "It's just, I don't know, I thought I heard a voice say some things, but I don't think they were real. I don't know anything at all really." Emily ranted with clear uncertainty.
"Emily, it's okay, you were in a hard position. It's been a hard few days for you." Lucky said soothing her.
"I guess so. What's my diagnosis?" Emily asked interested.
Lucky tried to hide a confused look. What's my diagnosis? What did she mean by that? "What's my diagnosis?" Lucky asked, giving up trying to act like he understood what she meant.
"I'm a hospital patient, right? So if I'm still here, I must be in for something." Emily explained.
Lucky wanted to hit himself in the head after Emily's explanation. Duh! "Oh, exhaustion and malnutrition." Lucky replied.
Emily nodded as if she knew and rubbed her eyes. "How are you feeling?" Lucky asked finally. It had been at the end of his tongue for the whole conversation.
"Fine, a little tired, but overall I'm okay." Emily responded.
"That's good." Lucky said neutrally and jumped up when Emily gasped in surprise. "What? What's wrong?"
"Your voice! I heard it in my dream!" Emily said surprised.
"Did you? What did I say?" Lucky said, hopefully. Maybe she heard what he said.
"You mentioned living, how I looked, your parents and sister, Melissa and Jason, and you said something of significance I think." Emily responded making a list.
"Something of significance?" Lucky asked puzzled. What did he say that would be considered significant?
"Yeah, you said..." Emily stopped and thought. "You said you loved me!"
Lucky sat back. Okay, so he said he loved her. She knew as much and it wasn't so significant even with what happened over that last week. But then it hit him! Of course it was significant! With her past it was! Like it was with Zander. With their past, the most important thing they needed to hear was that they were loved.
"I told you earlier that I did, when you confronted me and Zander for all that racket we made." Lucky answered.
"I thought you just said that to cross your point." Emily murmured.
"How can you think that Em? When I say I love someone I mean it." Lucky started a little angry, but refrained from unleashing his anger and calmed down. Maybe a proper saying was needed. "But if you need to hear it again, to know it was for sure, I'll say it again." Lucky grabbed Emily's hand gently and rubbed the soft skin with his fingers. "I love you Emily. I don't know when I fell in love with you, but it happened! It just happened and now I'm here saying it out loud."
"I love you too." Emily said with a small smile.
"Okay, then just answer me one question. You were having nightmares and have been remembering your childhood. Why didn't you tell me? Why did I have to figure it out? Why didn't you come to me when the memories started coming back?" Lucky asked, desperately.
"I didn't want to become a burden." Emily confessed, with her head down.
Lucky put a finger under her chin and made her face him. "You're not a burden Em. Would I drive you to school and home after school if you were a burden? Would I go out in the middle of the night and look for you if you were?"
"What?" Emily asked, surprised at his last example.
"Jason called me after you blew up on Brenda, Melissa, and Jason. I went out to look for you. How did you think I joined you in Helena's lair? I just walked in and asked to become a hostage?" Lucky asked, hoping to get a laugh out of Emily.
It worked and Emily gave a small laugh. "I guess not. I wanted to tell you but I didn't want to drag you out and bring you into my path of destruction. It wouldn't have been right."
"I understand that now. But now, right now, that path disappears and you confront your memories. You overcome them and start living a full life." Lucky demanded with a soft tone.
"I don't think I can." Emily confessed.
"Yes you can. I'll be there to help you. Everyone who cares about you will too. But there's two ways you can do this." Lucky motivated.
"Two ways? What are you talking about?" Emily asked, once again confused.
"You need to confront these memories or they are going to go destroy you. I can't let that happen Emily. I can't lose you Em, you mean too much to me." Lucky said, revealing his vulnerability.
"I don't want to lose you either, but the memories are too strong. I can't overcome them!" Emily argued.
"Yes you can! Emily, you're stronger than them. Prove it! Besides you would have so many people supporting you!" Lucky argued back.
"Okay, even if I could, how?" Emily challenged him.
"Like I said there's two ways. One is you could go to a place in England that helps kids like you. You would be surrounded by people who would understand what you went through and help you through it. Or you could stay here and see a therapist and have my family and yours to help you. We wouldn't exactly understand, but we would sit there and listen and do everything in out power to help. It's your choice though, but I for one would go for the second one. I would go mad without you." Lucky said, telling her her options.
"I don't know even if I want to do anything, so don't give me your opinion!" Emily lashed out.
Emily then pulled away from him and hugged herself as Lucky walked a distance from her. Lucky stood back and watched Emily. This must be what happened with Jason, Lucky thought. As he thought this Emily apologized and looked away. Lucky thought about leaving Emily, but found he couldn't do that. Emily was just feeling vulnerable and lashing out at everybody when it messed with her childhood memories. Lucky waited a moment and walked over to her.
"Emily." He said cautiously. "This is why you need help to sort through your childhood memories. You can't lash out at people who only want to help." Emily stayed silent so Lucky continued. "What if we make a deal?" He asked, he had to try every angle for Emily to get help.
"A deal?" Emily asked uncertainly.
"Yeah, you get help and choose one of those options and I'll, do something for you or give you something." Lucky said, knowing the deal sounded worse as the words came to his mouth.
Emily raised her eyebrow quizzically. "What do you get from this deal?"
"I don't want anything from it. I only want to see you happy and the past in the past and when it comes back to haunt it won't destroy you like this!" Lucky exclaimed.
"Really?" Emily asked surprised.
"Yeah, I promise! I have no alternative motives, I swear!" Lucky smiled as he felt her giving in.
"Okay, it's a deal, but one problem Lucky. Where am I going to stay? I have no belongings or a place to stay." Emily presented her problem.
"Actually, Em those aren't problems, anymore anyway. You're still welcome at Jason's and Jason found your stuff." Lucky explained.
"He did? I am?" Emily asked surprised to hear all that. Then she frowned. "What about Brenda and Melissa?"
Lucky thought about that question for a second. "I'm not so sure about Brenda, but whatever the problem, Jason will fix it. As for Melissa, how is she a problem? You haven't seen her the past week and when she realized you were gone. She was worried and alone. She sees you as a role model and as a sense of security, without you there she felt no safety or protection. You're a reassurance to her that her parents are okay. You mean the world to her."
"She sure shows it." Emily remarked sarcastically.
"That's just her way of showing it. But when it got taken away from her, she really showed her true colors Em. Give her a second chance. She needs her big sister Emily. And now that something is going to happen with Brenda, she's going to need you more." Lucky said, stating the facts.
"I guess I'll have to see her huh? What about my part of the deal? What do I get?" Emily said surprisingly optimistic.
Lucky leaned against the bed and looked at her with a smile. "What do you want?"
Emily got up from the bed and laid her head on Lucky's chest. "Well, if I'm going to do this I need someone I can count on and will be there to comfort and be there for me. Will you be it?"
Lucky looked at Emily's head laying on his torso and played with her hair. "If that's what you want, that's what you get. You have my number, so you're free to call me any time, any day."
"You can count on me calling all the time in that case." She said.
They laid there in that stance with their hands intertwined for a few quiet moments until someone screamed Emily's name. They turned to the doorway to see Melissa and Lulu. Melissa ran to the bed and hugged Emily. Lulu stood in the doorway with a wide smile. Lucky, feeling Emily and Melissa needed sometime alone, detached himself from Emily and walked to the doorway and led Lulu away from the room.
"Melissa, you can let go now!" Emily said struggling to get out of her tight hug.
"If I let you go, do you promise to never leave like that again?" Melissa asked, holding her tighter.
"Promise, just let me breathe." Emily replied as Melissa let go of her and she caught her breath.
Melissa sat on Emily's lap and watched Emily. "Miss me?" Emily asked stating the obvious.
"Yeah! It scared me when you left and never came back. Where were you?" Melissa asked interested.
"I just left town for a little to sort out some things." Emily said, hoping she accepted the half lie.
"Did you get them sorted out?" Melissa asked brightly.
"Not really, but with time they will be." Emily answered.
"Was I the reason you left? I didn't mean to drive you away! I was just acting like you! Indifferent and strong and..." Melissa ranted.
"Melissa! Calm down, I know you were just trying to be like me, and I like how you look up to me, but when you act like that you just seem rude and disrespectful. You can look up to me as much as you like, but just don't act like me, okay? You need to be your own person. All right?" Emily gave a small smile of hope.
"Okay, when are you coming home?" Melissa asked sleepily.
"That's hard to say at the moment, but I'll tell you when I know okay?" Emily reassured her and laid Melissa's head on her lap.
Melissa gave an incoherent answer as she fell asleep. Emily looked down at her little sister and smiled. Maybe she could have a happily ever after after all.
Author's note: Hey, thanks for the review. I was debating whether to put that sleeping beauty thing in, afraid that it might be a little, um, childish? But I'm glad you liked it. That makes me feel better about some of my writing ideas. Anyway, the end of the story is coming. I'm having a hard time ending it though, like I did the first story. But that's just an author's obsession, so keep reviewing and get ready for the next story. Next chapter or maybe the next you will learn the fates of Brenda, Melissa, the Spencers and the other characters in my story. Curious? I bet you are. The possibilities are probably driving you crazy! But you'll just have to wait for the update to find out.
Emily woke a few seconds after someone had momentarily stopped her breathing. She had felt something soft cover her mouth and she had to breathe through her nose. She had to blink a few times to get use to the light as she opened her eyes. She immediately saw white and her mind started to think she was dead, but then she saw Lucky. She made no sounds as she studied the room. It was a simple one with a night table beside her and a chair in the corner. Two chairs were missing and more white walls.
"Emily?" She heard a voice choke out. She immediately turned to where it came from. Lucky was sitting in one of the chairs sitting by the bed.
Emily felt an unexplained happiness as she saw Lucky. She tried to speak, but nothing came out and she started coughing because her throat was so dry. Lucky came immediately to her side and leaned her back against the bed. When her coughing fit was over he soothed her. "Don't try to speak just yet, okay? Let me get you some water and then you can say as much as you wish." He finished saying waiting for her to nod.
She did and Lucky got up to go into the bathroom. He came out with a cup of water and gave it to her. Emily took it gratefully and drank from it. The water felt great running down her throat. "Thanks" She said.
"You're welcome." Lucky said and sat down on the bed next to her and thought of what to say. There was so much to say and talk about.
"How did I get here?" Emily asked, studying the room again.
"My dad brought us to the hospital after we got away from Helena." Lucky explained and waited for another question he knew was coming.
"We got away, when? How?" Emily asked with clear confusion written on her face.
"Uh, that's a long story Em. I'll tell you when you're up for it." Lucky said with uncertainty.
Emily studied Lucky and nodded her agreement. "I guess. Where is Luke now?" She asked and looked out of the doorway.
"He took Lulu to see where mom was." Lucky answered simply.
"I thought I heard her voice." Emily silently murmured, but Lucky caught it anyway.
"You did? Did you hear mine or my dad's?" Lucky asked, interested. Maybe his dad was right. Maybe Emily did hear his speech and that was part of her waking up.
"I heard a lot of voices actually, but it was hard to tell if they were real. I was just so, I don't know. Delirious and confused, I guess." Emily said uncomfortably, wrapping her arms around her.
"I assumed as much, do you feel delirious now?" Lucky asked, hoping to catch what she was feeling like and how to go talking to her.
"Not really, a bit confused though." Emily responded.
"On what? If how we got here is it I could tell you..." Lucky said, but Emily interrupted him.
"No, no. That's not it." Emily intervened. "It's just, I don't know, I thought I heard a voice say some things, but I don't think they were real. I don't know anything at all really." Emily ranted with clear uncertainty.
"Emily, it's okay, you were in a hard position. It's been a hard few days for you." Lucky said soothing her.
"I guess so. What's my diagnosis?" Emily asked interested.
Lucky tried to hide a confused look. What's my diagnosis? What did she mean by that? "What's my diagnosis?" Lucky asked, giving up trying to act like he understood what she meant.
"I'm a hospital patient, right? So if I'm still here, I must be in for something." Emily explained.
Lucky wanted to hit himself in the head after Emily's explanation. Duh! "Oh, exhaustion and malnutrition." Lucky replied.
Emily nodded as if she knew and rubbed her eyes. "How are you feeling?" Lucky asked finally. It had been at the end of his tongue for the whole conversation.
"Fine, a little tired, but overall I'm okay." Emily responded.
"That's good." Lucky said neutrally and jumped up when Emily gasped in surprise. "What? What's wrong?"
"Your voice! I heard it in my dream!" Emily said surprised.
"Did you? What did I say?" Lucky said, hopefully. Maybe she heard what he said.
"You mentioned living, how I looked, your parents and sister, Melissa and Jason, and you said something of significance I think." Emily responded making a list.
"Something of significance?" Lucky asked puzzled. What did he say that would be considered significant?
"Yeah, you said..." Emily stopped and thought. "You said you loved me!"
Lucky sat back. Okay, so he said he loved her. She knew as much and it wasn't so significant even with what happened over that last week. But then it hit him! Of course it was significant! With her past it was! Like it was with Zander. With their past, the most important thing they needed to hear was that they were loved.
"I told you earlier that I did, when you confronted me and Zander for all that racket we made." Lucky answered.
"I thought you just said that to cross your point." Emily murmured.
"How can you think that Em? When I say I love someone I mean it." Lucky started a little angry, but refrained from unleashing his anger and calmed down. Maybe a proper saying was needed. "But if you need to hear it again, to know it was for sure, I'll say it again." Lucky grabbed Emily's hand gently and rubbed the soft skin with his fingers. "I love you Emily. I don't know when I fell in love with you, but it happened! It just happened and now I'm here saying it out loud."
"I love you too." Emily said with a small smile.
"Okay, then just answer me one question. You were having nightmares and have been remembering your childhood. Why didn't you tell me? Why did I have to figure it out? Why didn't you come to me when the memories started coming back?" Lucky asked, desperately.
"I didn't want to become a burden." Emily confessed, with her head down.
Lucky put a finger under her chin and made her face him. "You're not a burden Em. Would I drive you to school and home after school if you were a burden? Would I go out in the middle of the night and look for you if you were?"
"What?" Emily asked, surprised at his last example.
"Jason called me after you blew up on Brenda, Melissa, and Jason. I went out to look for you. How did you think I joined you in Helena's lair? I just walked in and asked to become a hostage?" Lucky asked, hoping to get a laugh out of Emily.
It worked and Emily gave a small laugh. "I guess not. I wanted to tell you but I didn't want to drag you out and bring you into my path of destruction. It wouldn't have been right."
"I understand that now. But now, right now, that path disappears and you confront your memories. You overcome them and start living a full life." Lucky demanded with a soft tone.
"I don't think I can." Emily confessed.
"Yes you can. I'll be there to help you. Everyone who cares about you will too. But there's two ways you can do this." Lucky motivated.
"Two ways? What are you talking about?" Emily asked, once again confused.
"You need to confront these memories or they are going to go destroy you. I can't let that happen Emily. I can't lose you Em, you mean too much to me." Lucky said, revealing his vulnerability.
"I don't want to lose you either, but the memories are too strong. I can't overcome them!" Emily argued.
"Yes you can! Emily, you're stronger than them. Prove it! Besides you would have so many people supporting you!" Lucky argued back.
"Okay, even if I could, how?" Emily challenged him.
"Like I said there's two ways. One is you could go to a place in England that helps kids like you. You would be surrounded by people who would understand what you went through and help you through it. Or you could stay here and see a therapist and have my family and yours to help you. We wouldn't exactly understand, but we would sit there and listen and do everything in out power to help. It's your choice though, but I for one would go for the second one. I would go mad without you." Lucky said, telling her her options.
"I don't know even if I want to do anything, so don't give me your opinion!" Emily lashed out.
Emily then pulled away from him and hugged herself as Lucky walked a distance from her. Lucky stood back and watched Emily. This must be what happened with Jason, Lucky thought. As he thought this Emily apologized and looked away. Lucky thought about leaving Emily, but found he couldn't do that. Emily was just feeling vulnerable and lashing out at everybody when it messed with her childhood memories. Lucky waited a moment and walked over to her.
"Emily." He said cautiously. "This is why you need help to sort through your childhood memories. You can't lash out at people who only want to help." Emily stayed silent so Lucky continued. "What if we make a deal?" He asked, he had to try every angle for Emily to get help.
"A deal?" Emily asked uncertainly.
"Yeah, you get help and choose one of those options and I'll, do something for you or give you something." Lucky said, knowing the deal sounded worse as the words came to his mouth.
Emily raised her eyebrow quizzically. "What do you get from this deal?"
"I don't want anything from it. I only want to see you happy and the past in the past and when it comes back to haunt it won't destroy you like this!" Lucky exclaimed.
"Really?" Emily asked surprised.
"Yeah, I promise! I have no alternative motives, I swear!" Lucky smiled as he felt her giving in.
"Okay, it's a deal, but one problem Lucky. Where am I going to stay? I have no belongings or a place to stay." Emily presented her problem.
"Actually, Em those aren't problems, anymore anyway. You're still welcome at Jason's and Jason found your stuff." Lucky explained.
"He did? I am?" Emily asked surprised to hear all that. Then she frowned. "What about Brenda and Melissa?"
Lucky thought about that question for a second. "I'm not so sure about Brenda, but whatever the problem, Jason will fix it. As for Melissa, how is she a problem? You haven't seen her the past week and when she realized you were gone. She was worried and alone. She sees you as a role model and as a sense of security, without you there she felt no safety or protection. You're a reassurance to her that her parents are okay. You mean the world to her."
"She sure shows it." Emily remarked sarcastically.
"That's just her way of showing it. But when it got taken away from her, she really showed her true colors Em. Give her a second chance. She needs her big sister Emily. And now that something is going to happen with Brenda, she's going to need you more." Lucky said, stating the facts.
"I guess I'll have to see her huh? What about my part of the deal? What do I get?" Emily said surprisingly optimistic.
Lucky leaned against the bed and looked at her with a smile. "What do you want?"
Emily got up from the bed and laid her head on Lucky's chest. "Well, if I'm going to do this I need someone I can count on and will be there to comfort and be there for me. Will you be it?"
Lucky looked at Emily's head laying on his torso and played with her hair. "If that's what you want, that's what you get. You have my number, so you're free to call me any time, any day."
"You can count on me calling all the time in that case." She said.
They laid there in that stance with their hands intertwined for a few quiet moments until someone screamed Emily's name. They turned to the doorway to see Melissa and Lulu. Melissa ran to the bed and hugged Emily. Lulu stood in the doorway with a wide smile. Lucky, feeling Emily and Melissa needed sometime alone, detached himself from Emily and walked to the doorway and led Lulu away from the room.
"Melissa, you can let go now!" Emily said struggling to get out of her tight hug.
"If I let you go, do you promise to never leave like that again?" Melissa asked, holding her tighter.
"Promise, just let me breathe." Emily replied as Melissa let go of her and she caught her breath.
Melissa sat on Emily's lap and watched Emily. "Miss me?" Emily asked stating the obvious.
"Yeah! It scared me when you left and never came back. Where were you?" Melissa asked interested.
"I just left town for a little to sort out some things." Emily said, hoping she accepted the half lie.
"Did you get them sorted out?" Melissa asked brightly.
"Not really, but with time they will be." Emily answered.
"Was I the reason you left? I didn't mean to drive you away! I was just acting like you! Indifferent and strong and..." Melissa ranted.
"Melissa! Calm down, I know you were just trying to be like me, and I like how you look up to me, but when you act like that you just seem rude and disrespectful. You can look up to me as much as you like, but just don't act like me, okay? You need to be your own person. All right?" Emily gave a small smile of hope.
"Okay, when are you coming home?" Melissa asked sleepily.
"That's hard to say at the moment, but I'll tell you when I know okay?" Emily reassured her and laid Melissa's head on her lap.
Melissa gave an incoherent answer as she fell asleep. Emily looked down at her little sister and smiled. Maybe she could have a happily ever after after all.
Author's note: Hey, thanks for the review. I was debating whether to put that sleeping beauty thing in, afraid that it might be a little, um, childish? But I'm glad you liked it. That makes me feel better about some of my writing ideas. Anyway, the end of the story is coming. I'm having a hard time ending it though, like I did the first story. But that's just an author's obsession, so keep reviewing and get ready for the next story. Next chapter or maybe the next you will learn the fates of Brenda, Melissa, the Spencers and the other characters in my story. Curious? I bet you are. The possibilities are probably driving you crazy! But you'll just have to wait for the update to find out.