CHAPTER 8
GUILTY HEARTS
Sean unlocked the door to his house and pushed the door open. Ellie followed him inside and sat on the couch next to Sean.
"Long day?" she asked him.
"Yeah," he said. "My English project for Kwan's class was due three days ago and I'm still not done with it. If I keep this up, I can kiss my student welfare goodbye."
Ellie nodded her head. "Mmm hmm. Speaking of kissing, maybe this can cheer you up." She turned her head and gave Sean a quick kiss on his lips.
Sean smiled, showing his dimples. "That makes me feel a lot better, Emma."
Ellie's face stiffened. "W-what did you say?"
"I said that that makes me feel better."
Ellie was unconvinced. "I got that part, but who did you call me. I thought you called me Emma."
Sean's eyes widened as he realized his slip, but he quickly covered before she could notice. "Emma? Oh no. Not that again," he said, playfully rolling his eyes. "I didn't say Emma. I said Ellie, cuz you're my girlfriend."
"Are you sure?"
It was his turn to frown. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It's just that lately you've been sort of acting strange. Ever since –" She shook her head, ignoring Ashley's advice of communication. "Never mind. Forget I said anything."
Sean continued to stare at her, both baffled and confused. What was she trying to say?
"Listen, I better let you get back to your project so I'm going to go."
Sean watched as she stood up and left, wondering what in the world was wrong with her. But even more importantly, he was wondering what was wrong with himself. Accidentally calling Ellie, Emma? Oh no. If there was a rule book in dating, he betted that calling your current girlfriend your ex-girlfriends name was a big no-no.
But still, he wondered even more, as he sank lower into his couch, why was this sort of thing keep happening to him? Coming up with no answeres, he stretched out on the couch and fell asleep. And even though he didn't want to admit it, Emma was on his mind.
Emma's eyes lingered on Sean a bit longer than she'd wanted to as he walked into Mrs. Kwan's class late that Friday afternoon. The weather was poor and rainy, which was a total flip flop to the way she was feeling. A cryptic smile spread across her face.
She was satisfied. She'd purposely kept from finishing her marriage project with Sean just to see him suffer. It was just unfortunate that her grade had to suffer in the process of her revenge. But she'd upheld a decent A in the class and her grade wouldn't go down too much. And she promised herself that she'd work extra hard in the future.
But now? Now was her time to wallow in her victory, her glory. She quietly kicked the air as an extra umph in her trumph. She knew Sean oh too well. He's never recover from something like this. Undoubtedly, his grade was in the whole anyways and Emma was deviously happy – proud even – to make his grade even worse. Good news for Emma. Bad news for Sean. She was finally rid of Sean.
But fate, as it would have it, had a different plan. And Emma had to admit that she didn't see coming what happened at the end of class.
"Emma? Sean?" Mrs. Kwan's dignified voice called out. "May I speak with the two of you."
Sean glanced at Emma and she glanced at him. Neither of them really seemed to be prepared to actually face their teacher.
"Now, I thought I made it perfectly clear that this project was worth 50 percent of your grade and you two have turned in nothing," Mrs. Kwan lectured. "The project was due four days ago and neither of you have even attempted to turn in a shred of the project. I must say that I am extremely disappointed in the both of you."
Emma and Sean looked at each other sideways.
"Now Emma. You came into this project with an A, but a zero has dropped you to a C – and Sean, you're failing the class. And we unfortunately, we both know what that means."
Sean shook his head knowingly. "I've lost my student welfare."
Emma was confused. "What?"
Sean tightened his lips together and Emma saw real sadness in his eyes. "I live on my own now. Brother lives in Alberta. I need student welfare to live here." He looked at Emma and she realized how important it was for him to finish the project.
Emma lowered her head and she was overwhelmed with guilt. This wasn't how things were supposed to turn out. The plan was simple, short, and sweet: Make Sean's grade suffer.
But unfortunately, Emma hadn't weighed the full repercussions of her actions and more was at state that their grades, and even her revenge. Sean might be out of a house and home and it would be all her fault. She like a fool, guilty – and selfish – for even thinking of her plan.
Emma cleared her throat. "Mrs. Kwan, it's my –"
"It's my fault," Sean interrupted. "I kept Emma from finishing the assignment. It's my fault, mine alone, and I'm sorry."
Emma slowly looked at Sean in a whole new light. Had he just covered for her?
"Well, Sean, I must say that I'm disappointed to hear that," Mrs. Kwan said. "I have spoken with Mr. Simpson about this and he offered me a suggestion as to what you two can do to finish the project and do some extra work . . ."
Mrs. Kwan went on to explain that Mr. Simpson had suggested that Emma and Sean spend a day, or at least an evening, as a real couple. They would even have to use Baby Jack as a representation of a child.
When she was finished, Sean slugged his backpack over one shoulder and headed for the door with Emma at his heels.
"Sean?" Emma said in a soft, but slightly shaken voice.
He turned to face her with a frown on his face and a bandana on his head. Rain continued to pour from the sky. "Yeah?"
Looking into his eyes made Emma feel even guiltier than she already was, but she still didn't want him to see that so her eyes darted from his eyes to the floor every time she spoke. "T-that w-was a noble thing you just did. But . . . why'd you do it? Why didn't you let me tell Mrs. Kwan the truth?"
"Emma, you get good grades. I don't and everyone knows that." He shrugged. "I guess I didn't want to change that."
"This is all my fault and I'm . . . I'm sorry," Emma apologized. "If I had of –"
"Yeah, if you had of, but you didn't," Sean snapped bitterly and Emma winced at the coldness of his voice. "Just forget about it. It's over." He turned away from her and started walking.
"I didn't know about the student welfare," Emma called after him.
He stopped and turned back to face her. "Really? If you had of known, would that have changed anything?"
Emma looked at the floor. It would have made a difference, but for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to telling him that.
So he assumed it didn't. "Thought so." Sean turned and walked out of the classroom and down the hall.
"Wait!" Emma called after him and she raced in front of him. "I- I want to make it up. To you."
"Oh yeah? How?"
"The project doesn't have to be over. We can still finish it and Mrs. Kwan still wants us to work on it anyways."
"Is that so?" Sean said. "And when would we work on this? Huh? When you're good and ready? When you decide you actually wan to do it? Huh?"
"We could work it now. I could go to your house."
Sean raised an eyebrow. "You want to go home with me?" He wasn't expecting that and he had to admit that it took him by surprise.
"Well, yeah. My house isn't an option right now." Sean's face began to soften and he actually cracked a smile, revealing his dimples that made him look cuter than a button. It always made Emma melt. . .
"I mean, I'm going with you for the project."
Sean cleared his throat. "Right, for the project."
It was silly of him to think that she'd wan to come over just because of him. Disappointment crept up on him like a dark shadow, but he was reassured by an encouraging smile from Emma. He smiled back and impulsively held out a hand. Emma took it and the tow of them walked down the hallway hand-in-hand as thunder erupted from the sky.
That seemed to jolt Emma and Sean back to reality because they immediately released each others hand. Even though the whole thing lasted no longer than a few seconds, it felt bigger than that – longer.
Emma raised an umbrella and started walking towards Sean's house.
"Cameron," Sean said to himself as Emma walked ahead of him. "What have you gotten yourself into?"
And in the pouring rain, he ran to catch up with Emma.
X
