Chapter 12: How Could You?

"OH MY GOD, J.T.!" Emma quickly pulled away and pushed Chris, with much more force than she had intended. Christ wiped at his face and stared sheepishly at J.T., who was now red with anger, holding Emma's purple clutch.

"J.T., I-"

"Don't even make an excuse Emma Nelson I don't need one!" J.T. yelled, but in a choky voice. Emma could tell right away that more than anything he was hurt.

"I'm so sorry, J.T." Emma knelt near the ground, holding her face in her hands, tears burning hot at her eyes. "I'm so sorry…"

J.T. shook his head, close to tears.

"You promised…" he said, almost in a whisper, shaking his head. "You promised me that you weren't like Manny."

"And I'm not!" Emma sobbed, standing up and throwing herself at J.T., into his warm arms that she knew didn't belong to her anymore. J.T. pushed her away gently, backing away.

"You forgot this." J.T. shoved the clutch into Chris's chest, letting a gasp escape Chris's lips, as he was not expecting this. Emma sobbed uncontrollably.

"J.T., please!"

But J.T. didn't stop. As he backed away, a single tear fell from his face and onto the cold ground. He just shook his head and let it hang low as he walked away, Emma screaming his name over and over.

"J.T., I love you! I'm so sorry, I'm sorry. I love you!" Emma was blubbering like a baby. She knew he would never turn around, even for just one split second, to see the pain in her pale, tear-streaked face. Chris held her up, but she pushed him away.

"No, no…" Emma buried her face in her hands and she ran back to the dorm, J.T.'s hurt expression flashing through her head.

Meanwhile…

"I will never speak to her again," Manny vowed, gritting her teeth as Ashley held her by the shoulders closely, stroking her long black mane.

"You have to, Manny. You betrayed her," Ashley encouraged, scolding her slightly.

"I know…" Manny heaved, finally admitting to her wrongdoing. "It's just…. I was jealous, okay? Is that what you want to hear?"

Ashley sighed.

"No, Manny. The truth is what I want to hear, and I want you to know what you did. But, why were you jealous? You apparently had all the guys, the looks, what was wrong?"

Manny shook her head.

"I was jealous of her perfection, I mean, she had the perfect boyfriend, the perfect grades, classes, everything."

"But she was your best friend, and best friends don't just go and sleep with the other's boyfriend, or at least try."

Manny shook her head. "I know I was wrong."

"Do you think you'll apologize?"

Manny looked into Ashley's blue eyes.

"Yeah…" she answered quietly. "Yeah, I will."

"Good."

Just then, Emma swung open the door, shut it, and threw her back to the door, sliding down, bawling like crazy. Manny and Ashley quickly got to their feet and ran to Emma's side.

"I screwed up, I screwed up BIG time," Emma sobbed. "Why did I have to say anything!"

"Say what?" Manny asked, hugging Emma, surprised by her sudden wave of compassion.

"I- asked Chris if- if he still loved me," Emma hugged Manny back, not caring that she swore this would be the person she would damn to hell.

"Oh, Emma," Manny cried, stroking her hair. "Oh my god, what happened to J.T.?"

"He found- found- out," Emma stuttered. "He was standing right there when I went to kiss Chris, and-"

"You kissed Chris!" Ashley cried. Emma nodded shakily.

"And I didn't mean to, it was just all- all the pressure! With Manny and then J.T.," through a stuffy and runny nose, Emma was a wreck. Manny suddenly couldn't help but feel responsible for what happened.

"Oh my god, I'm so incredibly sorry," Manny muttered, suddenly realizing that this was the same girl who left one hell of a bruise on her pussy. "But everything happens for a reason."

"No, NO!" Emma screamed. "I love J.T.!" Ashley shook her head.

"But why, Emma? Why did you do it?"

"I don't know…" Emma was so weepy, and the girls just snuggled up next to her and held out tissues for her. They could tell it was going to be a long night.