A nightmare come true- Chapter 3

School the next week was more awkward than usual. Emma and Jay avoided each other with more precision now; ever since his late night visit just days before. Emma sat in the back of her homeroom playing with a pencil, ignoring a persistent Manny and nosey JT to the best of her ability.

"Em," Manny whispered, "Em? What's going on? You seem really out of it."

"Yeah, I mean you've barely said a word all day. Are you ok?" JT piped up.

"JT, Manny, Emma, would you mind being quiet? Is that at all possible?" asked Mr. Simpson from the front of the room. He was becoming irritated more often these days.

"Shh," was Emma's reply.

Manny sighed while JT shrugged and turned to an English assignment. Emma was too preoccupied to explain her after hours rendezvous with Jay. Home had become hectic. Snake hadn't been well, Jack was talking now (and loudly at that), and there seemed to be none of the seclusion she yearned for there. Plus, to wrap it all up, she couldn't stop thinking. About Snake, school, Jay, and anything and everything else. Home had actually turned into a living hell.

Snake left early that day, as Emma found out walking into Media Immersion after lunch.

"Emma," said the young sub, "Your dad, he wasn't feeling well. He signed you out when he left."

"But I—"Emma protested.

"Miss Nelson, go home."

Nodding, Emma picked up her messenger bag and headed out the door. The sun was at its peak, and rays of sunshine were lighting Emma's worried face. She spotted Jay and his 'gang' leaning against his car, loud music booming through the sixteen speakers equipped inside. He apparently didn't see his second chance as an opportunity, but a waste of time. He nodded his head at her, and she smiled slightly in return. As he turned his head towards Alex, Emma noticed his mangled nose; looking swollen, bruised, and painful. She cringed and thought I bet it was just another stupid fight.

"Hey, Nelson," came a familiar voice from behind her.

Emma turned to see Alex and Towerz walking away, Jay standing alone next to his car.

"Yeah, what?" she replied.

"Need a ride?" he asked, nodding his head towards the orange Civic.

She stood for a minute, thinking it over, and said finally, "Yeah, I guess I could use one."

---

Jay hopped into the drivers' seat, putting the key into the ignition. Emma got in the passenger seat as the engine turned over, setting her bag at her feet.

"Y'know, you don't have to do this," Emma said as Jay started out of the student parking lot.

"Yeah. I was on my way out anyway," he lied.

"What about them?" Emma was referring to an unhappy-looking Alex and Towerz.

"What about 'em? I told them I had some stuff to do."

"Right."

The rest of the ride was spent in silence, with Emma looking over at Jay curiously every now and then. When Jay pulled the Civic into the Nelson driveway, Emma hopped out quickly.

"Uh, thanks. I really appreciate it," she said.

"Yeah, whatever," he replied.

"Do you wanna come inside for a minute?" she asked embarassedly.

Jay looked over at her. It was actually hard to resist the offer when she had that look in her eyes. It said something along the lines of: No strings attached. This isn't a trap. He rolled his eyes sarcastically before turning off the car and following Emma up the porch steps.

The atmosphere was thick as the two stepped into the little house. It was a mixture of stress, illness, and worry; so heavy it was almost tangible. From the kitchen they heard the rustling of papers and Spikes' worried mutters. The bedroom upstairs was oddly silent, with the exception of an occasional cough or groan. Jack slept soundly on the couch in a tight ball, and Emma walked over to him, scooping the toddler into her arms. He opened his eyes slightly and yawned.

"Hi Emmy," he said.

"Hey, Jack," she whispered back.

He put his small arms around Emma's thin shoulders, and she held him protectively. Just like a mother would. Jay watched as she disappeared upstairs with her brother in hand, putting him to bed. When she reappeared she looked unsettled. Taking the steps two at a time she entered the kitchen, leaving Jay stranded helplessly lost in the quiet living room. Small and frantic whispers erupted from the enclosed dining area moments later, making Jay feel obsolete.

She brought me here…for what, exactly? So she can ditch me in her own house. Something's going on. Well, nice observation, Einstein. She obviously wanted me here ...Cough...

As his mind quarreled over his purpose there, the whispers flooding from the other room turned into a hurried talk, and then arguing, and finally one step below yelling. He caught bits and pieces of the conversation, putting the puzzle together on his own.

"—what d'you mean, Mom!" Emma asked, now panic-stricken.

"They don't know what it is, Em. They're guessing his progress was just the calm before the storm. He'll have to be put back on the chemo."

Jay could tell Emma's mother was fighting back tears at this point. He contemplated going into the kitchen, but thought it best to wait it out. Sitting on the couch, he placed his hands on his knees. He looked so out of place in this pleasantly compact home. What a funny thing. Jay Hogart didn't seem to fit into a picture like this one. His portrait had always consisted of arguing, fighting, sex, drinking…everything this place wasn't. Focusing his attention back on the doorway, he saw Emma hurry through, her face tear-streaked. His mind went blank, his heart sunk into a pit in his stomach, and pity settled upon him. She was so beautiful, even at her weakest.

---

Emma couldn't control her emotions anymore. She was numb. As she left her mother alone in the kitchen to sob, a huge weight felt like it had knocked the wind straight out of her. All of a sudden breathing became a burden, and her heart felt like it was going to burst through her chest at any given moment. In one afternoon her life had come to a devastating halt. She fell onto her knees near the couch, sobbing silently. Instinctively Jay went to her side, putting a near trembling hand on her shoulder.

"Emma," he said, looking over her profile, "Emma, what happened?"

She looked up at him with tears still stinging her face, and buried herself into his side.

"It's Snake. The cancer…." She sobbed, trailing off. "It's back. It's worse."

Maybe he didn't want to know what was going on after all. At this chilling information, Jay stared blankly at Emma, who was stifling sobs into his jacket. What had he gotten himself into? Twenty minutes ago he was still on the verge of calling her a freak, and now he was holding her, comforting her; or more, she clung to him and he sat there. He swallowed roughly before unsuccessfully trying to soothe her.

"Emma," he started as kindly as his cracking voice would let him, "It'll be ok."

She mumbled something about 'what if…' and 'he could…' before simply running off towards the kitchen again. He let out a sympathetic sigh before showing himself to the door.

What a day, thought Jay as he searched for a specific station on his radio dial. As the rock music began to boom through the speakers, he couldn't help but feel for the women of the Nelson family. All they had endured made a pretty long list to begin with, but this? It seemed so overwhelming. And this coming from someone as tough as him. As he turned a corner Jay heard his cell phone begin to play the opening music to The Godfather. Flipping it open he read the name flashing on the caller id: A. Simpson.