Chapter Nine: Skin
I drift away to a place
Another kind of life
Take away the pain
I create my paradise
Everything I've held has hit the wall
What used to be yours, isn't yours at all
Jay came over the next morning and didn't say a word to me. I ignored him as well, and got ready for another boring Tuesday. When I made it to school, Manny was waiting by my locker.
"What's the deal with you?" she asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Do you hate me or something? Is it because of Craig and me? I don't understand. You haven't been calling me, and we haven't hung out at all since you've been back," she explained.
"Of course I don't hate you!" I told her. "I've just been really busy. I have two jobs now and I have to watch Jack when I can. Mom started working during the day instead of at night too," I said.
"Oh. Well, then can I come over tonight? I just have nothing to do and I wanted to talk to you about stuff," she said. I sighed. I guess I have to tell her sooner or later. She's my best friend. I feel really bad keeping it from her. If the situation was reversed, I know she would have told me the minute she got pregnant.
"Yeah, just meet me at my house around three. I have some stuff to do after school gets out," I said.
"Ok cool. See ya then!" she called over her shoulder as she went off to homeroom. I could tell she was really excited. But I'm not. I'm going to dread this all day long.
Falling apart and all that I'm asking
Is it a crime, am I over reacting?
Nothing happened at all during homeroom, reading was pretty boring, and then I failed my math test. I got a lecture from Mr. Armstrong that it wasn't like me to fail and maybe I should get a tutor, all of this crap. I told him that I just didn't have time to study because I had been working so much. I charmed him into letting me take a makeup test after school on Thursday.
I was actually doing well on my Media Immersions project. I decided to do the website on the media's impact on teenagers. It has links to talk about drugs, alcohol, eating disorders, etc. Dad loves it and it's one of the best ones in the class. It's easy to do because we have a lot of time to work on it. After that was lunch and music, both of which were uneventful.
Science was good as usual. The teacher announced that we'd have a new student starting tomorrow. Brooklyn leaned over and whispered that it was her boyfriend. We shared the excitement, and then got to work on our lab experiment.
In theater, Mr. Wentworth handed out scripts for the play we'll be doing. It's his own adaptation of Pirates of the Caribbean. I can't wait. I'm going to try out for Elizabeth. He just had us skim the scripts and start learning parts for auditions.
I fell asleep in study period, as usual. When the bell rang I shot up and walked through the hall, ready to leave. Then I saw Brooklyn at her locker, talking to some guy. He had his back to me, but he looked familiar from behind. Brooke waved me over to her. I figured it must be her boyfriend.
"Em! Come here! I want you to meet my boyfriend," she said as I approached them. He turned around. We both stared at each other in shock. It was Oliver.
He never told me about Brooklyn. Or Maddox. That's why he couldn't leave L.A. But he's here now. I felt myself fill with hatred.
"How could you?" I asked, tears in my eyes. Brooklyn stared on in amazement.
"Wait, you two know each other?" she asked. I didn't know what to do. So I ran, tears stinging my cheeks.
"Emma, wait!" Oliver called after me. I knew he was trying to catch up to me.
"Leave me alone Oliver!" I shouted, not looking back.
Oh, he's under my skin
Just give me something to get rid of him
I got a reason now to bury this alive
Another little white lie
I ran and ran until I made it to the front doors. Oliver was close behind me, but he hadn't caught up yet. I ran down the steps and bolted for the parking lot.
So, what you had didn't fit among the pretty things
Never fear, never fear, I now know where you've been
Braids have been untied as ribbons fall away
Leave the consequence, my tears you'll taste
When I was almost to my car, I slowed down, and I could see Jay there waiting for me. Wait, why was he here? Where was my daughter? Did something happen? I remembered that Oliver was following me, and I sped up again.
I don't believe I'll be alright
I don't believe I'll be ok
I don't believe how you've thrown me away
I got to my car and Jay looked confused. He didn't know why I was running. Out of breath, I took a second before I said anything. I turned around to see Oliver standing about three feet behind me. He had stopped too. I looked into his eyes and wiped the tears from my cheeks.
I do believe you didn't try
I do blame you for every lie
When I look in your eyes I don't see mine
Then I did it. I turned around and kissed Jay, shoving my tongue into his mouth, Oliver watching the entire time.
"I love you too."
Oh, he's under my skin
Just give me something to get rid of him
I've got a reason now to bury this alive
Another little white lie
I'm lying, I know I am. But Oliver doesn't. He saw the kiss and he heard what I said. That's what I wanted, isn't it? I turned around and watched Oliver start to walk back toward Brooklyn, who was only halfway to my car by then.
I wanted to hurt him like he hurt me. Right? Wrong. I instantly felt extreme guilt for doing that to him, then turned back to Jay. He was beaming. I can't believe I just did that. I remember when Jay did this to me with Alex. Then I did it right back with Dracula in the hallway. But this wasn't like that. Not at all. I just screwed up big time.
Oh, my permission to sin
You might have started my reckoning
I've got a reason now to bury him alive
Another little white lie
A/N: Mr. Wentworth is my made up character. I own him. Okay, sorry it's so short but this is all I wanted to happen in the chapter. I promise the next one's going to be longer, with Jay and Emma talking, then Manny going over her house, and some other stuff. I also don't remember who the kid was who played Dracula in their play, which is why I had her say that. The song is "Skin" by Alexz Johnson and she owns it. I love it so much and it fit well. Oh and please readmy new onshot "RainOn My Moonlit Desire." I posted it last night andI was hoping for a bunchof reviews. And just a reminder on this story,please review every chapter you read!