Every Heart
Chapter 2: A Warm place To Be

Mr. Simpson's hand comes waving past my face.

"Sean? You there?"

"Whoa! Sorry."

I switch my gaze from out the window, to the dashboard.

"We're here."

I look up at the house. The same house I hadn't been in for so long. Suddenly a million thoughts come rushing through my head.

What will Emma do? Will Mrs. Nelson accept me? How long will I have to stay? What about Jack? And Ellie... Can I invite Ellie over? What would Emma do then?

Slowly I get out the car, while Mr. Simpson is already at the door, waiting for me. I jog over to him, and he opens the door. Both Emma and Mrs. Nelson look up from the couch. Mrs. Nelson gets up and hugs me.

"Oh Sean! Are you ok?"

"I'm fine..."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure, Mrs. Nelson."

"Please, just call me Spike."

I nod, I forgot it's ok to call her by her nickname. Emma still hasn't said anything. She's just looking at me. I let it go, and bring me attention back to the adults.

"So where will I stay?"

"We figured it'd be best if you stayed in the basement with Emma. There's no way we're letting you sleep on the couch, and Jack has a cold. So we set up another bed in Emma's room."

Shock.

"Is that alright?"

I begin to worry about what Ellie will say. But, then... Ellie doesn't need to know where exactly I'm staying. It's no big deal anyways, Emma's just my room mate, and it's not like I chose or anything.

"Yeah, it's fine."

"Ok."

Spike gives me one last mothely hug.

"You two should go to bed, you've still got school tomorrow."

Emma gets up and gives her mom a hug, and a kiss on the cheek.

"Night, Mom."

"Good night, Em."

Then she goes and does the same to Mr. Simpson.

"Night, Dad."

"Night, Emma."

"Night, Sean."

"Good night, Mr. Simpson."

"Call me Snake."

I smile a little, and begin to wonder about his nick name.

"Night, Snake. Good night, Spike... Thank you."

"No problem, Sean. Good night."

As I follow Emma to the basement door, I realize... I don't remember ever being down here, even though she moved down here before we broke up. As we walk down the stairs, no words are exchanged.

Once we get to the bottom step, Emma gestures to a bed, rather low to the ground.

"You get to sleep there."

I'm rather surprised that those words happen to be the first ones out of Emma's mouth directed at me. I could've sworn she would have at least said... Something else.

I nod.

"Alright."

I have nothing else to say, right? Nothing.

I have no suitcases or anything to put down, so I just get to taking off my shoes. Then my shirt, then my pants. I can feel Emma watching me. Her eyes just burning little holes in my back.

I turn and stare right back at her. She quickly averts her gaze.

"What are you doing?"

What am I doing...?

"I'm getting ready for bed. I always sleep like this."

"Oh."

I pull up the covers, of the neatly made cot, and crawl into bed. It's cozy. Emma's house always gave off that cozy feeling... Well, whenever it wasn't giving off that awkward feeling.

I stare at the ceiling, it's not too attractive, but this is afterall the basement. My eyes begin to droop slightly, as I let out a yawn. But, befor eI can fall asleep, I'm dragged back into reality by a voice.

"I'm gonna turn the lights out, now."

"Whatever."

There's a slight clicking noise, and then it's just me and Emma. In the dark. Alone. I smirk to myself.

Deep down inside, I can still remember there was once a time where I would have killed for a moment like this. But now... It's just odd.