Chapter Seven

Dedicated, you took the time
Wasn't long till I called you mine
Yeah, yeah, since you been gone
And all you'd ever hear me say
Is how I picture me with you
That's all you'd ever hear me say
Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson

"Emma, it's time to wake up. We're here." I heard Sean's voice and opened my eyes.

He was about six inches from my face. I groaned and pushed him away.

"I don't want to wake up." I said and closed my eyes again.

"No, come on." Sean said and grabbed my arm, pulling me up. I yanked my arm away. I didn't need him to help me walk. I had been walking since I was one.

"I can walk on my own." I said and then stormed off the bus. I really just didn't need Sean touching me.

Wasega Beach was a lot different from Toronto. The bus station was by the beach. I slid the straps of my backpack up my shoulders and started walking down to the beach.

"Em! Wait up, will you!" Sean yelled and ran after me. I didn't feel like stopping, so I didn't.

Sean reached me and slowed down. I could already tell that he was mad. I just didn't really care.

"Emma, we need to talk." Sean said and then pointed to a bench. I sighed and went to sit down.

"Sean, what did you want?" I asked as I sat down. I wanted to know what he wanted to say, but I didn't want him to know that I wanted to know. How would most likely think the wrong thing.

"Emma, if you're wanting to stay here, you need to know something. This may look like a friendly and sun shiney place, but it really isn't. You need to be careful. I would feel better if you were with me most of the time." Sean said and then somehow managed to make his point further by glancing around.

The last thing I wanted was a babysitter.

"Sean, despite what you may think, I can take care of myself. So, if you don't mind..." I trailed off and made my way to the beach.

"Emma, wait!" Sean yelled after me. I could hear him run after me. I slowed down a little.

"Emma, I know that you can defend and take care of yourself. At least let me do something." Sean said when he reached me. I knew what he was doing, but I really didn't care.

"Fine. Just as long as you don't start wearing a suit and dark sunglasses, then we'll be fine." I said and sat down in the sand. Sean did the same.

I wasn't going to admit it to Sean, but I was glad that he was here. He did make me feel a lot safer. That was another thing that I wasn't going to admit.

"Where are we going to stay?" I asked the question that I knew had been weighing on both of our minds.

"I don't know. I thought that was your thing. After all you're why we're here. Why would it be up to me?" Sean said. He was looking out into the water. I did the same.

"We could stay with your parents." I said. I knew that he was thinking, but one of us had to say it.

"No way. I can't face them. Not right now. I know someone we can stay with, though." Sean said. I didn't expect him to actually say anything more about the subject.

"Who?" I asked. He should have known that I would ask that.

"A good friend from when I lived down here. His name is Nick Reno." I still didn't know who he was. Sean had never really mentioned him to me. I just hoped that he was nothing like Jay.

"Sean..." I trailed off on his name to show that I wasn't happy with this.

"Trust me, Em, it'll be fine." Sean said getting up and dusting the sand off his pants. I sighed and did the same thing.