Chapter Eight- Collide

Emma wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled up at him. It wasn't genuine but it looked like it was. In her mind, if this relationship was going to look realistic then she had to act the part. Sure Spinner knew this thing was just a fling to make Jay jealous but there was no harm in having some fun too. He leaned down and kissed her lips softly and she smiled. He was no Jay, that was sure, but he was a guy. And he did have a small idea, although it wasn't the same, about what she was going through.

"So this is just to make Jay jealous?" he asked hesitantly.

She nodded. "Yeah. That's totally horrible I know…" she trailed off.

Spinner just shrugged. "Yeah, but then again it's Jay. Sometimes you have to hit him over the head with a brick."

Emma smiled slightly and nodded. "I'm sorry that I'm like…using you or whatever…."

Spinner rolled his eyes. "Emma, I knew that you were going to from the minute you told me. But you know what, you're someone to talk to and hell, let's face it. You're pretty cute," he kidded as he nudged her.

"Shut up," she said hitting him back.

Suddenly Jay came through the doors and headed for his car and spotted them together. He stopped short when he saw their smiles and his arms around her neck and she twisted around to give him a kiss. Jay just glowered and put on his sunglasses so it wouldn't be that noticeable how pissed and hurt that he was. He got into his car and slammed the door shut and turned up the music loud and peeled out. Spinner smiled.

"Damn you must have that boy hooked."

She shook her head. "Oh no, he's back with Alex again. Isn't that just the sweetest," she said sarcastically rolling her eyes.

"Well then he's an idiot."

Emma smiled slightly. Spinner was a nice guy when he wanted to be sure, but she never knew he was going to be…this nice. As in almost hitting on her. That was an unexpected twist of events. They stayed for a few more minutes before he took her home and she ran through the front door with a wave. She leaned against the door and had a small smile on her face.

"You look awfully happy," her mother commented sticking her head out of the kitchen to see her daughter.

"I was hanging out with Spinner," she said.

"Spinner huh? Is that the new guy now or something?"

"What?"

"Well it's been a while since you've gone out with anyone and it's been a while since I've seen you with that smile on your face. So is Spinner the new boyfriend?"

Emma rolled her eyes. "Something like that," she said as she grabbed a bag of carrots and a bottle of ranch dressing.

"So next week is the big unveiling," Spike said conversationally.

Emma just nodded.

"So is Jay going to be there?"

She sighed. "No Mom, he's not."

Spike remained silent and kept her eyes on the magazine she was reading. Emma knew that look. She knew what was running around her mind right now.

"Look Mom, yeah this is his kid. But you know, it's his loss. He's missing something incredible ok? And I have a great guy now whose willing to stand by me and help me. Yeah it's not the father but so what? Jay is supposed to be the good father I get that ok? But he never will be, he'll never be that kind of guy," she snapped as she got up and headed downstairs.

"Em-"

She was cut off by the slamming of the door. She sighed and looked around the kitchen.


Jay looked up as the door slammed. Emma stamped down the stairs, obviously not in a good mood but he was already here and comfortable. She stopped short when she saw him and glared.

"Oh this is just great!" she snarled rolling her eyes.

"Chill out Greenpeace. I just came to talk."

"Oh and where's Alex because I just know that she's thrilled that you're here with me right now."

He shrugged. "Like I care what Alex thinks. That bitch set me up ok? She came up to me saying that she wants to be friends and that she needed a ride. Next think I know she's fucking kissing me!"

She stared at him. "Why are you explaining yourself to me?" she asked softly.

He stopped. "Because it's the truth."

"Well gee Jay you've haven't even looked at me in like two months and now you're sitting here in my room explaining why you were kissing Alex. How about why you were fucking Amy and the other girls?" she crossed her arms and glared at him.

He sighed. "Whatever ok? I said I was sorry. Sorry if that's not good enough for you," he said getting up.

"Well why are you here?"

He turned back to her. "I already told you."

"Noo…I mean why bother? I thought that you hated me or some shit. Like I fucked up your life," she said softly.

"Emma…you know you didn't do that," he said as he took a step closer to her. "You just flaked on your family that one day when I was up there getting the third degree and acted like I was just a guy to you and I didn't mean anything. And I thought that maybe I did. So that's my fault for assuming."

"I was scared," she mumbled.

"Of?"

She sighed. "Yeah you get to see Simpson and deal with him at school. I have to live with him and my mom. And you don't get to see the looks that give me or the talks that I have to endure. Sorry for not wanting to get sent away to a convent!" she said raising her voice.

"For saying that you like me?" he shouted back.

"No! For saying that for once I was happy with a guy and he made me feel alive and dare I say it, that I might even love…him," she stopped herself as she realized what she just said out loud. "I think I'm gonna be sick," she said running to the bathroom. Jay stood rooted to the spot and stared after her. Did he hear her right? He followed her to the bathroom and sat up on the sink.

"Why are you still here?" she mumbled.

He shrugged. "Well…did you just say that you love me?" he asked half teasingly, half serious.

She hung her head deeper into the toilet. "That was just a bad dream."

He shook his head and jumped down and squatted down next to her. "No, it wasn't," he said quietly looking in her eyes. She had tears in her eyes and they dangerously close to falling. His eyes softened at that. She laughed slightly and rolled her eyes.

"God I am such a girl!"

"Generally I consider that a good thing," he remarked as he helped her up slowly.

She looked away.

"Talk to me Jay," she whispered.

"I thought I was…"

"No!" she shook her head. "I mean really talk to me…what's going on up there?" she tapped his hat.

He smiled softly at that and sat down on her bed. "Well I was an ass for a while, I know that. But seeing you with another guy…" he sighed.

She looked over at him. Was he jealous? Jay Hogart being jealous over Spinner Mason…well actually that was what she wanted. But she had no idea it only take a day!

"Spinner."

He nodded. "Yeah, Spinner. It…it just drove me nuts," he said looking up at her at the last part.

She just looked at him straight in the eyes and for once saw no bullshit. She sat down next to him. "No bullshit?"

"No bullshit."

"So…" she trailed off. She knew that he liked her, he just told her more or less. But she actually wanted to hear him say it for once in his life.

He took a deep breath and swallowed. Emma never knew it was this hard for someone to confess that they liked each other. She must have missed something in her life or something.

"Emma…I think…I think I love you," he said not looking at her.

Her jaw dropped. "What?"

He looked up at her then. "I think I'm falling in love with you," he said more firmly.

Suddenly she was crying and just looking at him. She never expected that to happen at all. But now that he confessed that not only did he like but he was falling in love with her, maybe for once her life could get back on track. And this time it would be with the guy that she wanted it to be with.

He reached over and wiped away one of her tears with surprising gentleness. She flinched and raised an eyebrow at her, not moving away.

"I'm not going to hit you," he said somewhat amused.

"I just…I'm not used to-"

He cut her off by pressing his lips firmly against hers. For the first time in six months she kissed back and all the emotion and feelings she had pent up came out in that one kiss.

He pulled back.

"Damn…" was all he could say.

She smiled softly. "Is that a good damn or a bad damn?"

He just smirked. "No such thing as a bad damn after kissing you," he said as he went in and kissed her again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down on top of her. They were so wrapped up in kissing each other that the didn't hear the person beside them. Jay pulled away and looked up, expecting to find Spike or Simpson but it was Manny. And she had the biggest grin on her face.

"The way she was grinning, you'd think I kissed her," he remarked rolling off her and grabbing his hat.

"Shut up," she retorted hitting him.

"So are y'all like….together?" Manny asked still standing there.

They looked at each other and Emma smiled.

"Yeah," she said with a grin.

"About damn time!" Manny cried plopping down next to him in the bed.

Emma reached over and grabbed his hat and put in on her own head.

"Excuse you," he said reaching for it.

"Huh-uh. I'm the girlfriend…I'm the pregnant girlfriend. I get dibs on the hat," she said holding it onto her head.

"What?"
She just smirked and kissed him lightly. "Think of it as tough love."

"Tough love my ass…." He grumbled but he let her have it.

The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you

Yeah
But I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find, you and I collide

I'm quiet, you know
You make a first impression
I've found I'm scared to know
I'm always on your mind

Don't stop here
I've lost my place
I'm close behind

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
You finally find, you and I collide
You finally find
You and I collide
You finally find
You and I collide

a/n: I don't own the song "Collide" by Howie Day but I love it and it makes me think of Jemma every time I hear it. And I just couldn't help but update already, had the yearning. Lol, plus y'all gave me a push! So yay for reviews!