Double bill for you tonight. Enjoy :)
Emily followed the girls out into the night air fully expecting to see Riff waiting with his friends only to find he wasn't there. She found herself feeling disappointed that he wasn't there but pushed the feeling aside. She watched the two boys greet the other girls with warm embraces and soft kisses.
"Tony, Ice this is our friend Emily." Graziella announced to the two.
"Nice to meet you both." Emily smiled nodding her head.
Tony grinned at the girl. "You too. We've heard a lot about you." He wrapped his arm around Grazi's shoulders.
Emily laughed. "All bad I hope." She joked.
"Badass." Ice smirked at her. "Where did you learn to give a guy stitches?"
Emily smirked. "In a back-alley warehouse in Queens." She shrugged. "Terrible conditions but the rats were excellent nurses." She joked.
The group laughed shaking their heads. "Riff was right, you're a wildcard." Tony nodded his head at her. He understood why Riff was so taken with her even if he denied it.
The group made their way to the gym chatting between the five of them as they went. The boys started to get what the girls had been saying, Emily did answer their questions, but the answers were vague, never specific or giving any real details. They arrived at the gym and Emily was shocked at how nice the place looked. She spotted John in his uniform over by the drinks table, no doubt keeping an eye on the punch and caught his eye giving him a small wave and a roll of her eyes. She saw him smile back, giving a small shake of his head.
"Come on Em." Velma grabbed her hand pulling her over to a large group of people. She smiled as she was introduced to a bunch of people trying to remember names and faces when she saw Riff his arm slung around a blonde girl who was laughing at something he'd whispered in her ear. Emily turned to Velma. "I'm gonna grab a drink." She said to her before walking across the dance floor to the punch table, pouring herself a glass.
John walked to stand next to her. "So should I save everyone and call the fire marshal now?" He asked her quietly.
"You take out one dancefloor at the policeman's ball and never live it down." Emily chuckled, taking a sip of punch.
"I don't think the commissioner has ever really forgiven you for the concussion." He shook his head.
Emily laughed. "Miss Porter you've knocked me down, you've knocked your partner down, you've knocked yourself down, you've knocked the whole dancefloor down."
John laughed loudly causing passers-by to give them curious looks. He cleared his throat and glanced around.
Emily sighed the laughter dying in her chest, crushed by a wave of sadness. It was the first social event Aiden had taken her too before their lives had gotten infinitely messier, he'd dragged her protesting onto the dance floor, and she'd lost her footing causing a domino effect until no dancer was left standing.
John gave her a small comforting smile.
"Well, I better get back to my friends or they'll think I'm avoiding them." Emily set her empty cup down. "If I make it out, I'll see you tomorrow at four." She waved to him and walked back over to the group.
Across the dancefloor Riff watched the conversation between Emily and Krupke, she said something that made Krupke laugh out loud. He frowned how did those two know each other? He shook his head pulling Tessie out onto the dancefloor to dance, his eyes following Emily as she moved back over to the standing group of Jets. He felt jealousy bubble in his chest as Diesel approached her and said something that made her laugh, she shook her head before rolling her eyes and said something to Diesel before taking his hand and walked out onto the dancefloor with him.
Emily had really had no intention of dancing but when the boy called Diesel asked her to dance and then she caught sight of Riff in the arms of that blonde girl he'd come with she found herself accepting. "I warn you I'm a horrid dancer." Emily warned him as he walked her onto the dance floor.
Diesel grinned. "I'll take my chances." He spun her around pulling her close and winced as she stepped on his foot.
"Still time to back out." Emily smiled at him.
"Nah." Diesel chuckled. "We'll just take it slow."
Emily laughed. "On your head be it." She shrugged.
The dance wasn't too terrible, but she refused a second much to Diesel's relief, she was a nice girl, but she was right that she wasn't a great dancer. Emily walked over to sit down on the bleachers happy to watch the dancing and enjoy the music.
"Riff, would you put us all out of our misery and go talk to her?" Tessie sighed.
Riff looked down at his date in confusion. "Don't know what you're talking about?"
Tessie pressed her lips together. "Uh huh, well I'm going to go and grab a drink. You can keep standing here staring at the girl we both know you'd rather have come here with, or you can go talk to her. Up to you." She patted his arm and walked off.
Riff rolled his eyes shaking his head, his eyes wandering over to where Emily was sat by herself on the bleachers, watching the dancing. He turned to walk away, after Tessie and try and make up for ignoring her when he spotted Tessie was already deep in conversation with Action clearly not fazed by his disinterest in her. He rubbed his aw and went to walk over to Emily when he saw a guy sit down next to her. Riff frowned, watching him put his arm around Emily's shoulders, whispering something to her. He watched a look of distaste cross Emily's face, and she picked his hand off her shoulder, moving to stand up and walk away when the guy grabbed her wrist violently. Riff moved towards the two but before he could even get close enough, Emily had shot out punching the guy directly in the throat. He stopped short seeing Emily glare at the guy now wheezing on the floor. She brushed hair off her face and lean down to whisper something to the guy before Krupke walked over and pulled her away from him. Riff watched as two more cops came over to pull the young man off the floor and out the door while Krupke led Emily away out of the side door. Finding his legs working again Riff jogged over to the door and peered out into the alleyway.
"Breathe Emily." Krupke was saying.
Riff pushed the door open a little more to see Emily pacing up and down the width of the alley. She ran her hand through her hair and shook her head. "I shouldn't have done that."
Krupke shrugged. "Little weasel looked like he deserved it. What did he say to you?"
"Nothing worth repeating." Emily told him.
"Krupke, we need some help over here." One of the officers called from the entrance to the alleyway.
John turned to Emily in concern. "You, okay?"
"I'm fine, go." Emily waved him off.
"Here." John tossed her a pack of cigarettes and a book of matches before jogging out of the alleyway to help his fellow officers.
Emily took one of the cigarettes and put it between her teeth and lit it, inhaling deeply. She closed her eyes exhaling into the night air.
"You sure can pack a punch."
Emily jumped and whipped around to see Riff stood in the doorway back into the gym, leaning casually against the wall, an amused grin on his face. "Fuck. Don't do that." She snapped at him, taking another drag on her cigarette.
Riff smirked. "Or what you'll go all ninja on me too?"
Emily huffed. "Don't tempt me. Leave me alone Riff I'm not in the mood right now." She shook her head.
"What did that guy say to you?" Riff asked her.
"Nothing worth repeating." Emily took another drag on her cigarette finally ceasing her pacing and leant against the wall.
Riff crossed his arms over his chest. "Tell me anyway."
Emily sighed. "He said I should consider being a whore for a king instead of a jet. I told him to fuck off. He called me a word I won't repeat. So, I punched him. I shouldn't have punched him." She shook her head.
Riff felt anger boil in his blood. "I disagree. Sounds like he had it coming."
Emily smiled at him. "You should get back inside; your date will be missing you." She put the cigarette between her lips and took another drag, the nicotine helping to calm her nerves.
"She'll survive. Last I saw Action was keeping her better company than I was." Riff walked over to lean next to her. "Can I bum one of them?" He asked her motioning to the pack of cigarettes clutched in her hand.
"Sure." Emily offered him the pack.
Riff took a cigarette lighting it and inhaled. He really wanted to ask her about Krupke, but he was pretty sure she'd just brush off his questions. He started when Emily started laughing to herself, frowning he watched her wondering if this was some weird nervous breakdown. "What's so funny?" He asked her curiously.
Emily shook her head. "I just... I really should learn dances and I do not mix; they always seem to turn into a blood bath." She laughed. "Although at least this time I didn't take out an entire dance floor."
Riff shook his head. "I'm sorry what?"
Emily smiled. "I'm notoriously a terrible dancer and I was at a dance and attempting to dance but then I lost my footing, my partners fault entirely but I fell which started a domino effect that knocked everyone down." She explained.
Riff laughed and went to say something when the door burst open revealing an out of breath and panicked A-Rab. "Riff, you better come quick." He told the leader of the Jets.
Not needing to be told twice Riff tossed away the remainder of the cigarette and rushed back into the gym with Emily not far behind him. It was carnage, the girls were stood back around the edge of the dance floor while guys tore into each other. Riff rushed into the fray and started helping his guys, shoving the attackers off and throwing punches where he could. He saw a flash of pink and saw Emily pulling a guy off Action and shoving him away.
The sound of whistles signalled the arrival of more cops who began separating the fight pulling boys off each other. Riff pushed his way to Emily and pulled her back to the edge of the dance floor as the police finished breaking up the fight. "Come on." Riff took her hand and pulled her over to the door as the cops started yelling for everyone to get home. He led her outside and the two took off running down the street.
They ran far away from the gym until coming to a stop in an alleyway behind the boxing club. Riff ran his hand through his hair looking down at Emily with a grin. "You didn't have to jump in like that." He told her.
Emily shrugged. "I'm a fighter, not a lover." She raised her fists and Riff could see her knuckles were bruising. He reached out and took her hand in his bringing it up and placed a soft kiss to her knuckles. Riff felt her other hand push against his chest, and he grunt as he shoved him into the wall knocking the air out of his lungs. He thought she was going to hit him but then her lips crashed against his. It was hot, animalistic, heated like she was trying to devour him. Riff wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her closer, returning her kiss with matched enthusiasm. Emily pulled back from the kiss, trying to catch her breath and looked up at Riff with a coy smile.
Riff grinned at her. "What was that for?"
"Because I wanted to." Emily tilted her head that confident smirk playing her lips.
Riff laughed shaking his head. "Come on." He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "The guys will be making their way to my place." He led her down and out of the alleyway.
Emily smirked. "Taking me back to your place already, Mr Riff I ain't that kind of girl."
"No? Just the kind of girl who accosts guys in alleyways." Riff cocked his eyebrow at her.
"I didn't hear you complaining." Emily shrugged.
Riff shook his head. "No complaints here. Will there be a repeat?"
Emily pressed her lips together. "Maybe."
They arrived at Riff's apartment building and sure enough most of the Jets were sat around the steps waiting for them. Emily noticed Ice was clutching his arm and Velma was sat next to him with a worried expression. She scanned the group and noticed a few of the other boys were also sporting a few injuries. Slipping out of Riff's arm she walked over to Ice and Velma. "You okay there buddy boy?" She asked him.
"One of the guys shoved me into the bleachers." Ice mumbled.
"Can I take a look?" Emily asked him.
"Sure." Ice nodded.
Emily gently examined the shoulder and nodded her head. "Yeah, that's dislocated. You can go to the hospital, or I can reset it."
Ice looked up at her. "You can do that?" He asked her.
Emily nodded.
"Do it." Ice told her.
"Okay." Emily positioned herself next to him feeling the guys starting to stare at her. "Deep breath, on three."
Ice took a deep breath.
"Three." Emily pushed hard and popped the shoulder back into place.
Ice cried out rolling onto his side. "What happened to one and two?" He rested his head in Velma's lap.
Emily patted his arm. "I'll leave you in nurse Velma's capable hands." She winked at Velma who blushed but mouthed thank you to her as she stroked Ice's hair.
Riff opened the door to the building, and everyone began to file in. He wrapped his arm around Emily and kissed her hair. "You continue to amaze me." He mumbled into her hair.
"Stick around buddy boy, the show's just starting." Emily smiled at him.
They all crammed into Riff's tiny apartment and Action and A-Rab produced two cases of beers and a bottle of whiskey and tequila each. Emily moved around the group tending to various injuries. Riff watched her from the arm of his couch where he was talking with Ice who had perked up now, he had some alcohol in him. He'd laughed when Emily had produced a small first aid kit from her bag because of course she had a first aid kit with her. He watched her clean the cut on Diesel's face.
"What do you think Doc? Am I still handsome?" Diesel asked her.
Emily pressed her lips together. "You'll have all the girls swooning." She picked up her beer and took a sip. "Just make sure you keep it clean and dry and use this one a day." She handed him a tube of antiseptic cream.
Diesel nodded taking the cream. "Thanks Doc. Do you think I'll get a cool scar?"
"Maybe." Emily took another swig of beer.
"Yeah, but it'll never be as cool as this." Action shook his head, pulling up his shirt to show a thin white scar on his side. "Fell on a piece of glass when I was nine."
The boys all began to show off their various battle scars.
Emily shook her head. "Sorry but I've got all of you beat." She lowered the right shoulder of her dress to reveal the puckered pink scar. "Gunshot wound, two years ago." She pulled the chain around her neck revealing the pendant. "Still have the bullet."
"Wo, Riff this girl is bad ass." A-Rab nodded his head.
Riff grinned, still shocked by her revelation and nodded his head. "Yeah, she's pretty cool." He watched her over his beer as he took another sip. "So, what's the story?" He asked her.
Emily shrugged. "Eh, it was a drive by, the bullet wasn't meant for me." She shook her head taking another drink of beer suddenly feeling very self-conscious and regretting making the revelation. It wasn't a lie; the bullet was meant for her 'boss' but she pushed him out of the way. It worked in her favour, and she'd been lucky, but it had hurt like a bitch and almost got her pulled but she'd worked around it because it got her a new level of trust.
Luckily the conversation turned away from scars to the 'new gang' that had been at the dance and whom the Jets had ended up in a brawl with.
"Those Kings better watch their backs." Action punched his fist into his hand.
Tony nodded. "We can handle them." He grinned. "We just need to send Emily over there."
Diesel nodded. "Yeah, the way you took that guy down with one hit. Badass."
Emily shrugged. "My old man taught me some self-defence; he said no girl should feel like they can't fight back just because they don't know how."
"Wow all my old man taught me was how to duck and cover." A-Rab joked.
Everyone laughed a few of the guys nodding in agreement. Slowly the after party wound down and people started leaving, some drunker than others. Tony and Grazi retired to his room and Action had passed out on the couch.
Emily moved about clearing the empty bottles and empty bags of chips and candy wrappers putting them in a trash bag she pulled out from under the sink.
Riff closed the door on Ice and Velma and turned to see Emily cleaning up. "You don't have to do that." He told her softly.
"I want to." Emily shrugged clearing the last of the bottles and tied off the bag. "Well, I should probably head off too." She sighed.
Riff frowned. "You can't walk across town on your own."
Emily smirked. "I thought we'd established I could take care of myself."
"We have and then some." Riff nodded his head. "But I'd like you to stay." He reached out and took her hand. "Or at least let me walk you home."
"Well, the company would be welcome." Emily swung her bag over her shoulder.
"Then lets go." Riff opened the door and motioned her out. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they walked down the street. "So, self-defence, getting shot, are things going to be that exciting with you around all the time?" He asked her.
Emily shrugged. "I really hope not. I've had my fill of excitement for about three lifetimes."
Riff glanced down at her. "Sounds like it." He pressed his lips together. "So, a nice quiet boring apple pie life from now on?" He asked her.
Emily pulled a face. "Mmmm, maybe not too quiet or too boring. I don't think that's possible if I'm going to keep you around." She nudged him.
"Oh, you're gonna keep me around huh?" Riff asked her.
"Maybe, if you play your cards right." Emily smirked coming to stand in front of the steps to her apartment. She turned to face Riff and grabbed the front of his shirt pulling him in for a long, deep kiss.
Riff grinned into her kiss, one hand snaking around her waist the other coming up to thread his fingers in her hair. He never wanted to stop kissing her. He pulled her flush against his body, kissing her harder like he would die if he didn't kiss her.
Emily broke the kiss and stepped back. "Goodnight Riff."
Riff grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to him, kissing her again. He pulled back and looked down at her. "Goodnight Emily."
Emily turned and walked up to her door before turning back. "I'm working tomorrow but can I see you on Sunday?"
Riff nodded. "What time?"
"Here. Midday?" Emily asked him.
"I'll be here." Riff grinned at her.
Emily nodded. "I'll see you then." She stepped into the building closing the door behind her.
And that is chapter four. More to come soon.
