Chapter 20, part 1: Radio Pt. 2

Trying to be what you want me to be
I guess I can't catch up

Emma was diligently working on her laptop, still a little annoyed that Zack has still yet to call her. She figured he could at least text her or something... all these days apart... what did that mean to him? Sighing, Emma just put her head back into her work, quietly ignoring Manny's bubbly personality and her singing through the apartment. Manny was getting ready to go on a date, and she couldn't be more excited, Emma, however, really didn't care, but that was because she was in her own little depressed world. Part of Manny wanted to go over to Zack and yell at him until he started calling Emma regularly, but Manny knew Emma would kill her if she did that. Plus, Manny didn't even know where he was.

Jay just got home from the garage. He was happy that business was picking up. Sean was happy too, he was so close to not having to work so much. Jay got out of the shower, put on a pair of shorts and began working out. He hoped it would clear his mind. Sean appeared in the doorway, staring at Jay.

"You turning queer, Cameron?" Jay smirks as he continues to lift the bar.

"Har-har." Sean says sarcastically. "You doing something tonight?"

"I might stop by Todd's... why?" Jay took a breath as he lifted the bar again.

"Manny's going out... and I'm going out..."

"Are you telling me you and Manny are going out with each other?" Jay puts the bar up and sits up.

"No, I'm saying I need some me time... and Manny has a date or something." Sean blew it off.

"Okay... why are you telling me this?" Jay gives him a curious look.

"Emma's home alone, so if you decide not to go out." Sean gives him a look, "Or if you do and get home before me or Manny, just check on her."

"She needs a babysitter?" Jay ignores Sean's look, trying to play it cool.

"... She's... a little... depressed..." Sean tries to choose his words carefully. "I know you want to see her anyhow," Sean gave him a side smirk.

"Whatever." Jay shrugs it off, still confused about Emma.

"Okay, well I'm heading out." Sean gives Jay one last look, knowing by the look on Jay's face that his mind was on Emma. He backed out of the doorway, grabbed his keys, and headed out. Jay went back to lifting weights, wondering what would happen if he did stop by Emma's. As his reps increased, Jay decided that stopping by won't be a bad thing. He'd be there for a couple minutes' tops. Throwing on a loose pair of dark jeans, and a black t-shirt, along with his hoodie, Jay got his hat and keys, walking out of the apartment. Knocking lightly on Emma's door, he waited for her to answer it.

"Um... hi." Emma says meekly.

"Hey, you need anything?" Jay asks, trying not to stare at her.

"No, I'm good." Emma stares at the floor.

"You sure, I can pick something up for you..." Jay looks over her body since her eyes are on the floor.

"No, thank you though." Emma looks up at him, and looks back down.

"Okay, I know everyone is gone, if you need anything, just call me." Jay hopes he didn't come off as hard as he thought he did.

"Yeah..." Emma nods slightly. Jay gives her another look over before heading down the hallway. Picking up her head, Emma watched Jay descend the stairs. Closing the door softly, Emma sighed. She hated that her mind was on Jay... when it should be on her boyfriend. Just then she heard her cell phone ringing. Rushing into her room, Emma couldn't help but smile a teeny bit as she read her caller ID. "Hey..."

"Hey Emma, sorry I haven't been able to call you." Zack sounds so sincere...

"No problem." Emma lies.

"I was hoping you weren't busy." Zack waits as Emma pauses.

"Um... no not really." Emma looks at her work, which was already finished.

"Cool... maybe I can come down..." Zack waits patiently, hoping Emma will say yes.

"Yeah." Emma smiles a bit, happy that she'll finally see her boyfriend.

"Cool, be there in fifteen minutes or so." Zack and Emma hang up. She straightens up her room, putting her work into her bag, and making sure she saved the files on her computer. Going through the house, Emma made sure it looked descent. Zack knocked on the door, and Emma hurried to answer it. "hey, I've missed you."

"I've missed you." Emma tells him, giving him a soft kiss. Zack smiled as she pulled away, bringing her back to him. Giggling, Emma kissed him again, pulling him into her apartment. "How've you been?" Emma asks after they pull apart.

"Band has been busy, but its good." Zack nods a bit. Putting his arm around her, the two walk to the couch.

"That's good." Emma agrees. She was so happy to spend some time with her boyfriend, Zack and Emma spent the night watching TV, and kissing. It was almost perfect, but part of her couldn't help but think about how long it would be until the next time she saw him. A couple hours went by, and Emma kept pushing the thought out of her mind. Getting up to get herself, and Zack a drink, there was a knock at the door.

"I got it." Zack says over his shoulder as he gets up to answer it.

"Um, is Emma here?" Jay asks, staring at the guy before him.

"Yeah, she's in the kitchen." Zack replies, looking Jay over.

"Oh, well I just wanted to stop by to see if she needed anything." Jay tells him, jealousy rumbling in the pit of his stomach.

"Well, she's good." Zack says as Emma walks behind him.

"Hun, who's at the-" Emma sees Jay, "Hi Jay."

"Hey Em, I was just checking on you, but you're fine, so later." Jay turned around and went into his apartment.

Chapter 20 part 2: Radio, Pt. 3

Hearing the words as they're leaving my mouth
I can't believe myself

Zack closed the door and turned to face Emma. They stood silent... with Emma still holding their drinks.

"That's Jay..." Zack says out loud, not needing Emma to confirm it.

"Yeah, is something wrong?" Emma looks at Zack.

"Why was he checking on you?" Zack meets her eyes, becoming jealous over Jay as he remembered Emma talking to him about him.

"Sean and Manny thought I would be lonely or something." Emma tells him, trying to be honest with him.

"Why would they think that?"

"Maybe its because I haven't heard from you in nearly a week." Emma snaps, looking down at the ground.

"Emma, you know this has to stay a secret." Zack's voice softens.

"Yeah, I know." Emma allows her voice to soften as well. "It's just hard."

"Well, it's not like you're lonely." Zack let his thoughts slip out of his mouth.

"What?" Emma asks, looking up at him.

"Jay apparently checks on you." Zack slips again.

"Yeah, it's what friends do when their friend is upset." Emma allows her voice to get firm.

"It's just weird, since you two had something." Zack tells her, folding his arms across his chest.

"Yeah, and he left me... and I'm with you." Emma says the last part softly.

"I know... I know." Zack agrees. "This is just... really hard."

"Then... maybe we shouldn't do it anymore." Emma stares at the ground. Shocked by the words that came out of her mouth, Emma looked up.

"What're you saying?" Zack asks, becoming worried.

""I think... I guess I'm saying... that this is hard..." Emma pauses, not believing she is saying this... "and maybe we should... just take a break... and maybe we... or..." Emma pauses, tongue-tied... "I don't like having to worry about you for a week before I finally hear from you... and I hate not being able to see you... and I like you... so much... which makes it a hundred times harder..." Emma stops, a little relieved she got all that off her chest.

"I-" Zack just looks at her... "I like you... a lot... and if this is hurting you this much... then we should... stop... seeing each... other..." Zack is barely able to get the words out. He leans over to her, giving her a very soft, lingering kiss. "Bye Emma." He speaks as soft as his kiss. Watching him walk out the door, a single tear falls from her eye. Blinking to make the tears go away, Emma saw that Zack was gone. Going into the kitchen, Emma put the drinks down she was holding. Opening the freezer, she got out the container of cookie dough ice cream. Looking over the empty house, Emma sighed. Getting out a spoon out of the draw, she took the lid off the ice cream. Knowing she didn't want to be alone, Emma walked really slowly over to Jay's It took a couple minutes for Emma to knock on the door.

"Yeah?" Jay flings the door open, wiping the sweat that was building on his forehead from working out.

"I need something." Emma says quietly, staring down into the ice cream. Noting the look on Emma's face, Jay ushered her in.

"Okay..." Jay followed her in, and the two sat down on the couch. They shared ice cream and watched TV. Jay wanted to ask Emma what happened, and he hoped that she wasn't with the guy that was just at her apartment, but he knew she would tell him when she wanted to.