Chapter 3

"Hello," Emily called once she was in her house. "Any one home?"

"I'm in the kitchen," her mom responded. When Emily walked in her mother was sitting at the table in her white robe, staring blankly at her cup of coffee. She turned to face her daughter. "Come sit down, we need to talk."

"What's going on?" Emily asked sitting across the table.

"It's your father." Emily's thoughts ran wild. Is he okay? What happened? Where is he? Is he alive? "He's... He's not going to be coming home as soon as we thought he would."

"I thought his unit was rotating." Emily started to tear up.

"It was postponed for another six months."

Emily ran her fingers through her hair. A year ago she would have asked why, but now it was just another disappointment. "I need to get some sleep." She stood up and walked towards the hall way.

"Emily, please come back." She didn't stop walking until she reached her room. She laid in bed and listened to her mom's foot steps. They came up the stairs and reached Emily's door way. She just stood there as if she was figuring out whether or not to knock. After a few moments, the footsteps moved across the hall to her parents room. The door closed.

On nights like this, Emily stayed awake. She would listen to her mom cry herself to sleep. Then she would sneak through her window and ride her bike down to the park. There, she could cry.

/

It was Wednesday, Emily's first day back to school since Toby's death. She went to meet with the girls at Spencer's locker. "Hey guys."

"Hey Em" Aria greeted her with a hug. "How have you been doing?"

"Yeah," Spencer chimed in. "None of us have seen or talked to you in three days."

Emily and Hannah glanced at each other. "I just needed some thinking time."

"We understand, and if you ever need someone to talk to, you know we'll be here for you," Spencer reassured.

"How about we talk about something happy," Hannah said, "Aria told us your dad is coming back. You must be so excited." Everyone flashed a smile, but it soon disappeared when they saw Emily's face.

"What's wrong?"

"He," Emily sighed. "It's being postponed." Just by looking at their faces Emily could tell this was going to become a 'Lets comfort Emily party'. "Look, I'm fine. You don't have to worry.

"Well if you say so," said Aria.

"The bell's about to ring. I better get going. I'll see you guys at lunch," Spencer closed her locker.

"Yeah I should go too," Aria looked at Emily.

"Are you sure you're alright?" asked Spencer.

"I'm fine." Spencer did a half grin, and Aria nodded then walked down the hall. Hannah and Emily said their goodbyes and walked to their classes.

/

It was 9:30 pm and Emily was thinking about the LGBT meeting later that night. It was all she could think about at school. She debating on whether or not to say pass when it was her turn. Her thoughts were interupted by the ringing of her Nokia.

It was Maya.

"Maya, hey."

"Hey. I was wondering if you wanted to hang out tonight."

Emily smiled. "Yeah, but can I pick the spot?"

"Sure, where were you thinking?"

"It's a surprise. It starts at 10."

"Okay," Maya giggled. "So I don't get any hints?"

"Would it be a surprise then?"

"Fine." she sighed. "I'll be by at 9:45."

"See you then."

"Bye Emily."

She hung up the phone just as her mom came into her room. "Hey mom."

"I need to talk to you." Emily sat on her bed. "I wanted to say I'm sorry. You shouldn't have to be the strong one." She sat down and held her daughter's hand. "It's just been so hard with your father being away."

"It's fine mom."

"No it's not, and we shouldn't pretend that it is." Tears started coming down her mother's cheeks. "No more pretending Em." She embraced her daughter in a hug. After a few moments they pulled away. Her mom wiped away her tears and stood up. "So do you have any plans tonight?"

Emily looked out the window and saw Maya's car pulling up. "Yeah. Maya and I are gonna have a girls night out."

Her mom walked towards the door. "What time will you guys be back?"

"11:30," Emily stood up and gave her mom a hug. "See you when I get back." She walked down stairs and out the front door when her Nokia vibrated.

Awww. So cute. You guy's are like the new Romeo and Juliet.

Star crossed lovers blindly in love. Be careful Emily, we both

know how that story ends.

~A