Chapter Two: Help Me Make It Through The Night
Matt got up from the couch, where he had collasped, after reading her note. She had left, she didn't even let him explain. He wanted to hate her for giving up so easily, for just walking out and leaving, but his heart refused. He grabbed his keys from the counter, and walked out the door, her note still firmly grasped in his hand. He was going to find her, he wasn't about to let her give up that easily.
Matt grabbed his cell phone from the holder in his car, and dialed a familiar number.
"Mathers," Lia answered.
"Lia it's Matt, I need to know something," Matt said.
"What's that?" Lia asked, confused as to what Matt needed.
"Did you know Emily as leaving?" Matt asked.
Lia had known that Emily had been upset. She knew they're relationship had fallen out, but she never figured Emily for the run from her problems type.
"No, I swear," Lia said, truthfully.
"I need you to help me find her," Matt said.
"Matt, Cheryl needs you to come in, she's about ready to call you," Lia said, knowing that was the last thing he wanted to hear.
"I don't give a damn, I gotta find Em," Matt said, not meaning to yell at Lia.
"Matt, you could lose your job," Lia said, in almost a whisper.
"That doesn't matter, nothing matters, not without Em," Matt said, biting back tears that threatened to spill from his eyes.
"Okay, do you know anywhere she might be?" Lia asked, knowing she was risking her job as well.
"No, all she left was a letter," Matt said.
"Well do you think that she would go back to New York?" Lia asked.
"I don't know, she said that she had thought about it, before she got transfered to LA," Matt said.
"Matt, that's your best lead. I'll try and help you the best that I can, but if Cheryl finds out," Matt interrupted her.
"I'll take the heat. Lia, thanks," Matt said.
"No problem Matt," Lia said.
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Matt stepped on the acceloator, after finding out that there was a flight leaving LAX in less than an hour, headed to New York. He flipped on the stereo, and found that once again, someone was angry with him.
Yesterday is dead and gone
And tomorrow's out of sight
And it's sad to be alone
Help me make it through the night
A tear slipped down his cheek, the song was true to every form of the word, but he didn't just want anyone to help him. He wanted Emily, he needed Emily, she was the love of his life.
Yesterday is dead and gone
And tomorrow's out of sight
I don't wanna be alone
Help me make it through the night
I don't wanna be alone
Help me make it through the night
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Matt got into his rented Jeep, and made a beeline for the 495 Freeway. He pulled his cell phone out and hit redial.
"Mathers," Lia answered, knowing who would be on the other end.
"I need Emily's parents address," Matt said.
"Okay," Lia said, knowing it useless to fight him on this.
"Does Cheryl suspect anything?" Matt asked.
"Not yet, but when you don't show up for work in the morning she will," Lia said.
"Don't worry, you won't get in trouble, I'll make sure of that," Matt said.
"1526 Hickory Drive, apparently they live in a large townhouse, just outside Albany," Lia said.
"Thanks Lia," Matt said.
"Yeah," Lia said, hanging up the phone.
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An Hour Later
Matt pulled up outside her parents place. He just prayed she was there. He walked up the steep cobblestone steps, and reached the front door. He took a deep breath, before knocking on the door. After what seemed like an interinty, the door opened. Emily was the spitting image of her mouth. Same deep red hair, same hazel eyes, same slight wave in their hair. Same deep dimples when they smiled.
"Can I help you?" her mother asked, after a moment.
"Yeah, umm..names Matt Flannery and I'm looking for Emily Lehman," Matt said, he'd kick himself later for sounding so formal.
"She isn't here," her mother said.
"Has she been here?" Matt asked.
"She has," her mother said.
"Look Mrs. Lehman, can you tell me where she is?" Matt asked.
"I can, but I won't, I'm sorry, but I will not allow you to hurt my daughter again," her mother said slamming the door in his face.
He really needed to go about this differently.