The next day Emma gets ready for the championship game. as much as it hurts her to see Killian she has to go. Her dad is the coach. Honestly after everything Killian did to get on the field it wouldn't feel right to not go.
Emma pulls on her coat, mittens and hat. She goes down stairs and Mary Margaret is waiting.
"Ready?" Mary Margaret asks. Emma nods. They head out to the car. Emma and Mary Margaret clamber in. Mary Margaret starts the car and backs out of the driveway. They head down the street.
"Emma, are you ever going to talk about what happened between you and Killian?" Mary Margaret questions.
"No, not really something I like to talk about," Emma grumbles.
"Emma, you are down right miserable. I just think if you talked about it would help. I just want to see you happy and out of this funk," she says.
"Fine, Here we go. We had too much drama and I reached my breaking point. I couldn't handle it anymore and I knew we were better off apart. Happy now?" Emma snaps. Mary Margaret shakes her head.
"Of course not. I'm not surprised that you were the one to end things with him. When things get hard you tend to run off. Emma, you should talk to him," she says with a sigh.
"Why does everyone keep telling me that?" Emma says exasperated.
"Maybe because its the truth," Mary Margaret says as she pulls into a parking spot at the stadium.
"Maybe because its a bad idea and I shouldn't listen to any of you," Emma unbuckles her seatbelt. She hops out of the car and slams the door. Emma stalks away from the car and finds Ruby and James. They have saved four seats in the second row. Ruby's brow furrows when she sees Emma's face.
"What's wrong? You're mad. Why are you mad? What happened?" Ruby asks concerned.
"I just got into it with my mom, but its fine. I am here to watch our team win and have fun," she says with a sad smile. It was all she could muster. Ruby and James just nod. They exchange a worried look.
"When is Graham getting here?" Emma questions.
"He didn't say. We saved him a seat, but you never know when he will show up," Ruby says.
"Why don't you text him… just to make sure he is coming," James suggests. Emma nods and pulls out her phone. She yanks her mitten off and quickly sends a text to Graham.
*Hey when are you getting to the game?"*
*I am leaving my house now. Be there soon* he replies. Emma shrugs and places her mitten back on.
"He said he is on his way," Emma states.
"Alright, five minutes until the game starts," James says while staring at his watch.
"Who won the coin toss?" Ruby asks. Emms shrugs.
"We did, thank god. We always do better if we start," James says as he wraps his arm around Ruby. Emma nods in agreement. All she can think about is Killian. She has been avoiding him and she will see him tonight. Everyone is going to Eric's after the game. She hopes he won't be there. He can't seem to resist alcohol. As much as she doesn't want to talk to him she wants to make sure he is alright. Maybe she should go to keep an eye on him. The cheering crowd breaks her out of her train of thought. Everyone is standing up, so she does as well. The game is starting.
They get off to a good start and Killian is the star as always. Seeing isn't as hard as she thought. Maybe its because he can't see her. Graham arrives about ten minutes in. He stands next to Emma.
"How we doing?" he asks.
"Pretty good. A good start at least," she says her eyes still focused on the game.
"Good," Graham smiles. Their team maintains their lead into half time. The other team almost catches up to them, but the defense keeps them at bay. Then Killian throws the ball and it is run into the end zone. It is the last touchdown of the game. Their team wins and the stands explode with cheering, several chants are started. Eric runs to the stands.
"In case you didn't know there is a party at my place and everyone is welcome!" he shouts and gets down. Ruby looks at Emma.
"You want to go?" Ruby asks. Emma shakes her head. They start to leave the stadium and filter into the parking lot.
"No, you guys go. Have fun," she says.
"Are you sure? Its going to be fun," James says. She shakes her head.
"I'll see you guys there?" Graham asks the couple. They nod and he heads off to his car. Ruby goes to her side of the car and gets in. Emma grabs James' arm.
"Do me a favor and watch Killian tonight. make sure he doesn't drink. He can't seem to stop once he's started," she whispers. He nods.
"Of course. No problem. Don't worry, Emma. He will be okay," he says. She nods.
"Thanks for this," she says. Then she walks back to her mom's car. Mary Margaret is there waiting for her. They get in the car and head home.
Later that night Emma is pacing in her room. Is Killian alright? Is he drinking? Is he going to call me for help? She grabs her phone and shoots a text to Ruby.
*How's Killian doing?*
*If you wanted to know that why didn't you just come?* she responds. Emma rolls her eyes at this.
*Ruby, just tell me*
*He's fine. He's not drinking James has been watching him like a hawk. Stop worrying*
*Good. Thank you*
*Welcome. Now go to bed. You need sleep*
*Okay goodnight* Emma hadn't slept through the night since she broke up with Killian. She knows tonight will not be the night she actually gets some sleep. She grabs a book and sits on the window box. Emma reads until the early hours of the morning. She attempts to sleep and thankfully manages a couple hours of sleep.
On monday Ruby pulls Emma aside in the hallway before math.
"What? I am going to be late for math," Emma whines.
"You look like shit. Go home," Ruby orders.
"I can't. I've missed too many days already," Emma explains.
"Who brought you to school?" Ruby asks with her arms crossed.
"Graham," Emma mumbles.
"Oh, so you're parents haven't seen you today?" Ruby asks shocked. Emma shakes her head. Just then the bell rings.
"Alright. Give me your homework. I'll turn it in," Ruby asks while holding a hand out. Emma rummages in her backpack and pulls out her homework and hands it over. Ruby puts it in her backpack.
"Now, we are going to your dad's class and you will explain to him how awful you feel and I'll take you home," Ruby places a hand on her back and guides Emma to the gym. Oh god Killian has my dad's class now.
"Ruby, he's going to be there," Emma says.
"I know and this is a small school, so get over it," she says charmingly to hide her harsh words. When they walk into the gym all the boys are doing push ups. Emma can't take her eyes off Killian. She needs to get out of here. Emma tries to to leave. Ruby grabs her arm tightly.
"No, you can't get out of this," Ruby growls, " Coach, Emma needs to talk to you," Ruby calls out. Coach turns and walks over. Killian stops doing push ups at the sound of Emma's name.
"Emma, you left before we did this morning… you don't look alright. Do you need to go home?" David asks concerned.
"No," Emma responds. Ruby rolls her eyes and David just looks confused.
"Really? Why don't you tell your dad how much sleep you got last night?" Ruby says with her hands on her hips. David rubs his temples.
Killian can't stop staring at Emma. He worries about her. Everyday at school he manages to see her in some small way. She never sees him, but he always sees her. With each passing day she looks worse and more tired. To see her like this kills him. He wants to talk to her, to hold her, and tell her everything will be alright. Ha can't because she won't let him. He stopped drinking for good this time. Killian has gone to the local AA chapter. He wants to tell her that he's changed and he wants her back so much his heart aches for her.
"Emma, I don't need the answer to that question. I want you to go home and sleep. Ruby, please take her home and make sure she stays there. I'll call both of you out," He orders. Both girls nod.
"When your mother and I get home we will have a talk about this," he says. At this point every boy in the room has stopped doing their push ups. Ruby guides Emma out of the room. In the hallway they hear David blow his whistle.
"See that wasn't so bad?" Ruby asks sweetly as they walk to her car.
"Are you kidding? That was awful. I feel like I have been punched in the gut then stabbed in the heart repeatedly, and then my heart shattered into million tiny pieces. Ruby, I miss him so much. What the hell do I do?" Emma asks.
"You do what I've been telling you all along go get him. Emma, I know you think that you two aren't good for each other, but thats not true. You two are wrecks without each other. You need to figure it out or get back with him," Ruby starts the car and pulls out of the parking lot.
"I just don't know. Everything is just a complete mess right now. Maybe once things get better I'll talk to him," she says with a yawn.
"Everything is a mess right now because you broke up with him. Fix things with him and things will get better," Ruby promises.
"I'll think about it," Emma mumbles.
"That's progress," Ruby says with a smile. A few minutes later they turn onto Emma's street and Ruby puts Emma to bed. For the first time in days Emma falls asleep.
New Year's Eve.
Ariel's New Year's Blowout is the party of the year. You're considered a social pariah if you miss it. Emma wearing a black dress with lace tights. Red pumps and newly discovered red leather jacket. Ruby has adorned her black leather pants and a magenta tank top with a black leather jacket. James is wearing his usual tan khakis and a knit sweater. How he and Ruby ended up together Emma will never know, but they are a great match for each other. Graham is meeting them there.
When they arrive the party is in full swing. They shove their way to the kitchen and Ruby and james grab drinks. Emma is the designated driver for tonight. They move out of the kitchen and into the living room. Emma keeps looking around. She knows Killian will be there. Its only a matter of time until she sees him.
"Why are you so nervous?" Ruby asks. Emma can hear the music spilling out of the room next to them. There must be a dance floor set up.
"What if I see Killian?" Emma asks. After these couple weeks of winter break Emma is finally able to say his name.
"So what? If you see him you see him," Ruby says with shrug. She downs her drink and turns to James.
"I want to dance. You'll be okay on your own?" she asks Emma. Emma just nods. The past two weeks Emma has just been okay.
"Hold on," he finishes his drink, "Alright, lets go, babe," he grabs her hand and leads her out of the room. There's a hand on Emma's shoulder. She turns and finds Killian. His hand leaves her shoulder and Emma immediately wants it back.
"Emma," he says with that beautiful accent. Thank god he spoke first because she wouldn't have started this conversation.
"Killian, how are you?" she asks trying not to sound fake or weird.
"Well I'd be lying if I said I was okay. Are you doing alright?" he asks worry written all over his face. He's not okay? He looks fine. More than fine actually.
"About the same," she says cautiously. They just stare at each other for a couple minutes.
"Do you want to dance?" He asks throwing caution to the wind. He just needs her back in his arms. She could say no. She's most likely going to say no. She broke up with him… why would she say yes?
Sorry not sorry for the cliffhanger! Hope you guys liked the chapter.