Chapter 5- Sneak
The early morning light seeping through the curtains cast a dim glow across the room. Emma stirred in the unfamiliar surroundings, slowly becoming aware of her situation. She looked at the dark-haired figure lying beside her, and the memories of the previous night came flooding back. Panic washed over her. She wasn't supposed to be here, especially with Regina.
Silently, Emma extricated herself from the bed, careful not to wake Regina. She knew that the consequences of being discovered in Regina's room could be dire. Her heart raced as she dressed as quietly as possible in the darkness. She held her shoes in her hand, not wanting to risk the sound of footsteps against the floor.
With every step she took towards the exit, Emma felt the weight of her situation. What if Regina talked? What if someone saw her leaving the room? She knew she had to get out of there without being noticed. As she gently closed the door behind her, she hoped that her secret escapade remained just that – a secret.
As the elevator descended to a lower floor, Emma frantically searched her purse for her sunglasses. She needed something to hide her face and the signs of last night's escapade. Her dress was wrinkled, and her hair was in disarray. She managed to find her shades and quickly put them on, hoping they would keep her identity concealed.
Just as she thought she could avoid any further interactions, the elevator door opened, and an older gentleman stepped inside. His gaze was unwavering, and Emma could tell that he recognized her. He was a fan, and the curiosity was written all over his face.
Emma smiled behind her sunglasses and decided to engage in pleasant morning dialogue to divert her thoughts from the events of the previous night. "Good morning," she greeted him warmly.
The older man returned the greeting, "Morning! You look familiar, have we met before?"
Emma chuckled, trying to downplay her recognition. "I get that a lot. I'm Emma. Nice to meet you."
He smiled back, clearly pleased by the encounter. "Right! You're that million-dollar critic. I'm Carl. A pleasure to meet you too, Emma." He extended a hand and she gingerly took it. "I've been to some of those restaurants you reviewed, I have eaten well since I started watching your show."
"Oh yeah?" Emma said with a smile, "What's your favorite?"
"Oh, Geeze, You've got a friendly smile." He said his tone more flirtatious. "Yeah, I was in Philly a few weeks ago and I went to that one restaurant … what was it… "Barkley Prime."
"Did you get the cheesesteak?" Emma asked.
"The best cheesesteak I ever ate." he agreed
"And the priciest." She mumbled as they continued their polite conversation as the elevator descended, the pleasant dialogue providing a welcome distraction from the whirlwind of emotions and events that had unfolded the night before.
In the quiet corner of the hotel lobby, with a steaming cup of complimentary coffee in her hand, Emma took a moment to gather her thoughts. The dim lighting provided some semblance of solace as she tried to make sense of the chaos that had unfolded the previous night. The weight of her secret and the inner turmoil it caused had become unbearable. It was time to confide in someone she trusted, someone who had always been there for her – her best friend, Lily.
Emma took a deep breath, her fingers trembling slightly as she dialed Lily's number. As the phone rang, she felt a mix of anxiety and hope. She desperately needed to share the burden that had been suffocating her for so long.
Lily, groggy from being rudely awakened in the middle of the night, answered with a touch of irritation in her voice. "Swan, you better be dying," she grumbled, clearly not in the mood to entertain any late-night conversations.
Emma, struggling to keep her voice steady, replied, "Lily, I did it again! I can't keep it in. I'm going to self-destruct."
Lily, now more alert but still annoyed, mumbled, "Can't it wait till a reasonable hour, Emma?"
Emma knew that she couldn't wait any longer. Her turmoil had reached a breaking point, and the urgency of her situation demanded immediate attention. She insisted, "I'm sorry, Lily, but I just can't do this anymore. I need to talk about it."
Recognizing the gravity of the situation in Emma's voice, Lily let out a heavy sigh, her irritation giving way to concern. She relented, "Alright, spill it. What's going on?"
With a sense of relief, Emma began to share the inner struggles she had faced for years, her fears and doubts about living in the closet, and the emotional toll it had taken on her. Lily listened attentively, offering empathy, understanding, and support as she listened to her friend's emotional and heartfelt confession. The conversation provided a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, Emma could find a way to be her true self and face the world with the authenticity she longed for.
Emma knew that her late-night call had inconvenienced Lily, but she had been a source of support for her in the past, and Emma hoped she would be again. She listened as Lily mumbled, "Wanna come over and cuddle until I can fully wake up?"
"In your dorm?" Emma inquired, remembering that her best friend was still in college. Lily was in her senior year, and her delay in entering college had been something Emma found intriguing. They had met at one of Emma's restaurant reviews, specifically at Mal's restaurant, where Lily's mother, Chef Mal, presided. The contrasting personalities of the two best friends had puzzled the older chef, but Mal had seen potential in Emma's palate and her personality. It was Mal who had opened the door to where Emma was now, and she was eternally grateful for that.
Lily's invitation to cuddle felt like a warm embrace through the phone. Emma's night had been turbulent, and the idea of finding solace in her friend's presence was a soothing balm to her racing thoughts. She replied, "Yeah, in your dorm. I could really use some of your dorm room chaos right now."
Lily, despite her initial grumbling, was quick to accommodate her friend. "Alright, give me about twenty minutes. I'll make some space for you in the chaos."
Emma smiled. Lily's friendship was a constant in her life, a reassuring presence in turbulent times. "Thanks, Lily. I'll be there."
With the promise of her friend's comforting embrace and the hope of finding solace in her dorm room haven, Emma hung up the phone and made her way to Lily's college campus, leaving the night's events behind.
As Emma arrived on campus, she was pleasantly surprised to find Lily's dorm room door ajar. The fact that Lily was the resident assistant explained the freedom to leave her door open, given that she didn't have a roommate to consider. However, it was true that just outside her dorm room the floor was in chaos, with the younger students bustling about as they prepared for their day.
Emma decided to make herself comfortable, changing into some of Lily's cozy clothes and socks. She snuggled up against her best friend, trying to find some comfort in their closeness.
Lily finally stirred from her sleep and asked, "Was she pretty?"
Emma knew exactly who Lily was referring to, and she sighed. "Yeah, she was beautiful, Lily."
Lily propped herself up on her elbow and looked at Emma with a playful gleam in her eye. "Did you get her number at least?"
Emma chuckled, shaking her head. "Are you kidding? It was like sleeping with your employee. I got the heck out of there as soon as I woke up this morning."
Lily continued to tease, wiggling her brows. "Was it good?"
Emma groaned, her head dropping onto the covers. "Oh, Lily, I was supposed to be with Killian last night. I went down to the bar to meet him here, and I left with her. I had no impulse control."
Lily's expression softened as she considered her friend's dilemma. "But is Killian really what you want?"
Emma sighed, her voice tinged with frustration. "Killian is who your mom recommended. Killian is who my agent wants." She paused, her voice filled with longing. "I just want to eat food and pussy."
Lily couldn't help but laugh at Emma's candidness. "You're disgusting."
Emma chuckled too, despite her predicament. "You're the one laughing."
"That's why we're best friends," Lily quipped. "Just come out, Emma. Forget them."
Emma considered it, her thoughts wandering to the possibilities. "I can do that now, right? I'm established in my career. Maybe I can... but I have to wait a while before I can reach out to her again."
Lily raised an eyebrow inquisitively. "Why wait?"
Emma met her gaze, and the two shared a knowing look. "What do you think?" Emma replied, her tone heavy with implications.
Lily nodded, understanding the complexity of Emma's situation. "Yeah, optics can be tricky. But remember, you weren't the only one voting."
Emma appreciated her friend's understanding and allowed herself to ponder a more manageable timeline. "After 'Food Channel Star' stops filming. That way, I have no more conflicts."
Lily smiled, satisfied that she had redirected Emma's focus to her true passion. "Feel better now?"
Emma beamed, her spirits lifted by their conversation. "Yeah," she replied, wrapping her arms and legs around her friend for a full-bodied hug. "Thank you, Lily."
In the comfort of her best friend's embrace, Emma found a sense of solace and a glimmer of hope that she could navigate the complexities of her career and her personal life in the future.