Chapter Eighteen

Never Gonna Give You Up

Emma and Manny didn't leave the hospital until late in the wee hours of the next morning so Emma's parents said it was alright to stay home that day given the circumstances. Manny was still sleeping because she had a hard time getting to sleep with the not so great news. Emma slept in a little bit and ate her granola and almond milk for breakfast and grabbed her phone. She saw she had a text from Jay.

Hey mornin' beautiful. I just was hoping you aren't dead from all the sushi we had on our date yesterday lol

Emma typed realizing she hadn't texted Jay about what happened at home, to be fair she didn't have much time to think let alone text Jay.

Still alive but Its Defcon 4 here at the Simpson-Nelson house, what are you doing? Manny and I are allowed to stay home today bc some shit happened. Playing hooky under some weird circumstances lol

Then he typed up a response:

Yikes! What exactly happened to you last night when I dropped you off? I was hoping for my goodnight text from you lol. Anyway, I'm studying a lil now or trying to, any chance you can help me later on in the afternoon?

Emma thought for a moment and typed out:

Sorry got caught up with stuff I'll talk later. Sure thing.

Library around 3 work? I'll tell you all about it then.

Jay texted back without missing a beat:

You're a lifesaver. See you then, can't wait.

Jay decided to get Emma a coffee and a bagel for her help studying at The Dot and saw Sean sitting at the bar when he was finishing his late lunch. He had just gotten on his shift. Sean was clearly trying to avoid being seen but he was fuming while drinking his hot beverage and eating his fries. Jay finally noticed and awkwardly opened his mouth to say, "Sean, um hi."

Sean muttered the question, "Didn't they ban you?"

Jay picked a fine time to joke, but Sean wasn't having it, "Free country, just cause I don't go to school at your school anymore doesn't mean I can't get coffee."

"I heard. Doesn't stop you from picking up Emma midday yesterday."

Jay ignored him as he waited for his order to be made. Sean cleared his throat and put a few bucks on the table by his empty plate for his waiter Spinner, "I guess you guys are getting serious." Jay could tell Sean was trying his hurt but still managed to be a tough guy, he stood up and told Jay more like warned him, "Mark my words you break her heart we'll have some serious problems. Hear me?"

"Loud and clear, man." Jay stated calmly somewhat embarrassed and was feeling sort of apologetic for how things went down, "look I'm sorry I didn't tell you. It didn't come up. I knew you'd be mad but if there's any consolation if it helps it's not like we planned it."

"Damn right I'm mad, you know how I feel about her. I'm not just mad I'm flippin' furious."

"Actually I didn't know and I'm sorry."

"You're full of shit, you know that? You ain't sorry."

"Now that I do know it doesn't matter. She chose to talk to me and not you. It's not my fault and it's not hers. She was single okay? Maybe just maybe if you would've stuck around -"

Sean cut him off, pushing his chair in, "I needed to do what I needed to do. I don't need to explain myself. I gotta go." Spinner gave Jay his coffee and bagels in a brown paper bag and Sean acknowledged Spinner and decidedly stopped talking to Jay, "See you around, Spin. Your tips on the table."

"Um thanks, Sean." Spinner awkwardly stated, collected the money and then looked at Jay missing the majority of their conversation, "hey man what was that all about?"

"Nothing. I'll tell ya later," Jay dismissed the conversation and rushed out the restaurant in an effort to catch Sean before he left, he could see and hear Sean driving away in his loud red sedan from the lot and he quickly sped off without a second to spare.

Spinner had tables to tend to, he knew there was something wrong but he had to work and finish up some tables before he can talk to him about it.

Outside, Jay took a walk to the library and took a sip of his black coffee before he stepped inside the quiet rooms. He found an empty table and sat down, placed his book bag on the seat next to his took out his notebook and started to read. He was a few minutes early but he wanted to get ahead of Emma at least so his notes were fresh in his mind.

Jay kind of liked the smell of the old books, dim lighting and enjoyed the silence in the antiquated architecture of the place. One of the few things he remembered about his mother Connie is she loved antiques and books, the necklace he gifted Emma was clearly from a bygone era. He knew if he could ask his mother she'd tell him. Before she met Jay's father she studied history and minored in art and art but Jay never inherited her love of learning but did have an eye for old stuff. Their home was once decorated with vintage finds from the thirties. When she died Jay's dad sold mostly off because it reminded him too much of her and he made the place look more modern. Jay currently has one of her old wooden dressers in his bedroom but mostly his furniture was a hodgepodge of the thrift store, heirloom, and hand me downs. Jay knows that the dresser could sell for big-time at an auction but it's among the few things that he has left from his mother so he'd never part with it.

Emma finally arrived a few minutes, with her backpack with her notes. It was still hot so she was wearing a blue and yellow floral sundress and flip flops. She was wearing a light blue short cardigan over her shoulders to complete the look. Jay knew he'd be tempted to check her out but he was impressed with her dress. He told her, "You look nice."

"Thanks, Jay," Emma told him with a smile. She was sort of hoping he'd take notice and she was happy that he complimented her. She then grabbed a few things out of her bag facing him in the wooden chairs, "so we're going to start with English. What books have you read?"

Jay shrugged jokingly asking her quietly because they were in a library after all, "What are books?"

She rolled her eyes and laughed, "It's going to be a long day isn't it."

"I used to really like to read if you can believe it."

"Why'd you stop?"

"When I lost my mom, my dad got rid of all her books for all sorts of reasons mostly it was a reminder and he was afraid to grieve. When I was growing up, she had her own large library in the living room. Think of that part where they dance in Beauty in the Beast except like not as grand."

"Sounds lovely and a bit sad. How did you make it to the 11th grade without reading any of the recommended literature?"

"I had read some of them when I was younger, I had a high school reading level when I was in elementary. I got bored, but I did pass those classes even if I didn't always come to class." Jay thought for a moment, "I loved the worlds created by William Shakespeare, as cliche as it sounds."

"Shakespeare isn't a cliche to me. His writing and stories and worlds he creates can be beautiful." Emma admitted, "I like As You Like It."

"Ah, one of the comedies."

"It's romantic and kind of sweet and yes I know a little cliched but I don't know it told me how much I wanted to be wooed by a guy."

"A comedy is better than a tragedy. At least it's not as cliche Romeo and Juliet."

"I guess so, even though I know some of Romeo and Juliet will be in the curriculum quizzes and all."

"Well, that's what we're studying today."

"I don't think I've read as you like it. Can we talk about that one instead?"

"So where do we begin?"

"I haven't read it in a while but," Emma grabbed her No Fear Shakespeare edition out of her backpack and handed it to Jay, "here's mine. I hope you don't mind text marking and how it's every page on one side it's the regular text and the other side has footnotes and a more layman's version."

"What's text marking?"

"Notes kind of. You didn't learn that?" Jay shook his head, " It's basically ways to remember what you're reading. Underlining the important parts and it's generally a helpful tool. It makes it easier to remember details in case they come up in a discussion, at least that's how I understand it to be."

"You're not gonna quiz me or judge my text marking right?"

"No, of course not."

"I can read it later on." Jay put it in his backpack and listened to Emma to talk about English, books, and thoughts. It was a good way for her to get her mind off of what was happening lately. He was captivated by how she made everything even the mundane sound so interesting and cool even. "You know you should be a professor, anyone ever tell you that?"

"I've only tutored I just don't have that balls to get up in front of classrooms and talk for hours."

"Sure you do. Sean told me you presented this stupid book you guys had to read called I Heard the Owl call my name and made quite a stir."

Emma's smile faded, it wasn't so simple, she got flushed knowing exactly what Jay was referencing even if he didn't know it himself, "He might have me mistaken with someone else."

Jay shook his head seeing her get red in the face, "I don't know. He didn't sound like he was."

"I don't even want to know." Emma told him looking ahead hoping he'd shut up, "we did have a lot of classes together back then. I think he was in all my classes."

"Anyway, I don't know why you're getting all bent out of shape."

"I'm bent out of shape because it was embarrassing. I was like 12 then and he told you of all things and all stories that? Ugh, how the heck did that even come up?"

"We were talking about what he ever saw in you before he left. He said he realized he liked you back then because he kind of dug how unapologetic you were and brutally honest and upfront and passionate about your goals and shit." Jay laughed adding, "Oh to be a fly on the way that day."

"At least you weren't a witness to the first date."

"I'm listening."

"A bird pooped on my shoulder right after me and my date left the house."

Jay laughed out loud and caught a few stares, "Sorry," he recovered from his laughter and apologized to Emma quietly, "I'm sorry but that's funny and apparently good luck."

"Everybody says that," Emma told Jay and looked at him, "Sean's infatuated with who I used to be."

"Why? What makes you say that?" Jay asked.

Emma shrugged, "God only knows and because he has unrealistic expectations. I don't want to talk about that."

"You might be right, anyway we're getting off-topic let's get back to the English stuff."

Emma told him, "Fair enough."

She continued talking about English related things that he barely understood and he just watched her talk. Watched her get passionate about the things she loves and he liked the expression on her face when she talked about the things she hates. She could be so expressive. It didn't matter what she was talking about or if he understood some of the bigger words she used to describe things. It was becoming evident he was becoming more and more infatuated with the girl he's with now and how her beauty shines inside and out. He absorbed each and every word. There was a science to her he'll never figure out but now that she has him he knows he's never giving up on her. He knows Emma's been through the wringer romantically and otherwise and he's heeding Sean's warning. He never wants to give her up or let her down, leave her and desert her like Sean did and say goodbye. The more Jay learns about Emma, the more he likes her and he can't get enough.

Xxx

After a few hours of studying Jay and Emma went to their spot at the ravine and just hung out, they left their backpacks in the orange civic. She removed her shrug as they laid on the hood of his car watching the sky go from light to dark as the day bled into nightfall. They were silently holding hands lying back as he asked, "So since we're looking at them, what's your star sign?"

"Gemini."

"I'm born in March so that makes me, an Aries I think?"

"Or you could be a Pisces I think."

"Cool," He said and then he remembered Emma had an eventful night, "so what happened to you yesterday?"

"I got home and this police officer was there about Manny. I'm apparently not able to say much cause its an investigation."

"Is she okay?"

Emma thought for a moment about it all and shook her head no, "She puts on a brave face but I think she's really upset. I want to be there for her so I should probably go back home soon."

"I don't blame you even though I love spending time with you."

"Why is that?"

"Why I love spending time with you?"

"Yes."

"I told you before you are a pretty fascinating person and you're easy to talk to."

"So are you," Emma told him, "I used to think one way about you but you're very multifaceted."

"What does that even mean?"

"Many layers to you."

"I can say the same about you."

"Well, you can't pigeonhole me into one category."

"I wouldn't have it any other way, you're unapologetic about who you are and I like it."

"I can't be anyone else but myself."

"People like you, people don't like me," Jay brooded for a second, "we couldn't be more different but maybe you can rub off on me and make me better."

"What's wrong with being yourself? You're always building me up but taking bricks out of yourself and tearing yourself down. I don't understand why you do it."

"You sometimes don't realize it but you sometimes need the extra encouragement. You don't give yourself enough credit."

"Not always, I just don't like tooting my own horn or being braggadocious."

Impressed by the last word he said he said, "Ah, another weird vocabulary word. What's wrong with that stuff though?"

"I don't want to be arrogant or come off that way. I don't have that swagger to pull it off."

"You mean confidence?"

"I guess. I don't have much of that. I overthink everything. If I underthink it I end up doing foolish and embarrassing things."

"Confidence is sexy, like when you use those big words or when you walk into a room knowing you look good." Jay told her, "sometimes you just know things, things I'm learning and believe me I like learning about you."

"I like that you like that. I never thought of myself that way."

"Sometimes not knowing or not thinking about makes you confident in a way because you're right I can be arrogant as all hell on the occasion."

"I guess there's that fine line between confidence and arrogance."

"I'm always teetering on it but inside I know sometimes I'm putting on a show. When people say mean shit to me I just fight back harder and use a low blow and they're only giving me back when I give them but tenfold."

"What kind of show?"

"What you see, and then my many internal layers." Jay told her, "sometimes I hide shit about my feelings from people because I hate being you know what's the word open?"

"I believe you mean vulnerable."

"Maybe."

"I try to avoid it because people are always taking advantage of that if they could observe it. I used to wear my heart on my sleeve but I don't do that anymore."

"You can be honest or vulnerable with me. I can take it." Emma sat up and he sat up with her seconds later, she thought for a moment, "Something wrong?"

She shook her head quietly, and turned around to face him sitting up, "Want to know a secret?"

"Sure," He said inching closer.

"I'm glad you're in my life."

"Is there a but?"

"No buts about it honestly, you like me for me."

"I do."

"You were right when you said it's real. I don't know why I avoided it at the time."

"I don't either," Jay told her softly, "maybe you were scared to be so honest and opened up."

"Alcohol helps," she told him humoring him, "but sometimes sober there's too many inhibitions in the way."

"This is true, but we're sober now and look we're having a real and thoughtful conversation. Who'd of thought?"

"Who'd of thought of all people I'd be spilling my guts to you."

"You got to stop caring about your pre-conceived thoughts of me or whoever I was before now. I used to put on a show in an effort to hide."

"Hide from what?" She asked Jay, "I'm just saying, I didn't even think we'd get to this place but now that we're here it feels somehow right."

"It feels right to me too." Jay told her, he slowly reached down to her hand and caressed her hand, she didn't flinch or pull away, she held it back, "I know you gotta go but I wish you didn't have to."

"I know, I don't want to go but I gotta, Manny needs me." Emma didn't want to let go of him, but she lingered there for a few moments. "I can text you tonight."

"Okay, thanks again Emma for helping me study."

"Anytime. I gotta go now, I'll text you later, " She told him slowly letting go of his hand and kissing him softly on the lips resisting the temptation to stay put. She stepped down from the car and put on her shoes and sweater and walked home leaving him there. Emma arrived home through the front door and down the basement steps, Manny was reading a magazine on Emma's butterfly chair.

"How was studying with Jay?" She didn't look up, "you guys were gone awhile."

"Where's my parents? I didn't see them upstairs."

Manny looked up at Emma, "Your mom and dad had a thing to go to. They said they'll be back they asked about you I said you were at the library and at Barnes and Noble getting books. I know your parents aren't pleased but I did my best to cover for you. Sadly they grounded me for drinking underage, my parents would've done the same. It's not all bad, "' I've got a lot of magazines to read through and Perino assigned an essay we missed. Liberty brought over some books."

"Oh right, this weekend is the bed and breakfast thing."

"They couldn't get out of it believe me they wanted to stay home when they found out what happened last night," Manny said to Emma matter of factly, "but they would've lost the deposit and they're booked up next weekend so they went."

"They definitely need to work on their marriage, this summer was awful for them."

"Do tell?" Manny was interested and concerned, she briefly put her mag down.

"It's mostly about money, when Snake got sick it took a number on their savings. It's nice though that they're doing something for themselves though. They deserve to have a weekend away."

Spike and Snake scraped up enough extra money from the salon to have a weekend getaway just the two of them, "Jack's at your grandmothers before you ask."

"I was wondering why it's so quiet without a toddler."

"I know, it'll be a girl's weekend even if I can't do anything. I don't even wanna go anywhere or do anything." Manny begged Emma, "Can we do manis and pedis and masks?"

"We'll do it all movies, manis hell even margaritas whatever you want tonight, but can Jay come over tomorrow night?"

"What about your parent's rules?"

"No boys when they're gone and no parties I know."

"I won't tell. Plus its just one person," Manny told her, "I'll just hang out upstairs. A few hours won't hurt."

"Thank-you."

"What are best friends for? I'll give him a chance. If he makes one dirty joke he's done."

"Whatever, I'll give him a warning. Thanks again, Manny." Emma gave her friend a hug and the two girls had their girls night. They made guacamole and had it with tortilla chips, they made face masks, they listened to their favorite 90's hits, they watched The Notebook and cried ugly tears, they took turns painting nails and gossiped. It was just what Manny needed to get her mind off of what happened to her. They didn't address the giant elephant in the room about what happened to her but it was great being able to just be friends and spend some much-needed carefree friend time together.