Disclaimer/Notes: This chapter is based lyrically on a song by Jordin Sparks called Tattoo for stupid reasons, well lyrical story reasons but simply put it just fits here. It's highly filler chapter-wise and sorta 'dramatique' if you ask me but I needed to say I obviously don't own the song. Just keep it in mind the final chorus.

Then I made an entire playlist/mix of songs for this fic. Search TOGETHER FOREVER by thec0smogirl on Spotify. (: It's a mixture of sorts of the 80s, 90s and early to mid-2000s, covers and more lyrically fitting for the story.

Thanks for reading, send me reviews if you like this story. I will be forever grateful.

Chapter 23

Like a Tattoo

I can't waste time so give it a moment, I realize nothings broken

Snake had unrealistic expectations of Emma, parenting in general. He'd forgotten what it's like to be a teen through being a teacher. He didn't have children of his own until last year and he was learning that it wasn't the cakewalk he though it was.

When he returned home he knew that there was something up but he couldn't put his finger on it. Emma was good at hiding things from them. She had changed. She's more cynical, silent and sullen however this morning its as if she's keeping up the appearance she's fine. He wishes he could help but he doesn't want to upset their difficult balance in their dynamic. Spike and Snake both aren't sure how to help her and they can't afford to get her the help she needs. Snake knows she skipped. Manny clued Snake in about Jay and he's disappointed in her. Spike is emotional because they used to be so close and now Emma is distant from her. Spike never thought Emma would be so rebellious. The family had a normal breakfast together as a family and there were no arguments and assumptions but inside their heads thoughts bounced around about each person. Snake and Spike were now responsible financially and otherwise for Manny and Emma and while they struggle they are thankful that things are good. Snake went to work and drove Emma and Manny in silence, finally, Snake spoke and said, "Your mom wants you to invite Jayson Hogart to dinner."

Emma looked out the window and with a quiet voice confessed, "He honestly doesn't do that sort of thing."

"If he wants to see you, we need to be on the same page. I mean it, Emma. No skipping or sneaking out until then. We're not as dumb as you may think."

Emma cynically remarked less than enthused rolling her eyes unseen knowing well that he wasn't a fan of him, "Ay ay captain."

Careful not to make waves Snake ignored her sass back and made no further comment. They parked his red car and walked into school and went their separate ways. Manny silently went to her locker to grab her books and Snake to the classroom to prepare for the next class They both said bye to Emma and disappeared down the hall.

No need to worry about everything I've done,

live every second like it was my last one

At the school lobby by the doors of the office, Emma discovers Peter is Hatzilakos, son when she runs into him.

Emma strode down the hallway and through the windows of the front office she saw Peter talking to Principal Hatzilaocs. He seemed like he knew her well. She gives him a short maternal hug after and sees him dressed in a Stone Prepatory uniform as Peter departs. He slides on his black Ray-ban wayfarer sunglasses and walks by presumably on his way to school before Emma says to him, "Peter?"

He stops short of walking by her and removes his sunglasses and smirks looking her up and down flirtatiously, "Emma, wow, how are you? Might I say you're looking pretty today."

Emma didn't say anything but recoiled and almost pretended she didn't hear Peter's comment on her looks. She didn't believe him to be genuine as she held her messenger bag by the strap, "So how do you know our principal?"

"Wouldn't you like to know."

And then the wheels turned, taken back by his secrecy. He had someone on the inside. She despite her reservations walks closer, "Looked pretty chummy."

"My mom if you must know."

Emma raised her brow, "And here I thought you were transferring."

"Nah, you wish. Look good seeing you but I gotta get out of here but. We should kick it sometime."

"Hard pass," Emma told him rather honestly.

"Suit yourself," Peter muttered putting back on his glasses and attempting to walk off toward the front doors of the school.

"I will because at least I'm not a rapist."

People took notice. Peter turned around and looked angry. He breathed in and out before responding, "Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

"Lower your voice, sweetheart. You have no basis, first off. Second, I bought you and that friend of yours some drinks at the pool it's not a crime you know. I did something nice."

"I know what you did. You're a slimy, chauvinistic, misogynistic pig. I wouldn't date you if you were the last man alive."

He rolled his eyes and scoffed dismissing her remarks infuriating her more, "No need to name call, you kiss all the boys with that mouth? You can't blindly accuse people of things."Peter cruelly snickered shaking his head, "I'd love to sit and chat but I'm gonna be late for school."

"Alright, alright nothing to see hear everyone get to class." The hallway cleared and they followed her directions and then she added, "Emma Nelson, get in my office!" Hazilacos called with her hands on her hips. He looked over at his mom and back at Emma before pushing out the doors.

Once inside the tone changed. Emma was quiet and waiting to hear something. "I see you've met my son." Daphne softly and awkwardly smiled as she slapped Emma's file on her desk from the filing cabinet. She opened up the manila folder and saw some of Emma's previous office visits from her student record.

"I know you're passionate about crusading and I admire you for your strong convictions about your passions. I know you have reason to think my son was involved but I must say as his parent his dad keeps a watchful eye on him. He's a good kid if you get a chance to really get to know him."

Emma didn't say anything fuming by her assessment, detecting bullshit.

"So let's see, so in 2002 the year before last, it says you accused Sheila -"

She was quick to cut her off, "I know what I did. I'm proud of what I did and I'd do it again."

Hazilacos finished her thought, "You ended up indirectly causing a food fight in the cafeteria and you were suspended after refusing to apologize. Other than that, your academic record has been pretty spotless. I'm bringing this up because what you said was a serious accusation regardless of if he's my son or not."

"My gut tells me he's responsible for the photos. I regret nothing and see nothing wrong with what I said."

"I understand. Well, your gut isn't admissible evidence in court, I take it he isn't your favorite person but you can't be pointing fingers without proof and I'm aware this is now a police matter because if it even happened, it's out of my hands because it's off school grounds.

Emma tried to charm her with her feminist views to help her see, "Listen with all due respect, you're woman Ms. Hatzilacos."

"Of course," she said flatly, "What is your point you're getting at?"

"You of all people should be sympathetic to this sensitive topic. Let me paint this picture for you, your son threw a party. He had a lot of alcohol. Other students were there. Lots of people were there. At this party, I have reason to believe Peter and others took advantage of my friend. I went to the hospital with her, I know a lot more than you think I do. It's not complicated. There are witnesses I'm sure."

"Do you have any concrete proof to back your claims?" Daphne questioned sticking to her guns, "were you even there? Who can corroborate your story?"

Emma let out a silent confession, "I left early," she told her stiffening up, "She showed up sometime later after I left."

"Why are we even having this conversation if you weren't even a direct witness? I have no choice but to let you go to your classes with a warning, the conversation is over. I'll write you a late slip to go back to class. I'm lenient, more lenient say than Mr. Raditch, but with that being said, until then if I hear you making judgments and accusations without proof or causing an unnecessary ruckus I will have to take matters more seriously and take disciplinary measures toward you for it." She calmly stated as Emma shot daggers at her with her eyes, "am I being clear?"

"Crystal."

"I leave you with, last year was a difficult year for you, you witnessed something horrible I take that into account. the next time you point fingers at my son you need to have concrete evidence to back it up." She scrawled a note and passed it to Emma, "Have a great year and hopefully I don't have to see you again about this matter. I hope you understand me. Learn from this."

"I do." Emma somewhat passive-aggressively took the note from her impatiently asking " am I free to go?"

"Yes, you may go to class and Emma? I have one more thing."

Emma turned around to listen to her parting words, "Maybe you should consider talking to Ms. Sauve. She can help you, I know you didn't take advantage of her help last year after the incident with Rick Murray. It could be good for you."

Emma hid her anger and remained tight-lipped to avoid more trouble, "I appreciate your concern but I gotta go."

Don't look back found a new direction,

I loved you once, needed protection.

"She told me to leave when I apologized to her after." Sean started to say toying with the sleeve of his hoodie.

"How did you feel?"

"Angry and rejected and frustrated and hurt. Lots of shit, I mean stuff," He muttered, "Of all people she chooses him. He won't treat her well. She deserves the world and - it's not fair."

She wrote down down some things and asked him kindly, "Sean, is it because you feel that you are the better option for her?"

"It doesn't matter anymore but in an ideal world I wanted to be with her."

The therapist raised her brow writing things down for the session, "Wanted, past tense. Why that tense?"

"Why bother? She doesn't want me, I may as well be trash. Maybe I'm not good enough, maybe I never was worthy of her. It's just so complicated, she's mad I wasn't present. I just know that she wouldn't be on the planet you know if I didn't do something a-and she goes off with him who will only break her heart all because I had to go home. They've been fucking around all summer." She grimaced at his language, "I mean messing around. I'm sorry. I know this guy because he used to be my good friend. I think she chose him because she wanted to get back at me."

"Sean, I'm sorry this is happening I see how it tears you up. It also sounds like you put way too much emphasis and precedence on her and is it possible that they could have a real however romantic relationship? A genuine love or feelings for one another like you and her used to have or something serious between them? Why do you think it's hard to believe?"

"She's fragile now, I can see and feel her pain I feel like. She hasn't moved on she compartmentalizes it, but I know she hurts. Besides, it is the only thing that makes sense." He sighed, "apparently we both have nightmares."

"Is it possible she's simply moved on and happened to fall in love along the way?"

Sean uncomfortably shook his head, "She says I treat her like a ballerina in a music box. I don't even understand."

"I do." the therapist, "how long out of curiosity have you all known one another?"

"I've known her since the 7th grade. So roughly 3 maybe 4 years, it's not like her, he's not the type she should be with. If not me, definitely not him. I don't think he's capable of love. He was my friend, I have a lot of regrets regarding that guy. He's a bad guy and she doesn't see it or she doesn't care."

"Have you dated other girls before?"

Sean sighed, "What does this have to do with me?"

"I believe you need to evaluate yourself and see things more openly and subjectively. If you speak to her again don't dismiss her feelings and undermine her relationship no matter how much you want to. It's tough to lose a dynamic you felt for but I think you should reframe those thoughts and you shouldn't focus on a relationship until you can think about this in a more healthy fashion. If she doesn't want to talk, you have to respect her boundaries she set no matter how much it hurts."

Sean's voice breaks, "I love her. I see things more clearly now than before this all happened. I'm less clear on how he feels about her because I burned bridges with him."

'It definitely sounds like you do and I can't speak for her or him but it seems like she needs time to process." the therapist told him as she looked at her watch, "for the last ten minutes I want you to reframe at least one negative thought. Maybe you can also try reaching out to friends, other friends."

"There is Toby, the other boy in the hall." Sean thought out loud, "he's really struggling alone and quite frankly so am I."

"Maybe you don't have to address it head-on but maybe you can be his friend again. What's your reframed thought."

"Like affirmation?"

"Yes."

"I'm not perfect but I'm not trash." Sean didn't even believe it himself he just wanted to get out of there.

You're still a part of everything I do

You're on my heart just like a tattoo

Sean opens his door with his keys and arrives home after his therapy appointment. He still feels terrible about what happened between him and Emma. Therapy helped but it just made him feel like he'd messed up and made too rash of decisions. People grieve at different speeds and maybe Emma needs more time to grow even if it means without him.

He decided to take care of himself tonight by working out in his home gym and later on watching bad tv before going to bed and waking up early for school. First, though he strips off his shirt and manages to reveal a tattoo that reads, Emma.

Just like a tattoo, I'll always have you.