She lets the anger burn in her gaze just long enough to catch everyone’s attention, then she turns and storms off, her crowd of minions following her.
“Just let her cool off. She’ll get over it.” Dylan says, shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head. Feeling like I haven’t done anything wrong, I’m not even sure if I care if he’s right. I let her go.
***
Half an hour later, I find Emily sitting around the bonfire in the middle of her crowd. “Wanna go for a walk?” I ask quietly, offering my hand to help her up. I swear I hear the buzz start before we even walk away. It’s either gossip or be gossiped about with this crew.
“Listen, Em,” I say when we’re out of earshot of the crowd. “I was playing a game. You know how competitive I get. Hell, you’re the same way. I don’t know why you got so upset.”
Emily stops and turns to face me. “You really don’t know why I’m so upset?”
“I’m guessing it’s because I was teasing Allison, but I don’t know why that would upset you. She’s just a friend.”
“Why is she a friend? That’s the part I don’t get, Zack. We have so many friends, why do you need to hang out with people like her?”
“Wait. So you’re not jealous of Allison?”
“Jealous? Why would I be jealous of her?” She practically laughs at the notion.
“Let me get this straight. You’re mad because I was having fun with people you don’t consider cool enough to hang out with?” Disgust laces my voice, but she either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care.
“Yes, Zack. You’re ruining everything.”
“Ruining everything? What are you talking about?”
“Everything is so perfect right now.” She folds her arms across her chest, reminding me of a spoiled child about to throw a tantrum. “We have the best friends, they’re just like us, I don’t get why that’s not enough for you.”
“Are you listening to yourself?” If I wasn’t so shocked, I’d probably be angrier. “Emily, you don’t pick friends by their social status or what they look like. I want friends that have fun, not pose and sit around caring about what other people think of them.”
“And you don’t have fun with us?” The pitch of her voice rises a few octaves.
“No. Actually, I don’t.” I feel a sense of relief admitting it. Saying it out loud makes me feel true to myself. Finally.
Emily’s expression is scathing. “You are so not getting what you think you’re getting when we get home.”
And there it is, the chip she keeps anteing up. She’s staring up at me, waiting for me to grovel or try to fix what she thinks I’ve done wrong. Only, I don’t want what she’s dangling at the moment. Never thought I’d see the day when I wouldn’t want inside of Emily Bennett. But right now, it’s the furthest thing from my mind. Looking her straight in the eyes, I give her the god’s honest truth. “You know what, Em. I’m not in the mood anyway.”
Her jaw drops, the look of shock on her face is priceless. I’d really love to end this conversation by just walking away, but we’ve strayed pretty far from the crowd and I won’t leave her to walk back alone.
“Come on. I’ll walk you back to your friends.”
“You’ll be sorry tomorrow, Zack Martin. And, you know what, by then it may be too late.” Nose high in the air, Emily struts back to the bonfire to rejoin the crowd.
***
At midnight, I try to get Emily to let me drive her home. Speaking or not, I brought her here and I feel responsible for taking her home. “Em,” I say in a low voice, but loud enough so she can hear me.
Every single mouth in her gaggle of girls shushes and turns to face me. They anxiously wait on our exchange. Emily looks up at me, but says nothing.
“You want to get going?”
“I’m staying. I’ll get a ride,” she says the words expecting a reaction from me. Thinks I’ll be upset that we aren’t going home together, for things to happen as originally planned.
“Okay. Who’s driving you?” It’s an innocent question, one meant to make sure she gets home safely, although that’s not how Emily chooses to hear it.
“Dylan will drive me.” She smirks and I see her girlfriends trying to suppress smiles. I’m sure they all knew what was supposed to happen tonight and are proud of Emily for what they perceive is my punishment. “You shouldn’t wait up.”
“Okay, Emily. Get home safe.”
Chapter 9
Zack—
Long Beach, California
I wake to the creak of my door and the sound of my mother calling my name. Pulling the covers up over my head, I try to drown out the sound. But something about her voice shakes me to my core. There’s a thick tremble as she speaks. “Zack. Wake up.” She sniffles.
My brain goes from groggy to high alert. My body bolts upright. She’s crying. My mother does not cry. “What’s wrong, Mom?” Assuming the worst, panic sets in. Something’s happened to my father, I fear.
Her cries turn into sobs. She doesn’t respond.
“Mom. Where’s Dad?” My voice is growing louder.
More sobs. She slumps into me as her cry intensifies. Wrapping my arms around her back, I hold her, but my voice becomes more insistent. “Mom, what’s going on? Where’s Dad?” My own tears start to well, even though I’m still in the dark over what we’re crying about.
“He’s downstairs,” she finally spits out, breathless between sobs.
“What happened, Mom?”
“It’s Emily.”
My heart clenches in my chest.
“What?” My voice rises to a yell. “Mom, what about Emily?”
She cries more. My father comes to the door. I turn, catching sight of him. He’s been crying too. My heart jumps into my throat.
“Zack.” My father takes a deep breath. “Emily’s been in an accident, son.”
Nausea overwhelms me, my head spins, but I force myself from the bed. “Where is she?” I’m yanking on clothes as I speak.
“Long Beach University Hospital.”
Frantically, I search my desk for my keys, then take off down the stairs. My father shouts for me to wait, but I’m out the door before he can catch up to me. He rips open the passenger door just as I’m backing out and jumps in.
Pacing the ER waiting area like a caged lion, I wait and wait for what seems like forever. My mother arrives carrying my shoes. Looking down, I’m surprised to find I don’t have any on.
“Did you hear anything yet?” She whispers to my father.
He shakes his head and wraps his arm around her shoulder, pulling her to him tightly.
Finally, after what seems like days, Emily’s parents emerge from the double doors that block her from me. I rush to them. Mr. Bennett looks at me and shakes his head no. No? What does he mean, no? My father comes to stand next to me. Mrs. Bennett finally looks up and, seeing me, she completely breaks down. Wailing, she falls to the floor.
My breathing comes faster and shorter. I feel dizzy. My thoughts spin so fast I can’t see. They only stop when my entire world goes dark.
Chapter 10
Zack—
Long Beach, California— 2 days later
I stand in the parking lot alone, rain pelts down on me so hard it should sting, but I feel no pain. I feel nothing. Hollow. A shell of a body incapable of emotion. I look down at my navy suit, the one I wore to the homecoming dance with Emily, it’s soaked through, clinging tightly against my body. Squeezing my eyes shut, I pray to a god I’m not sure I believe in anymore, begging him to take the image that was just seared into my brain from my memory. But it’s no use, closing my eyes only makes the visual of her lying there even more vivid. I force them back open to chase what I see away, but it doesn’t work. Visions of Emily lying there, so still, so peaceful, consume me. Her normally glowing, tanned skin is pale and dull, gray replacing the bronze and pink sun drenched color.
My body begins to shake, sobs racking through me even before my tears begin to fall. It’s the first time I’ve cried since it happened. Time goes by, but I have no idea how long I stand there letting days of pent-up emotions wash over me. Eventually, the heavy rain begins to dwindle, my tears following its lead.
“Zack?” My father’s voice is low, cautious. It’s the same timid way everyone has spoken to me the last two days. I don’t respond. I’ve barely said two words to anyone since it happened. “Come back inside, son. The minister is going to start soon.”
My mother waits just inside the door, the same look of worry plastered across her face that she’s worn since she woke me that morning. The morning everything changed. She puts her arm around me and together we walk slowly toward the room. The smell of flowers wafts in the air as we step closer, making me nauseous.
Jefferson Funeral Parlor is large; three separate viewing rooms normally hold multiple services. But today it’s all for Emily. The retractable doors between rooms are open so that there’s room for hundreds to sit. It’s still not enough. People line the room, wall to wall. Family, friends, teachers, strangers. The line to visit the casket leads out the front door and halfway around the block. Everyone is here except for the driver who is still fighting for his own life at Long Beach University Hospital. The front of the car took the brunt of the impact when Dylan swerved to avoid a truck that veered into oncoming traffic. Amazingly, the rest of the passengers walked away with only minor cuts and bruises.