Chapter 75 - It's a long story

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Emma's POV

"Emma! I can't believe you're finally here." My dad comes running down the entrance in my direction and engulfs me in a tight hug.

Ok, that's weird. I'm still not used to him being affectionate.

"Hi dad." I say as he lets go of me as we enter the house I grew up in.

It's been a while that I don't come here, that holiday when Noah was gone being the last time.

Well, we were broken up back then and we're over now, so I guess it's my thing before coming here.

We break up and voilá, I'm home again.

The house looks exactly the same and everything is at the same place as the last time I was here, including a pile of papers at the foyer table. Maybe they are different documents.

Who cares? That's not important.

"Where's Noah?" My dad asks, looking a bit unsure.

"He's not coming." Is all I say and I guess the look on my face says it all, because he widens his eyes and looks embarrassed, like he doesn't know what to say next.

"Oh... ok. Uhn, I'll leave you to settle in then and once you're done, we can go to the grocery shop together. I could use the company so we buy all the things you love." He smiles.

I know he's asking me to go mainly because he doesn't know the things I love, so it's his way of asking me to help him with that. Instead of feeling bitter that he doesn't know things about me, like I would feel in the past, I actually feel fine about it.

We've been distant for so long, so I don't expect him to be an expert on 'What Emma wants'. I do want him to know more about me and I also want to know more about him though.

"Sounds good to me." I smile back and grab my bag.

I make my way up the stairs to my room and sadness suddenly takes over me. I was actually excited and had so many plans for the summer here, even if I'm staying for just for a couple of weeks.

I was going to show Noah all my favorite places, not to mention that we would hang out with Abby and Kevin. They were crazy to meet him, but I guess that's never happening.

Being alone here feels terrible. I want Noah to be here so bad, so I take a deep breath to stop myself from feeling like this.

We haven't spoken in a few days. Not since the day after the party where I went to his apartment.

Part of me wanted to text him, but even though I think he is kind of right for being angry, the way he dealt with the whole thing makes me angry and that is what stopped me from trying to contact him.

The other part of me is telling me to move on for real this time.

It's really over. I keep repeating this to myself, not because he broke up with me, but because now I'm the one who doesn't want it anymore.

Don't get me wrong, I am having a hard time dealing with our sudden break up, but if that's how he wants it to be, so be it. There's nothing I can do about it, except focus on myself and my own happiness.

I deserve better than that and he can't do that to me all the time. He can't just shut me out every time we have issues. That's not how you deal with things.

I spent three weeks feeling miserable the other time and I refuse to be that person again.

I know I should apologize for not telling him about James, but I won't apologize for going out with him. Noah was gone without saying a word and what did he expect me to do? I was trying to deal with it and move on with my life. He can't blame me for that.

Not to mention that he overreacted in a way that makes me wonder if we would ever work. He doesn't trust me and he didn't even give me a chance to explain.

How can a relationship work when there's no trust like this?

Which is funny, because he lied to me about a lot of things.

I trust him and I trusted him even after everything he did and he can't trust me with one thing that ended the moment he was back? Hell no, I'm not taking it.

When it comes to him, everything is acceptable, but when I do things, he freaks out. It's a clear double standard and I'm done with it.

He kicked me out of his apartment, for God's sake. Who the hell does that?

He was just jealous. You know he loves you.

I know he does, but he could have listened to me. I forgave him for lying and using me, but he can't look past something I did when we weren't even together. It's not fair.

No, not this time. This time, I'm making the choice. He treated me like I was the most special person in the world and took care of me, so it won't be easy to get over him and I'm not even sure I'm capable of forgetting him completely, but I'll try with all my heart.

Noah and I are history and I'm thankful it's summer, because I won't have to see him for two months. This will make things a lot easier. Painful, but somehow easier.

I put my bag on my bed and take a deep breath to stop talking to myself and get these conflicted thoughts out of my head.

I just decided that I'll try my best to enjoy my time here with my friends and also with my dad. Our relationship is better that it has ever been - not that it's perfect - and I will use the time to focus on myself and relax.

I try not to think about the trip Mads is planning with our group, because it would be weird to travel with them and Noah, so I probably won't go anyway.

I love Mads and I know she'll insist that I go with them, but I can't. I'll think about what to say to her when the time comes, but for now I'll call Abby.

One day at a time is my new motto.

With that in mind, I go downstairs to meet my dad in his office before we go out to refill our food supplies.

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The past few days here have been nothing but awesome.

Spending time with Abby and Kevin have been great. We're having so much fun and I'm so happy that nothing has changed between us. When I left for college, I was afraid that the only support system I had back then would be gone.

They have their own lives and I was starting a new one too, but it's like we've never left. We're more mature after everything that happened with each of us this past year, that's for sure, but somehow, we're still the same.

Abby is doing amazing in her music career, she plays violin since I can remember and well, an invitation from Julliard was the natural choice for her. That's how talented she is.

Kevin is still goofy, but he finally found himself a girl that makes him want to settle down and he keeps complaining about how he misses her. It's very cute to be honest.

They say I'm different too, although I don't feel like it. I'm still Emma, but I guess I get what they mean. When I do a recap on all that I've been through my freshman year at college, a lot has happened. 

I met the most incredible friends, I wasn't expecting to rebuild my relationship with my dad, I was in a sort of a car accident - more like I was almost kidnapped - I found out a lot about my dad's company, including that his competitor is my boyfriend's dad and obviously, I met Noah, the guy who made me fall in love.

The guy that has my entire heart, even if he broke it.

I actually managed to not think about him, the hectic last days helping a lot for that. When I met Abby the day I got here, it was the first thing she asked me.

''Ems, I missed you so fucking much.'' She hugged me like never before and I hugged her back. ''Where is that hot piece of boyfriend of yours?''

She looked around searching for him. I haven't told her about our break up yet. I was hoping that things would be sorted by the time I got here, but well, that clearly didn't work out.

''We broke up.''

''You what?'' She looked at me shocked, not believing what I just told her.

''It's a long story, let's go inside and I'll tell you.''

I followed her inside her house and after I greeted her parents and talked to them for a while, we went to her room where I told her everything and how decided I am to move on.

''I can't believe he did this. I swear that if I ever see him, I'll make sure he'll think of the word pain every time he hears the name Abby.''

Even though I was crying when I finished telling her what happened, I actually laughed due to her violent tendencies.

''There's no need, really. It's not easy, but I'll get over him eventually. I just want to enjoy my time here with you guys.''

And so it was like this. They know me too well and they made sure to keep me busy the following days, so I wasn't mopping around thinking about the guy I love.

Noah and I still haven't talked and although during my first two days here I kept looking at my phone to see if he would call or text, now I don't even bother looking.

It's like little by little, I got to realize what I already knew. It's over and this summer will be about rebuilding myself, so I can move on.

''Oh my God, look at this!'' Abby gets me out of my trance, as she stops in front of a music store that has a big poster on it. ''We should totally go. We could spend the day in New York, go shopping and enjoy the city. You know how much I love that place.''

I look at the poster and it's about a Dean Lewis concert, one of our favorite singers.

''The show is in about a week, Abby. It's probably sold out.''

''Nonsense, we have to do this. We can go eat at that place nearby the Webster Hall after the concert, you know, that diner we love? God, I'm craving for that cheeseburger now.''

I laugh and shake my head, but that's actually a pretty good idea. It's been forever that we don't go to a concert and come on, it's Dean we're talking about here.

''Fine, if there are tickets, we'll go.'' She jumps excitedly, just like Mads would do and I remember I still have to introduce those two.

They have spoken on the phone when I called Mads and they got along pretty well, like I knew they would. At some point, Abby was lying on my bed with my phone in hand while she talked to Mads for like an entire hour and I was just sitting there waiting for them to finish.

Not that I complain. It was quite amusing to listen to them talking. My two best friends becoming friends is everything I could have asked for.

We enter the music shop and after a few questions, the owner says that there are a few tickets available and we could get them online, so we hurried home to buy them.

''Ok, I'm buying three. Kevin is totally coming.''

''Have you talked to him about this?'' She looks up from her computer.

''No, but I don't need to. He will come with us.  It will be so great! It's just like it used to do. Remember when we used to go on road trips just to get ice cream and hang out, doing nothing? My mom would go crazy because she always thought that New York was too dangerous for us.''

Well, at least her mom cared. Back then, my dad wouldn't even notice if I was gone the entire week. He would probably be busy with work.

''What about that time when Kevin lost his wallet and thought that he was robbed and freaked out in the middle of the times square, just to find out that the wallet was inside the bag?''

We continue to share and laugh at all the memories we have there. It's indeed a place we used to go all the time, considering it's about an hour and a half from Hellertown.

It will do us good to go there. I'm sure we'll see the city in a different perspective now that we have so different lives and other experiences. Plus, it will help me not to think about you know who.

''Ok, we have the tickets, can you check with your dad if the apartment is available? We could stay there.''

She says a bit unsure, because normally I would refuse to stay at the apartment my dad owns in New York, but now it's different.

I guess I didn't like going there because it reminded me of his work. He only stays at the apartment when he's doing business in town, so I guess I just connected both things. Now that I deal better with it, I guess I'd be okay staying there.

''Sure, I'll talk to him. Let's call Kevin to plan the trip.''

''Oh, I'm so excited about this!'' I laugh hard at that.

''Yeah, I can tell.''

After she manages to calm down from her excitement, especially after Kevin agreed to go with us - not that she gave him much choice - we spend the rest of the day hanging out in her house, watching movies.

I was about to go home, so we agreed to meet for lunch the day after. I planned to sleep over, but my dad made reservations for us to have dinner together, so I had to go get ready.

I was happy that although he's been working a lot since I got here, he managed to have time for me.

The rest of the week went by really fast - still haven't heard from Noah by the way - and the concert is in about two days now.

We were at the ice cream parlor having a huge banana split and talking about Dean when Abby's face changes drastically to a serious mood and she changes the subject.

''Hum, Ems, do you mind if I ask how are you? I mean, about the whole Noah thing?''

I look at her blinking non-stop. She knows she can ask me anything, but the way she's doing it, is kind of weird. Not to mention that she went from talking about music to asking about Noah in a split second.

''I'm fine Abby. It's over and we haven't talked since I left his apartment, so I'm moving on with my life.''

She looks at me with a frown on her face. Maybe she sees through my bullshit. I am moving on with my life, but I can't say I don't care anymore, because I do. A lot.

''Are you sure it's really over?''

She keeps glancing behind me and it's creeping me out.

''Uhn, yeah, I'm sure.'' I ask, not understanding why she's acting like this. 

''Then why the hell is Noah here, standing outside?''

''I'm sorry, what?''

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Hey Lovely Readers,

I hope you enjoy this chapter!! Emma is so sure she wants to move on with her life, but now that Noah is there, do you think she'll stand her ground. What do you think will happen? I'm so excited and can't wait for the next chapters! I hope you too.

Dean Lewis is actually one of my favorite's singers! Do you like his songs? I can't tell my favorite, as I'm obsessed with all of them!

Love, Me

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