030
emory's pov

     I GRAB THE MAKEUP OFF THE SHELF and put it in the basket. the boys birthday is soon. actually in a few more days. they are going to be nineteen. that's crazy.

i wipe sweat off my forehead and push my sunglasses farther up my nose. last night after the shower sawyer hit me in my face for the first time. i put more concealer in my basket. it seems that now i'm using way more of this in the past few months.

"emory?"

fuck. fuck. fuck.

i turn and smile, "nick."

"it's so good to see you. what's it been? five or so months?" he ask pulling me in a hug.

i try not to whince by the pain that shoots through my body. i seem to relax after his arms stay wrapped around me for a bit. it feels like home.

"aren't you hot? it's like a hundred degrees outside." he says pulling away and holding me at arms distance.

"no, not really. lately i've been cold. like i have a cold." i say walking down the aisle.

i really want him to drop this conversation. "are you sure? you don't look so well. like you're overheated."he says.

he touches my wrist but i pull back. no matter how much i know nick won't hurt me i'm still scared he'll hurt me.

he steps back and puts his hands up. i slowly drop my hand. "i'm sorry nick." i say stuffing my free hand in my jacket pocket.

"yeah. no you're fine. hey, the boys are in the car. i think it would be cool if you would go out and say hi. they would really appreciate it. we haven't heard from you in so long."

i know he's just trying to get me to see chris. i really don't want to, but i said, "yeah. let me pay for my things really quick." anyway.

i scan my things and pay for them as nick puts them in a bag. "that's a lot of concealer." he says handing me my bag.

"yeah. i use a whole bunch."

he doesn't reply. thank god because i don't know if i would be able to make another lie and say it to his face.

we walk over to their van and i see chris and matt. they are both looking up at us. i probably look crazy. i have my hair in a super messy bun, glasses and a jacket in the middle of summer.

matt rolls down the window and nick gets in the car. "hey, stranger." matt says smiling at me.

"hey matty." he say returning the smile.

"hey chris." i say.

he looks up at me and i gulp. he looks permanently sad.

"emory.' he says and looks back down at his phone. ouch.

"how have you guys been?" i ask.

"pretty good. we just hit three million subscribers on youtube." matt says with the biggest smile ever.

"wow, that's crazy. i'm so proud of you guys." i say with pure excitement.

i really am so proud of them. they deserve it.

"how have you been chris?"

"pretty good." he says still not looking up at me.

"you look like hell."

"thought i was hiding it good enough." he says with no sarcasm laced in his voice.

i grip the door a little tighter. "well i should be getting going. sawyers waiting for me at home." i say going to turn around.

"you should go out to dinner with us." nick say before i can leave.

"um..."

it would be good to get away from sawyer for a few hours. "sure." i say jumping in the back seat by nick.

once we get our food we pull into a parking spot and start eating.

"so how's you and sawyer?" chris ask.

"good." i hurry up and say. there's nothing else for him or any of them to know.

"emory it's literally night time. you can take those dumb glasses off now." matt says.

"no thanks."

"for fucks sakes emory, just take them off!" nick says in his funny voice.

"no thanks nicky." i say again.

he rolls his eyes at my response and takes the glasses off my face.

"emory, what happened to your face?" nick ask.

chris and matt look back at me. and i swear i can see the color drain from chris face.

he looks at me dead in my eyes and says, "i'm gonna fucking kill him."