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Emma
I walked for a few blocks, not sure where to go. The only safe haven I could think of was the Taylor Tennis Club. I checked to see if the office was empty, and when it was, I went inside and shut the door behind me. I sank to the floor, resting my head against the wall. I couldn’t erase all the images on that video. How could he have participated? It was so . . . no words could accurately describe what I thought. Zach, my Zach, was supposed to be better than that. He wasn’t one of those guys. He was good, at least I thought he was. Wasn’t he?
I was now questioning everything I knew about him and it tore up me inside. At first, I’d been too stunned and horrified to get emotional, but now, alone, I cried quietly and only stopped when I heard a gentle knock on the door.
“Hey, is that you, Emma?”
Stupid loser Ben. As usual, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I cleared my throat and sucked in a deep breath. “Yes. Go away.”
“Uh, are you okay?” Did I actually hint some concern in his voice? Not possible.
I wiped away my tears. “Are you deaf? Go away.”
A moment passed and I thought he was gone but a few seconds later he spoke again.
“You’re pissed at me. I’m sorry. Are you upset?” He spoke softly, the first time he’d ever done that with me.
I got up and swung open the door. “What do you want?” I shouted.
He jumped back, his grey eyes wide open. He probably thought I’d had some mental breakdown and use it against me later, not to mention that I’m sure I looked like I’d been crying.
“Emma, what’s going on? Is this about what I said earlier? I was out of line and I’m sorry.”
I could see genuine concern on his face. “I’m fine. It has nothing to do with you. Just leave me alone.”
I tried to shut the door but he caught it, holding it open. “Did something happen? Did it happen here? If someone in the club upset you, I want to know.”
Was he serious? The only person upsetting me at the club was standing in the doorway. “No. So go away.”
“Are you sure? Do you want me to call someone? Your boyfriend?”
“No, no and no.”
I could see the light go on. His lips were trying to smirk but he was fighting them. Such an ass. “Did something happen with him?”
“Would that give you satisfaction?”
He frowned. “No, it wouldn’t. I know I can come off as a jerk, but I’m not heartless.”
I huffed. “You’re kidding, right? Since you got here you’ve given me nothing but grief.”
“I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry for that. But if he hurt you, don’t protect him.”
“He didn’t hurt me. Never mind, okay?”
He titled his head and looked at me for a long time. I didn’t return his gaze.
“If you want to talk, I can keep my mouth shut and listen, or I can get lost.”
“Get lost.”
He nodded. “If you change your mind, I’m at the front desk.”
He turned to leave. I shut the door and tried to think, but my phone wouldn’t stop trilling. I briefly glanced at it. A million calls and texts from Zach. I turned it off. I needed quiet. I needed to shut the world out.