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EMMA
I sent Jake a few texts that went unanswered. I envied the control Bianca had on him. I envied Bianca because Jake loved her so much. I would have killed for him to look at me the way he looked at her. I would have given a limb for him to be with me, hold me, kiss me, and love me.
Those thoughts rambled through my head as I unpacked the occasional thing in between checking my phone. I was actually hoping that in the next few hours Jake would calm down and call, telling me what a horrible misunderstanding it had all been, but the only peep my phone made was a text from Dad. I texted him back, not wanting to call him yet. There was still a chance Jake would see the proverbial light.
Zach returned from his workout and shed his jacket. He hung it in the closet and I noticed again what a clean apartment he kept. Everything was neatly arranged and organized. The furniture was dusted and the hardwood floors polished. He was a rich kid and if I knew anything about kids of privilege, they didn't clean.
"I'm going to grab a quick protein shake and we can head out," he said.
"Sure, no problem. When does the cleaning lady come?" I asked.
"Every other Wednesday morning," he called back.
I smiled. Mystery solved. I followed him into the kitchen. Despite a cleaning lady, he was still neat and tidy. He'd done all the dishes, if you counted loading them haphazardly into a dishwasher.
"It shouldn't take me long. Like I said, I didn't leave much behind."
"It's not like I have anything better planned."
On the short drive reality slowly sank in. Jake wasn't changing his mind. Once again the apartment was empty, but this time, as an added insult, Jake had left some of my items next to the door, including some books I'd loaned him and a personalized pocket knife I'd gotten him for his birthday. I stared at the items, my heart crushing. For Jake to have done this, he was serious. And in the split second it took to get sad, a switch went off making me angry. After all the insults Bianca had hurled my way, and despite his complacency in it all, he still had the nerve to punish me. My cheeks burned and the adrenaline flowed. I wanted out of the there as soon as possible.
I grabbed Zach's arm and pulled him to my bedroom.
"Hey, I'm usually game, but now isn't a good time," he joked.
I wasn't interested in humor. "I want us to be out of here within an hour. Start putting everything in garbage bags. I'm going to pack up my appliances." And that would include the coffeemaker I’d paid for, and the grinder too. Jake could get his own.
Four trips later we had Zach’s truck packed up.
"Let me buy dinner," I said. "You pick the place."
"Let's go to Ben's."
"Ben's Burger Barn? Really? I owe you more than that."
"I'm craving burgers."
I smiled. Zach had that effect on me. I felt completely at ease with him, even more so than I did with Jake. Or...used to with Jake. Maybe because I wasn't in a constant state of worrying how he saw me. I didn't need to impress Zach.
Ben's Burgers was quiet for a Sunday evening. We took a booth and I perused the menu. I was starving, having not had a good meal in almost twenty-four hours. I decided to go full force with a cheeseburger and fries, including the gravy. I set down my menu and stole a glance at Zach. He was still a bit of an enigma. Why was he so nice to someone like me? Sure, he'd been friendly from the moment I met him, but based on Becca, I knew the kind of girls he liked and they weren't anything like me. They were knockout beauty queens, not girls who barely wore makeup, didn't fuss over clothes, and actually ate food.
The server came around and took our orders. Zach settled into his seat and fixed his gaze on me. Was this the look he used on all the girls? If so, I could see how it worked. He had me thinking I was the center of his world, and it was flattering. My skin tingled a little and although I wanted to look away, I kept my eyes on his. The difference, though, was that I was immune to his charms.
"So," he said.
"So," I replied.
"I realized today that I don't know a whole lot about you. If I'm going to live with you, I should have more details."
"Like what?"
"You never talk to your mom."
I groaned. "Not her again. You're so obsessed with her."
"I'm trying to wrap my head around this. She never calls?"
"You know how often Halley's Comet comes around? That's how often I hear from Meredith. When I was twelve, she got married and me and Dad were invited. She asked Dad not to tell guests who I was, so they made up a lie that I was her cousin. I felt like she didn't want me around, which was probably true. Her husband knows about me but I don't think anyone else does."
"What about your other grandparents?"
"The last time I saw them was that day. I don't remember them saying hello. Pretty much all I remember is sitting near the back of the church with Dad and wondering why I wasn't part of the wedding. After that I wrote her off. She sends birthday and Christmas presents, but I don't care. You know, she didn't come to a single of my tennis tournaments. She was too busy with her new family. I have two little brothers I've never met."
Zach leaned over the table, engrossed in my not-so-entertaining story. "I still can't believe she walked out."
"She was fifteen when she had me. She didn't want to be tied down. To be honest, neither did my dad. He didn't always get the parent thing because he was so young himself. My first day of kindergarten he had to tell my teacher more than once that he was actually my dad and not my older brother. He'd barely turned twenty and he had a five-year-old. Think of yourself right now. Can you imagine towing around a five-year-old?"
"Sometimes I can barely take care of myself. So what was it like not having a mom around?"
"My grandma was a pretty good substitute. She died two-and-a-half years ago."
"Sorry to hear that."
"She wasn't sick for long, or at least she didn't let on. I miss her a lot."
"And your dad. Did he have a tough time?"
"I don't know. He finished high school, but didn't go to university. I think he may regret that, but he’s never said so. He and my grandpa have an antique shop. My dad does a lot of buying and selling online too. He's been successful."
"So if Jake's brother and your dad are best friends, now what happens?"
"I'm not sure. I'm going to call my dad later. I'll have to tell him something."
A thoughtful expression spread across Zach's face. "I’ve said it before and I'll say it again: I think you should tell the truth."
The truth was that I had a history of telling the truth and it getting me into trouble. When I was eleven I made a good friend. Her name was Leslie and we hung out 24/7. She was the first true friend I'd had besides Jake. Then one day we were sharing a candy bar on one of the schoolyard benches and she told me a secret. She made me vow to keep it to myself, but I couldn't. It was too horrible. I told Dad and a day later I lost my friend. Leslie was pulled from school for a while and when she returned, she never spoke to me again. At the end of sixth grade her mother divorced Leslie's stepdad, moved her and her two little sisters away, and I never heard from them again. While Dad maintained that I'd done the right thing, and today I know what I did was right, it had cost me Leslie.
"I don't want to tell him what I did. It's not like he'll hear about it. I don't want him to know what Jake did either. It's too humiliating and not only that, he'd get so angry and I don't want him to take it out on anyone."
Zach shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Why are you still protecting Jake?"
My cheeks flushed. "I'm not, but I don't want to upset my dad."
"I think your dad deserves to know what kind of person Jake is."
"I'll tell him, but not today." Or tomorrow. I wanted to put if off forever.
The server came around and slapped down our platters. Maggie, the name on her nametag, wasn't friendly, but I understood why. Ben's was a college hangout and students weren't exactly the best tippers.
I attacked my burger like I hadn't seen food in weeks. For a few minutes we ate in silence. People wandered in and Zach gave them a wave. He knew half the school, but then I guess a senator's son was on everyone's radar.
"So about Monday," Zach said, "I wanted to give you some advice."
I put down my nearly finished burger. "Why?"
"Bianca knows a lot of people. I'd keep a low profile."
Concern masked his face and nerves bubbled up in my full stomach. "What's going on? What have you heard?"
"Let's just say that she's connected. I've put out there that she better not seek any retribution. I'd like to think I have more reach and pull than she does, but watch your back. Don't put yourself in a vulnerable position."
I pushed away my plate and wanted to throw up. "Is she coming after me?"
"No, no," he said, his voice light but unconvincing.
"I'm worried. She has tons of friends. Some of them are nasty bitches."
"Don't be worried. I talked to Jake, and the deal was that everyone stays away from each other. Bianca agreed, but I'm not sure I trust her. So the first few weeks we should go to and from school together. If we can't go together, we'll figure out something else until I can be sure this has blown over."
My skin prickled. "I'm freaking out." My voice may have sounded calm and collected, but any second I thought I'd pass out.
"I’m sure they're not going to try anything crazy, but I don't want them to harass you either. If they see you with me they’ll back off. So starting Monday, we go to and from school together."
"My own personal bodyguard," I said, trying to sound upbeat.
"And if they bother you, I want to hear about it."
"How long do you think I have to live this way?"
"Not long. Something else will happen and you'll be a memory."
I groaned. "I hate this."
"Next time keep your fists to yourself."