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EMMA
One thing I knew for sure was that cracked ribs hurt more than a separated shoulder. At least with a shoulder you could get immediate relief, but cracked ribs gave me a constant reminder that it hurt to breathe. But a week after the attack, my face had healed nicely and I'd gone back to classes. I'd even started cooking again, because the thought of anymore takeout Chinese food, pizza, or burgers turned my stomach.
I was puttering around the kitchen Friday night making a stir-fry with double the amount of vegetables, a food group that had been sorely lacking in my recent diet, when the buzzer sounded. Zach popped his head into the kitchen.
"Asswipe is here. Do you want to talk to him?"
I stopped tossing the vegetables. Jake? He'd sent me flowers and a card, but why come around? "Uh, sure, I guess."
Zach frowned. "You don't have to."
"I know."
I gave Zach some quick instructions regarding our dinner-in-progress and told him not to come out of the kitchen. I didn't want a fight. Then I let Jake in. He stared at the last of the bruising on my face and bristled.
"Hey, Emma. I thought I'd see how you're doing."
"I'm doing better. Thanks for the flowers." My voice held no excitement like it once would have.
"It's the least I could do. I wanted to come by and apologize for what happened. I know it's just words, but I'm so sorry. I know I screwed up our friendship over a girl...we broke up. I broke up with her. When I found out what she did, I told her it was over. I figured so much time passed that she'd forgotten about it...don't hate me, Emma."
"I don't hate you," I said. Strangely, I didn't feel much. There wasn't any tugging at my heart strings or remorse at our lost friendship. Nothing.
"I hope one day we can be friends again."
His blue eyes were welling up with tears and still I felt no emotion. "Jake, I don’t hate you, but we can't be friends. Too much happened."
He nodded. "I understand," he said, choking out the words. "I know you're pissed so hopefully after some time passes you could reconsider?"
I nodded. "Maybe." I was placating him now.
"Don't be a stranger, okay?"
"I'm sure I'll see you around Pine Falls."
He turned and walked out. I went back into the kitchen to monitor Zach's progress. He hadn't burned anything yet. I took a second to watch him thoughtfully follow all my instructions, careful not to make a mistake. Yes, this was where I wanted to be. A couple of days at some rich kid’s family’s cabin, a place I'd never wanted to go to in the first place, changed the course of my life. It brought me to this place, brought me to Zach. Sure, there had been an awful lot of bumps along the way, but they'd been worth it.
He caught me staring and motioned me over. He put his arm around my shoulder and kissed my cheek.
"How'd it go?"
"Fine. It was goodbye."
He nodded. I bet he had a lot of things he wanted to say about Jake, but he kept them to himself. "You know what?"
"What?" I asked.
"I've never said this to a girl before, but I love you."
My heart soared. Three little words made my day. "You know what?"
"What?"
"I love you too."
THE END