K. Robinson - Twisted Ties

“I live with a couple of guys, and we’re having a party this weekend. You should come,” Sam said.

“She’s not interested,” Andy said.

“Ignore him. I’d love to come,” I said as I glared at Andy.

“Great. Let me give you the address.”

I ignored Andy’s disapproving glare as Sam wrote down his address for me.

“Thanks!” I said.

Andy grew more and more agitated as I talked with Sam. I knew Andy was trying to protect me, but it wasn’t his job. I had to move on, and I wasn’t going to waste any time.

After about an hour, I decided that I’d stayed long enough. Andy walked outside with me to my car.

“What the hell are you doing?” he asked.

“Nothing. Why?”

“Don’t play innocent, Emma. Why did you let him think you were interested?”

“Maybe I am!”

“Bullshit. Look, I know you’re hurting, but jumping to some guy who you don’t even know will not fix things. You need to take time to heal.”

“I’m tired of being alone.”

“You’re not alone, Emma. Besides, I never took you for one of those girls who needs a guy around constantly. You’re better than that.”

“I guess I am one of those girls. I’m so sick of being alone all the time. It’s been two years, and I think it’s time that I started trying to find someone who wants me, someone who doesn’t have a kid on the way.”

“So, what are you going to do? Sleep your way through Morgantown until you don’t feel alone?”

“I never said that! Just because I want to date doesn’t mean I’m going to sleep with every guy out there!”

“You’re hurting, and you’re vulnerable. I don’t want you to do something you will regret later.”

“Like last time?”

His mouth dropped open.

I took the chance to get in my car and drive away. I hated fighting with Andy, but I didn’t need someone to tell me how to live my life. If I wanted to live like that, I would have stayed back in California with my mom.

“Hey, I’m leaving school. Is there anything that you want me to pick up for dinner?” I asked as I walked across campus.

“I don’t care as long as I get food,” Ally said on the other end of the line.

“Okay, I’ll be home in a few.”

“Love you, Jesse.”

I hesitated for a second before answering her, “I love you, too.”

I ended the call and continued to walk toward my car. It still felt strange to tell Ally that I loved her. I did love her, just not in the way that she wanted. I was trying my hardest to learn to love her, but it just wasn’t happening. I felt like a total asshole for not being able to, but it wasn’t something I could control. It was either there, or it wasn’t, and in Ally’s case, it wasn’t.

I sighed as I walked. My life was a fucking disaster. But then again, when hadn’t it been? For as long as I could remember, things were always tough—except for when I’d been with Emma. I stopped myself. There was no point in going there again. That part of my life was over, and I needed to accept it.

I continued across campus as I tried to get Emma out of my head. Since I’d been so lost in my thoughts, I glanced up to make sure I was still going in the right direction, and I stopped dead.

This is getting ridiculous.

I’d been thinking about Emma, and just now, I could have sworn I’d seen her walking a few people ahead of me. I shook my head. I needed to get my priorities straight. I had to figure out how the hell I was going to take care of Ally and a baby in a few months, not imagine that Emma was here.

The crowd of students parted, and I noticed the same girl again.

God, she looks so much like Emma.

Her hair was shorter, but other than that, she was identical from behind. Out of morbid curiosity, I followed her, keeping a few people in between us. She seemed to be headed in the same direction as me anyway. The more I stared at her, the more she reminded me of Emma. She even walked the same. She reached the parking lot before me and walked over to an SUV. Before I could stop myself, I called out Emma’s name. The girl froze for a second before turning to face me.

I nearly dropped my bag as I stared at her. It was Emma.

What the hell is she doing in West Virginia?

Unable to believe that I was really seeing her, I felt like I was in a daze as I walked slowly toward her. She stood there, frozen, as I approached. I raised my hand to touch her cheek, but she backed away.

“Emma?” I whispered.

She was really here. The girl who’d haunted my dreams for years was standing right in front of me. She had always kept her hair halfway down her back, but it was up to her shoulders now. Something else was different about her, too, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. She was still my Emma, but something had changed. It took me a moment to realize that it was her eyes. Emma had always had an open heart, and her eyes were like windows into it. Now, they were closed off, like she had built a brick wall around herself.

“You look different,” she said quietly.

I guessed I did. I’d cut my blonde hair not long after I’d moved to West Virginia. Instead of it hanging around my face, it was now only an inch or two long. In the last two years, I’d also bulked up by lifting weights. I’d needed an outlet since I couldn’t surf, and it had been my substitute. Other than that, I still looked the same. At least, I thought I did.

“It is you. Shit. What are you doing here? It’s been so long since I’ve seen you.”

“I need to go,” she said hurriedly.

Before I could stop her, she was in her car and driving away. My brain finally started functioning again, and I ran to my car. I tore out of the lot and went the same direction she had. I was afraid that I’d lost her in traffic, but I finally caught up with her about a mile down the road. I didn’t think she even realized that I was following her as she weaved in and out of the evening traffic.

She pulled up to an apartment complex, got out of her car, and ran inside. I didn’t think twice about following her as I threw my car in park and chased after her. She ran up the stairs and to the second floor with me not far behind her. She was far enough ahead of me that she managed to get inside apartment 2B just before I made it to the door. I beat on the door as I shouted her name. I had to know why she was here. There was no way that this was a coincidence.

I continued to beat my fist against the door for a good five minutes before it finally opened. I’d expected Emma, but instead, a shirtless Andy stood in the doorway.

What the fuck? Did someone throw me into the twilight zone today or what?

Andy looked exactly like he had the last time I’d seen him. Except now, Emma was cowering behind him. I had no idea why they were here together, but I intended to find out.

“Andy?”

“What the hell do you want?” he spit out as he glared at me.

It was obvious that his opinion of me hadn’t changed since the last time we’d seen each other.

“I want to talk to Emma. What are the two of you doing here?”

“You need to leave—now.”

“Not until I talk to Emma. I have a right to know why you two are here.”

“Stay the fuck away from Emma or else.”

“Fuck you. I want to talk to her.”

“Have it your way,” Andy said just before he pulled back and punched me in the face.

I stumbled back as Emma cried out. I pinched my nose to stop the bleeding as I stared at Andy in shock. He was no longer in the doorway. Instead, he was holding Emma as she cried.

What the hell is going on here?

When I’d left California, Andy and Emma had barely known each other. Now, he was holding her and comforting her as she cried. It almost looked like they were together.

I froze as I watched him kiss her forehead. Rage filled me. They’re together. They have to be. Absolutely nothing made sense right now.

“I thought I told you to leave. Don’t make me hit you again because I will,” Andy said as he let go of Emma.

Then, he slammed the door in my face. I stared at it for a minute before I finally turned and left. I walked back to my car in a total state of confusion.

I didn’t even remember driving back to the house that Ally and I were renting. One minute, I was walking to my car, and the next, I was walking through my front door.

“Hey! Where’s the food?” Ally asked cheerfully. She took one look at me and stopped dead. “What happened? Why are you bleeding?”

I sat down in the chair closest to me as I tried to process the last half hour of my life.

“Jesse! Talk to me! What happened?”

“Did you know?” I asked as I looked up at her.

“Did I know, what?”

“That Andy and Emma are here?”

“They’re here? I had no idea!”

I would have believed her if I hadn’t known her for so long. I knew her well enough to know when she was lying to me.

“I call bullshit. Start talking, Ally.”

She bit her lip as she stared down at me. “Okay, yes, I knew. I just didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to upset you.”

“My best friend and my girlfriend are in town, and you decided that I didn’t need to know that little tidbit of information?” I asked incredulously.

“Ex.”

“What?”

“You called Emma your girlfriend. I’m your girlfriend now. She’s your ex.”

“Whatever. How long have you known?”

“A few days. I guess Andy figured out where I was, and he came after me. Emma came with him.”

“Why would she do that? They barely know each other.”