Chapter 2

"WHAT?" Emma yelled. She stood up from her bed and then walked to the window. She gently peeked out of her window to see her neighbor's upstairs window lights on.

She knew it was Jessica's room because she saw Jessica's shadow illuminate behind the curtains. Emma doesn't know why the lights were on: is it because she is studying? Or deciding on clothes for a date with Benjamin.

The thought of her arch-enemy being on a date with her ex is sickening. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists as a wave of anger surged through her.

"Emma? Emma, are you still there?" Katie asked on her phone.

"I'm here; I'm looking out of my window. I can still see the lights in Jessica's window. What do you think she's doing at this hour?"

"I don't know, maybe she's doing her homework or watching TV. She might also be on the phone with a friend."

"A friend?" Emma cried, pulling the curtain tight, fuming in anger and jealousy. "Do you think she was talking to Ben?"

"Uh...Maybe? But let's not draw any conclusions."

"Yeah I know, but thinking of my man being manipulated by her just so she can be with him is just...just."

Out of frustration, Emma throws her pillow across the room. "GOD DAWN EVIL!"

Emma heard a loud bang from the wall. "EMMA SHUT UP I'M TRYING TO SLEEP!" Iris yelled behind the wall.

The teen took a deep breath before putting the phone in her ear. Her eyes were now raining tears.

"Girl, calm down." Katie heard her friend's sobs on the other end.

"I'm here for you, okay?" she said, her voice steady and reassuring. "We can fix this."

"Fix what!?" Emma cried softly. "I lost my Ben, I lost my friends, I lost my dad and I'm moving tomorrow!"

"YOU'RE MOVING? YOU LOST YOU'RE DAD? WHAT?! WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT HAPPEN?!"

Emma breathed slowly. She almost forgot to tell Katie that her parents were getting a divorce and she was leaving her hometown. Katie never picked up her phone for days and dreaded this conversation for days. Taking a deep breath, Emma finally said the words she had held back for a while.

"My parents are getting a divorce, and I'm moving away."

Emma heard Katie gasp on the other end. "Oh my god, I am so sorry for you."

Emma tried to keep her voice steady. "It's OK. I'll be alright."

Katie sighed. "You know I'm here for you if you ever need to talk."

She began to sob, her heart aching from the pain of all the losses she had experienced. Tears streamed down her face as she sank to the ground, feeling completely alone.

"And honestly, I don't know if Ben broke up with me because of Jessica or not, but all I know is that I lost him and there's nothing I can't do about it!"

Emma wipes her nose. "I guess I'll never know and I'll just have to accept the fact that things are the way they are. I just hope I can find the strength and courage to move on."

"You will move on, Girl," Katie said, smoothing her voice. "I honestly have no idea what Ben sees in that girl, but you're better off without him. So if he wants to be with that girl, so be it. But I know you'll find someone better than him."

Emma knows Katie is right, but she can't help but feel she missed out on something. She just wishes she had the chance to find out what really happened between us. It's a challenge for her to accept its end.

"Yeah, your right. Thanks, Katie." Emma smiled, wiping off a few tear drops from her eyes.

"No problem, by the way, where are you moving to anyway? The countryside, a large city?"

"It's just a small town only 20 miles away." Emma smiled. "It's called Brooklynville."

There was a pause, and Emma giggled, anticipating Katie's reaction.

"No way...are you serious?"

Emma could not giggle. With a smirk, said Emma ."Yes, I'm serious."

Katie couldn't believe what she had just heard. She laughed loudly and shook her head in disbelief.

"OH MY GOD ARE YOU PULLING MY LEG? YOU'RE MOVING HERE?" Katie squeals.

"Surprise, I'm moving to your hometown." Emma smiled warmly. "I was shocked as you are when Mom told me where we're living. Who knew we'd meet again?"

"I'M LITERALLY LOSING MY MIND! AND YOU'RE MOVING TOMORROW? I CAN'T WAIT!" Katie gasps. "WAIT A MINUTE. ARE YOU GOING TO THE SAME SCHOOL AS I AM?"

Emma raised her eyebrows. "Crystal Lake Secondary School for Girls?" No, I won't be studying there. It's Eastwood Academy and Mom says I'm getting a dorm there."

"Seriously? That sucks." Katie sighed. "OK, but do you know where the street you are going to live? Like, do you know your house number or something? Just because you're living in a dormitory, doesn't mean we've stopped hanging out together."

"I hear you, girl," Emma said as she lay down on the bed. "The street I'm living on is Duke Street and the house number is 1280."

Katie went silent again. Emma began, annoyed by Katie's silence. "Katie, can you please say something? Your silence irritates me."

After a moment of silence, Katie finally spoke. "That home address is the same one as the creepy old man who lives next door. Emma, we're going to be neighbors."

.

.

.

"EMMA! YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE BATHROOM FOR A LONG TIME NOW! LET ME IN!"

Iris yelled as she frantically banged on the bathroom door. It is 7 in the morning and within two hours the Brights family will move out of the neighborhood. In preparation for moving, they had already loaded the truck with all their belongings.

"EMMA, DON'T TELL ME YOU'RE STILL NOT OVER WITH YOU'RE PITY BREAKUP! IT'S READY BEEN TWO WEEKS FOR GOD'S SAKE! GET OVER IT!"

Emma opens the bathroom door with a towel soaked in water bubbles. She looks her younger sister in the eye and says firmly, "I'm tired of hearing this. I'll get over it when I'm ready. Until then, I'm just going to take my time."

She walks out of the bathroom, determined to take the time she needs. Iris rolled her eyes before entering the bathroom one last time and getting ready for the day. Emma's mother was on the phone talking to Grandma in the kitchen preparing breakfast.

"Like I said before Mom: Ethan and I have already filed the divorce papers and there's no turning back. I'm sorry if it hurts you, but it's the best thing for us all...What do you mean I'm not capable of raising my two daughters alone? I'm their favorite parent!"

"Mom, have you seen my red jacket? It's long and cotton." Emma asks as she enters the kitchen getting toast off the toaster.

Emma's mother sighed and pointed to the hallway. "It's on the coat rack, dear."

She turned back to the sink, avoiding her daughter's gaze. Emma grabbed her jacket and left the kitchen, closing the door behind her.

Emma ate a chunk of toast before wearing her yellow short-waist tank top, dark blue jeans, red sneakers, and her favorite red jacket. She also put on her pair of sunglasses. She dried her hair and put it in a ponytail. She smiled as she looked in the mirror, ready to start her day. She grabbed her luggage and headed out the door.

But as she holds the doorknob, Emma takes a moment to look at her old room one last time. Her memories of the place filled her heart with warmth. She smiled, feeling content and excited about what the day would bring. With a deep breath, she stepped out and shut the door.

"Alright, girls! We only have one hour left, so be ready to pack up where you still can!" The mother's voice echoed from the living room. Emma sighed and ran down the stairs, ready to start the last stretch of packing.

But as she reached down the stairs, the front doorbell rang. "What the heck? Who's meeting us at this hour?" Emma wondered.

"Mom, who could that be? Is it the homeowner?" Emma asked her mother, who was packing some minor things in her suitcase.

"I don't know, or is it one of Iris's friends coming to say goodbye?" Her mother replied with a confused response.

"Nope, it's not any of my friends who are coming to visit me. It's someone that wants to say goodbye to you, Emma."

In response to Iris' words, Emma turned back to hear Iris walking down the stairs with a smirk on her face. "It's Benjamin behind that door."

Emma's heart skipped a beat and her mind turned blank. She felt her whole body becoming numb and stood still on the spot until she came to her senses.

"What the hell are you saying? You're telling me he's here to see me?". Emma asked, clearly panicking because she was not ready to see her ex.

"Yes, I called him just so you guys can say goodbye." The younger sister smiled hugely. "Come on open it, the door is still ringing."

Instructed, Emma slowly walked up, her legs shaking, and walked towards the door. She opened it, and saw a figure standing there, waiting for her.

"EMMA! YOU'RE STILL HERE!" A red-haired teenage male gave a warm hug to the girl as he said, "Thank God I got here on time!"

It was Levi Chain.

Stunned by the surprise, the girl softly pushed her ex's best friend. "Levi, what are you doing here? Are you supposed to be at school? And where is Benjamin?"

Levi looked confused. "I called your sister so that you and I could have a talk. Benjamin did not come with me. He had to attend a meeting at school."

"What? But Iris said-" Before Emma could finish her words, her mind came to a halt. Her bratty sister pranks her. Emma felt angry and embarrassed. She wanted to scream at her sister for making her look foolish. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.

"Levi, please wait for me. I'll be back."

Levi stood where he was while Emma closed the door behind her, glaring at her bratty sister giggling. "Iris, why did you lie to me?"

"What? Can't you take a small prank?" Iris chuckles. "I meant to tell you Levi was coming but I thought that would be fun."

Emma rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Well, I'm not laughing," she said. "Go outside and apologize to Levi for wasting his time."

Iris stopped laughing immediately and looked at her older sister. "Oh, and what? Tell him to get lost and apologize for missing a stupid school meeting. For your information, he called me because he wanted to see YOU."

Iris put on her platform shoes that were left on the side of the main door so she could wear them today. "For the past weeks, he thought you were sick or something, but then when he heard you and Benjamin broke up and you're leaving today, he wanted to talk to you before you go. He told me he was going to come here and talk to you. He wanted to make things right."

Putting on her designer shoes, Iris walked to the kitchen before glaring at Emma. "You have this terrible habit of befriending toxic individuals and groups. Your old friends didn't care about you. But Levi is the only one who has your back. He is the only one who truly cares about you. Don't forget that."

Iris lifted up her nose before walking away as the fluffy cat "Sushi" woke up from her nap and walked along with her. Iris's words lingered in her mind as she watched Iris walk away.

She knew she should value her friendship with Levi. Emma and Levi studied in the same class. He was the class clown and she was the serious one, but they were close friends. Levi always brought a smile to her face and she felt like she could tell him anything. Emma knew she was lucky to have him in her life.

"Maybe you should talk to him, Emmaline." Her mother put her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "He skipped school and walked all the way here just to meet you. But please don't talk for too long. We're leaving in 40 minutes."

Emma nods in agreement with her mother's advice and opens the door where Levi is still waiting for her. "Sorry about that. I just...didn't know you'd come. My little sister can be a little nuisance sometimes!"

"*Laugh* Yeah..."

There was a moment of silence that fell over them. Silence lingered, uncomfortable and awkward. Finally, Emma spoke up and broke the silence. "So, you walked all the way here just to see me? But do you have to attend a school meeting at this hour?"

"And miss you leaving without saying goodbye? No way!" He said. "I wouldn't miss it for the world and my guys would tell me what happened at the school meeting anyway."

Emma giggled and felt the tension in the air dissipate. She was glad he had come to see her.

An awkward silence engulfed them again until Levi spoke up. "Emma, why didn't you return my calls? Why didn't you tell me you and Benjamin broke up? I don't understand why you didn't tell me where you were moving. Is that the reason why you never returned to school for days?"

Levi moved closer to her. "Talk to me, Emma."

Emma looked away and slowly stepped back. "Yes," she said, barely audible. "I didn't want you to know that I was leaving and I didn't want to talk about it. I just wanted to get away."

"Why would you do that? There is no need to hide that from me!" Levi put his large hands on Emma's shoulders. "I don't understand. Why did you and Ben break up? What happened?"

"What the hell do you mean you don't understand? Ben is your best friend. He could have told you everything!" Emma snaps back at Levi.

"But he didn't tell me, Jack! For the past few days, he said he was very busy!"

Emma continues to scold Levi. "You should have asked him! Instead of waiting for him to tell you, you should have taken the initiative and asked him yourself."

"I did!" He yelled. "I've been trying to get a hold of him, but he's ignoring my calls. I don't know what he's thinking. He's not being himself. And when I tried to call you, you didn't answer my calls. I'm spinning in circles!"

Levi continues. "And when I called your sister, she said you two broke up and you were leaving for Brooklynville today without me knowing. What the hell Emma? Why didn't you tell me you two broke up? At least tell me why before-"

"YOU'RE DOUGHBAG FRIEND CHEATED ON ME AND LEFT ME WITH JESSICA!"

Emma's face turned red and she started to cry. Levi was completely taken aback by her sudden outburst and was left speechless.

"I was just...so devastated. I didn't want to leave my house, my room. I just want *sobs* to be left alone."

He stepped forward and hugged her tightly. She felt the warmth of his hug and it brought her comfort. She breathed in his scent and felt a little calmer.

"Now I understand." He whispers. "I'm sorry, Emma."

She stepped back and wiped away her wet eyes, constantly apologizing to Levi for crying in his yellow shirt. Little did they know, her mother watched them talking through the window behind closed curtains.

"Oh, Lord, what to do?" Mother sighed before checking her watch. She knew it was time to step in and put an end to this conversation. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and stepped outside.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation, but it's time to get-"

Before she finishes her sentence, a large German shepherd dashes through the front garden and jumps on Emma. Emma screamed in surprise as the dog knocked her to the ground.

"Ow, hey! Stop it! Get this dog off of me!" Emma screamed as it paved and slashed on her face as it barks at her.

As Levi tries to grab her dog to pull it away, a brown-haired, short girl dressed in black runs through the field and grabs hold of her dog.

It was Jessica Jewels.

Chapter end