Remember

Chapter 2: Faux Integrity

Chapter 2: Faux Integrity

Emma’s P.O.V:

"Emma you're awake," Sean stated giving me a warm smile. I glanced at him for a moment before turning my attention back to his mother.

"What did you say about my mother?" I asked sternly looking her straight in the eye. She flinched a bit at me doing so before straightening her spine and staring me down.

"Emma darling your awake how lovely, how about some breakfast before you leave hmmm?"

I glared at her, "What. Did. You. Say. About. My. Mother?"

"Emma don't, let's just eat something and then I'll walk you home," Sean interjected.

"Answer me,"

"Harold what would you like for breakfast, eggs or pancakes?"

"Pancakes would be lovely dear."

"Why won't you answer me?" I murmured.

"Oh what to do I think we ran out of flour yesterday?"

"Answer me," I mumbled.

"That's okay honey I always did love your omelets"

"Answer me"

"Oh Harold you flatter me"

"Mom. Dad, stop. Just answer her," Sean said. They turned to him and his mother gave him a gentle smile.

"How about you Sean what are you in the mood for?"

"Mom" he argued.

"Do you want an omelet also?"

"Answer me"

"Mom stop and just tell her, you brought it up in the first place so stop stalling."

"But what to do? I think we're out of cooking oil also."

"Just f*****g answer me!" I screamed. They all stared at me in disbelief.

"Screaming so early in the morning young lady what's wrong with you?" she reprimanded. I slowly made my way over to her and she backed away from me.

"Stupid b***h, it was a lie right? What you said about my mother, it's just a rumor you made up right?" I stepped even closer to her only to feel Sean's father place his hand on my shoulder. I immediately brushed him off me and looked up at him.

"Who do you think you are you little brat?" he seethed. I flinched at the scary tone in his voice, trembling a little.

"Dad stop she didn't mean to---"

"Shut up!" he yelled, "Now do you see why we don't want you to talk to this vulgar beast, she's trash. Get it in your head she doesn't deserve your company"

"Dad—"

"I said be quiet!" he then smirked at me, "you're mothers a w***e and your father's a useless drunk... so what does that make you?"

I glared up at him and willed myself not to cry. "It can't be true.... I don't believe any of you!"

"Em maybe you should sit down and---"

I then averted my glare to Sean cutting his sentence short before blinking away the tears that threatened to fall. "I need some air" I mumbled before bolting pass Sean and his parents out the front door. I stormed out of the drive way and was about to run home until Sean came running after me.

"Emma wait!"

"Go away!"

"Em just listen to me I know your angry and probably hurt right now and—Em will you please slow down?"

I stopped walking and turned around to face him. "What?" He stared at me before nervously shifting his gaze to the floor. "What?" I asked again impatiently.

"I'm sorry okay my parent their their—"

"Assholes," I finished for him "yeah I maybe a vulgar beast but even I could see that;"

He sighed before looking me in the eye "you're not vulgar and you're not a beast my dad was just angry and—"

"And he thinks I'm not worthy to be your friend"

"Emma please, please don't let what my parents said get to you"

I groaned in frustration before shaking my head and turning my back to him "whatever I don't have time to deal with you now" and with that I practically sprinted home.

I need to know

I don't know if I want to though

But I can't just not know

"Mom!" I yelled before running upstairs "Mom where are you I need to ask you something---- Mom—"

"Emma your home, what's wrong?" She yelled from down stairs. When I heard her voice coming from the kitchen I turned back around and went downstairs. When I stepped into the kitchen I met her at the door she wore a worried expression on her face before knitting her eyebrows together. "Emma are you okay is something wrong?"

"Mom," I said sternly looking her straight in the eye. Her eyes widened a fraction after seeing my serious demeanor and she opened her mouth to say something but was cut off by what I asked her next. "Do you sleep with men for money?" I blurted.

"Ex—excuse me?"

I sighed before gathering my thoughts together. "Do you sleep with men to pay off dad's debts?"

She flinched a little when I asked this before composing herself quickly. "I really don't know what you're talking about."

Why is she lying, why does she always cover for him?

"Mom please tell me the truth I need to know the truth," I answered on the verge of tears.

"Emma calm down and explain to me what's wrong you're not making any sense"

"What is there not to understand? It's either you sleep for money or you don't which is it?" I practically yelled she flinched away from me before taking a deep breath.

"Of course I don't" she answered. I stared at her for a while before shaking my head in disbelief.

She's lying I can tell

"Don't lie to me," I seethed

"Honey I'm not lying, why would you think that I sleep around for money?"

"Yes you are lying to me"

"No I'm not Emma why would you think that?"

By then the tears that I tried to suppress came streaming down my face I tried my best to suppress a sob but to no avail. "If you're not lying then why can't you look at me, if you're telling the truth then look me in the eye and tell me"

My mother then engulfed me in her arms wrapping me in a tight embrace. "Emma please stop crying"

"Just tell me the truth" I managed to say in between sobs. I felt her exhale a deep breath before shaking her head. She never let go of me and I felt her body get tense against mine.

"Mom?"

"Emma who put this idea in your head?" I shook my head and sniffled before gazing up at her with teary eyes,

"Why won't you tell me?" she bit down on her lower lip before directing her attention to a nearby wall. She then chuckled before shaking her head.

"How could you possibly think it would be easy for to me to admit to something like that?"

I blinked at her and she stared down at me. She had a smile on her face that can only be described as bitter.

"Just tell me," I whimpered. She stared down at me a little longer before averting her gaze once again. She sighed heavily before chuckling sardonically.

"It's true," she whispered so low that I had to strain to hear. My heart almost stopped.

How? How could she?

"Let go," I whimpered, but she held me tighter.

"Emma I'm sorry I had to he—your father borrowed money from some very scary people and--"

"I don't care let go," I mumbled.

"Emma please don't be like this"

"Let go!" I yelled before I forcefully writhed my way out of her arms. When I was out of her arms I ran up the stairs leaving her in the kitchen, not long after I heard her running up the steps after me.

"Emma please—"

"Leave me alone," I yelled. I quickly made my way into my room slamming the door behind me."

"Emma open the door," she commanded. I sighed and leaned against my locked door not bothering to reply.

How could she do this to me?

How could she look me in the eyes and act like everything was okay?

Why does she always have to suffer...alone

"Emma please open up,"

"What the hell is going on?" I flinched when I heard my dad ask this.

You mean all this time he was here...did he hear anything?

"R-rick?" she yelped in surprise from his sudden appearance.

"What the f**k are you two screaming about?"

"It's nothing," she blurted quickly.

NOTHING? WAS SHE SERIOUS?

"It didn't sound like nothing,"

"She's just in a bad mood and we got in an argument and—"

"For Christ's sake Cathy, what kind of a useless mother and wife are you. All you have to do is cook, clean and make sure the runt keeps quiet. What's so hard in slapping her around so she'll shut up?"

I covered my mouth so that he couldn't hear my whimpers from behind the door.

Why, what did I do?

"Rick that's not necessary she was just throwing a tantrum—I can handle it"

A tantrum? Me getting upset about her being used like a slut to cover my father's ass is a tantrum?

I .finally. Snapped

I quickly flung open the door to face the two of them. They both turned to me in surprise and I glared daggers at the one person who caused most of the pain I felt "How dare you say that to her," I seethed

He arched an eyebrow at me before narrowing his eyes. "What was that?"

"After all she went through to save your broke ass—"

"Emma," mom interrupted.

"NO—let her finish," he said.

Mom looked toward dad then back toward me fearfully and it was at that instance that all my senses came crashing back to me in full force.

What the hell am I doing?

I immediately bit down on my lower lip and lowered my head.

"I said finish what you were saying" he growled.

I whimpered and quickly brushed away the tears I didn't realize had slipped from my eyes.

"sh—you shouldn't treat her the way you do," I said barely audible.

"And why is that?" he continued darkly.

"Because she does a lot for you," I answered with a squeak when I saw that he was directly in front of me

"Really, how so?"

I didn't reply and instead closed my eyes tightly wishing that I was anywhere but there.

"Answer me!" he yelled. My eyes widened a fraction and I looked away from him. I knew if I didn't answer I'd be on the floor in just a few short seconds. He glared at me for a while and I flinched when I saw him move closer toward me.

"She sleeps with men," I finally blurted out. He stopped his movements for a moment before furrowing his eyebrows.

You mean he really didn't know?

"What the hell are you talking about?"

I took a deep breath and braced myself for what was about to happen.

"She sleeps with men so that she can pay off your debts," I finished. I didn't look at him, how could I? I just said something like THAT to HIM.

"Cathy what the f**k is she talking about?"

"Rick please just-"

"Cathy!" he yelled before turning around to face her. My mom flinched and quickly lowered her head when she caught sight of his intimidating glare. "What. The. f**k .Is .She. Talking. About?"

"She-uhm she's just angry."

What?

"Mom wha-"

"Emma stop telling lies like that I know we got into a little argument earlier, but you shouldn't go around saying stuff like this," she interrupted. I stared at her in disbelief, why was she doing this? For a while dad just stared at her before chuckling.

"Cathy how many times do I have to tell you to discipline the brat? You're too soft," he stated and before I knew it he was behind me gripping both my arms behind my back firmly.

"L-let go," I demanded. He simply ignored me and continued talking to mom who was now carefully approaching both me and dad.

"Rick please she didn't mean it she's just young she'll learn plea-"

"Hit her," he said nonchalantly.

"What?" she asked looking at him incredulously.

"I said hit her,"

"Rick stop, she's just too young to understand what she did was wrong she doesn't need to be hit."

"Do you want me to do it then?" he asked with a sense of amusement in his voice.

"No," she answered quickly obviously frightened by the imagery of him beating me again. She bit down on her lower lip and looked my father in the eyes pleadingly. They stared at each other for a while and I flinched when his grip tightened even more.

"Do it or I will" he growled finally.

She stepped back a little before she stood her ground firmly, her fist tightened a bit and she took a deep breath.

Was she really going to?...

Smack

My eyes opened a fraction when I realized what had just happened. I mean of course it wasn't as bad as when dad does it but--

She just hit me across the face and for what? I was just defending her.

"What was that? How is she supposed to learn with something that weak? Hit her again."

"Rick—"

"I said again!" he yelled and before I knew it she had slapped me across the face this time harder. I looked at her in disbelief only to realize that she was crying.

What's the point of crying now?... It's not like this type of thing is different from what he always does.

"Again," he repeated and like before she slapped me across the face with the same force.

I closed my eyes tightly trying to think of something else while the cycle continued.

Why?

What did I ever do?--- to deserve this

I sighed a breath of relief while I laid back on my bed. Moms 'discipline' lasted for about a half hour until dad got bored of us I guess. I shut my eyes trying to rid myself of the memory of what happened earlier. After dad had released me and allowed mom to stop hitting me repeatedly he left the house. Mom tried to comfort me, but I didn't give her the chance. I ended up staying in my room for the rest of the day. A single tear escaped from my eye when I remembered that look she gave me when she was hitting me.

Fuck if your gonna hit don't look so sad about it

I felt numb. I turned my head to the corner of my room where I saw my alarm clock on my dresser. "7:50," I mumbled. I didn't realize it was that late. I slowly got out of my bed and walked toward my dresser to retrieve my phone.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sean’s P.O.V:

"Yeah mom I get it," I said in an exasperated breath. I was eating dinner with my parents who were still bent out of shape about the incident with Emma.

'"No I don't think you do, you saw how she was ready to attack me earlier didn't you?"

I rolled my eyes at her hyperbole. "Mom she wasn't going to attack you she just wanted some answers and you kept on mocking her," I replied.

She then scoffed before staring at me incredulously. "That maniac was ready to jump me, like it's my fault her mother's a slut," she stated matter-of-factually

I really wish she did jump you

"Mother please stop saying that,"

"But what for, I'm not wrong you know. That mother of hers is definitely a bad influence maybe that why Emma is like that,'

I stared at her blankly, slightly shocked at how condescending she was being. I guess I shouldn't be, seen as how my parents have never approved of Emma from the day I met her. I always wondered why though it's not like she and her family were any less fortunate than we were...well until recently I guess.

"Like what mother?" I asked slightly out of sarcasm.

She then stared at me indifferently while saying "like a slutty vulgar skank bag, if she wasn't one why would she be so willing to stay in the same room with a boy all night?'

That's it

I glanced toward my father who was eating his dinner un-phased by the conversation, acting as if mom had just described how nice the weather was.

"I'm done, may I please be excused," I said before getting up and leaving the table, not giving any of them the chance to answer.

I went upstairs to my room and locked the door behind me once I entered. I sighed out of frustration before leaning against my door. I slowly made my way toward my bed and collapsed onto it front ways. I groaned out of both anger and frustration when I remembered how eventful today was.

I can't believe they said all that to her.

And I can't believe she would think that I thought of her the same way my parents does. I would never think of her that way. She's not vulgar or a slut. She's the opposite actually; she's sweet, kind, modest and vulnerable (not that that's her fault.)

I sat up on my bed and crossed my legs Indian style as my mind ran on Emma.

I'm worried. She left me very angry earlier and I'm pretty sure she confronted her mom about what happened and if that happens... I don't want to think about it.

I shook my leg impatiently thinking about all the possible outcome of Emma's confrontation, and every imagery that came to mind ended with Emma a bruised mess.

Dammit stop thinking about it.

I growled in frustration and tried my best to make my shaking leg come to halt. Soon after I found myself sitting on my roof. I ended up climbing outside my window to cool off after I found myself just about ready to run over to Emma's house and see how she's doing.

God why is she so.... Why does she make me have to worry so much?

I jumped a little when I felt my phone vibrate in my back pocket snapping me out of my reverie. I sighed before taking my phone out of my pocket and looking on the screen. It was a text from Emma.

Wait from Emma!?

I quickly opened the message to read it while holding my breath in anticipation.

Why would she text me after today? I thought I would have had to beg for forgiveness tomorrow at school.

"I'm outside," I read out loud. I furrowed my eyebrows repeating the text in my head.

My eyes soon widened a fraction after giving the message some thought.

Wait?

I quickly looked below me from the roof and stopped when I spotted a shadow move across the far end of my lawn toward the side of my house. I quickly climbed back through my window and scrambled outside of my room and down the stairs. When I was at the bottom of the staircase I looked toward the dining room where I saw mom and dad conversing over their half-eaten dinner. I slowly made my way to the back door trying my best to be inconspicuous. I sighed when I arrived at the back door going unnoticed by my parents. Once I was outside of my house I was immediately met by a pair of emerald eyes. I stared at her in shock before grasping her hand and dragging her toward the tool shed at the near end of the yard.

"S-sean what are—"she yelped.

"Shut up," I whispered harshly. I growled in frustration why am I so angry? The moment I looked her in the eye I lost it. When we arrived at the shed I quickly opened it and pushed her inside before closing the shed door behind us.

"Sean?"

"I said shut up," I replied walking to the center of the room to turn the light bulb on. I then turned around to face her. She was in the corner of the room with her head lowered.

Why was she not looking at me?

"Emma look up," I said as calmly as I could, but by the way she flinched at the sound of my voice told me it probably wasn't working. I sighed in frustration.

Why am I so mad...or is it that I was so worried about her that I just can't stay calm around her?

I slowly walked toward her until I was directly in front of her. I saw her shaking before me and I could only imagine what she was probably feeling at that instance. I inhaled deeply to calm myself before I pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Oh God please tell me you're okay Emma... I just-- I was really worried," I said softly into her hair. I felt her arm wrap around me weakly, I tightened my hold on her when she wouldn't stop shaking. "Emma I know you're scared but—but just let me hold you like this a little longer." I felt her nod her head despite the fact that she was shaking like a leaf. "I'm really sorry Emma,"

"I- I know, but you don't have to be," she whispered.

"What did your mom say?" I asked loosening my hold on her a little. I heard her let out a bitter laugh and just that answered my question. I slowly pulled away from her and tilted her face up with my hand so she could look me in the eye. "Are you okay?" She pulled her face away from my hand and moved back a little. "Emma you need to tell me if you're okay," I continued noticing her tearing up a bit. "Em-"

"I'm fine," she interrupted hoarsely.

"Emma you're obviously not,"

"I said I'm fine," she replied looking away from me.

I then glared at her before grasping onto her wrist tightly, so she wouldn't move away while I inspected her.

"Sean?"

I ignored her and simply continued to look her over for any physical injury. I then reached for the shirt she was wearing lifting it up to see if there were any bruises under her clothes only to be pushed away by her.

"What are you doing," she yelped

"What do you think? I need to see if you're really okay," I answered indifferently.

"I said I'm fine," she seethed glaring at me.

"If your fine then why are you here?" I said nearly shouting.

Her eyes widened a fraction when I said this. She then averted her gaze to the other side of the room and bit down on her lower lip.

I really hate when she does that.

"Emma," I said impatiently

"She hit me," she replied softly. The look I was giving her immediately softened when I heard this.

"What?" I asked in disbelief.

She then turned to me tearfully, before shaking her head almost as if she couldn't believe what she said herself.

"I said mom hit me,"

I clenched my hand into a fist tightly trying to keep my anger at bay, I just don't understand sh-she was the only one on Emma's side in that house, the only one that wouldn't hurt her. "How could she do that to you?" I asked myself more than her.

"He made her do it," she said bitterly "He held me down and forced her to—"she choked on a sob and reached out to me as if she wanted me to hold her.

As if I could resist that invitation

I slowly enveloped my arms around her waist and sighed when I felt her tears wet my shirt. "It'll be okay," I said soothingly while rubbing her back. After a couple of minutes staying in that position she calmed down a bit and pulled away from me.

"You should go back," she stated.

I snorted when she said this before looking at her straight in the eye. "As if I'll leave you in this condition"

"No I need to go back also before my dad realizes," she replied.

I sighed knowing full well that she was right. "I really don't want you going back there," I mumbled.

She chuckled a bit. "As if any of us can do anything about that,"

I inwardly flinched when she said this and resisted the urge to smack her for getting too use to her life. I sighed in disappointment not blaming her for being this pessimistic and held on to her shoulders tightly. "Listen to me Emma no matter what I promise that I will get you out of that house, okay?"

She stared at me incredulously for a while before smirking and nodding her head.

She probably doesn't believe me... can't blame her.

We stayed silent for a while just staring at each other. "Hey Emma remember when you said you loved me?" I asked breaking the silence. I saw her eyes widen a fraction before she began to blush persuasively and chuckled a bit.

"W-why do you keep say—"

I cut her thought off by kissing her chastely on the lips. As soon as I moved away I stared at her in amusement as her face contorted from a confusion into utter embarrassment.

"Emma I'm starting to think I love you too,"

The silence between us was almost deafening. She looked away from me and stared up at the ceiling of the shed as she bit down on her bottom lip. She then flashed her gaze back at me then at the floor.

"D-don't be stupid," she stuttered.

I smirked before capturing her lips once again in a deeper kiss. She tensed a bit when I did this but relaxed when I cupped her cheek. I slowly released her lips leaving an inch of space between our faces. "Sorry I think I got carried away," I chuckled before pulling away from her completely. She stared at me for a little bit before nodding her head.

"Uhm Sean I-I-"

I arched an eyebrow at her when she stopped talking. "You what?"

"I uhm well I just wanted to—"she then glanced up at me before she averted her gaze to the ground.

I chuckled at how shy she was acting. "What you want to tell me you love me too," I joked

Her head then shot up at me and I stared at her in disbelief when she slowly nodded.

"Then why don't you?" I asked as I slowly backed her up against the wall.

"Because I'm nervous," she mumbled looking everywhere else but at me. I snickered before closing off the inch of space that was between our bodies. Her head was still turned away from me and I took this opportunity to lower my head to her ear,

"You know you're not leaving until you say it," I whispered.

I felt as she grasped my shirt for some kind of support and smirked when she slowly made eye contact with me. "I-I, Sean?"

"Yes," I answered clearly amused.

"I... can you kiss me again?"

I widened my eyes a fraction before chuckling "That hard for you to admit huh?"

She lowered her head burring it in my shirt "sorry," her muffled voice said.

"Don't worry about it, you said it before I did any way so it's not like I don't know."

I pulled away from her and slowly raised her head with my hand so she could look me in the eye.

"Seriously I'll make sure to say it enough for the both of us,"

She then gave me a small smile before walking to the door, I followed closely behind and held onto her hand before she could turn the knob. She looked up at me confused as I reluctantly pulled my hand away from her. "Just be safe," I mumbled. She stared at me for a while before nodding. She then bolted outside of the shed before I could get another word in. I watched as she ran down my drive way to her house from the tool shed and shook my head.

I really hope she'll be okay... in that house

I slowly trudged back into my house, glad that I still went unnoticed by my parents. I went into my room locking the door behind me. I then laid back on my bed looking at the ceiling.

So miss Emma? What are you doing now?