CHAPTER 3
1306 Words
It started with a stretched silence.
Then he took two steps forward, his demeanor suddenly spiraling. Perfectly arched eyebrows were raised, and at the corner of his mouth, a daunting smirk played.
“Just like I expected.” He tutted.
“Uh?” I managed to let out.
“One would think that after stuffing your face like a cavewoman, the last thing you'd be interested in was sex.”
My face burned; he'd seen me?!
I raised my hands frantically in defense, “No! I assure you I'm not-”
“Are you always this cheap? So eager to have s*x with anyone…or you simply chose to throw yourself at me for clout?” His face was stoic, azure orbs now darkened.
Tears brimmed in my hazel eyes.
Don't cry.
“That's not true.” I whispered, a tear rolling down.
Why am I crying?
“I-I don't mean it that way. Remember how I helped you back there, so I thought you could also-”
“Pay you back by having s*x with you?” He cut me off again.
“Do you always repay everyone like this?”
I gaped at his insinuation.
He continued. “Don't fool yourself, there are many ladies in New York who'd have done that willingly. You're nothing special, Emery.”
“Tell me, are you so desperate to have your name in the papers to the extent that you'd walk into an exclusive event by all means possible looking like this?”
“I don't care what you've heard of me but I definitely do not settle for opportunistic women with non-existent dignity.”
The tears I'd tried to rein in now flowed freely.
“Save yourself the embarrassment and leave.” With that, he entered the car.
As I watched him leave, the crunch of the tires against the tarmac seemed to mirror the way his words crushed what was left of my fragile heart.
***
Once again, I was seated on a bench with nowhere to go.
I regretted not telling Mr Finch my destination was still hours away since my parents lived about three hundred miles from here.
I didn't want to trouble him; he'd gone out of his way to help me already.
“Maybe I should have, at least I wouldn't be stranded once again.” I huffed.
My nose flared as I remembered the words that jerk had thrown at me.
Have you ever come out of a confrontation where you had stood like a frozen puppy while the other party threw tear-inducing words at you, and then all the words you could have said to get back at this person came rushing into your head after the person left?
That was exactly how I felt—pained—as I thought of the many things I could have said to defend myself.
“Who does he think he is?” I scoffed. “Why would I use you for clout when I don't even know you! Such a self-absorbed a**hole!”
“You don't settle for opportunistic women, well guess what? I don't settle for douchebags who think the universe revolves around them too.”
I cringed, remembering how I cried in front of him.
“I'm so exhausted!” I yawned loudly, suddenly feeling tired.
I felt a headache coming on, and before I knew it, I succumbed to sleep.
***
“Miss.”
“Helloooo.”
I grunted tiredly, stirring awake.
“Ugh.” I moaned at the pain that coursed through my body due to the hard bench.
“Did you sleep here?”
“Uh?” I turned to see an adorable little girl with a toothy grin…or toothless rather; most of her baby teeth were gone, making her even cuter.
"Oh hi," I said softly.
“Hi, I'm Sophie. You're very pretty, what's your name?”
“Emery, you're very pretty too.” I smiled
“Thank you.” Her cheeks tinged pink.
So adorable, I cooed.
"Why did you sleep outside? It's sooo cold." She rubbed her hands on her arms dramatically.
"I don't have a home…for now." I couldn't bring myself to lie to her cute face. "But I will, soon."
“Will you come live with us then?” I chuckled at her reasoning.
Children are so simple-hearted, unencumbered by the responsibilities adulthood brings along.
Simpler times… I thought in nostalgia.
“Sophie!” A voice called.
“Mummy!”
“I've been searching everywhere for you,” she breathed in relief as she came closer. “And what did I say about talking to strangers?”
“But Emery is my new friend, she isn't a stranger.”
Sophie's mum turned to me for the first time. She looked like she'd be around my age or slightly older. Her eyes were very beautiful, like her daughter's.
Strangely, for a fleeting second, her eyes reminded me of He Who Shall Not Be Named from yesterday.
“Yes, she can come stay with us.”
“Wait, what?” I had zoned out so much that I didn't hear Sophie ask her mum if I could live with them.
“Yayyyy.” Sophie jumped excitedly.
“Are you sure?” I stood cautiously, “you're not uncomfortable that a stranger -”
“Are you a kidnapper?” She asked suddenly with a glint in her eyes and a hint of a smile.
Uh?
“What? No!”
“Good! Let's go.” She walked ahead.
“I'm Eloise, what's yours?” She beamed, looking back at me.
I rushed, trying to keep up with them.
“Emery. I'll be out of your hair as soon as I'm able to, I promise.”
“Don't worry, I have a feeling that we're going to be friends for a very long time.” She winked while I blinked, still in shock.
Who sees a total stranger on the street and offers them a place to stay?
I gaped at her, and for the first time in twenty-four hours, I felt a glimmer of hope burst forth, casting a warm glow through me like hot chocolate on a chilly day.
***
It's been a week since I started to live with Eloise, and I'd decided to save up so I could afford the transport fee to my parents'.
With Eloise's help, I started work at a cafe nearby. This was after I politely declined her offer to lend me some money.
With the money I'd saved up, I planned on traveling to meet my parents the next day.
“Emery, can you get the door when my brother comes? I have to get Sophie dressed.” Eloise asked as she got off the phone.
“Is he on the way?”
They had a family dinner thingy with their grandfather, and she'd called her brother to ride with him since 'she wasn't in the driving mood.'
In the past week, I'd heard so much about Eloise's brother, Uncle Lex, from Sophie. She called him her best friend and favorite uncle, even though Eloise told me he was her only uncle.
She never stopped telling me about how awesome he was and how we'd hit it off. I, too, was beginning to anticipate his coming.
“Yes. Are you sure you don't want to come with us? We'll be back late, can you stay alone?”
“Yeah, sure, it's no biggie.” I waved. “Besides, I'm working the evening shift today, remember?”
She shrugged in acquiescence and sprinted up the stairs.
Minutes later, the doorbell rang.
That must be him.
“Hi, I'm Em-” I stopped short as I recognized the person before me.
“You!” I squeaked in shock.
Standing before me was the jerk from the hotel party, Xander.
- Writer
