Chapter 9

Before she realized Emily started tearing up . She slowly picked up the beads one by one .

"Let me help you " a voice emerged behind her and took her by surprise.

It was a new voice which Emily never heard . She turned around and saw a brown haired boy picking up the beads on the floor. She wondered who he was and why he was helping her.

He saw Emily's baffled expression and chuckled softly.

" Don't worry Emily I am just trying to help you . I heard about what happened with you and Anna and I am pretty sure it wasn't your fault. I believe you. I mean no harm"

Believe .Emily was trying to hear that word from yesterday and felt relieved that at least someone believes in her.

" Thanks" Emily said in a monotonic voice.

Emily and the guy continued picking up the beads and soon they collected all of them.

" Wait I have container to put them in." The guy handed over a glass box to Emily . She put the beads in that.

"Hey I don't know who you are but thanks for the help. Means a lot to me."

"Oh yeah I forgot to introduce myself." The guys put his hand forward for a handshake

"Hi I am Henry"

" Emily "

"So Emily now that we are late and missed the lab what are you planning on doing now ? "

"I don't know I'll probably sit in the library for a couple of hours . It's better there since not many people will be there to stare at me "

Henry understood how troubled Emily was and wanted to cheer her up.

"Would you like to take a stroll in the garden ? It will improve your mood and not many people will be there at this time of the day , trust me on this one . "

Emily thought for a second and felt that it was better than being alone .

" Sure " Emily wondered why he was being so good to her but she could feel that he meant no harm.

They reached the garden and sat down for a while.

"So Emily I heard from my sister that you are a daredevil who stood upto Anna . Boy how did I miss that! "

"Your sister ?"

"Yeah jenna . She told me that she met you in the library the other day."

"Oh yeah . She is your sister huh."

"Yeah "

"Not a daredevil I was just standing up for myself. I'm sure the rest of the school thinks otherwise "

Emily looked dejected thinking about it again. Henry noticed this.

"Nah I'm sure there are more people in this school who realized her true nature. Hopefully Shawn will soon realize that as well. "

"Shawn? " Emily asked suspiciously

"Yeah Shawn. Anna had been with Shawn ever since the death of his mother and helped him cope with it. She did it with ulterior motives but Shawn is blinded by friendship to realize it. She caught him when he was most vulnerable and turned him into an arrogant mess." Henry sighed.

Emily now understood why Shawn reacted the way he did.

"How do you know so much about them ? "

"Cause I also happen to be his step-brother. " Henry replied casually.

"I – really ? " Emily was shocked.

"Yeah . Shawn's father married soon after his mother's death and we came to live with them . He had always hated me and Jenna but we never complained. That's why no matter how many times I warned him about Anna he gets angry and shuns me ."

"Wow . I don't know what to say . You must have had it tough "

"Well it's okay I guess he is just craving for genuine affection. His father is too busy to care for his emotions and Anna is the one who he can rely on . He might deny it but I will take care of him like a brother."

Emily was touched by his words . The more she learnt about Anna the more she hated her.

They kept talking about various things and soon it was lunch time and students started coming into the garden. Emily remember that she wanted to meet Lucy during lunch time . She tried to quickly get to her class when Anna interrupted her.

"Wow Emily you couldn't catch Shawn so you changed your target to his brother huh"

"Aww Anna not everybody is like you trying to land up a guy by any means possible ."

"Atleast i don't try to stalk them like her."

"well you spent your whole life obsessing over him and that is as bad as stalking."

Emily just rolled her eyes at Anna and starts walking away. Lily catches Emily by her hand forcefully.

"Do you think you can just walk away like that when Anna is talking . How high do you think of yourself ? "

"Leave her hand before I make you miserable. " Henry says in a stern voice. His sturdy figure made Sasha tremble and she reluctantly leaves Emily's hand.

"You think you are some kind of a savior right Henry , always butting into my business" Anna says irked by his actions

"What can I do Anna , all I do is try to rescue those whom you wanna trap . I would like to stop when you will but I guess once a leech , always a leech. "

Anna just gritted her teeth and have a fake smile

"Yeah whatever weirdo . Let's leave her Lily I am sure she must be worried about that friend of her ."

Emily was alarmed when Anna mentioned Lucy ." What happened to Lucy ? "

"Oh that suck up ? Well I heard that she was taken to the hospital . She had fallen into the pool and drowned."

Emily felt as if her world collapsed for a second. She fell down on her knees . Anna saw this sight and was satisfied with Emily's plight. Soon she and her friends left. Henry was surprised to see Emily in such a state.