14: Emma

' * * * '

"Thanks, Emma."

"No problem, Nate."

I let go of her and wiped my eyes.

"Well… it seems it's about that time. We should head to the meeting place."

"You're right. I'll text Hailey that we are on the way."

"Okay, I'll text Marc."

I asked my mom if I could borrow the car and Emma and I used it to go to the Coffee shop. We informed Hailey and Emma that they shouldn't drive to the shop, as I already had a car and carpooling would be most efficient. When we arrived at the shop, I ordered a Frappe and grabbed a table with Emma while we waited. It was odd… rather than sitting across from me, she chose to sit next to me. It made me think… It was the same way at my house. We had the entire house, even in just that room, there was so much space. So why were we so close?

Hailey beat Marc to the shop. It was surprising, I mean, I picked this place because it was down the block from his house.

"Nice of you to show up so early, Marc!"

He chuckled, "Sorry, was I really the last one?"

"Yeah." I said flatly

"Hailey. Emma. I don't know if either of you are acquainted with him, so here's Marc. That's all you need to know."

"HUH!! Don't be so mean Natey––poo!"

"Don't call me such disgusting names."

"Sorry!" He got on the ground and groveled like he was apologizing sincerely but it was clear he didn't mean it. I stepped on his head.

"Stop acting so weird. They are gonna run away." I lifted my foot and looked down at him. "See ladies, this is why his name was all you needed to know about him."

They both chuckled to themselves and nodded.

"Hello Marc, nice to meet you. My name is Emma."

"Likewise Emma." Marc shook her hand.

"H––Hello… My name is Hailey."

Marc stuck out his hand to Hailey but she seemed taken aback and tried to avoid his hand. He looked utterly dejected. I couldn't help but chuckle.

"N––nice to meet you Hailey…"

We left the shop and loaded into the car. Me and Emma sat in the front as we had already left our things in the front seats. Hailey and Marc got into the back and Marc looked so uncomfortable it made me feel a little bad for him. But with the scene he made in the shop, it seemed like a fair trade.

* * *

"So what's the first ride you wanna go on?"

"Superman."

"Superman."

"Superman!" Emma exclaimed

"Looks like we are going on superman." I sighed.

Seriously guys? All the rides here and your first pick is one of the least interesting rides… you've gotta be kidding me.

We waited in line for about 20 minutes and finally got onto the ride. When we did, Emma sat next to me, and Hailey sat next to Marc. The real reason I picked six flags is because it was the only place that wasn't gonna be crowded today. I had actually planned this whole event out, even before proposing it to Emma and Hailey.

I'm something of a genius. No you're not. Shut up!

We rode the ride and to nobody's surprise Emma screamed the whole time, but she was clearly not scared. What was surprising, to me at least, was the fact that Hailey screamed as well. I even saw her grab onto Marc's arm. She was either deadly terrified, or was starting to warm up to him.

"What's next?"

"Viper!" Emma screamed immediately.

"Viper…" Marc and Hailey said defeatedley.

So we rode the Viper. And then X2. And then goliath. And ride after ride, I saw Emma get paler and paler. I figured the smart thing to do was pull her aside and have a conversation with her.

"Yo Emma. You okay?"

"Yeah…"

"Don't yeah me. You look like a ghost. Let's take a seat. I'll get you something to drink."

I walked over to the cart and while Emma sat by herself and bought water for her.

"Sir, that will be 2.35. Cash or Card?"

"Uh, I'll use cash…"

I looked over and saw that Emma had been surrounded by a group of dudes, 3 to be specific.

"Here you go sir. Have a good da––"

Before the cashier could finish their sentence, I grabbed the water and ran toward Emma.

"You all by yourself?"

"Hey Chuck, y'see her? She's got a pretty good rack. Get her to come with us."

"So what do you say lady? Wanna come with us?"

What should I do… Move over. Always so hesitant. You set yourself up for failure if you fail to make an effort.

"Hey Jackass. Fuck off."

"Heh? What'd you say to me, twerp?"

Grab him by the collar.

"I said–– Fuck off."

Punch him.

"Hey… Chuck… I think we should go…"

"Yeah, that guys a freak."

"Hey Screw you man!"

The guys started to scurry away.

"Emma! Are you okay?

"I'm okay… are you?"

"Yeah… I think… I think I'm okay."

"H––here's the water I got."

"Thank you."

"Do you have your meds with you? It's about time you take them right?"

"Yeah… they are in my bag."

"Okay, I'll get them."

I grabbed her bag and looked through it while she drank the water bottle. I found the pills. It was a bundle, in a popping package rather than a bottle.

"How many do you need?"

"3."

These are huge? How does she take these every day?

"Here you go."

She swallowed them.

"Grab the Tylenol as well."

"Here."

"Thanks."

I'm so glad she's okay. Those guys didn't look like they were hurting her but. The things they said… I was disgusted. I got so angry. I… what did I do? Oh right. I went red. But this time I… I was awake. Why's it happening now? Shouldn't I be happy? Shouldn't I feel good? I have friends. My mom. My dad is dead. No one calls me worthless. I… What is it I want! He said–– I said… He was my anger. My hatred. Why would I be angry? Who… what could be the cause?

I looked at the ground as my vision started to swirl. Twisting and spinning my hands reflected in my eyes. My chest. My chest is so tight. I feel my knees going weak… I wanna sleep. I need to sleep. I wanna…

Emma!

I have to be there for Emma. I mean she's… she's injured. She has a disease. I have to be there for her. But does she… does she even need me? I mean she was fine before I intervened with those guys. Why am I forcing my way into her life? I'm so confused… I'm so lost. I'm so…

"Hey Nate."

I looked up, with tears in my eyes and saw Emma.

"Emma…"

"Nate… I'm about pooped when it comes to coasters. It's 3, and we've been at this for 3 hours straight. Even for you healthy people, this can't be healthy. Wanna go eat dinner or something?"

I really… this girl. Why is it that I feel so drawn to her…

"I'd like that."

And so we called Hailey and Marc and told them that we were gonna go head to a restaurant down the street and to give us a call when they were done. They said they had just about had it too so all 4 of us met up in the parking lot and walked to the car together.

As we walked, I talked to Emma as I saw a puddle of gasoline. I stopped and looked at it.

"Emma, do you ever feel bad for the gasoline puddles?"

"What?"

"I was just thinking, it must be so lonely. Gasoline pushes away water. It's such a sad existence. Being forced into the same area but having everything pushed away. You can only truly reconnect with other drops of gas. Other disgusting, slimy, dirty puddles of gas. But when you look at it. It's quite beautiful. The chromatic flurry in the water is an amazing sight, but it's so lonely. It exists as it is and no matter how much it tries, it can't change. It will always be gas."

Emma took a moment to respond but when she did she said this.

"I think it can change."

"That's absurd Emma. We can't change who we are. Gasoline is always gasoline, the same way you are always you and I am I."

"Nate… you've already changed."

"What…?"

"If you haven't noticed yet, you will soon enough."

Those words of Emma's… they stuck with me. I really hope I can change. And if I already have, I hope I can change for the better. I think… little by little. I'm going to get better. I'll be the guy worthy of Emma.

I don't want Emma to get picked on anymore.

I don't want her to be sad.

I don't want her to feel pain.

I don't want her to get surrounded by creepy dudes and have no real guy to protect her.

I want to protect her.

I want to be there for her.

I want to be better.

I want to be… better.

Stronger, kinder, smarter, funnier, more popular. I wanna be the guy worthy of Emma.

That's because… I think I like…. Heh. Well,

I think I like Emma.