CHAPTER 6

 Ten minutes later after Carly had already settled and the class already began, Emily entered the classroom. She had excused herself a moment earlier and headed to the bathroom, leaving Carly to walk alone. She braced herself,a charming smile plastered across her face, head held high and proceeded forward. All eyes turned to her as the classroom went silent. Just the reaction she loved to cause. She was only interested in only one pair.

           "Look who finally decided to grace us with her presence," Mr Gilbert announced humorlessly.

             "Sorry Mr Gee.I just had a little problem with my make up," Emily said smiling.

             "It's Mr Gilbert to you and this is an English class,not a beauty contest Miss Hill," he replied sternly. The whole class roared into laughter.Emily looked down embarrassed."Next time you are late,don't even bother putting an inch of your toes into the classroom,"he added.

        "It won't happen again," Emily replied in a low voice.

         "Make sure it doesn't. Let this be the last warning, go sit down and catch up."

Emily walked slowly towards her sit as several students giggled. Seeing her being embarrassed like that wasn't something that happened oftenly. She quietly took out her book.Carly managed a quick glance in her direction and when their eyes met,she mouthed an 'I'm sorry' not very genuinely and then back to her books.‘Well,she had it coming.’She thought silently hoping that that would melt her ice cold heart and change her for the better, for the best actually.

Minutes turned into hours as Carly went through the days classes. Each bringing her closer to the afternoon and therefore to the much awaited hang out with her brother. It was the thought that had occupied her mind through out the day,the only thought. She found it amusing how she looked forward to it while they had been practically living under the same roof.To her,it was like waiting upon a reunion with a long lost relative who always brought out all the joy in the world.Definitely crazy how you distance yourself from people you see at every turn inside your house.

There was one thing though that she was still wasn't sure about despite all the joy she felt.She knew that spending time with him meant getting closer to him.It meant sharing everything with him,talking about everything just like old times.But what if it wouldn't be like old times? What would happen if she told him about what had happened while they were busy pushing each other away?Would he judge her for things she had done? Some that carried so much weight.She didn't think she could handle him if he turned out like that. Maybe she didn't have to at first.She decided to give it time and decide whether to tell him about everything, about her sexuality after sometime.The last thing she wanted was for him to go running to their parents, announcing the secret she had kept from everyone. Maybe she would tell him after highschool. Then she would be heading to college, she would avoid judgemental comments from them in her face and she wouldn't be around to be scolded.

       She smiled, "Perfect plan." 

        "Hey,who are you talking to?" Taylor asked as she touched her on the shoulder starting her.Carly turned around quickly and faced the other unlucky girl who had been taken advantage of by Emily."Sorry,I didn't mean to startle you. "

           "Hey Taylor," Carly said  composing herself.

Taylor looked at her curiously, "Forgive me but you look like you were miles away having a conversation with a distance ghost."

             "Nope,just took a leap into my past and realized that I could have made better choices. I have been doing a lot of that lately," she replied.

          "Yeah,you and me both," Taylor agreed and took the seat beside her."It's about time but we definitely should have realized that sooner.Speaking of,I think it's the best time to start_"

             "To start what Taylor?" Emily said cutting her off as she sat opposite them.

             "Oh,hey Em.Sorry about earlier today during the English class," Taylor said.

            "I'm just going to pretend that I didn't see you laughing along with the rest and call it bygones.I don't dwell on the past especially with the people I love most," Emily replied with a smirk." Carly rolled her eyes."But trust me,if you do that again, I will cut you off just as quickly as I took you in and then you will have no one.Just like the way you were before our paths crossed,"she warned.

          "Look,Emily..." Taylor began.

            "I know. You are welcome." 

Carly and Taylor looked at each other puzzled. "I know you were just going to say thank you but save it," Emily continued.

 ‘So much for melting her ice cold heart.’Carly murmured under her breathe.

 "What was that?" Emily asked holding a finger up then dropped it."Actually don't answer that.We better head to practice.Come on girls."

           "I was actually going to thank you for all those years you offered to be my friend but I am gonna save it.I'm not coming to practice today or any other day for that matter. I'm done following you around so, good luck. I can't do this anymore," Taylor said indicating between them what 'this' meant and started walking away.Carly and Emily looked at her taken by surprise. Carly because she never would have thought Taylor doing anything like that,she was actually impressed and Emily because she thought she wrapped everybody around her finger,she wasn't expecting that.

Emily sighed, "Well, her choice. Don't let that loser keep us from getting to practice," she said loudly for Taylor to hear.

            "Oh my God Emily,you are so full of yourself. Why do you feel like you are always the one to decide what others should do?"Taylor stopped and turned around. "You are not that special you know.Being rich doesn't give you the power over us." Emily rolled her eyes and Carly turned away smiling. She was beginning to enjoy this.

Taylor then turned to her,"You have a choice you know? You don't have to keep doing things to impress others in the process diminishing yourself."

Carly looked up suddenly feeling attacked. Taylor had struck the naked truth at an angle.

           "Come on Carly, we have practice to get to.We don't have to listen to this," Emily said in contempt,anger beginning to show on her face.

Carly sat there suddenly caught up with a huge decision to make. She knew she had a choice. She had lived under Emily Hill's shadow for a long time but only because she felt she needed to.One of the bad decisions she had made.But Taylor was right and this was a good day as any to take a step,just like she had with her brother.

She stood up slowly and faced Emily, "I actually have my brother to get to.I guess you are on your own Emily."​