Emma's POV “What do you mean next week?!” I squealed as my mom broke the news to me. She and Mark were gonna be having their first anniversary in a week. “Yeah.” She breathed really deep. . “You don't sound too enthusiastic.” I observed. “Stuff has been going on, Em. Didn't want to bother you.” She replied to me. “Now I'm so bothered.” I replied to her. It's been over a week since Kev and I officially got out of the friendship zone. Kev was explicit with the fact that he wanted more than just to be friends, and I think we'd gone beyond that too. “I shot him.” She said, I felt like a bomb had just exploded in my head. This was the man who rescued us from the allegations in Starry. “What the fuck, mom?” I yelled over the phone. I was home, and currently the only one in my apartment, so I could tell as loudly and freely as I wanted to. Kevin had begun to spend more time over, although for the bulk of it, he was on his work laptop. “Don't use the f word with m
Chase's POV I'd still seriously been considering excuses for not showing up at the anniversary. It was six days to go. I woke up every morning to thoughts of it. Ding! Ding! My phone chimed. My phone was always on DND and only rang or chimed when it was someone on my favorites list messaging me. I still hadn't been able to bring myself to take Emma off the list. ‘Welcome everyone!’, A text on a new group chat read. I rubbed the sleep away from my eyes, and looked at it again. It was just my Dad, Emma, and I. “What is going on?” I asked him. I felt fear, annoyance and excitement. “Why the group?” I asked again. “Is that how you now greet your old man?” He asked. “Come on dad, I'm not having a good morning.” I said. “I need all hands on deck to give Linda the perfect first year anniversary, and you both are gonna help out, whether you like it or not!” He yelled at me. “What if something came up? A laboratory session I can't miss? Or a presentation?” I asked
Emma's POV “Are you sure about that?” I asked my mom as soon as she flashed her diamond ring in my face. She's been head over heels in love with her new man, and while they get on my nerves sometimes, especially on the days I caught them making out in the living room, one thing I can't deny is the fact that they are good together. “Yes honey.” She replied beaming. “What's wrong?” Mom looked concerned, she probably sensed that I wasn't so cool with it, but I didn't want to be the party pooper. “Oh no. Don't get me wrong. I just wanted to make sure that you are certain about it.” I replied to her. “Besides, is it an old people's thing to not propose in public. Why did he slip the ring under the duvet?” I teased her. “Please!” She said, laughing. Before Mark, my soon to be step dad, it's been a really long while since I saw my mom so happy. She was a workaholic. A lifestyle I think she picked up after my dad. It was a great save from alcohol, but I still didn't have her to
Emma's POV “What was that, mom?!” I asked as soon as I walked in. I was a little surprised to see that she was at home. I mean, what if I was bringing my non-existent boyfriend home for some quick after school make out sesh? “Sit down, baby.” I had mixed feelings about her calling me baby. Sometimes, it made me feel like the center of her world which I was, other days, it just made me feel small, like it did now. “Trust me, I was going to.” I almost passed out in the morning, I'm not trying to again. “You don't have to sound that way, Emma.” At least she called my name. That was also a good and bad thing. She only used my name when there was something serious to say. “I'm all ears mom.” I replied to her, sitting and crossing my legs at whatever manner of travesty was about to present itself again. I couldn't also wait to get back to fantasizing about him, Kevin… He'd break the news to you. Before I had the time to ask who ‘he’ was, a tall handsome man walked out of
Emma's POV As soon as I finished checking out all the fancy things Mark got me, I settled to stalk Kevin. At least I now knew his name. I searched the name up on all my social media, but I was never really good at stalking things, so I couldn't find him. Plus there's a very huge chance he wasn't going to be using his real name. I searched Kayla, this time I was determined to find her. The occurrences for Kayla wasn't as much as that of Kevin, plus the ‘23’ she had written on her bag must definitely mean something. I added it to ‘Kayla’ in my search, and her name popped up. Apparently, she has done a bit of modeling. Her page looked so full and classy. They must be rich people. I searched all her followers and in no time, saw Kevin. I held my breath unconsciously before clicking on him. As soon as I did, I couldn't hold back. I looked at all he's ever posted, and all the ladies, especially. He seemed to roll with only cute model girls. I didn't think I stood a chance. The least I
Emma's POV “There's no way I'm making it out of the door.” I replied to him. I was heartbroken. If not for the fact that the stars never aligned in my favor, mom wasn't supposed to be off work. But Mark decided his sperm bladder couldn't hold on any longer. Ugh! Life sucked! “That's okay.” Kevin texted back. I felt bad for him, and for me. “We could make the best of here though.” He added, with a winking emoji. Now that was exciting. At least he wasn't giving up on me. “That's perfect. What do you say we do?” I was brimming with joy. I was really good at online games and riddles, so I did not have to worry about him trashing me at it. “I'd love to see more pictures.” I was surprised. That definitely wasn't what I was expecting. “Okay.” I replied. I was really still on the fence about it, but it was HIM, KEVIN! “...without clothes.” He added. My heart flip-flopped in my chest. I was excited and scared at the same time. “Why should I trust you?” I asked him.
Emma's POV “Hey.” Kevin texted, about an hour after they got in.My nerves calmed a bit. “What's up? How was today? Didn't see you much?” There were a million other questions I wanted to ask, but that could suffice for now. “It was a lot.” He replied. He was still typing, so I held my breath hoping he would explain the ‘a lot’ part. “Hey, it's Kayla.” I got another text. Now I was torn, and curious. Why was she texting me? “I stole your contact from Kevin.” She admitted. That was cool. I'd love to be friends with her if Kevin and I were ever going to amount to anything. “Hi Kayla. Didn't see you much today. What's up?” I replied to her. Kevin was still typing, there must be a whole lot he wanted to say. Why didn't he just call? I didn't want to send any text so I wouldn't interrupt his thought process, so I decided to wait it out. “There's something I think you should know.” Kayla said next. “What is it?” My heart was beating twice as fast as it normally did. “Kay
Emma's POV “What was that, Emma?” Mom demanded as soon as I walked in. “What are you talking about?” I asked her, weakly. She noticed I didn't come in with as much strength as I stormed down. “What's wrong, baby?” She asked again. “Everything.” I replied “What does that even mean?” She continued probing. I was walking to my room, ready to shut the door behind me, but she was hot on my tails. “I want to be alone.” I said. That never worked, I wasn't expecting it to. “Emma, I know a lot of things are wrong with us. And I promise to fix it as soon and as fast as I can, but please, please, what's wrong? I can't stand seeing you like this.” She was already tearing up. I hated myself more. I was her only child after my dad left us. I always promised myself that I wasn't going to cause her pain after I watched my dad walk out on us almost six years ago. Al she did was work her ass off, except the brief alcoholic phase, but all she had been to me was an angel. I can'
Chase's POV I'd still seriously been considering excuses for not showing up at the anniversary. It was six days to go. I woke up every morning to thoughts of it. Ding! Ding! My phone chimed. My phone was always on DND and only rang or chimed when it was someone on my favorites list messaging me. I still hadn't been able to bring myself to take Emma off the list. ‘Welcome everyone!’, A text on a new group chat read. I rubbed the sleep away from my eyes, and looked at it again. It was just my Dad, Emma, and I. “What is going on?” I asked him. I felt fear, annoyance and excitement. “Why the group?” I asked again. “Is that how you now greet your old man?” He asked. “Come on dad, I'm not having a good morning.” I said. “I need all hands on deck to give Linda the perfect first year anniversary, and you both are gonna help out, whether you like it or not!” He yelled at me. “What if something came up? A laboratory session I can't miss? Or a presentation?” I asked
Emma's POV “What do you mean next week?!” I squealed as my mom broke the news to me. She and Mark were gonna be having their first anniversary in a week. “Yeah.” She breathed really deep. . “You don't sound too enthusiastic.” I observed. “Stuff has been going on, Em. Didn't want to bother you.” She replied to me. “Now I'm so bothered.” I replied to her. It's been over a week since Kev and I officially got out of the friendship zone. Kev was explicit with the fact that he wanted more than just to be friends, and I think we'd gone beyond that too. “I shot him.” She said, I felt like a bomb had just exploded in my head. This was the man who rescued us from the allegations in Starry. “What the fuck, mom?” I yelled over the phone. I was home, and currently the only one in my apartment, so I could tell as loudly and freely as I wanted to. Kevin had begun to spend more time over, although for the bulk of it, he was on his work laptop. “Don't use the f word with m
Chase's POV “Don't ever think of that.” My dads voice boomed over the phone. “I'm young and still strong.” He boasted . I'd chipped in the possibility of him taking a break from his numerous businesses and just resting. “Why are you so anti-rest?” I asked. Me and the old man were only beginning to really get along. We were still fixing all the cracks in our relationship, carefully skipping over the lost pieces. “It's just not the time.” He groaned. We were on a video call. I saw his face squeezed every single time he had to lift his shot hand. “I've got a lot of stuff to make up to a lot of people.” He said. “You can't do that if you're dead.” I reminded him. “You sound just like your mother.” He smiled, and looked lost for a while, snapping back only when the glass mug I mistakenly knocked off made a loud crashing noise. “Linda's great too.” I said. “She's a good woman.” I chipped. “She is.” He agreed. Every morning I wake up, I bless my creator for giving he
Kevin's POV It'd been a month since Em and I redecorated my place. I appreciated her help around the house. It was beginning to look more of a house than an office space. I'd convinced her multiple times, to stay over, let us enjoy what we'd created, but one thing or the other always up, and fucked the plan up. Plus I had to travel to multiple places, and I was mostly away for the month I just got back from Melbourne, and I think I had the most romantic gift for her. I'd curated a photo album, a cute little pink one containing all the pictures I ever took when we were working on the house together I also had a box of preserved roses. The old lady tried to force it down my throat, and I felt it was a bit too unnecessary till I discovered what it symbolizes. I had it all arranged in the new Nissan Versa car I'd parked in the garage of the apartment. I told her I was gonna come a day after I actually planned, and I tipped Casey off massively, to reveal that Emma had a little we
Chase's POV “You say this is a smart thing to do?” I asked Kayla. “What do you think?” The poor girl was probably too tired of being in my drama. “Never mind.” I said. “I'll just do it later, I don't want the pressure.” “That means me.” She put a hand on her chest and nodded in understanding. “I get it.” “Don't take it that way.” I said, holding her close, “It'd just be too much for you, and I don't want that.” I said. “I get it.” She said, “I'll see you later then.” Kayla stayed in the dorms, so she wasn't gonna be going out with me. We've kinda restricted ourselves to just school, and sometime, I visited her dorm. She never came to my apartment. Said it was still too raw on her. “Take care.” I said, and let her go. We were done for the day, and it was already almost evening. I decided to stroll back to my place, since there was nothing to rush home to. “What's up?” A bold girl said, looking at me and batting her eyelashes. That was literally the last atten
Kevin’s POV “Hey.” I said as I let Emma in. “I wasn't expecting you here.” “I could go if it's not convenient for you.” She stuttered, buckling under the pressure of my piercing, unfriendly green eyes. I left Emma's the night before, feeling really shittyFor over a month, I'd been trying to make her see reasons to let go of the animal she once called her man.Emma was clearly still with him, in her head at least, all the jokes I made, all the stories I told, all the giggles weren't in the least entertaining to her. She took a break to even call her mom, and still didn't come back feeling any better. I gathered what was left of my dignity, pressed a kiss to her forehead and let myself out. I thought I had made a stupid decision till I saw her at my door. But I wasn't gonna be cowered easily either. She'd treated me unfriendly too, and I wanted to let her know. “I work round the clock, nothing is ever really convenient, I just make time for stuff.” I replied to her. I saw
Emma's POV “I thought Kevin said he was gonna be staying over at yours last night?” Casey asked as we made our way through the teeming crowd of students. Everyone was hurrying off to class, but Casey and I were yet to catch the buzz and rush, and we might never, cause I never saw Casey follow the crowd. She stood out, and did it quite well. “Plans change, don't they?” I smiled, trying to evade the conversation. “Emma, you know you do not have to wear that mask with me. It's old and rumpled and I can really already see through it.” Casey said, and stopped walking. “We're gonna be late!” I screamed at her as she paused in her tracks. A guy on skateboard hit her, and she quickly flung curse words at him. “Em, you look miserable.” She said, “What went wrong, really?” “Why do you care so much?” I snapped at her. “Matter of fact, I think that's the wrong question. “Who do you care about, really? Kevin or I?” I asked, looking straight in her eyes. Casey was rough on the e
Chase's POV “How are you now?” I called Kayla later at night. It'd been three weeks since I stepped into the Harvard campus, and not one day in those weeks passed, without being a reminder of how miserable I was. I didn't want to keep a stack of enemies, girls who'd resent me for life, so I had to make sure I ironed shit with her out. “Do you really care, or is this some courtesy call?” Kayla's voice danced somewhere in between icy and sexy. It wasn't all daggers and spears, but she wasn't candy and sweets either. At least she wasn't so mad anymore. “I'm sorry, I should've known better. Should've treated you better.” I said. “Do you mean to say these words to me, or you're just projecting?” I asked. “I do, Kayla. I know you deserve honesty, and that's all I've been trying to be with you. You of all people should know it hurts.” “I can try.” She murmured, I like the fact that I was breaking her ice. “Thank you.” I said, taking a deep breath. “Is that all?” Sh
Emma’s POV “Why were you so lost?” Kevin asked after drinking the water handed to him. “Is something bothering you?” He asked. “It was just me in my head.” I deflected, brushing past his naked torso to get out of my little kitchen. “I saw that.” He smiled, “I'm just saying I want to be let in.” He added. “You're tired, Kev. You should get some rest.” I fell into my favorite chair. “Not too tired for you, Em, obviously. Let me in.” He said. Kevin looked so tempting, so sweet, and he was nice to top it off. “I'm just confused, Kev.” I confessed. “Although I really do not know if this is what you're supposed to be doing, you ought to be resting.” “Emma there's nothing like supposing when you're right here. I'm here, you're here, you're bothered, Em, I'm automatically all ears. Don't spare me and don't spare yourself.” “You're too nice for your own good.” I said, smiling sadly. “I don't think that's true.” He replied to me. I was only too grateful that he coul