Chapter 3: Under Lock and Key
Emma's P.O.V:
Four Years Later:
"That marks the end of our session. See you tomorrow and don't forget to hand in your assignments before you exit the room," Miss Adams said just as the lesson ended.
Everyone stood up from their seats and started walking over to the teacher's desk, dropping their assignments and making a beeline for the door while I packed up my books from one of the best lessons in my life.
"Miss Hunter, may I have a word with you?" She asked as I placed my assignment on top of the rest.
"Sure," I smiled at her and got out of everyone else's way.
"You did an astounding job on that essay you wrote for extra credit. I'm not sure why you would need extra points though. You pass all your tests. The best student I have ever had really," she said as she pulled the said essay out of her desk drawer and handed it to me.
"Thank you, Miss Adams. I just do it for the thrill, nothing more," I lied.
"Well then keep up the good work," she bought the lie, flashing me a smile that clearly showed how proud of me she was.
"Thanks again Miss Adams," I said and left the room.
After that, I left the school and headed to a nearby take out.
I was starving but I was already used to it.
I bought some food, enough to last me the next twenty-four hours but not enough to scar my small worn out wallet.
After my short meal, I had about half an hour to get ready for work.
I walked home, which wasn't really that far, and fished out my keys from the side pocket of my backpack when I stepped onto the porch.
The familiar environment was clean and everything looked... heartbreaking, as usual.
But I'm used to that feeling. Some spent their childhood life in a loving and warm environment, but that isn't the case for me.
The pain from my past always threatens to resurface but I usually just don't know what will happen to me if I was to let it. I don't know if I can survive the demons that threaten to consume me whole when I let the pain in me again.
I was younger when it first did; three years ago, but now that the gravity of this whole thing is just so... so strong, everything is so heavy, so... real now than it was then, the pain, the demons, the... everything will just leave me under, with no way of floating even to get a gasp of air, or even a single glimpse of the light.
I'm helplessly drowning and nothing will hold me above the pitch black and drowning matter that will consume me after I let the pain in. Not even by a strand of my hair, let alone by my neck.
Love is useless. Just a waste of time and money too. Well, maybe to others, it isn't, but to me, it will never make sense. I have never and will never be loved. The only thing love has been able to give me is constant pain in my life.
I will survive alone, and live my whole life on my own. I will trust no one because everyone is a back-stabber. Even the ones who are supposed to love me never did and never will.
That is what I am always reminded when I step onto the porch of this house. My childhood house. I hate this place. I can never and will never call it home.
There is one thing that I can hold on to though.
Hope.
That's all I have been left to hold on to.
That's all they left me to hold on to.
I have hope that one day, one precious day, I will meet the only people who I know love me more than anything.
I'll do everything in my power to get away from this place. But not now. This is the time to cultivate my future.
There is no way in hell I am spending my life in this house that wants to tear me apart every time I turn the key in the damned keyhole of the front door.
My purse held my phone, my emergency pepper spray, my few dollars and my ID.
That's basically all I needed.
Oh, and my house key.
I rummaged in my school bag for it and placed it in my purse.
I slung it on my shoulder and walked out of my room after putting my dirty clothes in the hamper.
I took my long coat from the rack and left my house, locked, of course. Yes, my house. The owners didn't care to come back so I took the liberty of taking care of it myself.
The coat was long enough to cover my whole outfit so no one would wonder where the hell I was headed to dressed like that.
"Hey Ben!" I exclaimed and gave him a quick hug when I arrived at my destination.
"Hey Emma-boo," I rolled my eyes at the nickname.
Okay so quick recap, he is the 'bouncer' at this club I work at and is a really nice guy.
Oh, and he is the one who took my virginity two years ago.
I don't regret it and that just sort of made us grow closer.
But we are just friends.
I don't date, not after-
"So why are you here so early?" He raised a questioning brow, plucking me out of my thoughts.
"Because I'm looking to get laid before work," I shrugged like it was a normal thing and he smirked. But it was a normal thing anyway.
"Maybe I-"
"Don't even think about it Brians," I cut him off and immediately pushed past him into the club.
"You can't resist me forever!" He yelled as I closed the door behind me.
I'm not a sex crazed teenager. Circumstances pushed me to start doing this. How else am I supposed to pay the bills and shit?
"Hey Em!" I said with so much enthusiasm.
I missed her a lot and I just saw her yesterday.
"Hey Em!" she reciprocated and we both laughed.
"How have you been doing girl?"
"Better, I guess," I shrugged and she smiled at me as I took a seat on one of the bar stools.
"You came to take this hour of mine and I take one of yours again?" she asked in a duh tone and with a concerned sigh.
"Actually, two this time…" I trailed off and avoided eye contact with her.
I looked around and there weren't any guys so maybe at around eight-ish, nine?
"Oh, Emma," she shook her head I and moved to get behind the counter, ignoring the concern that just colored all her features but she so subtly hid.
But, then again, no one can hide such things from me.
How I know?
She shifted her gaze from me and her weight from one leg to the other. I'm sure all that was unconscious and she didn't even know she was doing it.
Her gaze met mine almost immediately, this being the hiding the concern.
But she knows me too well by now to know that she can't hide her feelings from me.
Ever.
Period.
She stepped back and walked to get in front of the counter while sighing a quick 'fine'.
I shrugged off my coat and hung it on the nearby rack.
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