And She Will Be The Death Of Me: Chapter 8

I suffered from a sore throat the next day, but it was worth it... I think... I never had this much interest in a girl before, I don't know why I was being so persuaded by my own thoughts to talk to her. Yeah she was pretty but there were many pretty girls out there. Guess it's because she was the only girl to turn me down, not like I was some cocky sport, but most girls around here wouldn't turn down sex, especially if they hanged out in the bar dress like she did those past nights. I awoke to small fingers circling my face.

"Hey Emma." I said tiredly as her small face finally appeared from my blurry vision.

"Hi Chase." She said smiling. "My tooth fell out?" She said showing me the empty space in her gums.

"Wow isn't that something." I said leaning up. "When did you get home?"

"Dad brought me, mom answered the door." She said quietly.

"They didn't talk?"

"No." She shook her head.

"Are you hungry?" I said noticing the difference to her hair.

"I ate at IHOP, brought back some for you." She said taking the doggy bag out of her bag.

"What happened to your hair?" I asked touching it.

"Roseanne brought me to the salon." She said touching the clip ends. Roseanne was Jack's middle child in case you forgotten, Emma hair looked pin straight and clipped at the ends, she was only 5 years old.

"Oh you weren't good enough for them?" I asked rolling my eyes getting up.

"I like it, it feels silkier." She said flipping it playfully.

"As long as you like it." I said yawning.

"Did you miss me?" She said excitedly.

"Of course I did." I said smiling down at her. "Well I know your full, but do you have room for dessert?" She nodded happily. I soon found myself driving towards the Coffee shop. I can't believe why I had the urge to go there, well of course I knew Julie worked there, she will probably think I'm stalker her now, I was already parking, so what the hell.

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"I want the cherry ice cream Sundae and the chocolate cake." Emma said reading the menu.

"Wow two things?" I said looking around but she wasn't there.

"Is that too much?" She said sadly as I checked my wallet. "Here." She said passing me a twenty out of her pocket.

"What's this?" I said holding it.

"Money."

"Really Emma." I said pissed. "Did Jack give this to you?"

"Yes."

"How much did he give you?" She threw the rest of the crumbled cash on the table, some were 100 dollar bills.

"Wow he couldn't give you smaller change." I said straightening them out.

"Are you mad?" She said a little sad taking the last bill out.

"No... he's your dad, that's what dad's are supposed to do, I'm glad he's manning up at least." I gave her back the smooth out money pile that looked like it was about 300 dollars. "That's a lot of cash, don't bring it around in your pocket like that."

"Okay I'm sorry."

"It's okay kiddo, your brother is just a bit screwed up, I just want to be enough for you is all." I said looking at my wallet again I only had a 50 and a couple of singles.

"You are enough." She said and I smiled.

"Hello." Julie said appearing in front of me.

"Ah." I said dropping the salt over. "Hey." Emma gave me a look.

"Are you stalking me?" She asked seriously.

"No I'm not... my sister... Emma." I said gesturing. "Wanted to come for ice cream and cake here."

"Oh." She looked at Emma. " Hello Emma." She said smiling.

"Hi." She said still reading the menu.

"This is Julie." I said to her and she nodded.

"Well I'll get you guys orders." Emma told her. "And you?"

"Um, the coffee cake I guess."

"Coming right up." She walked away but I still felt conversation on the tip of my tongue.

"Emma you could have been a little more enthusiastic."

"Sorry." She said playing with her nails. Soon Julie brought out orders back. "Thank you."

"Thanks."

"Enjoy." She said walking away, I get it, she's at work she didn't have time to make small conversations. I watched Emma eat her things with joy. Julie went to another table full of guys, she smiled as they talked to her. I couldn't hear what they were saying but I saw one guy pass her a small paper and she put it in her pocket and smiled as she walked away. I looked back at Emma as she was licking her fudge stained spoon.

"That was good." She said finishing.

"Yeah, good."

"You didn't even touch yours." I looked at my coffee cake.

"Yeah you can have it."

"I'm full, I just want to go home and sleep now." She said with ice cream all over her mouth.

"Wipe your mouth first." I said laughing as she did. "Let's go." I got up as Julie went behind the counter filling coffee. "Ah Emma wait in the car I'm gonna get a doggy bag."

"Alright." She walked outside as I slowly went to the counter.

"May I help you?" Another lady said appearing before my gaze. "Ah may I have a doggy bag please." She bent down and passed me one quickly. "Thanks." She nodded and walked away as I placed my coffee cake inside carefully. Julie turned back to the counter placing lids on the coffees she was preparing, she acted like my presence wasn't known, yet again, I didn't understand this girl.

"I'm... sorry about my sister, she's just tired." I said not knowing how to start conversation.

"That's cool, I thought she was your daughter at first." She said and my mouth dropped, she couldn't resist but smile at my reaction. "That was... rude... do I look like a father of a 5-year-old?"

"You can't tell these days."

"Well what id I saw you with a little boy and I assume you were his mother."

"I guess it is rude." She said smiling as she wiped the counter.

"So... um... are you going to the bar tonight?" I asked moving closer to her.

"Maybe." She said shrugging and she walked away with the cups. I watched as she did. She turned back to look at me, before she went inside the employee's bathroom. I looked down and walked out the door. I guess I was chasing something that didn't want to be bothered. Whatever.

"Took you long enough." Emma said.

"But your seat belt on." I said closing the car door behind me as I drove off.
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The next morning I could feel my soul escaping my body, I opened my mouth to be confronted by the air I was breathing. As it fogged in my view. The house was freezing. I jumped up and rubbed my hands together as I walked to the boiler room. The heat was shut off. Shit. I walked to my mom's room and opened it, she wasn't there. I opened Emma's room to see her sleeping under a single sheet, I pulled the ones from my bed and placed them over her. I called Emma's daycare. After I was done I woke her up.

"Hey Emma, you have to go to daycare today."

"But it's a Sunday." She said sadly.

"Yeah but the house is freezing and I don't want you to get sick."

"I'm fine." She said as I lifted her out of her bed, I threw a sweater over her head quickly. "Ow you're hurting me."

"Sorry." I said being more gentle.

"I want to stay Chance."

"You can't." I said getting aggravated.

"But I just got you back." She said on the verge of tears that made me stop and stare. "I just came back home..." She pouted her lips.

"Emma." I keeled to her height. "I have to go to work tonight, I'm going to work, it was my day off but I NEED money to pay the gas bill."

"Oh." She looked down.

"Cheer up." I said rubbing her back. "Come, you can get a back ride to the car."

"I don't want one." She said softly.

"WHAT!" I said excitingly, trying to make her smile. "You never rejected the back ride"

"I'll be in the car." She said and took her bag as I watched her walk out. I was afraid, she was getting older everyday, and the little antics I did to make her smile, weren't going to work forever. She will soon get to the age of knowledge to know her mother was worthless and her brother couldn't provide enough. I shook my head in frustration after the cold hit me back to reality. I coughed and walked out the door.

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"I thought you hated work." Mona said as I placed my work vest on quickly.

"I do, but I do love money." I said. I watched from the window as Shawn was pushing all the carts back together.

"Well, who doesn't." She said smiling.

"Yeah." I said shrugging. I was opening a box of salt and other seasoning, I was supposed to place them on the shelve. I watched as Shawn and Mona laughed at something. I can't believe I was gonna say this. But I actually missed the bastard. Without him bothering made work stand still, like it wasn't moving at all. I saw him walked towards my direction and I looked down. He walked pass me to the next aisle. When I was done I moved to the counter job. Pretty soon it was 7 pm.

"Are you closing up?" Mona asked Shawn as she placed her jacket on.

"I'll do it tonight." Shawn hollered back as he was munching on a bag of chips.

"You're leaving now?" Mona said to me in a quiet tone, I was much closer to her anyway. I looked at the mop in my hand hoping she would get the message, but she still waited for a response.

"I have to finish mopping the floors." I said.

"Okay." She zipped her zipper up. "Hey do you have a phone, maybe I could... text you sometimes... or something."

"Oh." I said pausing. "Yeah." She passed me her phone and I gave it to her. I mean I didn't have to always answer anyway.

"Alright, good night boys."

"Night." I said and Shawn waved as he was focused on a magazine as he chewed loudly. I mopped the floors as I looked at him but he acted like he was alone in the room.

"Still mad at me huh?" I said aloud finally, which sounded too loud in this hollow grocery store.

"Depends if you're still an asshole." He said still reading the magazine.

"I... Look I had a bad day." I said as I stopped mopping.

"No normal people have BAD DAYS, you actually have GOOD DAYS, because they come far less. A bad day is pretty regular for you."

"You say it like you knew me for years." I said gritting my teeth at how point on he was.

"I learn from what I observe, you don't have to know a person for years to know them really." His eyes still remained on the pages.

"Well that's probably the most intelligent thing you ever said."

"I'm still waiting on yours." He said flipping the page.

"Alright so that's it, this is how it's gonna be?"

"It's not affecting my day." He said placing another chip in his mouth. What a dick. I shook my head and finished mopping.

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I picked Emma up from daycare and now I was studying for a history exam, I was actually studying. At least the house was a little warmer this time. The gas wasn't on yet but I would be able to pay it in 2 days.

"Do you like her?" Emma said suddenly on the couch as she paused from her book.

"Who?" I said trying to make out a word in my textbook.

"The pretty girl from the coffee place?"

"Um, no." I said quickly trying to focus.

"You looked like you did."

"Oh yeah? How so?"

"You got all weirder out." She said biting into a cookie and I laughed to myself.

"I'm always weird kiddo."

"Did I ruin it for you?"

"No." I said looking at her quickly. "You didn't ruin anything, there was nothing to ruin... she's just some girl... I met at a bar."

"You wish you could go to the bar?"

"What." I said stopping now giving her my full attention.

"Right now, you wish you could go to the bar right now? Instead of watching me?"

"No, I'm studying as you can see."

"I'm kind of in your way huh?"

"Emma what are you getting at?" I said exhaling hard.

"You don't have to watch me you know... I can go back to my dad house -"

"Stop." I said and she did, it must have been the way I said it. "Don't say that, don't you know you're the only thing..." I paused.

"What?"

"Nothing, finish your homework." I said returning. Keeping me alive. I finished in my head. She returned to her books as I glanced up at her. I hated how she figured I didn't want her around. That's all I wanted.

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The bell rang too quickly as I was only up to 47, on a 60 question test.

"Pencils down." My history teacher said. Fuck. I quickly looked to my left and copied what I could from an another's girl's paper. I got up and passed the paper to him, I saw him laughed a little under his breath as he took it from me. He thought it was funny, that I could barely get a 70 on one of this test or quizzes, I ignored it and walked out the room. I had him as a history teacher since 9th grade, he was married to the 10 grade English teacher on the 4th floor. He thought he was on top of the world when she finally said yes to him. But everyone knows she gets around. Bottom line is I know I flunked that test.

"How'd you did?" Vinny asked me suddenly appearing next to me.

"Same as always."

"Damn man, you should study with me sometimes, it may actually help."

"Yeah, it's hard studying in a house that's freezing cold."

"Cold?"

"The gas shut off."

"You need money man? I could loan you some."

"No I'm fine..."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I'll see you later." I walked passed him, I didn't want any favors from anyone.

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"The gas is cut off did you notice?" I asked walking in on my mom and another guy. Emma came in after.

"That's why it's so cold in here."

"Hi mom." Emma said quietly.

"Hi dear." She said. "Oh this is Paul."

"Yeah, yeah, so do you have any money so I could pay the bills." She took some cash out of her bra quickly. It was just enough.

"Thanks, Emma you have to sleep by your dad's tonight."

"Oh."

"Don't worry I'll turn it back on tomorrow, just for tonight."

"I guess I'm not sleeping her either, I'll get sick." She said smiling at Paul.

"Like you ever." I said under my breath and Paul gave me a look.

"I'll be outside." Emma said leaving.

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After I dropped Emma off, I was haunted by the face of Jack as he looked at me in disappointment, I didn't tell him why she had to spend the night over his, but I'm sure he knew. I walked into the bar, rubbing my hands together, damn was the night cold. I ordered my drink and didn't look around for once. But it hurt, like I had OCD, my eyes wanted to wander the room. Wander to see if I saw her presence. Fuck. I looked around and to my surprise I spotted her pretty fast. She was talking to an older man, he looked about 45. Why was she talking to someone so old. I took the courage to walk close to them. She noticed me and whisper to him. He walked off as she paid for her drink. I drank mines waiting for her to talk first. She ordered two other drinks and waited patiently next to me for them. I was becoming frustrated with her fucking hello games. What was the big deal.

"Fine whatever." I finally said and she looked at me. "Pretend like you don't know me, and I'll pretend like I don't know you." I said madly as I began to walk away and she gripped my arm.

"You don't know me." She said. "William." She said smiling a little but it struck a chord in my heart like a guitar going suddenly out of tone. "Thank you." She said taking the drinks as she walked away. I was done taking to her. I saw her go to the same older man in the corner as he took the drink from her. They both drank it down fast and walked to the door that leaded upstairs. I sucked my teeth and followed them. I felt like such a creep but I wanted to curse the bitch out. How dare she felt it was okay to call me by my real name, like she knew me. I follow slowly as they walked side by side, he placed his hand on her waist seductively and leaned into her neck.

"Not yet." I heard her say pushing him slightly away. I walked slowly as he gripped her butt hard, and she shook him off. They then opened a door and I quickly moved out of sight as they went into the room and close the door. I sank to the floor and drank what was left of my beer. I looked up at the ceiling. It felt like 10 minutes had gone by when I finally stood to my feet. I then heard the room that she was in opened the same time I stood up. I waited as she walked pass the corner I was hiding in. She walked quickly.

"Oh you can fuck him but you can't fuck me?" I said aloud and she turned to me frighten. She had tears at her eyes, and I felt my mad express face soften.

"What the hell are you following me?" She said.

"What's wrong?" I said softly. "Did that bastard hurt you?"

"No." I quickly walked to the room she was in and saw him pulling his pants up. "What the fuck did you do to her!." I said pushing him on the bed as he looked at me scared.

"Stop!" She said griping my hand from pushing him.

"I didn't do anything." He said afraid.

"He didn't please... let's just go." She said and I looked at the man one more time before she ushered me out the room. We were outside the bar now walking in silent.

"You know, fucking old men would make any young girl cry, they're NOT ACTUALLY the best in bed -"

"I didn't fuck him." She said quickly.

"But it was your intentions?"

"I don't have to tell you what my intentions are." She said fixing her bag around her arm. She was shaking from the cold night.

"Well when you dress like that, one would assume."

"I'm fine, you don't have to walk me home." She said walking ahead. I jogged up to her.

"Why was you crying then?" I said, softer.

"I wasn't crying."

"Yeah okay, I was seeing things." I said sarcastically.

"Please just go." She said looking down. The problem was I didn't want to. Not yet.
"Do you live with your parents?" I said out of nowhere.

"Why do you care?"

"Well you look a mess." She quickly fixed her hair with her fingers at that. "I don't want you going home like this."

"I'm fine."

"You can come to my house to... clean up before you go."

"Look, I'm not gonna fuck you." She said stopping and looking at me madly.

"Oh I already know that." I said trying not to laugh and she smiled a little. "You can just come and clean up." I said now noticing her rip skirt.

"It's okay."

"No you really should." I said and she thought.

"Fine, only if you let me walk home by myself after."

"Deal." I said.

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I close the door behind me as I entered my house behind her.

"It's colder in here then outside." She said and I felt the feeling of embarrassment, I never did before.

"Oh the gas got shut off, sorry I forgot."

"It's alright, I will be quick." She opened her bad and pulled out a change of clothes. I watched. "Where's your bathroom?"

"Straight to the back." I said and she walked away. "Um are you hungry thirsty?" I said aloud.

"No." She yelled back and I looked at our empty fridge. I open the bottom cabinet aggressively as I found two cup of noodles. I pour some water in a bowl and place it in the microwave.

"You're okay in there?" I yelled back.

"Fine." She said a little softer. The microwave soon stopped and I pour the hot water in both noodle cups. She then came out in black jeans and a red top. I quickly passed her the cup of noodles. "I said I wasn't hungry."

"Yeah but I figured you were only being polite." I held it out as she finally took it from me. I sat on the couch hoping she would sit too.

"Thanks I guess I'll eat it while I walk home."

"Oh." I said sipping mines. There was no winning with her. "Alright, be safe I guess." I said giving up. She took her jacket and walked to the door. She then stopped.

"I... guess I can eat it really quickly here." She said turning back. I then patted the couch next to me as she sat down smiling. I didn't want to make her comfortable but I felt myself staring at her as she sipped her cup.

"You still have mascara on." I said sounding like a creep.

"Yeah I know."

"It's smushed, you could have used the sink."

"It's fine." She said wiping the corners of her eyes a little. It was then silence.

"So... not to offend you but... are you a... prostitute or something?" I said and she almost choked.

"Um... no." She said confused by her own answer. "I'm just a lost... soul." She said

"Same here." I said and she looked at me, but quickly looked away.

"So do you live here alone?"

"No, I live with my mom and little sister." I said as she drank it down more quickly, she licked her lips like she was really hungry. "The one you met yesterday.

"Oh right Emma."

"You remembered her name." I said.

"I'm good with names." She said smiling as she wiped her lip.

"What else are you good at?"

"I -" She paused and looked at me. "If this a way of trying to get to know me, it's really lame." She said and I was taken aback.

"No I -"

"I mean cup of noodles, really?" She said holding it up smiling. I swear that smile made the house feel a little warmer.

"You looked like you were enjoying it to me." I said as she finished it. She then stood to her feet and threw it in the garbage.

"I did, I guess." She said. "Good night."

"You're gonna leave already."

"I told you I'm not having sex with you."

"It's not what I wanted." I said and she was quiet. "It's late, good night... and thank you... Chase." She said walking to the door.

"You're so hard to figure you, you know that." I said to her and she looked back.

"Then quit trying." She said smiling as she shut the door behind her.