ACT 27
Emily could feel Robert's gaze on her. She knew that she could be opening unwanted doors by getting into his car, but she didn't have a choice. Besides, everything's been turned upside down lately, so how bad can a car ride be? She tried her best to keep the tears in. Somehow, even after what happened between her and Edward, deep down, she felt awful that she slapped him and ran away like that. But how can she face him after learning that she was just a punching bag for him to let oout his frustrations over his dead girlfriend? A girlfriend that is her mirror image. She couldn't help, but wonder why? This couldn't be happening, she thought. It only happens in the movies! Emily was determined to find out exactly who Emmy Rose was.
Emily sighed deeply as she thought of him. Her heart literally ached, but she couldn't let herself be in that position. Robert cleared his throat to speak.
"Looks like it's coming down pretty hard. Good thing I found you when I did, or you'd be soaked by now."
"Yes, thank you." Emily answered without looking at him.
"No problem... it's the least I could do." Robert tried to his best to sound genuine as he referred to that night he tried to rape her. Robert softened his eyes and gazed at her. "So how've you been? I haven't seen you lately. Are you okay?"
Emily couldn't help, but think of Edward again. She sighed deeply, forgetting about Robert's questions.
"Emily? Are you alright?" Robert asked concernly.
"Ohh uh... yeah, I'm okay." Emily answered him wishing that this ride was over.
"You sure? you don't look too happy."
"Uhh... I was just visiting with a relative and uhmm.. I heard that a friend of mine isn't feeling too well," She lied.
"I see, well I hope your friend feels better."
"Thanks." She replied quickly.
"Anyway.. thank you for forgiving me, Emily. I promise I'll never do that again. It's just... well...I just thought..."
Forgive? She hasn't really forgiven him, she thought.
"I-I don't really want to talk about it right now." Emily replied remembering what he said about his family that died.
"Okay, but I just want to let you know again that I am really sorry."
"I'm sorry about your family..."
Robert forgot all about his sorry excuse that he gave her and imediately was confused.
"Family?" Robert said questioning. And then suddenly he remembered. "Ohh!! uhh... that.. uhh... well err.. yeah, they were my 2nd family. My aunt and uncle. They were practically my second parents."
Emily raised her eye brows.
"I thought you meant your immediate family?" Emily said suspiciously.
Shit, Robert thought to himself.
"Well, uhh.. I'm not that close to my parents. They're too busy counting their money. So uhhh.. my aunt and uncle, to me are my parents."
"I see.... well.. I'm sorry to hear.." Emily said, still not sure what to believe.
"I'm just trying to heal little by little... I'll be okay." Robert said pathetically pretending to wipe away a tear.
Emily just nodded and looked the other way. Robert took a breather, relieved that Emily seemed to believe his lies. Now, on with it, Robert grinned evily.
"My parents own this country club, and well.. you can basically say they're rich. But me.. I don't really care about the superficial and materials. I just try to live, you know."
"You have no choice, but... to live," Emily replied somberly thinking of Edward and how he dwells amongst the dead.
"That's what I try to do, but sometimes I cannot escape it. I've got to do what my parents want me to do." Robert said trying to sound saddened. "Like football.. sometimes I just want to be a guy who goes to school and just be myself, but I got to live up to my father's standards, you know."
Emily hears Robert talking, but she wasn't listening. All she could think about was Edward and their morning together. Her heart felt heavily as she thought of the face she stared at on the picture frame. Could she be wrong about him?
"... and so I try to do my best, to be a good son... a good role model for the kids that look up to me.. and this entire town, they look up to me..." Robert continued on not realizing that Emily isn't even listening to a word he says.
"Do you agree, Emily?" Robert glanced at her waiting for an answer, but Emily was busy thinking of him. "Emily??" Robert questioned.
"Huh...?" Emily answered not knowing what he just asked.
"That I should just listen to my heart?" Robert repeated his question.
"Yeah... if what you want makes you happy, then you should." Emily replied, still a little lost.
Robert smiled widely.
"Well my heart tells me to ask you this...."
Emily blinked widely, wondering what he meant and what he said earlier.
"What do you mean?" Emily tried to hide the worry in her voice.
"As you know, my parents own pretty much this whole town, and the university is holding a masquerade ball next Saturday. My parents are funding it and they want me to represent them. And.. uh... I need a date; a beautiful lady to be in my arms."
"Ohh... no...no... I..I..."
"Please.. please... I'm begging you."
"I-I--I--can't!" Emily protested, remembering the first time she accepted one of his dates.
"I know what you're thinking, Emily. I promise, I'll be nothing, but a gentleman. It is nothing like that! We won't be alone there. I promise, my hands will be to myself, and I won;t even touch any alcohol, I swear it. I swear on my dead aunt and uncle, Emily!" "You told me to follow my heart! And that's what my heart wants. Please, let me prove to you that I'm not an asshole." Robert begged like a little boy.
Before Emily was forced to say anything else, she was relieved when her dorm came into sight. Robert parked in front of the building, but before unlocking the mercedes for Emily, he looked at her with puppy dog eyes.
"Will you at least think about it then?" Robert begged, sounding overly exxagerated.
"Okay.. I-I..I'll think about it." Emily quickly undo her seat belt, signalling that she wants to get out of the car. Robert unlocks it and allowed her to open the door. Emily covered her head with her hand as the rain threatened to soak her. She runs up the steps, but heard Robert shout out.
"Emily, if you say yes, then June will take you shopping for a beautiful dress. It's on me!" Robert yelled poking his head through the window.
Emily gestured a nod, waved, and quickly went inside.
You better accept it, you bitch. Or else! Robert thought evily and drove off.
Inside the building. it was quiet and empty as usial. Emily sighed and knew what she needed to do. Instead of going straight to her room, she walked down the hall to the phone booth. She needed to call her Mother, and asked the questions that she has been trying to ignore ever since they told her she was adopted. When she got to the phone, she took a deep breath and picked up the receiver.
*****************
Edward stumbled into his apartment, drenched from the rain. After watching his beloved being loaded into that car, he stood there powerless. He had to wait a few minutes after everything was done with before he could drive home. Right about now, he wasn't sure what he was feeling. Was he more saddened that Emmy was taken away, or when Emily slapped him, and ran away? Everything just seems to have worsened. He's never felt alone and insecure as he felt right now. He walked slowly into his room and took off the wet clothes.
When he was nice and dry, he staggered to the bed and had to lay himself down. And theree it was, the shirt that Emily wore. He reached for it and brought to his nose. Oh how it smelled so sweet, as if she was here with him. And suddenly, Edward felt his arms ached. He wished she was in his arms right now. Oh how he wished to hold her like he did this morning. The more he thought about her, the more he longed and the more his heart hurts. And then, in a flash, he threw the shirt down, remembering his promises to Emmy. Eventhough she was taken away, that doesn't mean she left his heart he thought. But he felt so confused, like a lost soul. What was he to do?? Even though he tried to erase Emily from his head and keep Emmy there insread, the images of Emily keeps on popping back in.
God Damn it!!!!!!!!!! What's happening to me! I have to keep my promise to you, Emmy!!! Edward shouted and punched the table, causing all the drawers to fall out.
Everything fell out of the drawers. Edward held his aching head, and then when he was about to lay down again, he caught a glimpse of Emmy's diary that he kept.
He reached for it and held it in his hands and tried hard to erase Emily. I'm so sorry Emmy... I can never do anything right, Edward sobbed and allowed the diary to fall out of his hands. The diary fell, but opened to a page that he hadb't seen before. It was almost till the end, but not so much that it was obvious. He sees writing in red ink and realized that he hadn't read that passage before. He sat up, wiped the tears, and grabbed the diary and started to read.
Dear Diary,
Hi... it's me again, Emmy Rose. You know, I'm such a lucky girl. Not many girls my age find a love so true like Edward. He's my knight in shining armor, he's.... my everything. I know..... I said death will not do us part, and that I want to be buried near him forever... wishful thinking huh? Forget death; I' want to marry him, have a house full of children with, and grow old with him. I know that when you love someone, sometimes loving them is about giving and letting go. I know Edward loves me very much, and oh diary... I love him dearly just as much. But.... God forbids, if he takes me one day, then.. I do hope that Edward will go on living a full healthy life; that he will marry someone who will love him the way I do, because.... he's worth it... and that's what I would want for him. That's all for now. I've got to call Edward to bid him a goodnight.
Sincerely,
Emmy Rose
Edward closed the book, and felt a load lifted up from his shoulders. He couldn't believe that all this time, Emmy wanted him to go on and not dwell on death. But he was blinded by grief.
"Thank you, Emmy... "
He kissed the book, and fixed the drawers, and placed the book neatly back in. He had to see Emily right away. He has to tell her how he really feels; he wanted to apologized and beg for forgiveness.
Edward jolted up from the bed and dodged for the door, wanting more than ever to hold Emily in his arms.
ACT 28 COMING UP.
