EMILY
I stayed silent on the ride back home. Seth tried to ask me things but all he got was one letter answers and then I guess he just got tired.
My weight was a sensitive subject I liked to avoid, and Nova had all but hammered over my weaknesses.
I wondered if Seth thought the same about me. Maybe he didn’t even look at me as a woman, just a girl that his mother worked for.
I didn’t realize when he pulled the car towards the dirt road and parked it in a secluded spot. Cutting the engine, he turned to face me.
“Why did you stop?” I asked.
“You’ve been silent, and you’re acting strange. Did something happen at the party? You can talk to me.”
I shook my head, refusing to look at him, staring ahead. Then I changed my mind. I wanted to talk to someone.
“Seth, if I asked you a question, can you give me an honest answer? As a friend, I want you to speak the truth. Can you do that?”
He had a wary expression, “Shoot.”
Am I allowing myself to be vulnerable in front of him? Where did I get that kind of courage? I knew the answer to that. Seth was one of the honest guys I’d known. He didn’t look like the type of guy who would lie to me just to impress me.
“What do you think about me?”
He was drumming his fingers on the wheel again. “Um...” he scratched the back of his neck. “Well...Emily...I think you’re one of the sweetest girls I know. You’re super hot.” I watched as his face burned. “I like that you’re really cool about us being friends, you know.”
“I mean. Do you think I’m fat?”
He frowned at me, and then his jaw hardened. “Did some asshole at the party call you fat?”
“Just answer me, Seth! Do you think I’m fat?”
“Of course not. I think you’re gorgeous.” And then his apple-green eyes did a quick scan of my body.
“You told me you would be honest with me,” I said.
It was not fair what I was doing with Seth. I was forcing him to say what was really on his mind.
He ran his fingers through his dark hair. “okay your hips are thick and curvy, and your breasts are bigger than most girls I’ve known, but I think that makes you look sexy. I won’t lie to you because friends don’t lie to each other.”
A few seconds he asked again, “What happened, Emily? Can you please talk to me about it?”
“Nova Hamilton called me a pig.” And then the tears began falling freely, even though I hadn’t given them permission to. Between sobs, I said, “it’s just that...I’ve always been like this. I can’t get any slimmer even if I go on a diet and eat salad for like a month! I’m sick and tired of people calling me fat!”
I was looking down into my hands, not daring to look at him because I was so embarrassed that I let myself cry in front of Seth. I was most probably looking like a mess.
I heard the click of the seat belt and the door of the car slam. For a moment, I thought he didn’t want to deal with a crying girl and was leaving me here when the door of my car opened and he lowered himself to my level.
“Emily-Mae, look at me.” He whispered.
I turned around in my seat to face him. “You’re beautiful.” He said looking me in the eye, “you’re the most beautiful girl I know. I swear to you.”
“People are not as nice as you,” I said.
“If this Nova chick thinks you’re fat, well, fuck her. She’s narrow-minded!” Seth’s eyes were bloodshot, and I had never seen him this angry and I felt even better knowing he was reacting to my distress. “If anybody calls you fat, fuck them all! I can drive back right now and I’d be happy to run this car over her. Do you want me to do it?”
I laughed through the tears. “No. I don’t want you to go to prison.”
He reached over and swiped the pad of his thumb over my cheek. “I think she was just jealous of you because she can’t be you.”
I smiled at him. “I don’t think she would want to be. Nobody would want to be me, not after the things I go through.”
“Anyone calls you fat, even at school. You let me know and I’ll take care of the shitheads for you. I’m dead serious.”
“Thanks.” I pressed his hand.
“Is it okay if I give you a hug?” He asked.
I nodded and climbed out of the car. Seth wrapped his arms around me, and I hugged him back, burying my face in his chest. He smelled intoxicating, and I felt like a pervert when I closed my eyes so that I could ingrain his scent into my memory.
There was nothing sexual with the way he was hugging me, it was just comforting knowing he would be there for me.
“Did you have dinner?” He asked softly.
“I didn’t get to have one.”
“Let’s grab some on our way. My treat.” He pulled away from me long enough to flash a grin. “Does pizza sound good to you?”
* * *
SETH
We ordered two large pizzas. Emily hated pineapples on a pizza, so I ordered one with slices of pineapples on it just to fuck with her. She made an adorable face and called me gross and then ordered an extra pepperoni and told me I couldn’t share.
I loved this friendly dynamic between us, although I’d be dumb to admit I didn’t want more. I guess I’d take whatever I could get. I was being a patient man where Emily was concerned. She was an amazing friend.
“I’m going to choose the movie tonight.” She said, scrolling through the list of movies on Netflix.
“I would prefer to watch horror.”
“And then you would have to sleep next door to mine. You can’t sleep in the studio. I’m too chicken to sleep alone.”
“Well, I can sleep in your bed, Emily, no problem. I’ll make sure no ghost or ghouls can touch you there.” I said teasingly.
She hit me playfully, but she was smiling. “The last time we watched a horror movie, it didn’t turn out so well.”
“I don’t make the same mistake twice.”
She rolled her eyes, “whatever.” She handed the remote control to me and gave me a secretive smile. “I have a better idea.”
She climbed off the couch and disappeared from the sitting area, making me wonder what she was up to. I surfed through the movies and stopped at Exorcist. The movie was guaranteed to give Emily nightmares for weeks. She’d most likely ask to transfer into my bedroom. I sniggered evilly as she returned a few minutes later with two six packs of beer.
I hooted, “damn girl, are we having a party or what?”
“I haven’t gotten drunk since Indigo was here. I miss my best friend.” She said, staring off into the distance.
I had a mental image of Emily with her bestie, laughing, having fun, and it would have been nice to have someone she truly trusted. Sucks, this Indie girl wasn’t living here anymore.
“Indie was...” I started asking her.
“My childhood friend. We used to have sleepovers too.”
“So, where is this friend now?”
“Moved to another city.”
“That sucks, but I’m here for you now,” I assured her.
“I’m glad you are.” She said sincerely.
We ate pizza and talked a lot, mostly just laughed at dumb shit. Partying in clubs and getting wasted used to be my idea of fun, but not anymore. Emily had opened another world of teasing, flirting, and the slow burn that I was enjoying a lot.
Two hours later, we’d polished most of her pizza and half of mine, I’d stolen two slices of Pepperoni from hers when she’d gone to the bathroom and when she returned, she’d complained how she’d eaten two extra slices without even realizing it. She didn’t recall not eating them, an after-effect of the third beer she was sipping.
I was on my fifth, and it was safe to say that we were pretty much drunk and laughing at nothing in particular.
The movie had reached the part where the little girl Regan was spider-walking down the stairs. Emily pointed at the screen and laughed. I followed suit.
“This is getting boring.” She said after a while.
“What else do wanna do?” I asked.
She switched off the TV and turned towards me. She licked her lips. The mischief was back in her dark eyes. “Let’s play the dare game. No truth in this one. Both of us will get equal chances to dare each other. You go first.”
It appeared like alcohol showed a playful side of her.
“I dare you, Emily, to drink a tablespoon of Tabasco sauce.”
She made a face. “Lame. That’s the best you could come up with?”
I chugged more beer. “Just getting started, baby.”
I followed her into the kitchen as she pulled out the bottle, poured a spoonful, and drank it. She made a face and muttered ‘Disgusting.’
“You’re going to pay for this, Seth Monroe!”
“You bet your ass I’m going to do whatever you ask of me, Emily. You’re about to lose.” I laughed for added effect.
“My turn. I dare you to take off your shirt!”
I snorted, “That’s your payback?” I unbuttoned the shirt and threw it on the floor. “My turn.” I didn’t miss the way her eyes scanned over my naked chest and abs; heat prickled my skin from awareness.
“I dare you to take off your t-shirt.” When we’d gotten home, she’d changed out of the party dress, so now she was wearing something comfortable. “It’s only fair you do the same.”
I’d challenged her. She had no idea she was playing with fire.
I was certain she wouldn’t do it.