Versus

Emma began eating her food but found it difficult to swallow. Like her throat was dry or something. She found herself more nervous with each passing second.

She got up to look down the hall at the main doorway.

No Aala.

She contemplated going out there herself, but that defeated the purpose of sending Aala in the first place. “Let her handle it.” She demanded to herself. Persuading her legs not to take another step. They had already taken a few.

Finally, Aala nearly slid into the room.

“Woah.”

“What?”

“He’s pretty upset.”

“About what?”

She started to open her mouth then stopped.

“What?” Emma insisted.

“He feels responsible.”

“For what?”

“For you getting hit.”

“How would he be responsible? Was he driving and just now coming forth?” She sarcastically accused.

“No. He had a feeling that you didn’t know.”

“How? He knows nothing about me.” The tension in the room was getting thicker by the minute.

With an overtone of guilt in her voice, she began, “He saw you here, right before school started. You were riding your bike, and you helped that little girl.”

“He saw me help that little girl?” She said with disbelief. She was immediately crushed. How could he see that and do nothing? She was getting so angry that she began to feel sick to her stomach.

Her food had not settled yet and her worry was that now it wouldn’t.

“I feel sick.”

Aala ran and brought a trash can over. Her friend had gone deathly pale.

“He left me alone to handle that. Did he want to see if I’d pass or something? I mean, how cruel is that? I could’ve been hurt. Shelly could have.” Emma began to cry. She was so angry that the tears wouldn’t stop.

“What kind of person watches that and doesn’t help? I thought that’s what we did here? Help! Stop evil! I guess someone forgot to tell him too, huh?”

“I don’t know the entire story. He seemed concerned about you.”

“Yeah, we all feel bad after something happens. He didn’t care enough to do something when I needed help. I knew there was something about him. I just knew it!”

“Oh my god. You’re right. I didn’t think about that. I’m going back out there. I’ll tell him that we’re disappointed in him and if he cared how you were, he would’ve done something then. He’s not like you…HE KNEW!” She yelled.

Aala was now pacing. “It’s too late to care now.” She continued with growing anger in her tone.

She pressed her cheek against Emma’s, held her as though trying to absorb some of the hurt. Then she got up and stormed out of the room.

Emma was worried for a second about anyone who might overhear Aala. She thought about Aala’s composure. She could be discreet when necessary. She just didn’t want any drama associated with her group. They were respected at school. She didn’t need this right now. So much to already figure out. This had to go away.

“Let Aala tell him off. I don’t have the energy to care.” Her thoughts concluded.

Emma felt a nudging on her shoulder. She had fallen asleep. She looked up to Aala smiling down at her.

“You need to hear what he has to say.”

“No, I really don’t. Not now…I’m exhausted. I can’t take anymore today.”

“Please.” The male voice pleaded from behind Aala.

“You can’t be in here!” Emma yelled as he stepped from behind Aala.

“I snuck him in. It’s ok. I went to chew him a new one, and he told me what happened. You need to hear this.” Aala explained.

She walked to the door, looked cautiously out, and entered the hallway, quietly closing the door behind her.

Alone with Axle, Emma began to sit up and realized that her cheeks were still wet from crying. She wiped her face with her hands and that sparked his urgency to get closer to her.

He quickened his pace to her bed, “I wasn’t anywhere close to you. I promise. I wasn’t following you or anything creepy. I was just riding around campus and saw the commotion and began hurrying your way.”

The sadness on his face expressed his hurt for her.

“I was only close by the time it was all over. The campus guard had already gotten to you. You were hugging the little girl and I thought I might scare you both after what you just encountered. So, I watched, ready to step in if needed. I didn’t leave until you left with the police.”

Emma finally looked at his face, he looked distraught.

“You have no reason to trust me. But I immediately told the Dean what I saw to get his advice. Please ask him. I was not going to leave you. I wouldn’t do that.” He tilted his head slightly. Like the tilt gave him better reception. He was studying her face to see if she was able to now comprehend the series of events that truly happened that day. From his side anyway.

Emma played the scenario through and realized that if another strange guy had approached her after she had just fended off one guy, she would’ve been terrified. Shelley would’ve been worse. He was right. He did the right thing.

“I’m sorry.” She said.

“I can’t imagine. I’m the one that’s sorry. I have felt guilty for not getting there sooner. And since then, I’ve just handled things all wrong. I think I’ve been trying to figure you out, so I kept coming across as a weirdo. I came across as nosey and inconsiderate. Please forgive me.”

“Nothing to forgive.” She meant it too. She felt embarrassed but realized that she was the only one here that didn’t have a clue what life was supposed to be like now. She was doing the best she could, considering.

“I have a lot to figure out now. Maybe you all can help me not get run over in the meantime.” She laughed.

He started laughing with her. “That’s a promise. What shift should I take?”

She gave him a playful smack. He gave her the sweetest smile she could remember ever receiving.

She was finally able to laugh with him.

She was relieved to be wrong about him. She could use another friend. After all, her group was only slightly getting to know any of the boys here at school. The boys all seemed to be quarantined to their own clique. This seemed like a step in the right direction. “If I don’t get kicked out.” She thought to herself, remembering there was a boy in her room.

“We need to get you out of here before we get in trouble.”

“Want to walk me out?” He teased.

“Of course.” She teased back as she stuck her head out the door like a secret agent. Aala was sitting right outside the door.

“Come on.” She smiled. She wasn’t scared in the least. Something told Emma that Aala had done something like this before.

Emma followed her, and Axel walked between the two girls. They tried to walk in a straight line and hide him. Emma’s heart was pounding so loudly that she thought if no one heard their steps, someone would surely hear her heart. It was hard to differentiate between whether it echoed in her head or in the hall.

It was late and somehow, no one knew a thing.

Finally, in the common hallway, Emma let out the breath she was holding.

Axel didn’t seem bothered in the slightest. He did seem like he was having a little too much fun sneaking around. His look again went gentle, “Are you ok?”

“Better.” She said and meant it now.

“Ok, then. But send your partner in crime if you ever need me.” He laughed.

She shook her head. He was right. Aala was good at this sort of thing. Emma was learning a lot about a lot of people today. Including herself.

“I will.” She teased back. But meant that too.

“Axel, only the girls know any of this. Please don’t….”

His eyes were soft with care as he stopped her mid-sentence, “Not a word. I promise. Good night, Emma. See you tomorrow.” He said.

“Good night.”

Aala put her arm around Emma as she closed the doors behind them.

“Exactly how did you meet again. Tell me everything.” She said in her best exaggerated sexy voice.

“Quit it.” She gave an exasperated sigh and threw her arm around Aala too as they walked.

Emma leaned her head on Aala’s shoulder as they headed back to their room. She suddenly felt like so many things in her life, that hadn’t made sense before, were falling into place. Like not knowing where you belonged or the direction that your life should take, then small things happen that begin to fit into place. It was life-changing.

Strolling down the common area, with a friend that she now trusted with her life, she realized that life had a way of putting you where you need to be, but you must be brave enough to believe in yourself.