Page 47 of Echoes of Us

My head whirls toward the window. Sure enough, the curtains and blinds are wide open. How could I be so stupid and irresponsible? I should have made sure everything happening in here was hidden from the outside world. How was I not more careful? I drop my phone again, slumping to the floor. Teagan is by my side in seconds, cradling my face in her hands.

“Em, please tell me what is happening,” she pleads.

All I can do is shake my head and point to my phone. She picks it up. As she scrolls through the comments, her face goes white. She continues scrolling for a few minutes, reading through the comments. When she stops, tears starting to fall down her cheeks and her face turns whiter than before. How is that even possible? She meets my eyes slowly.

“I am so sorry, Emmaline.” She hands me my phone, pointing to one comment that completely undoes me. One of my classmate’s moms commented on the post, tagging my mom and dad. I immediately fall into Teagan and breakdown completely.

Before I could decide what I want with Teagan, Devan decided for me.

Chapter 51

Teagan

Before we go upstairs, she tries calling her mom and dad countless times. They don’t answer. She checks their location to see if they are still at her grandparent’s house; they are. She assumes they are avoiding her tonight and staying there so they don’t have to explain why they would leave early. This causes another hour-long breakdown. The idea her parents can’t stand to talk to her is breaking her even more.

We lay in bed silent for a while. Around 2:00 a.m., she stops crying. I don’t think she has more tears left to cry. I hold her, waiting for her to decide where we go from here. I know what I want. I have never felt this way about anyone. I know I’m in high school, but this is real. We’ve always had intense feelings toward each other, whether negative or positive. You don’t have this intensity with just anyone. I’m worried she is going to let the fear of her reputation, her faith, and her parents bring her to let me go. I would understand. I am not worth losing all of that.

“Teagan?” She whispers after about twenty-five minutes of silence. Here it is. I can’t even answer for fear of breaking down myself.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow when my parents get home.” She sits up and looks down at me. I can barely see her face as moonlight shines through the blinds, highlighting random features. “I still don’t know what this is. It’s new to me and it scares the hell out of me, but I do know I want to be with you. No matter what.”

She lays her head back on my chest, continuing, “I understand if you can’t be with me. This is the only home you have. If you need to blame me so they let you stay, I want to do that. I’ll never forgive myself if they kick you out because of me.”

“I want to be with you, too, princess.” I giggle a little, trying to lighten the mood. She giggles, too. Sitting up again to look down at me. She leans forward, stopping before our lips meet.

“I told you to stop calling me that,” she says, then closes the gap.

I push her back for a moment. “There is nothing to be blamed for, Emmaline. I won’t apologize for how I feel. Whatever happens tomorrow, we will figure it out.”

She nods her head, pulling my face back to hers. The kiss is sweet but feels like goodbye. We spend the rest of the night the same way we spent last night, completely lost in each other.

The next morning, we wake up to the beep from one of the house doors opening and shoot out of bed. I run into my room, so they don’t find us in bed together. That wouldn’t go over well. The second I close my door, I hear footsteps pounding up the stairs. There is a loud bang on my door, then a loud bang coming from Emmaline’s.

“Out here NOW,” Eve shouts from the other side. I take a deep breath and exit.

I look to my right to see Emmaline coming out of her room. She looks at me with tears welling in her eyes. She mouths, “I’m sorry.” Eve grabs both of our attention as she begins to scream.

“One of you needs to tell me what happened RIGHT NOW!” she says, slamming her hand down on the entertainment center. She turns as Ethan slowly appears at the top of the stairs.

“EJ is outside with Eli,” he says to Eve. She nods, turning back to us.

I honestly tune out on a lot of what she says. “This is a sin.” “This is disgusting.” “My daughter cannot be this way.” “You destroyed our family.” And so much more.

The whole time, I watch Emmaline, each word breaking her more and more. I watch the happiness I experienced the last two days wither into nothing as her mother verbally attacks us. I have known who I am for years. My mom was totally supportive. While the Briggs family has been good to me, I won’t let them make me feel bad for who I am. I also won’t let Eve continue to break Emmaline. I can’t take this anymore. I have to do this for her. Emmaline, please forgive me for this one day.

“Stop!” I scream, standing from my seat on the couch. Everyone freezes. Ethan looks like he is about to interfere, but I don’t give him the chance.

“It was all me. I had a party on New Year’s Eve. I wanted to throw the party to make the kids at school like me. I talked Emmaline into it, then I got her drunk. The photo is from after the party. I thought everyone had gone home. You were so worried about Sean being gay,” I point to Emmaline, “yeah. She told me about your conversation. But you didn’t even consider that the girl you let in your house might be, too. I am and I was getting bored. You guys think she is so damn perfect. I thought it would be funny to corrupt your stupid, little princess.” I glare at Emmaline. “I guess you aren’t so perfect after all, bitch.”

The room is silent. All three of them looking at me with wide eyes and mouths agape. I take a deep breath knowing exactly what is about to happen.

Eve stares at me, fire blazing in her eyes. “OUT. OUT OF MY HOUSE RIGHT NOW!”

Mayhem ensues. I rush into my room to start packing. Eve follows me in. She begins screaming, “You have ruined her life, you know that? We let you into our home and you take advantage of our daughter? You are SICK!”

Emmaline comes running in, but Ethan comes behind her and wraps his arms around her, pulling her back.

“That isn’t true! She’s lying. You’re lying. That isn’t what happened!” Emmaline screams frantically as Ethan drags her back into the loft.

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