Page 2 of The Storms Between Us
one
4 YEARS LATER
Music is blaringthrough the thin walls of my shitty apartment. I'm glad I only have a week left before I leave this place, diploma in hand. When I told my parents I wanted to study English Lit, their eye rolls spoke volumes. Making a career out of reading or writing seemed like a joke to two Yale Business School grads, but I knew it called to me. Even the fact that I got into Duke wasn't enough to please them. But being on the front lines of the literary world excites and fulfills me in a way nothing else ever has. I honestly can't wait to dive in.
The past four years here haven't been easy. I've had to learn how to function as my own person, no longer one half of a pair. Here, I'm just Ember. I'm not not the other Blake twin. Being separated from Everett has been the most difficult part. Seeing him through video calls eases my anxieties, but it's not the same as seeing him face to face. Growing up with parents who were completely unconcerned about the children they were supposed to raise caused us to be self-reliant at a young age. If he needed someone to cheer him on at a lacrosse game, he looked for me in the stands. When people made fun of me for constantly having my nose in a book, Everett stood up for me. We protected each other. We raised each other. I was terrified of being alone after he left for the Marines. I couldn't imagine taking on such an important life event like college without him by my side. It's been a challenge to discover who I am and who I want to be. Somewhere in the halls of this university, I found the woman I am today. She's strong-willed and confident but still quiet, like the eye of a storm. After 4 years, I feel like a different person. I still love to share my accomplishments and troubles with Ev, but I've become comfortable in my skin. I know I've accomplished great things here at Duke and I'm proud of the person I am.
Severing my ties with my ex, Justin, was the last piece I needed to truly get myself together. I met Justin during my second year here. I was reading over an essay in the courtyard outside the campus cafe and he played the old "trip over the girl while playing football" trick. Unfortunately, I fell for it. You would think a woman as well-versed in the greatest love stories ever written would be more aware of what bullshit hides behind a trick like that, but he was a smooth talker. He always told me how beautiful he thought I was and how he couldn't live without me. At the time, I thought it was endearing. But it wasn't long before I realized the monster that hid behind his fake façade. Looking back now, I'm disappointed in myself for allowing him to worm his way into my heart and my head.
He had his moments when he would make snide comments about my behavior or appearance, but he would always brush it off as a joke and ease my worries. The first time I felt genuine fear with him was during a group outing with all our friends. We were dating for almost a year by then and things seemed okay, but it was just an illusion. We went to a local club and were all drinking, dancing, and having a great time. His friend Connor made a sexy librarian joke about my glasses and put his arm around me, giving me a punch on the arm. Justin lost his mind, shoving Connor off of me and accusing me of coming on to him. Later that night, once we got back to my apartment, he called me a whore and told me I needed to be more careful not to embarrass him. Fire flared in his eyes as he grabbed me by my elbows and screamed at me, telling me never to behave that way again.
The next morning, I saw the dark bruises on my skin and knew I wouldn't put myself in that position again. I asked my best friend, Kelsea, to come over with the football player she was dating to help me pack Justin's shit. I sent him a text telling him I never wanted to see him again. We changed the locks on my apartment that day, dropped his boxes off outside his place, and I felt confident that would be the end.
Unfortunately, I was very wrong. I started receiving notes on my door and car, flowers delivered to the desk in my apartment building, and countless calls and texts at all hours begging me to take him back. He swore he was drunk that night and would never have acted that way otherwise. But I've never been a weak person when it comes to speaking my mind and standing my ground. I changed my number and told all of my professors and campus security about the situation. They assured me they would counsel him and he wouldn't bother me any more. Two years later, and I've seen him around campus a handful of times. Sometimes he's there when I walk out of the cafe or the library, but it's not a big campus. Unfortunately, I'm bound to run into him whether I like it or not. He's tried talking to me, apologizing or telling me he'd like to hang out, but I'm not interested.
Graduation is a week away, now. I'm only focused on moving out of here and starting my internship in South Carolina, where I can be closer to my brother. After he finished his tour in the Marines, he settled down in a coastal town about ten miles from Charleston and opened a tattoo shop with some buddies from his unit. He invited me to stay with him after graduation and I jumped at the chance. I was offered a paid internship with an independent publishing group and given the opportunity to work remotely, allowing me to travel anywhere I please. To say it was a total dream is an understatement. I've never felt tethered to a single person in my life, but more to places. I was stuck in west Texas because of my parents, stuck in North Carolina because of Duke, and now I would be tethered to South Carolina to start over somewhere new. This time, I wouldn't mind. Being twins, Everett and I always had a propensity to fall into place together. We hung in the same friend circles in school, seldom separate from each other the entire time we were growing up. When he suggested I come stay with him in his three-bedroom townhouse, it was a simple decision.
I close my laptop and textbook after submitting the last of my final essays and breathe a sigh of relief. After four years, the constant all-nighters and piles of Red Bull cans have finally felt worth it. The realization that I did this solely for myself brings a watery smile to my face. I wouldn't say I'm an overly emotional person, but I am proud of myself for not backing down when my parents told me this degree would be a waste.
A knock on my door shakes me from my thoughts, and I reluctantly shuffle to answer. Hopefully, it isn't anyone important because my comfy grey sweats and Green Day t-shirt aren't the most glamorous. When I look through the peephole, I see a woman standing there holding a long white box in her hands. I open the door and remove the chain hesitantly.
"Are you Ember Blake?" She asks, looking impatient with one hand propped on her hip and the other clutching the box.
"I might be. Who's asking?" I fire back, irritated by her attitude.
"Look, it's been a long day already and I have a ton of deliveries left. Can you just sign here?" She shoves a clipboard towards me with a delivery log attached.
"Who is this from? I'm not expecting any deliveries." I ask her, but she rolls her eyes and snatches the clipboard from my hands with a huff.
"Couldn't tell ya, I just deliver the boxes. Maybe there's a card inside." She pushes the box into my hands and turns, walking down the stairs without another word.
I take the box into my apartment, setting it down on the kitchen counter. The long rectangle is an odd shape compared to the dozens of packages of books I'm used to receiving. I slide the lid off to reveal a dozen long-stemmed roses with a card and picture stacked on top. I crinkle my nose at the powerful aroma pouring out of the box. Ugh, roses. My absolute least favorite flower. They remind me of funerals and I've never been a big flower lover, anyway. Lifting the card out of the box, my hands begin to shake a bit. I immediately recognize my name written in Justin's heavy, aggressive script across the envelope. I take a steadying breath and open the card.
"Ember,
Congratulations on your upcoming graduation, my love. I'm so proud of you for achieving this accomplishment. Knowing there's nothing standing in the way of us being together makes me so happy. You can give me and this relationship the attention I deserve now. I've waited two years to bring you back where you belong and the wait is finally over. I'll be seeing you soon.
Justin"
An icy shiver runs down my spine as I drop the card and finally see the photo laying on top of the flowers. It's a picture of me in the campus coffee shop with my head thrown back, laughing at something Kelsea said. I vaguely remember her telling me some joke about the fraternity bathroom she had to use last week. I know I didn't see Justin in the cafe that day. Has he been watching me? Photographing me without me knowing?
I fall into the chair at my bar with my head in my hands. How did I end up with this psycho? I knew he could be aggressive, but this feels different. Years of watching true crime documentaries tell me this is borderline crazy stalker behavior. This is definitely not something I saw coming. My hands shake as I reach for my phone. I dial the number that brings me peace in any storm.
Everett answers on the second ring, "Hey Emby, what's up?" His voice is an instant balm to the fear burning through my veins. I take a deep breath before answering him to mask my unease.
"Hey Ev, just checking in. I just submitted my last assignment and I'm all packed and ready to head your way."
"I can't wait, Sparky.” I hear the smile in his voice already. "Are you sure you need to wait another week?"
Sighing, I brace myself for this conversation, not wanting to raise any concern in him, "That's actually why I'm calling," I try to force some false excitement into my voice, "I don't really feel like waiting around here for no reason. Mom and Dad already said they aren't coming to graduation and honestly, I couldn't care less about walking across the stage just to get my diploma. I'm thinking about just picking it up tomorrow and heading your way this weekend. I know it's earlier than we planned, but what do you think?"
I hear the buzz of a tattoo gun in the background and know that he must be working. "That sounds great, Emb. I'm ready whenever you are, no point in waiting if you don't want to. You're welcome to head down here whenever you want."
Relief floods through my body, knowing I'll soon be putting distance between Justin and I and starting my life somewhere new. I don't say anything to Everett about the box or the situation with Justin. Keeping something from him makes my stomach churn. I've never kept secrets from my brother, but he was always wary of Justin. He said he gave him a bad feeling, and he didn't think Justin deserved me. Turns out he was 100% right. I can't imagine what he would say about this recent development.
"Ok Ev, I'm gonna get things settled here tomorrow and I'll be in Grovewood by Sunday. Sound good?"
"Perfect, Sparky. My client just got here, so I gotta run. Let me know if you change your mind about needing help. I can be there tomorrow," he says. Hearing him use my childhood nickname brings a smile to my face and releases some of the tension I've been holding onto.
"No, it's okay. I can handle it. I'll see you Sunday!" I force some cheeriness into my voice and quickly hang up before he catches on.
