Chapter 8

• The next day...
• Emerald's day took an unexpected turn when her friends, Annie and Justin, expressed a keen interest in her younger brother Zack's question from the night before, especially since, unbeknownst to Emerald, Justin had accidentally overheard the entire exchange due to an incomplete hang-up on the phone.
• As they paused by Annie's locker, Annie prodded for more details, "So, how did you respond to him?" Her curiosity matched the sparkle in her eyes.
• Emerald sighed, recalling the awkwardness of the previous night. "I told him they were praying for each other."
• Annie looked incredulous. "What?"
• Exactly, Justin. Emerald thought wryly. That spontaneous answer was all that came to mind in the moment. Teaching a nine-year-old about adult matters was certainly not her intention. No, that was clearly their mother's responsibility.
• "Did he actually believe you?" Annie pressed, still intrigued by the unusual situation.
• Thinking back on the event wasn't Emerald's favorite pastime, and yet, thoughts of it continued to surface. If only there was a mental equivalent of bleach for such memories.
• "Emerald?" Justin joined in the conversation with equal eagerness for her response.
• "He didn't believe me at first," Emerald admitted, "not until I dramatically clasped my hands together and exclaimed, 'Oh, Zack, oh Zack,' at the top of my lungs." The theatrical display had apparently been effective enough to disrupt her parents' activities.
• "That's quite the scene," Annie remarked, her eyebrows raised humorously, debating whether to let her amused grin break into laughter.
• "The most unconventional sex talk ever," Justin quipped, earning a playful smack from Emerald in return.
• A hint of melancholy softened Annie's features as she sighed, "I wish my parents would even speak to each other. They're not on talking terms right now." The heartfelt admission tugged at Emerald's empathy.
• "Emerald's parents could offer them some advice," Justin joked again, receiving another nudge from Emerald for his insensitivity.
• Choosing to ignore Justin, Emerald wrapped an arm around Annie in comfort and said gently, "Things will get better, Annie. They'll eventually realize the distance between them and bridge the gap."
• A shadow of sorrow lingered over Annie's face as she added, "My dad thinks I'm a failure." Her voice was tinged with vulnerability. "And my mom doesn't even try to defend me. When I stand up to him—"
• "Annie!" Justin interjected with a sudden burst of energy. "What do you want for your birthday?"
• "Uh?" Emerald was about to reprimand him again for changing the subject so abruptly, but seeing Annie's spirits lift slightly, she paused.
• "Just name it, and I'll get it for you," Justin insisted earnestly.
• "Really?" Annie's eyes brightened, and Emerald couldn't help but feel a sense of relief at this slight change in mood. As Justin nodded eagerly, Annie pondered for a moment before responding, "I've always wanted a bear."
• "A real bear?" Justin's initial expression of shock quickly transformed into one of bravado. "Don't worry, I'll find a way to get one for you."
• "If you bring me a real bear," Annie countered with mock seriousness, "I promise I'll feed you to it."
• Emerald shook her head, bemused by the banter between her friends.
• Justin frowned, clearly feeling a bit affronted. "Hey! That's unkind," he pointed out, his voice tinged with a playful sulk. "I'm just trying to bring a smile to your faces. Both of you are being mean." His accusation was half-hearted but sincere.
• Emerald feigned innocence as she touched her chest in mock surprise. "Me? What did I possibly do?"
• "You've been hitting me all day!" Justin exclaimed dramatically, his eyes widening as if he were utterly aghast. "What did you do? Just look at this." He gestured dramatically to the spot on his arm where Emerald had playfully tapped him earlier.
• "When did I ever hit you?" Emerald replied with exaggerated mockery. "I merely tapped you kindly."
• Justin gasped, his hands flying to his mouth. His expression was one of playful disbelief. Turning to Annie, he implored, "You saw it, didn't you? She hit me right here," he insisted while pointing to the spot in question.
• "I didn't see her lay a hand on you," Annie responded, her eyes twinkling mischievously.
• "You're both cruel," Justin concluded after Annie's denial left him momentarily speechless, earning cheeky grins from his two friends.
• Then Annie shifted her attention as her expression transformed into one of observable curiosity. "Celine has finally managed to gather all her missing members," she observed, gesturing towards the group approaching down the corridor. "Looks like the school's elite are back in action, all reassembled."
• Justin turned to watch with them, observing the confident strides of the five-member clique, whose entrance commanded the attention of nearby students.
• "Emerald isn't part of their clique, though," Justin commented, his gaze scanning over the three boys and two girls whose charismatic presence dominated the scene with less subtlety than intended.
• Annie scoffed at the idea, her tone carrying a hint of amusement, "Emerald operates on a whole different level. She's in a league of her own."
• Squinting slightly, Emerald recognized a familiar figure among the group. She couldn't resist letting curiosity prompt her question, "Is that Dylan Lock?"
• She knew full well it was him; his distinctive brown hair and unmistakable stride were a dead giveaway.
• "Yes, that's him. Has he already been released?" Annie asked, sounding both surprised and intrigued.
• "I heard his accusations were all false," Justin added knowledgeably.
• "That's true," Emerald confirmed. "He was released a couple of weeks ago. He mentioned he wouldn't be returning to school..." Her voice trailed off as she was momentarily captivated by Dylan's dramatic entry amid the students watching him, especially those who once branded him a criminal when the police took him away on that frigid day after school.
• "Emerald?" Annie's voice broke through her thoughts. "Did you hear my question?"
• "What was that?" Emerald asked, still distracted.
• "How did he tell you he wasn't coming back to school?"
• "I ran into him during a visit to the prison," Emerald explained, noticing the incredulous looks from her friends. She shifted her stance before elaborating further. "My mom had some business there, so I tagged along. That's when I encountered Dylan. Coincidentally, he was on the verge of being released, and we ended up having a brief conversation."
• "Are you out of your mind?" Annie asked, her concern evident.
• Emerald frowned slightly at Annie's reaction. "Just for talking to him?"
• "Yes," Annie affirmed.
• "What's all this fuss about?" Emerald asked, sensing her friends' disapproval of her straightforward confession.
• "Dylan Lock isn't exactly the kind of guy you casually walk up to for a chat as if he's your friendly neighbor," Annie cautioned.