Chapter 5 Five

As soon as Dave leaves, I head straight to the kitchen and yank the refrigerator open and grab myself another bottle of beer.

"Fuck!" I curse as I open the bottle and take a long swig and wipe the corners of my mouth with the back of my hand.

I shake my head as I stagger my way back to the living room.

Of all the things in life that have hit me, this one has hit me the hardest. I swear I never saw it coming. Not at all.

I always knew that it would be me who would marry Emm. Ever since we were teenagers.

A thought of the first time I asked her to be my girlfriend, flashes across my mind and I grit my teeth and pull my hair with one hand.

"Why me, Emily? Why?" I ask out loud as I stare at a large photo of her that's in a glass frame.

**FLASHBACK**

Well, now that I am seventeen, I guess I'm allowed to date or something like that. I mean, nearly every guy in my class has a girlfriend. There are so many girls in my class that are so pretty, but, only one girl always catches my attention.

Emily Michaelson.

Any time she walks by, I love to smell her perfume in the air. She's my best friend, although I have never told her that I like her. I've always wondered if she also feels the same way. So today, I will be a man and tell her how I feel.

After classes, I rush up to her as she's heading to the parking lot.

"Emm, wait up!" I say and she stops and turns around. Her hazel eyes twinkling under the bright sun. Her dark brown hair swaying from side to side as the wind blows against again.

Wow!

"Oh, hey Luke. I thought you were getting ready for practice. You're the school's quarterback," she says as she holds on to a notebook in front of her chest.

"Yeah, I was but, I told the coach I'd be running a little late," I say and she stares at me.

"Okay," she says and nods. "See you at home then."

"Wait. I... I need to ask you something Emm. I just need a minute or two," I say, hesitation clear in my voice.

"Go ahead. What is it?" she asks curiously and I lick my dry lips.

If I don't say it now, then I might as well forget about it completely.

"Emm, I know that this is probably not the right place or time to say this but... I love hanging out with you so much and every single day I grow fonder of you and... and I uhm, well, how do I say this? I... I really like you, Emily. Not just as my best friend, but I like you, like you," I say shyly as I try to keep my voice steady and a direct eye contact.

She grins widely and tucks her hair behind her ear. Her cheeks are now flushed and I kind of like that. She looks so pretty.

"I also like you, like you," she says and for a moment I think my heart does a back flip. I become overjoyed and I grin widely at her.

"Emily Michaelson, will you... be my girlfriend?" I ask and she nods without any hesitation.

"Yes, I'll be your girlfriend, Luke Grahams," she whispers and walks closer to me and tiptoes. Then she kisses my cheek and I swear I have never felt anything like what I am feeling right now. It's like my internal organs are exploding inwardly and my heart is beating so darn fast, my throat is extremely dry.

I find myself grinning like a loon and Emm begins chuckling.

"Better get to practice, I'll see you around," she says and walks away.

"Yes!" I say as I run back to the changing room.

**END OF FLASHBACK**

Anger is now coursing through my veins and I find myself throwing the fucking bottle right across the room and it smashes against her photo and both the bottle and frame of the photo break into tiny pieces as they land on the floor.

"Fuuuck! Fuck!" I yell as I grab another empty bottle that's been on the table and I throw it to the wall and I grab another photo of Emm and me. I don't spare it either and I smash it against the wall and I begin panting again as I furiously pull my hair with both of my hands.

My eyes scan the floor and the mess I have already made. I shake my head and drag myself upstairs, there, I stare at myself in the mirror. My eyes are as red as blood and veins are popping out on my forehead.

I lie on the bed and stare up at the ceiling.

I feel betrayed, broken, unworthy and useless.

She must have been having a relationship behind my back. How couldn't I have noticed? She hid everything so well. How long has she been with the other bastard? Has he already made love to her?

The last thought nearly makes me choke on my own saliva.

I can feel tears stinging the back of my eyeballs. I don't want to cry but, I find myself doing so. I might as well let it all out now that I am all alone.

I turn over in bed and I begin to bitterly smack the pillows and bite them as tears flow uncontrollably.

It hurts. It fucking hurts.

I feel as if someone just stuck a dagger in my heart. I've heard of terrible ways in which people break up, but I never thought I'd be one to suffer this way. We've had arguments and solved our issues but never have we ever broken up for those ten years.

What made her change her mind? As far as I know, I was doing everything right. I loved her unconditionally, made love to her, and treated her so well. I still don't understand what I did wrong.

Minutes later as I drown myself in my pool of thoughts, I drift away to la-la land and the next thing I know, it's morning. 8am to be precise.

I must have blacked out or something.

When I check my phone, I find five missed calls and two texts from Dave and I call him back.

"Bro, why aren't you picking my calls?" he asks.

"I guess I didn't hear my phone ring. I was still asleep," I say as I rub my eyes lazily and yawn.

"You alright over there?" he asks.

"Yeah. I'm going back to my hometown today. I must find out how all of this happened right under my nose," I say and sniffle.

"Do you need company? I can let Ethan take care of my work and yours too while we're away," Dave says and I sigh.

"You're the best," I say.

"I'm driving, so I'll pick you up in an hour or so. I'm not letting you drive all the way to Brondale while your mind is full of all sorts of things," he states.

"Thanks bro. I appreciate it. I'll be waiting," I say and hang up, then lay my head back on the pillow as I face Emily's side of the bed.

The bed feels too big without her.

This very bed, she used to play on, lie on and sit on. Now, she's gone and I can't seem to stop thinking of her lying right next to me.

I sigh heavily and blink at the empty space in the bed.

I should probably get myself ready.

Without wasting another minute, I drag myself out of bed. I'm having a mild headache, but some painkillers will make it go away quick.

The moment I stand inside the bathroom, under the pouring water from the shower, an image of her crosses my mind. There was this one time when I made love to her in the shower.

"Focus, Luke, focus," I tell myself as I shake my head and begin taking a shower.

****

Dave arrived earlier and I got into his car, right now we're on the highway heading to my hometown. It's been a while since I've been there, probably eight months, I'm not even sure. But I do talk to my folks from time to time.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" Dave breaks the silence and I glance over at him. I'm riding shotgun.

"What am I supposed to say? I'm still in shock," I say and stare out of the window.

Silence.

"I found who that guy is–"

"Who is he? How'd you find out about him?" I ask Dave, cutting him off.

"Last night, I was randomly scrolling my news feed and a certain article caught my eye. It had his name. Damien Foster, apparently, is the last born son of the Prime Minister. Howard Foster.

I nearly choke when Dave finishes his sentence.

"What?" I ask.

"You heard me," Dave says as his palms tighten around the steering wheel.

The son of the Prime Minister, Howard Foster?

How?

How is he marrying Emily? How did they know each other?

"The guy is stinking rich! I'm talking about Bentleys, mansions, companies an entire airline kind of rich. I Googled him. He's way richer than both our properties combined."

"Did Emm marry him because he has money?" I frown at the thought then I take my phone and Google the punk.

"I can't answer that," Dave says.

"Obviously," I say as I scroll down the guy's information. "Wait, he's a couple of years younger than Emily," I say and frown at my phone. "The last time I checked, Emily has never fancied the idea of any woman marrying a younger guy. She believes that a man should always be older than his wife."

"Then there's definitely something fishy going on. If she didn't go for his money then I have no idea what got into her mind," Dave states and I nod.

"Yeah. We only have today and tomorrow. We'll pass by her parents' house, she's probably there. Dear God, I don't want to lose her, not like this, not in any other way," I say and Dave sighs.

"Let's hope she'll change her mind when she sees you," he says and I rub a palm over my face.

"Could you step on the gas, you're driving too slowly, I'm not Gianna," I tease a little and Dave smiles.

"Really now?"

"Well you always drive slowly when you're with your wife. She always complains whenever you drive fast. Emm never complained when I did–" I cut myself off the moment I realize what I just said. We ride in silence until we finally pull over at her parents place.

We knock on the door but no one answers, we've tried the doorbell thrice. No response.

"Luke? Is that you?" I hear a female voice ask and I run around. It's Emm's neighbor, Mrs. Reed. The nicest woman around here.

"Yeah. It's me. How are you ma'am?" I ask as Dave and I walk down the porch and greet her.

"I am very fine and pleased to see you around. How have you been?" she asks while shoving her hands into the pockets of her coat.

"I'm okay. Have you seen the Michaelsons?" I ask.

"I think they went over to Emily's grandparents, at the farm. Oh, she's also there if I'm not wrong," she says and smiles.

"Thanks, we'll head over there right away. You have a great day," I say and we leave.

****

When we arrive at the large farm that Emm's grandparents own, I spot her car.

"She's here alright," Dave says as he leaves the car and I follow suit.

We walk towards the barn as gravel grunches below our feet. Inside we find her grandpa busy arranging stacks of hay.

"Hello, sir," I say and he turns around and his eyes go wide and a smile forms on his face. Why the hell would he be smiling right now? Doesn't he know that Emm is getting married to someone else and not me?

"Ah! Young Luke, how are you? What brings you here? I haven't seen you in years," he says and walks towards us as he takes off his gloves.

It's been years since I came here at the barn.

"I'm alright. This is my friend, Dave," I introduce the two to each other and they shake hands.

"Have you seen Emm?" I ask curiously.

"Yeah, she's around, her parents are having some waffles at a nearby diner," he says and I nod my head then I hear her voice.

"Grandpa, Sally's saddle was a little loose but I've buckled it up nicely now," she says and I hear her footsteps getting closer to the barn and I turn to face the entrance. She's talking about her favorite horse, Sally.

The second she walks in and her eyes land on me, she stiffens and her jaw drops.

"Luke," she utters and swallows dryly.

"Emily," I say as I take a step forward and she takes two steps back.

My heart is now threatening to break my ribcage.