Strings (1 of 2)

Chapter 48 - Anna's Confession

I guess she was right. He seems taken with her. Shit, I was rooting for him and Al-

"Emily, guess what!" Speak of the devil.

Alex rounds the corner to the desk with a huge grin, which falls as soon as she sees them standing in front of me. Jake looks away from Jade, but a second too late, which Alex clearly sees. She shrinks a little as her eyes widen and she looks to me with a glint of despair in her dark brown eyes, making me feel instantly guilty for bringing Jade here.

"Sorry one sec, Alex." I give her a sympathetic smile and turn to Jade with a harder look. "Jade was just leaving."

Jade's brows furrow as she stares at me, challenging me. I keep her eye contact long enough until she huffs and gives up.

"Right. I should start packing." She says to bother me and it works...

"It was nice meeting you. Don't be a stranger." Jake smiles at her and my chest tightens for my new friend waiting beside me.

Jade bats her eyelashes cluelessly and grins. "I'll be back, don't you worry." She winks and then smiles at Alex before walking out the front door.

Jake disappears to the kitchen and Alex frowns at me, deflated.

"Don't worry about her. She'll move onto a new guy by tomorrow." I say to make her feel better but also because it is the truth. I'll be shocked if I see her here again.

"What were you going to tell me?" I give her a reassuring smile, which she returns.

"Jake asked me out for Friday," She smiles and I can see her excitement start to overpower her worry about Jade.

I pull her in for a tight hug. "I knew it!" I whisper in her ear before we both pull back grinning.

Finally... some good news for the day.

---

My happiness at Alex's news wore off quickly after Jade posted a picture of her flight ticket and reminded me how selfish she was. 

After my shift ends, I walk home quickly, the rage and rap music blaring through my airpods propelling me forward. 

I storm into the house and fling my runners off, not caring where they land. I try to take my off-the-shoulder purse off my shoulder but my hair catches and gets tangled in the hook - of course.

"Ughhhh!" I scream and double over to let it fall off me and land on the floor with a thud. "Fuck you." I spit at it like a crazy person. 

Nothing can fucking go right today, apparently. I just want to crawl into my bed and watch tv in peace until I pass out and hopefully forget this day happened.

"Emily. What happened?" Anna appears in front of me. I stand up straighter and look into her worried eyes.

"Jade bailed on me for Friday. Some shoot in the Cayman Islands came up. That's her priority I guess." I explain bitterly and she frowns.

"Oh, I'm sorry, dear. I know you really wanted to go. Why don't you ask Santana?" She suggests with raised, hopeful eyebrows.

I shake my head. Already considered this option. "Out of town with her boyfriend and she doesn't like the band. Only Jade does."

I walk with her towards the kitchen, huffing. "I can't go now." I sigh.

"Why not go yourself? You like your own company better anyways." She pours two glasses of water and slides one over as we stand at the kitchen island.