(Emily, I'm Sorry)
ACT ONE — CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

2021

Emily's eyes were glued to the red flashing dot on Shauna's phone, as they all waited for Natalie.

"Okay," Shauna broke the silence turning around in her seat to look at Emily, "What the hell is going on between you and Nat? You two seemed off tonight."

Emily pressed her lips together, "I made a mistake."

Now Taissa also turned to look at her, "What kind of mistake?"

"I don't really wanna talk about it," Emily trailed off, but of course the other two women still looked at her expectantly, "I really fucked up, Tai."

"It can't be that bad." Taissa stated looking for Shauna to agree with her, as Emily's leg nervously bounced up and down.

"Yeah, I'm sure it's not that bad." Shauna nodded, but her voice wasn't that convincing.

Emily sighed, "I almostsleptwithher." She rushed out avoiding eye contact with either of the two women in front of her.

"You slept with Natalie?" Taissa's eyes widened.

"Almost." Emily corrected, "But I left! Do you know how much of an asshole move that is?"

Shauna nodded, "You fucked up."

Taissa glared at her, "You're not helping, Shauna!"

Emily hid her face in her hands, "God, I am a horrible person."

"You're not a horrible person, Emily." Taissa shook her head, "If you were a horrible person you probably wouldn't feel bad."

"That's a good point," Shauna nodded.

Emily's eyes flicked back and forth between the two, "You're both really bad at making me feel better about this."

Taissa offered her a small smile, "I'm sure Natalie will get over it. Speaking of where is she? Wasn't she the one telling us not to take forever? How long does it take to drive a block?"

"Maybe she stopped to score drugs." Shauna deadpanned.

"Oh, god." Taissa scoffed, "I hope not. The pay cut I took to run for senate isn't going to fund another rehab."

"Oh, Tai did you really?" Shauna asked, Emily shook her head, "I have no room to talk on this subject matter. Ash is coming to stay with me as of tomorrow."

"What? Emily!" Taissa looked back at her, "We talked about this."

They had talked about it. Emily knew better than to keep letting her sister back into her life over and over. Each time Ash managed to wreck everything in her path.

"I know, I really do I just— she's my sister. She's reckless, and makes incredibly stupid choices and empty promises but— I don't know."

"She's your family." Shauna sighed, "I get it."

Their conversation came to a close as the door opened beside Emily.

"What the fuck took you so long?" Taissa questioned, and Emily scooted over in her seat, trying to avoid Natalie as much as possible.

"I stopped at a gas station," she held out a liquor bottle, "but I couldn't find any cups."

"What?" Shauna took the bottle, "Where did you find a gas station in Jersey that sells liquor?"

"I bought it off the clerk." She stated as though it was obvious, "How else do you think they get through the night shift?"

A tiny smile pulled at Emily's lips, of course Natalie would be the one to buy liquor off a gas station employee.

"Did you see anyone at the drop?"

"If I saw somebody I would've told you, Tai." Natalie stated, and then reached for the bottle of liquor, "Pass it."

"Come on fuck face, take the money." Taissa muttered.

Emily silently stared out the window into the darkened street. She was exhausted and felt horrible about what happened with Natalie.

Natalie held out the liquor bottle in front of her wordlessly. When Emily looked up, the brunette wasn't looking at her, but she still accepted the bottle.

"I'm sorry if I seemed...pissed earlier." Natalie whispered, hoping that only Emily would hear her. It didn't concern the other two women.

"I'm not. I'm really not." Natalie continued, but Emily was still reluctant to look at her, "If you're not ready for that, with me...that's fine."

Emily's eyes finally met Natalie's, "I run. Things get too scary, or to complicated, or too real. I'm fucked up...I know that we all are in one way or another, but I'm trying."

The blonde exhaled softly, "I just want you to know I'm trying. Please don't give up on me."

Natalie frowned, debating how to respond, her eyes flicking between Emily and the two women in the front seat.

"Okay."

Several minutes passed by and still the tracker had yet to move. Emily was becoming restless, the silence between the four of them becoming quite uncomfortable.

"Okay this is unacceptable," Shauna finally broke the silence, "Blackmail us...fine! But it's 3:34 like why have us show up at 2 and then just keep us waiting?"

Shauna took a sip of the liquor, and Taissa offered up a suggestion, "Maybe they're scouring the area making sure we're not waiting."

"Ok, then find us already!" Shauna deadpanned, "I'm not impressed."

A smile tugged at Natalie's lips, "Maybe slow down?" She reached forward for the bottle and Shauna shook her head.

"What for? This is a train wreck already."

"Yeah, no. It will be at this rate," Taissa took the bottle handing it back to Natalie.

Who however didn't have it very long before Emily reached over taking a long swig from the bottle.

"Alright, you're right. We should make the most of this quality time. Tai, how are the wife and kid?"

Taissa hesitated very slightly before responding, something Emily noticed almost immediately, "They're fine."

"And the Campaign? Is also fine?" Shauna added, and Taissa hummed in agreement. Since clearly Taissa conversation wasn't enough for Shauna she leaned back to Emily.

"What about you? How's Daisy?"

Emily scoffed, "She been spending like most of the time at your house, shouldn't you know how she is?"

"What?" Shauna asked, "I thought she and Callie were at your house?"

"Oh, Jesus Christ." Emily muttered, running her hand through her hair.

"Well if anyone wants to know about me," Natalie started, "I've been—"

The brunette was cut off by Shauna's phone beeping, "Wait! He's moving."

"Okay alright," Shauna spoke, as they all started to pull on their seatbelts, "oh wait no I probably shouldn't drive, because if we die we won't ever find out who's doing this."

"Okay, get out," Taissa instructed opening her door.

"I'll drive!" Natalie rose her hand, but all three of the other women swiftly cut her off, "Nope!"

"Is this what's supposed to happen? What's going on?" Taissa asked, glancing at Shauna briefly.

"Uh," Shauna hesitated squinting at the truck in front of them.

"The driver must be in on it." Natalie stated.

Emily shrugged, "Or the person blackmailing us is actually completely stupid and didn't check the schedule of the company's pick ups."

Taissa pulled the car into park, and Emily took another sip of liquor.

"Okay, so what do we do now?" Shauna asked, and before anyone could respond Natalie opened her door, climbing out of the van.

"Natalie!"

"Okay I guess we're going."

Emily unbuckled her seatbelt almost tripping as soon as her feet hit the pavement, "Fuck! Wait for me!"

Natalie slammed the truck drive up against the door of the truck, "Have you been black mailing us?"

"Nat, calm down! What if he's not even involved?" Emily caught up to her, staying a few feet back. The man shook his head several times.

"But you know who has been." Natalie stated, and he shook his head again, "No, no I—I—"

"Which one is it?" She continued but he was still resistant, "I just work here!"

"Don't lie to me!"

"Natalie stop!" Taissa and Shauna also caught up now, standing on either side of Emily.

"Natalie, please put the gun down," Shauna added.

"Take the truck! Just take it!" The man dropped the key, and that's when another man in a ski mask took off with the duffel bag in hand.

Natalie released the truck driver running after the man, "Take the keys! Drive around the front!" Taissa tossed the keys to Shauna who paused a look of confusion written all over her face.

Shauna and Emily shared a look, the Jensen woman letting out a long sigh.

"Give them to me," Emily held out her hand, "I'll drive."

The night ended with the black mailer escaping, so not exactly as well as Emily would've hoped.