Paul drove past the speed limit all the way to J.U. and when he found Emma's dorm, he called for her to come out and let him in.

Brady was leaning against the door. "So she called you, Twitch?"

Paul said nothing. He just waited for Emma to come open the door. The security office waited at the end of the hall.

He didn't know what was wrong with Emma but when she came close enough, he saw the big bruise. Paul felt his face burn with anger.

"Brady. Why can't you just leave me the fuck alone?!" Emma yelled.

"I wanted to apologize. I was drunk."

"You did that?!" Paul asked. He coughed and shook his head.

"I was DRUNK, Twitch."

Paul took a deep breath before he walked over, grabbed Brady by the shirt and just sucker-punched his face. He pushed him away and hugged Emma who was speechless, still holding the door open.

The front desk worker saw everything. "Um, sir, we're going to have to call security. You can't hit other students." She reached for the phone.

"No." Paul said, rubbing his fist and walking past Emma. "We're leaving." He took Emma down the hallway and shook hands with the security guard.

"Paul Rhodes." He coughed and shook his head. "Fuck off!" He cleared his throat. "Sorry. Tourette's."

Emma had Bird unvested. She looked over. "Paul, can you vest her?"

Paul was there the entire training season last summer with Emma. He drove Emma and Bird to the training center everyday for 3 months. He knew all of Bird's commands.

"Bird, front." Paul said, holding out her vest. "Straight." He slipped it over her head and leashed her up. He handed the leash to Emma. "So what happened?" He asked as he picked up Bird's folded crate. Emma slipped on her backpack and grabbed her suitcase.

"Everything's a disaster." She said, holding back tears. "Absolutley everything."

"My car's parked on the street... illegally."

Emma smiled. "Of course."

They loaded into the car

The security office stopped outside Paul's window. "Take her to a safe place, straightaway."

Paul nodded. He coughed and then shook his head. "Yes, sir."

They pulled away and started the three hour drive home. Emma was quiet at first but relaxed.

"So that bruise." Paul said, looking over. "How'd you get it?"

Emma sighed. "I'm suspicious that Brady has a drinking problem."

Paul laughed lightly. "I think he has an everything problem."

Emma smiled and turned the radio up a little. She hummed along.

"So." Paul interrupted. "Why the security guard?"

"They thought that I'd kill myself."

Paul choked on his spit. "What?!"

Emma sighed. "Yeah."

"Were you?"

Emma thought for a second. "Maybe?"

They made the drive home. The summer sun was still in the sky. Paul pulled into the Rhode family driveway, their house directly across from the Parkers.

Darla put a casserole in to the oven. Ellie, Paul's 12-year-old sister was doing her homework at the kitchen table. She looked up.

"Hello, Emma. Hello, Bird."

Darla took off her apron and wrapped Emma in a hug. She pulled her away by the shoulders and looked at her bruise.

"Who do I have to fuck up?"

"No one." Emma laughed. "I'm fine." She paused. "But- it's probable that my 'anxiety' is more like post traumatic stress."

Darla smiled, sadly. "I called your mom. She hasn't picked up."

"She probably left her phone at home." Emma nodded. "She gets off around 5."

"Well she's invited to dinner, of course."

"Thank you." Emma replied.

When 5:24 hit, Carolyn Parker pulled into the driveway. When she saw the missed messages on her phone she felt anxiety swarm around her like bees. She frantically pulled up her contact list and called Emma.

"Emma?" She asked.

"Hey mom." Emma replied. "I'm across the street."

"What? Where are you on campus?"

"I'm not on campus. I'm at the Rhode's. Can you come over?"

The line went silent and withing seconds, Carolyn was running across the street. She walked into the Rhode's house (neither family knocked, they just walked in and out of each other's homes like family)

"Em?"

Emma came out, following Bird who was happily giving her love to Carolyn. 

"Hi."

She looked at Emma and covered her mouth. "Your eye-"

"I know." Emma assured. "Mom, I just don't think I can do college yet."

"Honey, that's fine. That's fine." She hugged her daughter and stroked her hair. "You don't have to go back."

Emma stepped back. "Actually. Dr. Price at J.U. reccommended this place to me." She handed the brocure to her mother.

River Crossing Christian Rehabilitation Program. A Safe Space for Young Women facing Eating Disorders, Trauma, and Mental Health.

"Do you think I can go?" Emma asked.

Carolyn caught her breath and nodded. "Okay. We'll talk with your therapist. Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow." Emma agreed.

Carolyn walked into the kitchen and hugged Darla. "Thank you for getting her."

"Of course."

"I owe your family so much."

"You owe us nothing." Darla assured.

Darla always said that Paul's mowing and shoveling was payment for the after-school care Emma and Carolyn provided Ellie in elementary school everyday.

Ellie was glad to see Emma. She was doing her homeowrk.

"Hey El, whatcha working on?"

"Math." Ellie answered. Now that she was in secondary school, she was able to get home after track practice at a time when Darla was home. She didn't need to be watched at the Parker household.

They had dinner before Carolyn brought Emma home.

Night came. Emma came in from a walk with Bird and locked the door. It was close to 9. Bird just needed one more out.

She climbed up the stairs and stopped at the top. She looked down the hallway to the master bedroom. She changed into pajamas and then lifted the blankets and lay down next to her mother.

"I love you, Emma."

"I love you, mom."