“Emery!” I scream; my voice hoarse as I scramble into the kitchen. I knock over things as I run to where my family sits, not worrying the slightest about picking them up. My parents sit watching me in shock, and Emery doesn’t look much different. “We have to go!” I shriek, trying to get them to listen. We don’t have much time. Why aren’t they moving?

“River, what on earth is going on? Come sit down and eat-“ I cut my mother over, feeling every second tick as Emery’s dad gets closer.

“Emery’s dad was at Mary’s house!” Emery’s eyes grow wide as he stands up at the table. Not tucking out first, he bumps it and the whole table shakes. My father slowly rises and turns to me as I continue. “He’s on his way here right now!” I clearly look like I’m insane, but I don’t care. My dad grabs my shoulders and looks down at me as I shake.

“River, calm down this instant. It will be fine,” he lets go of me and walks into the living room, as if his words are actually supposed to calm me down. I look to Emery, who’s trembling as bad as I am. His expression is blank, as his eyes grow distant. He’s lost in memories and fear.

“Emery,” I walk over to him and pick up his hand, not caring whether or not my mother see’s. “I’m so sorry,” my head falls into his chest as I begin to sob. “I’m so sorry! I should have known! I should have done something!” Emery grabs my shoulders and pushes me back so we can lock eyes.

“This isn’t your fault,” his voice is shaky, mirroring mine. He breaks eye contact to watch my dad walk into the kitchen, carrying his shotgun.

“What are you going to do?” I stop shaking as I realize my dad is being realistic for once. This won’t be so bad. It will all turn out okay, right?

“I’m going to find out why Emery’s father is here,” my dad cocks the shotgun and grins. “Then tell him he’s trespassing.” He heads out of the kitchen to go towards the front door, and Emery follows when I grab his hand to pull him back.

“Where are you going?” He removes his hand and looks towards the front door swinging closed. “You can’t go out there, Emery.”

He starts to slowly walk towards where my dad had left. “You don’t understand. I have to do this.” He leaves me standing there, watching dumbfounded. How could he go from being deathly afraid of his father to just going outside to face him? Maybe it was the fact that my dad is currently holding a shot gun. I start to follow when I feel a hand on my shoulder.

“You are not going out there, River.”I spin to face her, feeling my nerves resurface.

“Yes, I am, Mom. I’m not just going to sit here and wait to hear a gunshot!”She places her hands on her hips and gives me a look that says not to question her authority.

“You can watch from the window, like me. It’s too dangerous,” she walks towards the living room, and stands staring out the window.

“I’ll clean up the dishes then,” I tell her, even though I’m clearly lying. When she’s absorbed in waiting for Emery’s dad’s arrival, I lace up my shoes. Peeking around the corner of the living room, I watch as a station wagon pulls in the driveway through the window. It looks pretty beat up, with beige peeling paint and dents.

Silently, I open the back door and creep outside. Once it’s closed quietly behind me, I walk around to the side of the house. Crouching down, I peek my head around the corner and over a bush.

Emery’s father is climbing out of the station wagon, and he is exactly as I imagined him. His hair is a grey, greasy mess on the top of his head, and I can see his dirty stubble from the twenty feet I am away. He’s wearing a stained faded white wife beater, and oil stained pants. In his mouth sits an unlit cigarette and it’s the only resemblance to his son that I notice.

On instant of seeing him, I automatically hate him. He’s made Emery put up a wall from abuse, hatred and watching his mother die. How can this man be allowed to be alive?

“What are you doing here?” My dad steps into view, cradling the family shot gun. To Emery’s dad, he must look like a true hick. Emery steps behind him, but hangs back a few feet. His bright blue plaid shirt stands out in the plain farmland. I watch as he shoves his hands in his pockets to stop them from shaking. He looks like he’s frozen in shock, and I can’t imagine him not being surprised to see his dad.

“I came to get my son,” he snaps in a low, threatening voice. Mary was right when she said he didn’t look happy. He looks furious.

“I’m afraid that’s not happening,” my dad says, perfectly calm. Emery’s father leans back, looking surprised.

“Why not? He’s my fucking son.” I begin to notice the slurring in his voice. He’s drunk and here for Emery. Could things possibly be any worse?

“There’s no use for that language here, Mr. Hastings,” says my dad. “But Emery is working here on probation. On a side note, you’re supposed to be in court with him but you’ve been quite hard to find.” Mr. Hastings laughs darkly, and pulls out a lighter. He lights his cancer stick and inhales deeply.

“I’m sure my son can speak for himself.” Emery’s nods towards him. “Eh, boy? Talk to your old man.”

There’s no expression on Emery’s face whatsoever. I can’t tell what he’s thinking or how he’s feeling at all, but I know that inside, he’s probably torn. Who knows how long it’s been since he saw his father?

When Emery doesn’t respond, his dad shakes his head. “You’ve always been so worthless,” he mutters, then glares at his son. “Do they know what you’ve done?” He laughs darkly, waiting for some kind of response for Emery. When he gets none, he continues. “You’re poor mother…she deserved so much better than you,” he spits, flicking his cigarette onto the ground. “She deserved everything she ever wanted. But instead, she got choked to death, by you.”

I watch as fury sparks across Emery’s face, and how his hands ball into fists. He looks ready to explode, but before he can, my dad steps towards his father.

“I’m afraid it’s time to go, Mr. Hastings. You’re trespassing on-“ Emery doesn’t cut him off, but simply yells over top of my father’s voice.

“YOU MONSTER!” He screams, leaning forward towards his father. “YOU KILLED HER!” From where I stand, I can’t tell if he’s crying or not. But from the sound of his voice, and the meaning of his worse, I guess that he is. He shakes his head and glares into his father’s eyes, lowering his voice, but only slightly. “Ever since I was born, you ruined our lives!” I’ve never heard Emery yell this loud before. Not once, when he was screaming at me. Not once, when I did something to make him angry. Not once, when he threatened to kill me.

“You really think that, kid?” Mr. Hastings spits, stepping angrily towards his son. “You and I both know it was you who killed her!”

“Don’t lie to me!” yells Emery through clenched teeth. “You see how I am right now? You made me this way! You made me the horrible person I am today!” My heart breaks at his last sentence. Sure, Emery could be a little bit unbearable at times, but he surely isn’t a horrible person. If he was, I wouldn’t be in love with him.

I gasp at my thought, and suddenly, all eyes are on me. “River?” My dad doesn’t exactly yell my name in surprise, but he doesn’t just say it either. “Get in the house this instant!”

Emery’s watching eyes are wide in horror as I slowly rise to my feet. Instead of doing what I’m told, I slowly step into the scene, as if I’m stepping cautiously towards a lion.

“Who’s this?” Laughs Mr. Hastings darkly, staring at Emery whose eyes are shooting daggers at him. “Did fucked up Emery get a whore?” My anger swirls inside of me, and the same goes for Emery.

“It’s one thing to insult me, but you can’t fucking insult her!” Screams Emery, baring his teeth as he lunges towards his father. I gasp, but they don’t get far enough into my fight before my dad cocks the shotgun.

“That’s enough!” Emery takes a step back at my dad’s voice, but doesn’t move his glare from his father. “Mr. Hastings, leave now before I call the police.” Emery’s father laughs darkly, and holds up his hand in defense.

“Whatever,” he spits, walking slowly towards his car. He gets in, and the engine takes a few tries to finally start. He sticks his head out the rolled down window and smirks at his son. “I’ll be back to avenge your mother.”