Emma's Pov

Leaving the scene hurriedly, I try to wrap my mind around what I just saw. I shouldn't be upset since it's his life and he's not entitled to tell me about his past, but why does it hurt?

I see her do a hand stand walking slowly to me with another devilish grin and it completely takes me by surprise. I never know why she does the things she does, but I believe it's because she's the opposite of me. Or possibly the face that's begging to be set free.

The corrupted one.

Hearing loud curse words tumble through his lips from behind me, I continue to speed walk, ignoring him. Ignoring the fact that we need to talk about what happened when I passed out.

Now added to the list, how does he know Holly?

"Emma!" I hear him shout but I ignore him

It's not until he pulls me by the arm to turn me around do I fully look at him. His eyes has bags under them and his expression pleads for forgiveness and I'm convinced that it wasn't just me who met sleepless nights in a lonely dark room.

"Emma please talk to me," He whispers guiltily and I'm left speechless

Should I even be mad at him?

She begins to taunt me but I shake my head softly not knowing how to respond. I honestly don't have a reason why I should feel upset. But everytime we're close, I feel things I've never felt before and it makes me feel hazy, but good. When we're apart, I feel cold.

Maybe you're mad because of all of the things he didn't do.

My mind interjects and I feel myself stiffen.

"Mateo, I just, I don't know what you want me to say..." I trail off hesitantly knowing we're both ignoring everything else

I cast my gaze on the floor, unable to look at those icy orbes of his. Knowing they'd break me down after bearing with Nathan's cement based ones.

"Emma Clark... My Bunny what are you doing to me?" He asks in a rushed yet hushed tone making me believe he didn't actually want me to hear

My eyes look up their own and I look past his eyes, into his soul and he does the same. This is the first time we've sat in a comfortable silence trying to understand each other and it's the most vulnerable I've been with a new person.

But it doesn't scare me. Like I said, it's a dangerous yet thrilling game with Mateo Williams, and for some reason I'm intrigued to see what'll happen on the next level.

With him it's different. Unlike Nathan, I can see all of the secrets surfing through his transparent waves, and I can't help but want all of them to pass the shoreline. But... I know if they do, I'll drown, trying to understand. To understand the past and damage he already went through. Without me.

On top of that, my life isn't the brightest either, and that's another reason why I'm upset. Part of it is directed towards him because I'm mad he didn't come into my life sooner. I'm mad that he's giving my once meaningless life, a little bit of drama. Now. Now that I'm so close to breaking away from it completely. But maybe that's why he came this late... To save me?

Oh please, this isn't a helpless fairy tale Emma, he isn't your Prin--

"Stop over thinking," He tells me softly and grasps my chin the same way

"I can't," I want to inquire, but I don't.

It's a coping mechanism. I overthink to make sense of what doesn't. I overthink to come up with answers that other people won't give me. Overthinking helps me but breaks me down simultaneously, but I'm attached to the feeling. I'm attached to the idea of being slightly prepared for the worst and slightly hopeful.

It's a 50/50% chance, but at least I'm ready for both.

Leaning my cheek into his palm wishing things could be easier, I see him looking at me intently and my heart beats twice as hard.

Just like my attempt in trying to decipher his emotions, I can see him pondering what mines could be, but I know he'll come up empty handed. I've learned how to guard myself in my most exposed moments, but it also protects me. It protects people from what's inside of me.

The truth.

It always reminded me of a color because of their ties to sadness or vibrancy, but it always gave me something to wonder about.

Blue.

As a child, I'd look up in the sky and wish the days would be better than the last, and sometimes it would, but there were times where I thought my wish got lost within the stars. Because Nathan would still be verbally abusive and my father, right behind him. Most times, my mother wouldn't get involved. When my father made a move on something, he stood with it, and my mother had to as well.

But the color also reminds me of rain. Sometimes it was my bestfriend. I thought the rain and thunderstorms were the visual of how I felt on the inside. And that the small droplets that would fall on my window pane was me, hoping something would willingly catch me.

Or someone.

So how ironic was it to bump into him?

Abruptly, I see her jump out of the corner and I hiccup softly making his expression change instantly. He looks down at me with worried eyes, and a rush of nausea hits me terrifyingly hard.

Wait... What am I thinking?

I can't do this.

This isn't how it's supposed to be. Mateo and I weren't supposed to meet. We weren't supposed to fall in whatever we've fallen into. Even though it horrifically kills me to say it, Nathan and I are meant to last. He's the only one who can deal with me.

Sooner or later, Mateo will get tired and leave me.

Maybe that's why she gave me that crumbled up sheet of paper of him. To give me the temporary fulfillment I desperately wanted.

Shaking my head, I see flashes of grins and evil smiles and knowing it's her, I grab his wrist softly and look at him with an emotion I can't feel. He reciprocates the same one and it leaves me more conflicted than before.

"Mateo I think it's better if we stop here. There's so many things that could happen if we continue, and it doesn't matter how we may think we feel about each other, you have your life, and I have mines. And it includes him," I admit half truthfully and hesitate at the end not liking the fact I brought Nathan back into this

Seeing his eye color flicker to a darker shade, I know I struck a nerve. But if Nathan is the key to him seeing how reckless this can become, then I'll use him everytime.

Taking me off guard, I sense her come in front of me with a sad expression and the thought makes me feel peculiar about his next words.

"Bunny, I don't think I'll be able to do that," He replies looking at me intensely and I feel my heart stop

My eyes widen at his words I stand there not knowing what to say. Part of me is astounded but the other part is thinking he's sweet talking me, but before either of us can respond, the intercom blares again. Meaning this is the final call.

Also meaning I missed getting a ride.

"Last call for students riding the buses, repeat this is the last call for all of the students riding the buses to the cabins," Our principal speaks loudly and I look to the side biting my tongue

I'm more than sure he doesn't want to go with me anymore, but the slight grin that appears on his face makes me rethink that. And when he grabs my hand, I know I'm right.

"Ready to go?"