Emily stood in Carlton's arms, feeling his body relax. Her heart was beating anxiously, but despite all the complicated feelings, she felt that right now, right here, she had made the right move. She couldn't continue in her relationship with Carlton if she couldn't protect Bobby, if she hadn't said what she had said. But standing next to him now, she couldn't ignore the growing sense of relief. He wasn't perfect, and neither was she, but this was the moment when they could understand each other.
There was silence all around as Carlton and Emily stood there, in the center of the room. Then there was laughter and applause. Emily glanced at her friends but didn't pay attention to them, even though they were all clearly enjoying the moment. She even noticed Ryan yelling "Yay!" and clapping his hands, but she didn't care. All she wanted was Carlton - not his image, not his "condition" as a big brother, but Carlton as a person she could talk to, understand, and support.
"Emily..." Carlton suddenly said, his voice was quiet, but there was some weak, but sincere emotion in it.
She pulled away from his shoulder and looked at him. In his eyes she saw a mixture of gratitude and weariness, and in his expression a mixture of relief and fear. He looked at her as if she were someone who might understand how hard it was for him. And despite the tension of the situation, she felt everything around her become more real and meaningful.
"Do you really want me to talk to Bobby again?" he asked, a tentative smile playing on his lips, as if he was afraid he might screw this up, but at the same time, he wanted to.
Emily sighed, hugging him again. She knew their relationship might not be the same as before, but she felt like this was a step in the right direction. A step toward Bobby and Carlton realizing how much they meant to each other, and learning to trust and care for each other again. Because in the end, that was what mattered most.
"Yes," she whispered, "I think you need to talk. Not for me. For yourself.
Carlton nodded silently, his gaze focused and somewhat intense. He didn't say a word, but there was determination in his eyes. Without another word, he turned and walked toward Bobby's room, his footsteps echoing in the quiet of the house. Emily watched him go, her heart clenching with worry. She prayed that Carlton would be able to control himself and not let his anger overwhelm him again.
Emily took a step back, leaning against the wall. She couldn't help but think about how much this situation was bothering her. On one hand, she knew Carlton was wrong to leave his brother like this, but on the other hand, she knew they each had their own reasons for doing what they were doing.
"Please don't quarrel," she whispered to herself.
She suddenly felt how hard her breathing became. She didn't have the strength for new quarrels, she wanted only one thing - for everything to go back to how it was before, for Carlton and Bobby to return to normal relations, for everything to be resolved.
Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps, and Emily looked up. Carlton was back, but his face was different than before. He looked tired, but somehow... relieved.
"Are you okay?" Emily asked, a little nervous.
Carlton paused in the doorway, but he couldn't hide the small smile that appeared on his face. He sighed heavily, as if he were throwing off a burden he had been carrying for too long.
"I talked to him," Carlton said, his voice calm but with a hint of weariness. "But he..." Carlton trailed off, exhaling heavily and looking down at the floor.
Emily froze in place, her heart clenched with anxiety. She stood in the doorway, her whole body tensely listening to Carlton's every word, as if their future fate depended on it.
"What did you tell him?" she asked, feeling her voice shake with emotion.
Carlton shook his head, his eyes clouded over. He looked tired, like a man who had been through a hard battle and now didn't know what to do next.
"I tried to explain that... that I understood," he said with an effort, his face twisted in a reflection of the tension within him. "I didn't expect it to be so complicated. I thought he'd understand. But he just... wouldn't listen. He told me he didn't want my pity. He didn't even respond to my apologies, in fact. He just crawled under the covers with a book and a flashlight and stopped listening to me, engrossed in the chronicles of Captain Blood."
Emily stood next to him, her heart aching. She felt everything inside her tightening up-she was worried about Bobby, about Carlton, about their relationship, which was crumbling before their eyes. She couldn't understand why everything was so complicated, why they couldn't just talk and understand each other.
"He won't be able to forgive you that quickly, Carlton," she said, her voice soft but firm. "He can't just forget everything he feels. You have to understand that Bobby is not just a boy. He feels things more deeply than you think."
Carlton sighed heavily and rubbed his hands over his face, as if trying to shake off the weight of this conversation. Emily didn't know what to say to him. All she could do was watch him struggle and pray that he would finally understand that his brother needed him not only as a sibling, but as a friend.
"I just don't understand why he doesn't trust me so much," Carlton continued, his eyes searching hers for support. "I always thought we'd be okay. But now I see that everything went wrong, and I can't bring him back.
"He doesn't want you to feel sorry for him," Emily said, stepping closer and placing her hand on his shoulder. "He wants you to understand him. Not as a brother who's always there, but as a person who's not afraid to show his weaknesses and pain. And you can be there for him. But for that, you have to be willing to listen. And not try to solve everything with one phrase or some simple explanation.
Carlton hung his head, his shoulders shaking as if he was going through some kind of internal tension. Emily knew he was hurt, but he wasn't ready to accept responsibility yet. He was trying to fix everything in one moment, not realizing that it would take more than that to restore the relationship - it would take time.
"I promise you, I'll try." Carlton lifted his head, his eyes meeting hers with determination. "I can't wait for everything to fall apart. I have to do something now. And that starts with Bobby."
Emily nodded, her face soft but full of concern. She knew it wouldn't be an easy process, but she trusted Carlton to make the right move.
"You will do it. And if you need help, I will be there. But remember, everything should go gradually. Just be with him. That's the main thing."
Carlton nodded silently, but his gaze never left Emily. He tried to comprehend what she had just said, but his thoughts were in disarray. All he could think about at that moment was one thing: to reconnect with Bobby, to at least try to get back everything they had lost. But how? Emily, seeing his doubts, placed her hand on his shoulder again.
"Everything will be okay," she whispered. "You're not alone."
Carlton nodded slightly in response, feeling the pressure building in his chest. He wasn't ready, but something inside him told him this was his only chance. He needed to act, and he needed to act now.
"Emily, are you going to leave?" Ryan, who was standing near the girl with a glass in his hands, suddenly asked her.
There was a small but noticeable smile on his face, as if he couldn't believe that she was actually going to leave. Emily turned to him, a little surprised, but not taken aback. She sighed and, with a wink, replied:
"Yeah, it's time. The party's over, and I still have to catch the bus to New York. So let's wrap it up, guys."
Her words hung in the air, and for a moment all eyes in the room turned to her. Ryan, a little embarrassed, scratched the back of his head and put down his glass. He was one of those people who didn't like saying goodbye, and especially didn't like it when someone left so suddenly.
"Seriously? Well, okay... This isn't your last party, is it?" Ryan asked with mock playfulness, but you could see in his eyes that he was a little disappointed.
Emily smiled, but her expression became more thoughtful. She knew that Ryan had been taken by surprise by her departure, as had this whole party, which she had come to with great misfortune. It all started when she lost to Ryan and his friends at cards. Then they had agreed to have a "party at the loser's expense," and it seemed she couldn't refuse them.
"No," she replied with a light, almost weightless smile. "There won't be another party. I won't play cards with you anymore."
Her words were full of playful innuendo. Ryan immediately understood what she meant. This party was the beginning of an unusual evening, and her farewell was the end of a game she did not want to continue. There were too many situations she would rather leave behind.
"Um, well, I don't know what you didn't like about it," Ryan said, frowning, "but you always seem to be in the center of everything anyway."
Emily laughed, feeling the atmosphere between them ease a little.
"I'm sorry, but let's skip the 'center' and 'everyone.' This is your first time here, and I know this house like the back of my hand," Emily said with a smile, winking at Carlton, who was standing next to her.
There was a light, playful note in her voice, but beneath her words was a deep connection to this place. It was Carlton's home, but it had become something of a home to her, too. Carlton was slightly embarrassed by her wink, but a small smile spread across his face. He had always appreciated her confidence, the same confidence that made him feel comfortable in even the most unexpected situations.
"Okay, okay," said her other friend, Dan, putting his empty glass down on the table and smiling at Emily. "You're an old-timer here, of course, and we're just tourists."
Emily laughed, feeling some of the tension ease. She was used to this kind of joke from her friends. They were all different, but each of them had left their mark on her life. She winked at Dan, glancing at Carlton, who stood a little further away, watching them.
"Oh yeah, tourists," Ryan chimed in sarcastically, but his tone was friendly. "Oh well. There are plenty of girls in the Physics Department that we can play cards with at the party," he chuckled, taking a sip from his coffee and looking around the group. "So you, Emily, aren't the first or last girl that the guys and I can have some fun away from the stuffy university."
Emily chuckled, but her gaze was calm, even a little distant. Ryan was always like this-easy-going, without much depth, always ready to crack a joke, but she sensed something more in his words than just lightening the mood. He was there, but always at a distance, as if there was no room in his life for anything truly serious.
"Yeah," Emily said, still smiling, but there was a shadow of sadness in her eyes. "I thought you were grateful to me for this party, but it turns out I'm just a fool to you, who arranged everything for free when I lost to you at cards.
Her words hung in the air, and the room fell silent for a moment. Ryan put down his coffee cup and glanced at her. He was the kind of person who was always joking, but as soon as the conversation turned serious, he lost it. Emily was right-he and his friends often took her organizational efforts for granted, and maybe that was the reason for her displeasure.
"What are you saying, Emily? You're not stupid," Ryan said, slightly embarrassed. "We're all here at your invitation. We're not... We don't think of you as some kind of 'maid,' if that's how you perceive it."
Dan, who was standing a little to the side, spoke up:
"He's right, Ryan didn't mean to offend. Yes, you organized the party, but we all enjoy it. You don't have to do everything yourself."
But Emily was in no hurry to calm down. She looked at her friends again, and although her voice was calm, there was a certain weariness in it.
"That's not what I mean," she said quietly, but with emphasis. "You always think I'm just joking. Well, what am I to you if not a 'card-playing fool'? I deal you cards, I get your thanks – and that's it, that's my role. No one asks how I feel, what I want, or what I need."
Ryan opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. He felt the situation was getting out of control, and that wasn't something he was used to. Dan sighed and sat down next to her, trying to start a conversation.
"Emily, we didn't mean to offend you," Dan said gently but firmly. "We appreciate you being in our class and sharing our interests. But you shouldn't always be the adult in control, either.
Emily looked at him with a serious expression. Dan's tone was sincere, and she could feel that he really didn't mean to hurt her. But inside, she still felt like she was on edge, as if every step she took was conditioned by someone else's expectations.
"But it's not that easy," she answered, quietly. "Being an adult... that's what I do most of the time. I'm used to being in control. When I try to relax, everything starts to fall apart. And it's not just at parties. Everywhere."
Her voice was shaking a little, and it didn't escape the attention of Carlton, her boyfriend, who came closer to her and looked into her eyes meaningfully. His gaze was soft but insistent, as if he was trying to see through her words what she didn't want to show. Carlton always knew how to read her feelings, even when she tried to hide them behind an outward confidence.
"Emily," he said quietly, his voice warm and confident, "you don't have to hide this from me. I know you're worried. And I don't want you to feel like you have to do this alone. We're together, remember?"
She sighed and her shoulders relaxed, but the tension inside her was still there. She was silent for a long time, trying to find the right words to explain what was in her soul.
"It's just that sometimes I feel like I can't stop. That if I let go of control, everything will fall apart. I can't afford to be weak." Her eyes dropped for a moment, as if she were embarrassed by her own thoughts.
Carlton took her hand and squeezed her fingers gently, causing her to look up.
"You're not weak," he said, his eyes full of concern. "You're just human, Emily. And sometimes we all need time to realize that we don't have to be perfect. You can be yourself, without that pressure."
Her heart sank slightly at his words, and she felt tears welling up in her eyes again. She brushed them away, but Carlton, noticing this, pulled her close, hugging her tightly.
"Emily, you don't have to be strong all the time. You don't have to take everything in your hands. I'm here for you. We're here for you," his words were soft, but there was so much confidence in them that she felt better.
She closed her eyes, feeling his warmth, and after a few seconds she quietly replied:
"I just need a little time to believe it. To understand that I can allow myself to be vulnerable."
Carlton nodded, his fingers gently stroking her back.
"I'll be here when you're ready. Take your time. Just know that you're not alone in this."
Emily felt his support, and although the fear of the unknown still lingered, with every word Carlton spoke, she felt that fear begin to recede. She could be vulnerable with him. She could be herself.
Ryan, who had been standing nearby and watching them, finally decided to intervene to ease the tension a little.
"Hey, you sweet couple," he said with a slight smile, approaching Carlton and Emily. His voice was mocking, but good-natured. "That's nice, of course, but the guys and I want to know if the party is over or if you're just trying to show off in front of us?"
Emily looked up at Ryan, her face going serious for a moment, but immediately softening when she saw his smile. Shaking her head slightly, she looked back at Carlton, who, while he didn't hug her again, remained close, as if giving her space.
"The party's over," Emily replied, her voice calm but slightly tired. "I have to catch the bus to New York. You have to go there too, by the way, so why are you surprised that I'm gone? Let's go together, the whole gang will get on the bus!"
Ryan, standing slightly to the side, chuckled, raising his eyebrows.
"Oh no," Ryan said with a light laugh, raising his hand as if he'd just won some important argument. "I'm not going to ride home on the bus with a girl who invited me to a party at her boyfriend's house, first threw a fit about making fun of the host's little brother, and then announced that she wasn't going to play cards anymore, you see."
Emily froze for a moment, her gaze becoming serious, and something alarming flashed in her eyes. A hot lump of emotion arose in her chest, growing stronger with each passing moment. She tried to control herself, but Ryan's words, which seemed so light and carefree, penetrated the very core of her inner tension. He was talking about the evening, about her reaction, but in fact he touched on much deeper feelings. This was the last straw that broke the camel's back.
She felt something inside her break. Emily pulled away from Carlton's embrace without saying a word. He was so taken by surprise by her action that he didn't have time to understand anything as she, without looking in his direction, headed for the exit.
"Emily, where are you going?" he shouted, but his voice didn't reach her.
Ignoring his words, Emily ran out into the street. The night was dark, only the occasional streetlight illuminated the empty road. Her own rapid breathing sounded in her ears, and her thoughts did not keep up with her actions. She could not stay in the same room with Ryan, could not listen to his jokes and those conversations that seemed to turn into empty chatter.
Carlton watched her go, dumbfounded. He quickly jumped up and ran to the window, trying to catch up with her with his eyes, but Emily was already far away. When he saw her on the street, she was walking, and then broke into a run, moving further and further away from his house.
"Emily!" he shouted, but her figure was only eclipsed in the darkness.
Ryan, standing behind Carlton, did not expect such a reaction. He went to the window, also seeing Emily running away. Doubt flashed in his eyes, and then regret.
"Damn, is she serious?" Ryan said quietly, leaning against the wall. "I didn't mean to offend her."
Carlton stood silently by the window, his hands clenched into fists. He didn't know what to do. She was important to him, but now it seemed she had disappeared into the darkness of the night, leaving him with this oppressive feeling of helplessness. He turned to Ryan.
"What did you tell her?" His voice was low and tense. "Can't you see how she left?"
Ryan didn't try to justify himself. He knew he'd said too much, but he couldn't admit it out loud. There was no malice in his words, just a little playfulness, but for Emily it was more than just a joke.
"I... didn't know she'd take it so seriously. I thought she was just kidding. But maybe I was wrong."
Carlton didn't answer. He knew he had to go after Emily, and his resolve was firm. He felt his heart clench as he thought of her running away from him, from everyone, alone. He knew Emily well enough to know that she didn't lose her temper easily, but when she did, she took her time. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't just sit there and watch her go.