16 Chapter 16 (2/2)
”Will do” Matilda says, ”thanks Refus”. After Matilda finishes speaking, Refus began to leave the store.
”I didn't think he would actually try to help that much...” Emily says.
”He seems like a great teacher” Matilda says. ”Is he that laibah teacher everyone has been talking about?”.
”Yeah” Emily says.
”Well” Matilda says, ”good to know you've got a great teacher in your school”.
The next day, during lunch, The Rejects were eating on the rooftop. ”Everyone's having fun lately but me” Jessica complains. ”Everyone has plans for this weekend but me, and it bums me out”.
”I'm sorry” Wyatt says, ”would it help if we try to hang out as a group next week?”.
”That would be pretty cool...” Jessica says with her arms crossed. ”But that doesn't stop me from being bored all this week”.
”Tough shit” Jackson says, then Aeris elbows Jackson in the side. ”Ow! I thought you were supposed to mark down a tally, then hit me after I pass a certain amount”. Then Aeris starts to take out her small notebook. ”No! Hang on!” Jackson panics, ”you can't hit me AND mark down a tally! That's unfair”.
”Tough shit” Aeris says as she marks down a tally anyways.
Suddenly, the door to the rooftop slowly begins to open. Through the door, Emily nervously entered onto the roof. ”H-hey...” Emily says.
”Emily?” Emma asks.
”Y-Yeah, I know” Emily says, ”I was kinda mean... b-but can I... sit up here with... you guys?”.
”Yeah” Wyatt says, ”no problem”.
”What made you change your mind?” Emma asks.
”I never said... I changed my mind about anything” Emily says as she sits down. Emily sits in a spot between Emma and Jackson. They were sitting in a large circle, with Wyatt next to Emma, Aeris next to Jackson and Jessica across from Emily. Everyone sat with plenty of space between each other, with the exception of Wyatt and Emma. ”So...” Emily says, ”this is the group everyone in class calls The Rejects?”.
”You already know about that?” Jackson asks.
”I'm not surprised” Jessica says, ”people like to gossip a lot”.
”They say you're all weirdos” Emily says, ”and probably all laibah”.
”And if we are all laibah?” Jessica asks.
Emily shrugs and says ”My parents are laibah”.
”Your... parents?” Jackson asks.
”I'm adopted” Emily says. ”I'm a human”.
”For real!?” Aeris asks.
”I've never heard of anything like that” Jackson says.
”Why'd I say that out loud?” Emily asks herself, ”now everyone's gonna make a big deal out of it”.
”But doesn't it feel easier talking to us, now that we know?” Emma asks. ”Your secret is safe with us, don't worry”.
Jackson squints at Emma, as he thinks ”Aren't you the one who hasn't been telling a certain someone about yourself?”.
”We may be Rejects in the eyes of other people in society” Emma says, ”but we're all still here for a reason, right?”.
”Well...” Emily says, ”I guess you guys aren't all bad... maybe just stupid”.
Jackson starts laughing, then Aeris glares at Jackson. ”What? That was funny” Jackson protests.
”Welcome to the club, I guess” Wyatt says. ”We mostly come here to get away from the rest of the students”.
”Club?” Emily asks. ”Is that what you call this?”.
”Well... not really” Wyatt says, ”but when we're able to, we're planning on making an actual club, next semester”.
”Oh...” Emily says. ”That's stupid”.
After school, Wyatt left to go to work. When he came back, he and Emma were talking in the dorm. ”Looks like she came around after all” Wyatt says, ”although, it was a lot sooner than I thought it would be”.
”Yeah” Emma says, ”I'm glad she finally decided to talk to us, but she still doesn't seem like she really wants to talk very much”.
”You think she's still holding something back?” Wyatt asks.
”I do” Emma says, ”she definitely seems like it. Although, I don't blame her. She hasn't really known us, or talked to us at all before this. So we just have to give it some more time”.
”That's the spirit” Wyatt says. ”Now we should probably get some sleep. We still have school tomorrow, but we also have that date after school”.
”Yeah!” Emma says, suddenly cheering up.
”It'll probably have to be late in the night though” Wyatt says. ”Is that alright with you?”.
”That's fine” Emma says, ”I don't mind when. I'm looking forward to it either way”.
”I haven't been able to request any days off at work, since it was kind of a sudden plan” Wyatt says, ”so I still have to go in tomorrow. But when I get off, we can go out”.
”Okay!” Emma says as the two begin to lay down in bed. As the two lay down in bed, Emma recalls what she said to Emily earlier that day. ”Doesn't it feel easier talking to us, now that we know?” Emma thinks to herself. For a while, those words ring throughout Emma's head. ”Hey, Wyatt?” Emma calls out.
”Hm?” Wyatt asks.
Emma pauses for a second, then simply just says, ”I-I love you”.
Wyatt laughs softly and says ”I love you too”. Emma knew she should've told Wyatt that she's a laibah by now, but she wasn't sure how to tell him. After she had refused to tell him yet again, she only felt more guilty.