Finally, school's finished for the day!

I haven't spoken to Hunter all day and I'm really starting to miss him. I look at the time again, what's taking him so long? Ping! That must be him, I grab my phone at lightning speed and read the text.

Hey ganna be a bit late, had an Emily situation to deal with!!!

What does that even mean, an Emily situation? Is she trying to get him back? Does he want to get back with her? Is she just causing trouble?

Gah! Could he be any less informative?! I text him back asking him what's up? But he doesn't reply, which makes me worry even more.

I was feeling really good today, my ribs are way better, a lot of the bruising and cuts have gone and my ankle hasn't been as sore or itchy. But now...now I feel like everything is aching again!

"Hey, is Hunter going to be here soon. I want to do the groceries but don't really want to leave you alone," mum says from the doorway, disrupting my negative and slightly dramatic thoughts.

"No," I sigh.

"He said he's going to be a little late. But you go, I'll be fine till he gets here."

"Is everything all good?" She asks raising an eyebrow.

"Yes...no...oh I don't know! He said he had to sort an Emily situation. Whatever that's supposed to mean?"

"Ah...and I suppose you're freaking yourself out thinking up every worst-case scenario possible, am I right?"

"Maybe....." I say sulking.

"Maddie, I've known Hunter for a long time as well and if there's one thing I know, it's that he cares a lot about you and would never do anything to intentionally hurt you. He's one of the good guys and if I didn't think so, I definitely wouldn't hesitate to let it be known!"

"I know you're right, it's just my brain won't stop with the 'what if's'. I know I'm a total basketcase, but I've just been so unsure of myself lately and it's hard to break free from that mindset."

"Honey, stop worrying. Everything will be fine," she tells me.

"But how do you know?"

"Because I'm your mother and I know everything!" She says confidently.

This makes me laugh, then I realise it doesn't hurt to laugh anymore. It's still a bit tender when I move around, but it's nice to be able to laugh without pain again.

At that exact moment, there's a knock at the front door.

"Speak of the devil," she says.

"Come in," she yells through the house.

Seconds later Hunter appears with what looks like a forced smile.

"Right, I'll leave you two to it then. I'll probably be gone for a couple of hours, but if you need me just send me a text, ok?"

"Yes mum, I'm sure we'll be fine!" I say looking towards the door, subtly telling her to get lost.

I need to know what the fuck has been going on and why Hunter does not look happy.

Once I hear mum shut the front door I can't seem to stop myself and just blurt out loudly,

"What did she do? And why didn't you text me back?"

"You will never believe what just happened!" He says with a frown.

He looks at me shaking his head but not saying a word.

"Well come on then! What happened?"

I sit up straight on my bed eagerly awaiting to hear what went down at school today.

"Well, it pretty much started off like any other day, everyone was asking how you were doing and they all asked me to pass on their well wishes for a speedy recovery. Then when I saw Emily during lunch I noticed she sat alone and none of our friends even acknowledged her existence. I asked Lukas what the deal was and he told me she had been badmouthing you to our friends a lot lately, but after they heard about what happened and the things she said to you, they told her to get lost!"

Wowzers! I can't believe all our friends stood up for me like that.

"Even Debs and Cassie? I interrupt, they were the closest with Emily.

"Even them!"

"Nooooo"

"Yep. But wait, there's more. My last class of the day I was stuck sitting next to her. It was so bloody awkward!" He says.

"I bet, did she say anything?" I ask.

"Not at first, but as the end of the day got closer she started dropping whatever she could by my chair and when she would come close to pick it up she would touch my arm or brush against my thigh."

That fucking whore! I don't realise I'm clenching my fists until Hunter reaches over and takes my hands in his.

"It gets worse. After the bell rang, she 'accidentally' knocked my books onto the floor, forcing me to pick them up while everyone left the room except her. When I finally packed everything in my bag she leapt on me. Like literally leapt! She threw her arms and legs around me and kissed me."

I am seeing fucking red! Who does she think she is?!

"Anyway, I pushed her off, told her to fuck off and headed for the door. She raced around a couple of desks to block my exit and then do you know what she had the audacity to say to me?"

I stare at him and shake my head, do I need to hobble round to her house and rip her hair out?

"Either we get back together or I run out of here screaming, telling everyone you tried to force yourself on me! I couldn't believe she would stoop so low!"

I can! Hair ripping it is!

"I didn't know what to say, I just stood there looking at her wondering how she could even say such a thing so calmly. She walked towards me thinking she had won and when she tried to kiss me again I shoved her off! Then she tells me I'll regret that and that she is going to make my life a living hell. But then you'll never guess who came walking through the door!"

I feel like my life has turned into a soap opera and Emily has become my archnemesis and her sole focus in life is to destroy my happiness!

"Sienna and Rick!" He says.

I'm confused.

"As in Rick the dick."

"One in the very same!"

"What did they say?" I ask, wanting to know if they'd overheard.

"Sienna said they'd heard every word and told her to back off. When Emily still looked defiant Rick let it be known that since we broke up the first time she's been fucking Skylar Tate on and off!"

"What. The. Fuck!"

"I know! He then told her if she did anything to interfere with our relationship, she'll be the one whose life is a living hell!"

What is happening here? Emily is the villain now and Rick the knight in shining armour? Maybe I did drown and I'm actually dead?

"What did she do?" I ask.

"She told us all to go to hell and stormed out the door!"

"What a cheeky bitch! I can't believe she threatened you like that."

"I know and trying to force me to date her. She'd already tried throwing herself at me when I spoke to her while you were in the hospital, cried and begged for another chance. I told her it was never going to happen that I've been in love with you all along, but just didn't recognise it for what it was at the time. You would think she'd get the hint and move on."

"So that's what happened when you went and confronted her?"

"Yeah gave me a big sob story about how she loves me so much and was scared of losing me, then I find out she's been banging Skylar!"

"They sound perfect for each other! Crazy psycho and tiny dick!" I say trying not to laugh.

But we can't stop ourselves and burst out laughing. Then I stop abruptly.

"Wait, why was Sienna with Rick?" I ask.

"Apparently they've been hanging out," he tells me.

"But how come she hasn't said anything and Rick of all people!"

"She hasn't told anyone. She's been helping him with English, apparently there's a course he wants to apply for next year but he needs a pass in English. She seems to think he's not as bad as everyone makes him out to be and he's even taking her on a date this Saturday."

Whaaaaaaat!

Hmmm, I'll be ringing her a.s.a.p about this little development.

"So everything is ok then?" I ask.

"I don't think she'll be bothering us anymore, now it's just a matter of avoiding her as much as possible for the rest of the year."

"She better not or there's going to be some hair pulling and face slapping going on," I say with a whole lotta attitude!

Hunter leans in and kisses me softly, then whispers in my ear,

"You know you're cute when you're jealous."

"Shut up and kiss me some more, I've missed you like crazy today!"

"I've missed you like crazy too!" He says smiling and then leans in, pushes me slowly back onto my bed and we lie there making out for the rest of the afternoon. Ah, bliss!