Nerdy Girl Nation (Nerdy Girl #1) (17 page)

“Not many of them were good.” A pang hit her chest so hard, her scars tingled beneath her breasts.

“You forget, I met you when you were in high school. You were the most amazing girl I'd ever met.”

He sounded sincere, but her old insecurities crept up on her. “You didn't go to my school. The way people reacted to Derek and I dating was like I drowned their puppies after murdering their cats. School sucked most of the time, but the last few months were like a living nightmare.”

After her attack, Emma’s life only got worse. One of her classmates started a rumor she had made the whole thing up and injured herself to get sympathy. It made things almost unbearable. If not for the principal and her teachers letting her finish the year from home, she wouldn't have passed her finals.

“I'm so sorry for everything you went through. You don't need to go with us. We can go on our own.” The concern in his voice was evident.

“No, I made a promise to Derek. I'll meet you there at four.”

“If you're sure?”

“Yes, I'm sure.”

“All right. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.” Emma ended the call and plugged her cell phone into the charger.

The conversation hadn't gone as she planned. She hoped the memories of that horrific time in her life wouldn't bring the nightmares back. A sure way to bring them back was to look in the box in her closet. The box she took with her throughout her various moves. She slipped out of bed and dug the wooden box out of the back of her closet. The lid creaked when she opened it, but not so loud her snoring father would wake up.

Each folder was labeled with a date. The first folder was dated just a few days after her attack. She picked up a tissue and pulled the paper out of the folder with it.

The same sloppy handwriting adorned every threatening letter within. Every threat include a picture of herself, her family, or her friends. Each letter differed slightly from the last, but the main idea came through loud and clear: stay away from Derek McInerney or she wouldn’t survive another attack.

Emma tried to stay away from Derek, but those first few years were hard. She loved him so much and needed the support he so willingly gave to her. The fear won out though and because of it, she eventually let him go.

Every time a new letter arrived her logical mind screamed for her to go to the police, but the threats stopped her every single time.

Emma returned the letter to the folder, closed the box, and returned it to the closet. Her hands were shaking by the time she got back in bed. She was so tired of being afraid. Afraid to turn over the letters, afraid to show affection in public, afraid to be the real Emma in front of the world.

Her mind would never rest without a little help. She went into the bathroom, grabbed a sleeping pill, and swallowed the little white tablet with a gulp of water. Curled up in a ball under her cool sheets, she eventually fell into a dreamless sleep.

“Hey.” Cherry grabbed Emma's arm and pulled her back from the group on their way to the wrestling room. “Are you okay?”

“A little overwhelming. I haven't been back here since I graduated.”

Cherry threaded her arm through Emma's. “Were you bullied, too?”

Emma stopped in her tracks. The woman was twenty-five and in fabulous shape. Why would anyone bully or pick on Cherry?

“You think I always had this body?” Cherry waved her hand in front of herself.

“Well . . . Yeah.”

“Not even close. I didn't sprout up until I hit eighteen. I headed right to the gym and I worked my ass off for this body. I still imagine those bitches’ faces on every opponent.”

Emma never supposed Cherry could be a victim of a mean girl squad. The cruelty from her own female tormentors she handled rather well. The guys were the ones who came up with sick and twisted ways to hurt her.

“I'm gonna get you in the ring with me, Emma. We are going to work out some of this shit. You need good work out, girl.”

“Thanks. Help me get through today. Please.”

“Of course.” Cherry wrapped her arm around Emma's shoulder and hugged her new friend.

 “Split into two groups and spar,” Derek told the boys on his wrestling squad. “Hopefully, our guests can give you guys some pointers to get us to regionals again next year.”

Derek walked over to join Emma, who was taking the scene all in.

“You're great with them. This has always been your calling.”

“Thanks.” Derek slipped his arm around her waist, skyrocketing her nerves. “And is this your calling? Working for the IWA?”

Cherry and Peaches instructed a couple of the boys with a move while Cosmo let another boy put him in a submission hold. Rob and Chance chatted with a couple of the kids and showed off their muscles.

“So far, so good. This has been a unique experience, but I think working with Aaron is the right choice for me. I love being home. I've missed my family so much. I wish it could've happened a little sooner. My mom would've . . .” She stopped herself before she got too emotional. Derek had seen her devastated before, but she wasn't ready for him to see her so distraught again.

Derek pulled her in close and kissed her temple. “Fate has a twisted sense of humor sometimes, but we're all still here for you. I'm still here for you.”

The knots in her stomach tightened and the queasiness took over. If she didn’t get out of there for a minute, she feared what might happen.

“I need a minute. Mind if I use the bathroom next to your office?”

“Go ahead. I'm going to catch up with Bobby. I still can't believe how he turned out.” Derek shook his head before they parted.

The cameras didn't follow her as she went into the bathroom. She splashed a bit of water on her face; her despondency swirled through her head. One glance at her reflection in the mirror told her she wasn't ready to relive any of her high school days.

“Just get through today,” she told herself. A motto she had repeated every morning before going to school as a teen.

She was patting her face with a paper towel when she heard the door creak. Assuming Cherry or even Rob was coming to check on her, she didn’t bother turning around. When she didn’t hear anything after a moment, she turned toward the door.

A sheet of paper hung on the back of the door, blood red letters scrawled across it.

Emma clasped her hand over her mouth to keep the sob from escaping.

She never received threats in person, always through the mail. A letter delivered there could only mean one thing, her attacker was there.

“Keep it together,” she chanted through her soft sobs. She took a piece of tissue, removed the note from the door, and tucked it in her purse. Her legs wobbled and she let herself fall to the floor.

After a few moments, she was able to grab the basin and pull herself to her feet. The movement caused instant nausea. She turned and vomited, almost missing the toilet.

When there was nothing left of her lunch to lose, she stood and gazed in the mirror. Her lips and cheeks were pale while the vessels in her eyes shimmered bright red. She turned on the faucet and cupped her hands to catch some water to drink.

There was a soft knock on the door a moment later. “Emma? Are you okay?” Cherry asked.

Emma had no idea what to say or do, but she wouldn't be able to get out of there by herself. She turned off the water before she answered.

“Can you come in, Cherry?” She sat down on the edge of the toilet seat.

“Sure.” Cherry opened the door and found a pale, distraught Emma. “Oh, sweetie. You're sick.”

“Yeah.” Emma brushed her hair out of her face and felt the sweat from her clammy cheeks on her fingertips.

“We're wrapping things up. Can you get up?” Cherry offered her hand to Emma.

“I think so.” She wobbled a little when she stood. Cherry dampened a paper towel and handed the wet blob to Emma. “Thanks.”

After a little clean up, Cherry helped Emma out of the bathroom and into the hallway where they found Rob with the camera crew.

“Everything okay?” Rob asked. Emma saw he moved his eyes up and down her body with concern.

“I just need some rest.”

Rob looked confused but he kept silent.

“I was telling Emma we were about done. We should get her to the car.” Cherry said and continued to hold Emma's trembling form upright.

Emma saw Derek enter the hallway and note her pale complexion. “Em?”

“Hey, I'm gonna cut out on you. I'm not feeling well.”

Derek removed Emma from Cherry's arms into his. Emma winced at the emotional pain the movement caused.

“You need some of chicken soup? I can whip up my mom's recipe.”

“Thanks, but no.” She pulled back from him. “I think a shower and bed are best now. I hope the kids had a good time.”

Derek smiled. “This made their year. Thanks again for coming.”

“No problem.” She moved to grab onto Cherry's arm, but Derek stopped her.

“I'll call you soon.”

Emma nodded, took Cherry's arm, and started for the car with Rob and the camera crew trailing behind.

“Troy, I'm not feeling well and need to be alone for the night. Can we give the guys the rest of the day off and start back up in the morning?” Emma begged the producer of
Hunt for Life
. She needed some time to get herself together after a much-needed cry fest.

“Only because I don't want Ben hearing you hurl. We all know he can't hold it in once someone starts in front of him.”

Emma relaxed somewhat. A little time alone was just what she needed.

“Thanks so much. I promise they can film me in the morning even if I'm still a hot mess.”

“You owe me one. Dinner when you're in LA?”

“Sure. Talk to you later.” Emma ended the call and heard Ben sigh in relief.

“Yeah, they don't need both of us puking on camera.” Emma placed her phone in her bag. “Phil, can you drop me off at home and take the guys back to the hotel?”

“Yes, Miss MacLean.”

Emma relaxed back into the plush leather seat and prayed Phil would drive the quickest route home.