Emily ran up the stairs, now beginning to shiver violently from the cold. James followed her, concern starting to take hold in his mind. Something about her seemed off tonight, though he couldn't put his finger on what the problem was. Before he knew what was happening, she'd tossed a fluffy towel to him and was headed into her bedroom leaving a trail of water behind her.

Emily: "I'm just going to put on some dry clothes. I don't think I have anything that fits you…"
James: "I'll be fine, it's not like I can catch pneumonia."
Emily: "Right…"

Emily froze as her eyes settled on a framed picture of her and Andy on the wall near her bed. '…You don't mean anything to anyone.' She'd known it all along, of course- it wasn't anything she hadn't heard before already. She fought back tears as she peeled out of her wet clothes, her shaking now nearly uncontrollable.

James: "Did you want me to put these anywhere specific or just toss them on the bathroom fl- Oh I'm sorry! I didn't realize you weren't…"

Emily spun around quickly, started by James' voice only inches away from her.

Emily: "It's no big deal, James. I'm fairly certain I don't have anything you haven't seen before already."
James: "While I'm sure that's true, it doesn't mean I… should… see…"

In a moment of clarity, Emily moved forward, pressing herself against James. She closed her eyes as she leaned forward and kissed him. For a few seconds, he was returning her kiss, lost in the softness and warmth of her bare skin beneath his hands. When the realization of what was happening dawned on him, he pulled away sharply.

James: "Emily! What on earth…?"
Emily: "What's the matter, James? Don't you find me attractive?"

James: "Emily, you're a gorgeous woman…"

James caught movement out of the corner of his eye, and glanced over to see Mary standing at the top of the stairs. Her gaze was fixated on them, her face a mixture of confusion and anger. Without a word, James quietly shut the door to the bedroom.

James: "…this just isn't right."
Emily: "Isn't right? What's not right about it?"
James: "What about Andy?"
Emily: "What about Andy?"

Emily moved forward once again James, but this time he was expecting it and was able to avoid her advances.

James: "Emily, please… I can't. Not with you. Please try to understand."

The teeth of despair were gripping tighter now, piercing her entire body. She took a quivering step back, reaching blindly for clothes.

Emily: "I'm so sorry, James… I didn't…"
James: "Did something happen tonight? Did you and Andy have a fight?"
Emily: "No… no… I'm just… I'll be fine. I don't know what came over me."

She clumsily pulled on the first pair of pajamas she came to, her mind in tatters. James watched her closely as he tried to unravel what had just occurred. Something had happened tonight, something big, but Emily wasn't going to open up any time soon. Not to him, anyway.

James: "Do you want me to send Mary up?"
Emily: "She's home?!"
James: "I heard her come in a few minutes ago."
Emily: "God no, please… I'm not really up to talking to her right now."

James: "I understand completely. You know you can talk to me if you need to, right?"
Emily: "I'm honestly ok. But if you could do me the biggest favor…"
James: "Anything."
Emily: "Please don't tell Mary what… what just happened."

James: "I wouldn't dream of it, punkin."
Emily: "And if you could just tell her I'm asleep…"
James: "Of course."
Emily: "Thanks for bringing me home, James."
James: "Anytime."

As James left the room, Emily slowly made her way to her desk and opened up the last bottle of pills Andy gave her. Without so much of a glance she quickly took three of the tiny white tablets. Though the single pill she'd taken earlier had somewhat calmed her nerves, she could tell it was going to take a larger dose for her to sleep tonight. As she finished putting the cap back on, she found herself looking around at the disarray in her room. Her eyes fell on the phone, and as she stared at it one last glimmer of hope began to blossom in her mind.

With shaking hands she dialed Tristan's home number and held her breath. The sound of the ring tone was hypnotic, and she found herself unconsciously counting them. On the seventh, the answering machine clicked on and she became temporarily disoriented, trying to remember if Tristan had really ever come back or if he was still gone. She hung up before the message ended and quickly dialed his cell.

She listened in desperation to the same ring tone from before, only this time it felt mocking and cruel. The same seven pulses, then the click of voicemail.

Emily: "Tristan, it's Emily… I'm… I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the way I've treated you, and… I don't want you to be angry with me anymore. Please come home soon. I miss you."