Enough Read online

  Enough

  Briana Pacheco

  Cover image based on “Lost” by 55Laney69, CC-BY-2.0

  Dedication

  To you,

  for letting me achieve my dreams.

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  {Preface}

  1. Moving

  2. The Party

  3. This Isn’t Me

  4. The Truth

  5. Everyone Knows

  6. Healing

  7. Pain

  8. Birthday Party

  9. Sure About This?

  10. Home Improving

  11. School

  12. Christmas Eve

  13. Regret

  14. Blocked Out

  15. Fun

  16. Different

  17. Family

  18. Mom

  19. No Way

  20. Racecars

  21. Afraid?

  22. For You

  23. New Years Eve

  24. New Years Day

  25. Cinderella

  26. Explain

  27. Nerves

  28. In or Out?

  29. Four Months Later

  {Preface}

  Emily’s life is far from perfect. She’s had a rough life ever since she was a kid and everything that has happened up until now, she blames on herself. Either it’s drugs, sex, suicidal thoughts, or just the complete feeling of loneliness, she doesn’t let anyone in to help except her best friend, Tiffany, who seems to read Emily’s mind all the time and know how to help in ways only friends know how.

  Tiffany is all kinds of weird though. It’s only natural because she’s Emily’s guardian angel. No one besides Tiffany’s parents know this. And it’s not like Tiffany can just spring it on Em.

  Tiffany has the ability to heal, read minds and wipe minds. Thing is, she can only heal Emily. Em is her responsibility. Her mission. Her best friend. Her sister.

  Lying sucks but sometimes it’s for the best.

  I only ask for one thing. Keep an open mind.

  Em doesn’t know her best friend is supernatural. No one knows. When something unexplainable happens, Tiffany is most likely to blame. She’ll know your deepest, darkest secrets and she’ll say she found the answers by stalking you online. She knows how to cover her tracks.

  So can you do it?

  Keep an open mind?

  Follow Emily discover there is more to the story than she thought?

  This is a love story.

  And this is also the story of how one girl’s life gets torn apart and starts to rebuild with the help of her friends and family.

  No one is perfect.

  Sometimes they are just enough.

  1. Moving

  I stared out at my window, watching the sun rise. I couldn’t sleep last night so I know I’ll look like shit today. Price I pay for thinking about what happened during the summer. It’s not like I asked for it but I did things that lead up to it. I’m to blame. No one else. I accept that.

  I heard my bedroom door open and my mom, Grace, walked in.

  “Emily? Are you awake?” She asked.

  My mom is an attractive woman. She has gorgeous dark brown shoulder length hair, green eyes with yellow specs in the irises and high cheekbones that show off her great European features. My brother, Declan, and sister, Scarlett, look exactly like her. I, on the other hand, look nothing like them. I have long, light brown hair and bright blue eyes. I think my family adopted me but my birth certificate says otherwise.

  “Yeah, what’s up?” I asked.

  “I have to tell you something. I know it’s early but I can’t stop thinking about it.” She said softly. I have a way of knowing this isn’t going to be easy. Whatever she has to say will crush me. I’m use to it. Nothing in my life came easy.

  “Okay.” I sat up, leaned against my headboard and looked at her. Is she letting my dad back in our life? She wouldn’t. Not after what he tried to do to me. She wouldn’t, right? He’s a total douche. When I was ten he finally left for good and we never heard from him again. Declan took it the hardest. He was 12 so losing your dad at that age must have been hard. Scarlett, who was 16, didn’t really care. She saw how much of an asshole he was with my mom and was glad when he decided to leave. More like ran.

  “Is it dad? Please don’t tell–”

  “No, no, no, honey, it’s not about him. It’s about us. About work.” She said looking off to the side. “I got an offer…in Seattle.”

  My world stopped spinning as I stared at her. I was right. This is going to crush me. And it did. Seattle. She got an offer in Seattle. I know where this is going. We’re going to move if she wants it. I have to go to because I’m seventeen. I’ll have to leave everything behind. My friends. My life. My secrets…

  Mom talked and I only thought about one thing. Talking to Tiffany. I need her right now. My life is crashing and burning and I can’t stop it. I’m moving. We’re moving.

  I need my best friend.

  I need someone.

  It was around 5:20 am when Mom left and I took a shower. I stayed in there letting the hot water run over my body for a long time. I just thought about what my mom said about moving. Am I selfish for not wanting to move? Maybe. I have my friends here in Boston and in Stoneham. I can’t just up and move to Seattle.

  It was 6:12 am when I sat back on my bed.

  I heard my mom in the kitchen, most likely getting her coffee. Her and her coffee. She is the reason Dunkin’ Donuts is in business. Mom makes a cup of coffee here to start the day but when she goes to work, she has one or two new cups of coffee in the car.

  I went into my closet and looked at what would be good for today. I wasn’t in the mood to impress. Who the hell would I impress anyway? The one person I want to look at me doesn’t. And thinking of him makes Seattle like the worst idea. I never even put myself out there for him to notice me. I wanted to at least try but now that sounds like it’ll be a bad idea.

  I looked at myself in the mirror when I was done and smiled. Tiffany will approve. Tiffany approves anything really. Tiffany and I have this connection. We’re not just best friends, we’re sisters. We are so alike yet so different. She’s eighteen. She’s lucky and her birthday is in September. She has long, thick, wavy blonde hair and green eyes. She hates to read and write. I love it. I get a lot of problems solved by writing. Tiffany doesn’t like to party as much as I do but she goes if I go. She likes to stay at home if there is nothing better to do. We love each other to death. I am proud to say that I’d take a bullet for her. Really. I love her that much. We met in kindergarten and have been inseparable since.

  I went downstairs and met my mom in the kitchen.

  “Do you want anything for breakfast, honey?” She asked.

  “No, I’m fine. Bye, Mom.” I got my backpack off the last stair and walked to the door. I’m so glad the staircase is right beside the front door. It’s good to sneak out that way. Will I get to sneak out anymore?

  “Have a good day at school, honey.” Mom said.

  “Thanks!” I said with an eye roll. Like that will happen.

  I intended on going to school early but decided on walking slow. I need the time and the fresh air. Seriously, who wouldn’t? I just found out we’re moving because the new job pays more. We’re moving because of money. If Mom needs money she can ask me. I’ll try and get a job that won’t interfere with school too.

  My phone buzzed in my packet. A text from Tiffany.

  Tiffany: Hey Em, I’m at school helping Mrs. Diaz fix up today’s lesson. Where are you? Thought u would be here already.

  My hands felt a little numb but I moved my thumb over the keypad.

  Me: Hey, sorry forgot. I’ll try and be there ASAP. Have news to tell you. After 1st period we’ll catch up.
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br />   I lied a bit but I just don’t want to get there fast. School’s twenty minutes away at my normal pace. I’ll make it.

  Ten minutes in, the sun was covered by clouds and then it started drizzling. It’s the beginning of December, usually we would have gotten snow but nothing came. It’s chilly often but I manage.

  Of course a few minutes later it starts pouring rain. I was probably 15 minutes from school so I tried to jog/run the rest of the way but my flats weren’t having it. I slipped a few times and fell twice. Yeah, I look like shit.

  I checked my phone, 7:30. Fifteen minutes until class starts.

  I guess I should have walked a little faster earlier!

  I barely saw Wilks Academy in front of me. If it wasn’t for the tall brick frame I would have walked right past it. The fog was really bad and the visibility beyond that was like looking into a cloud. Not like I would know. I opened the double doors and tried to dry myself off. It was pointless, I was soaked. My hair and clothes are dripping water and my flats squeaked on the rubber floors as I walked.

  I saw Mrs. Bond looking at me in shock. She’s the school secretary but she’s also a friend of the family. Just like Mrs. Diaz. All three went to school together but Mrs. Diaz and my mom are the best of friends. They’re like me and Tiffany. She’s my Spanish teacher but she’s more of an aunt outside of school.

  Mrs. Bond has brown hair and brown eyes and she’s roundish.

  “Miss Vasquez. Where is your umbrella?” She asked.

  “Well, if I knew it was going to rain, I would have brought one.” I said digging into my backpack for my school ID. I can’t find it.

  “Some days the weather is unpredictable.” She said walking over to me and waiting for me to hand over my school ID.

  My day was getting worse every second. I can’t find my wallet so I couldn’t give her my ID. Since we know each other, she just signed me in and I power walked to Mrs. Diaz’s class while trying to dry myself off. I went through the corridor in the main building because it’s the fastest way and I don’t want to be any later.

  I finally got to the landing of the first floor stairs. Two more floors. On the second flight of stairs, another student I have in my last class was coming down. He’s on the football team. Liam…I’m pretty sure that’s his name. I remember him from my days as a cheerleader last year. Total man-whore. Everyone knows about him.

  “Hey, prom queen. Rough day?” He asked.

  I don’t know him personally though. We never talked. So this isn’t normal. Why is he calling me prom queen and why are his caramel hazel eyes staring at me hard like that? Yeah, we’re that close that I can say his eyes are a caramel hazel color. He wiped a stray brown hair from his face. He has that skateboarder hair but his is definitely the best I’ve seen so far.

  “Yeah, you could say that. My name is Emily by the way. Liam, right?” I said. He stepped closer to me so we were barely touching. Um…

  “I know who you are. Prom queen sounds better, no offense.”

  I don’t know what he wants but I’m late for class as is and Mrs. Diaz is going to be on my ass. She’s a family friend but in school she doesn’t play favorites.

  “I really need to go...” I said.

  I tried to go up the next stair but he put his arm up on the wall and blocked my path. “Will you be going to Sophie’s party later?” He asked.

  Sophie. I remember those days…

  “Yeah, I thought I would pass by. Now excuse me.” I said.

  He moved aside a few seconds later. “What about Tiffany?” He asked. Oh, just great. He’s asking about Tiffany. I nodded. Just get out of my way. “I’ll see you there. Oh and prom queen?”

  I rolled my eyes and turned back to him. “What?”

  “You look nice and all but your hair is not exactly working for you at the moment.” He said with a smirk.

  Ohmygod. I completely forgot about going to the bathroom and fixing anything that had to get fixed. Fuck!

  “Um...thanks, I guess.” I said jogging up the stairs. I went straight to my locker to find my hair was a hot ass mess. I tried smoothing it out but nothing worked so I put it in a ponytail instead.

  I looked over my shoulder to see my best friend/somewhat forever crush, Bryan, at his locker. He’s probably waiting to make sure I came to school and didn’t go get drunk at some club. That happens regularly unfortunately.

  During the summer, there was a pre-senior party at some chick’s house. My boyfriend at the time, Zach, and I went. We got into a fight because I was drinking, like always. I had enough of what he was saying and told him to fuck off. We never really talked again after that. He changed and so did I. People break up all the time. Bryan has always been there for me. He has short light brown hair and turquoise blue eyes. Whenever I look into them I feel like I’m looking into the ocean. We were friends since I could remember then the crush started. I always had this feeling that maybe Zach wasn’t really for me and maybe, just maybe Bryan might be. Zach left me at that summer party alone and drove God knows were. Bryan asked if I needed a lift home because he knew I was drunk. He brought me to his car, opened the passenger side door and helped me get in. I don’t remember what else happened that night but I guess I kissed him.

  Everyone at school started with the rumors about how I was jumping from guy to guy over night. I asked Bryan if anything else happened after the kiss and he said, “No Em, you were drunk and I don’t want to ruin what we have.” I respected him for that. I just had to deal with we’re just friends, we can’t do anything more. It could really ruin the relationship we already have.

  I can’t think of him that way but that doesn’t mean that from time to time I think about what it might be like if we do get together. Too many problems pop into my head though and I just can’t take it if he just decided to call it quits and leave me behind. I don’t want to lose him.

  I have my sights set on another though. Alex. Alex Mason Payne. Yes, I know his middle name. Tiffany is one good stalker. She said she looked him up and got his name. I tried to stalk him online too but nothing came up. I don’t get it. It’s like he’s a ghost.

  He started at Wilks Academy in September. He was the new kid. Alex was the guy every girl wanted to be with. I’m included in that group. He just seems perfect. Perfect short ginger/nutmeg brown hair, which is more of a chestnut color. Perfect hazel eyes–they look like honey on most days–and perfect round lips. I’d always catch myself staring.

  He never gives a girl at this school a chance though. He was always quiet and never seemed really into anything. He put a target on his back by doing that. Girls want attention. He wasn’t giving it. I’ve seen him play a few sports here and there but he’s not on any teams. All the guys say he’s gay but I bet they’re probably jealous their girlfriends drool when Alex walks by. I know I do. It just happens. We talked before but that’s because we’re in some classes together. It’s bound to happen. It’s always hi, is this seat taken or see you tomorrow. I’ve never found the courage to ask him out but a girl can dream,

  Rumors fly around saying he’s a man-whore. People see him out in the real world with different girls all the time. Who knows if they’re true? He’s a guy and he has needs. Doesn’t everyone? So if he’s a man-whore then it’s fine. He can do whatever he wants. Do I want to be a conquest? Not really but I’d take a night with him any night.

  “Hey, Em. So glad to see you made it.” Bryan said shutting his locker.

  I knew he was waiting for me.

  There are those beautiful ocean eyes. “Hey, why are you late for class? Are you spying on me again? I can take of myself, Bryan. I’m not going to get drunk in the middle of the week. I thought you knew me better than that.” I said crossing my hand over my heart. “That hurts. Weekends are for partying.”

  “Don’t you think you should slow it down with the alcohol? You’re only seventeen but you drink like your twenty-six. I’m starting to get a little worried. That’s all I’m saying.” He said. I dropped
my smile.

  “Yeah I know but I turn eighteen in two weeks. At least I can control myself. I have a high alcohol tolerance. I don’t get drunk so easily anymore. I’m not like some of these girls from school who get wasted and God knows what after that.” I leaned against some locker that has posters for next years next class president. I’ll probably be long gone… Shit, I can’t tell Bryan. Not today actually. “Schools almost over. Let’s have fun before we get old and can’t do it anymore.” I said nudging his shoulder.

  He looked at me with a blank face. “Talking about fun, you going to Sophie’s later?” It’s like he knew what I was going to say before I said it. “For once I would like to see you leave a party how you came in. Sober. Okay, Em?”

  “Yeah, okay. I’m late so come by Mrs. Diaz’s class after school and we can talk then. I might have detention.” I said.

  “She’ll cut you some slack. It was pouring out there and you look like shit.” He hugged me goodbye, not caring that I’m soaked and then went into his class.

  Mrs. Diaz was in the middle of checking the Do Now’s when I came in. She looked up at me with a disappointed look. Yeah, I know. “Ah, Miss Vasquez, how nice of you to join us. Come over to my desk, you left something behind yesterday.” She said.

  I walked past everyone and they nodded or said good morning. I’m not popular but I do treat everyone with respect. We are all humans and that’s how we should be treated. Or maybe it’s because of the rumors spreading about me being sleazy and they think being nice to me would get them with me. Yeah, right. I’ll bend the rules for one person…okay maybe two. Alex and Bryan.

  “Mrs. Diaz, sorry for being late. I walked–”

  “Don’t worry, Emily. Your mom told me what is going on and I understand.” See, best of friends. It wasn’t even an hour since I left the house and she knows about the move. “But you have to have detention today. I’ve known your mom for a long time but I can’t be bias. The other students won’t take me seriously if you don’t stay. And this must be yours.” She held up my wallet. Yes! Oh, I thought I lost you forever. I took it and checked to make sure everything was inside. All my money, credit card and school ID were still in there.