Chapter 48.1

A few hours earlier . . .

____________________________________________

 Emily slumped down on a chair after stretching her tired and completely exhausted body. Putting one child to bed was exhausting enough but dealing with an army of brats? It made her question the very purpose of her existence. Getting them to stop jumping, laughing, screaming, crying was one war, but insisting that they brush? That was another thing entirely. Thankfully, she had experience in dealing with hyper children, this was in part due to raising her younger sister Mia.

"Are the children finally asleep?" A relaxed voice from behind Emily asked. As she turned to look at the newcomer with mild annoyance, Melanie sat down on a chair next to her with two glasses and a bottle of wine in her hands.

"Yeah, and it would've been a lot easier if you had given a hand," Emily replied before shaking her head when Melanie offered her a glass. "You do know that I'm still not old enough to drink right?"

"Did your age stop you from drinking with Jason? Or were you secretly hoping to get herself, or him, drunk?" Melanie dismissed Emily's admonishing at her lack of help and instead jabbed at her refusal to drink. "As for the children, it's better this way. I've had enough of kids for one day."

". . . How did you know that I drank with Jason?" Emily asked before taking the glass of wine. It was true that she drank aged white wine that was well over three centuries old, with Jason. That was also the night that she tried repaying Jason's platonic flirts back to him, only to be evaded by the latter.

"Secret," Melanie winked while placing a finger on her lips and Emily rolled her eyes. "Speaking of which … what were you two up to earlier today? Nothing naughty I hope."

"Secret," Emily shot back at Melanie with a smirk and the latter raised an eyebrow when she realized that Emily was paying her quip back to her so quickly.

Ooh, I like you, Melanie thought with an amused smile playing along her lips. It won't be boring to have you around.

The two remained silent for a while, sipping on wine while listening to the crickets outside when Melanie smiled again, this time ruefully.

"This is nice," Melanie said, breaking the silence. "Almost feels like we're friends."

"Oh, c'mon. Does the Student President not have any other friend?" Emily asked curiously with a tease.

"Friends? No. Acquaintances? Yes, lots of them," Melanie answered sardonically.

"What about your fellow members of the student council? Olivia and the VP . . . what was his name? Esperanza?" Emily asked.

"What? No, of course not! And it's Enzo," Melanie burst into a fit of giggles and she had to wipe her eyes before answering Emily. "They see me as Ms. Perfect Goody Two-Shoes, not the real me. They idolize me to a point where I'm literally a goddess to them, and everyone else."

Melanie sighed as her finger danced across the rim of her glass. "It's so very tiring to deal with . . . when people see you as what they want, not as what you are. It's much more relaxing when I'm with you or Alina. I can be myself with you two."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Emily said as she continued drinking. Melanie watched her eagerly, waiting in anticipation for her to say something and Emily shifted uncomfortably. "I . . . uh, I feel the same . . . way?"

Melanie beamed at her words and Emily looked away with complicated emotions. She didn't like Melanie, who was so incredibly blinding in her eyes; she had strength, beauty, intelligence, and a will that was much stronger than her own. In many ways, Emily was actually envious of her, whom she felt was a much better match for Jason, no matter what Melanie insisted.

"I guess that makes us friends," Emily murmured complicatedly and Melanie smiled.

"Oh, more than that, we're much closer than friends. We're sisters," Melanie replied. "Especially since we will share the same man. Of course, I'll never share him with that redheaded vixen."

"Redheaded vixen? Are you referring to that woman you mentioned before?" Emily choked when she heard Melanie mentioning sharing Jason, but was rather surprised at Melanie's spiteful words which were full of hate and she asked if Melanie was referring to their competition. She then asked slowly, "Who is she exactly?"

"A groomer who's too old to realize she's past her shelf date," Melanie replied sullenly before turning to Emily with a serious expression. "We have to be careful with her. She raised Jason and it's clear that he's emotionally, and physically, dependent on her. He doesn't even realize that she's made him sexually reliant on her from a young age."

"How young are we talking?" Emily asked with a frown.

"From my knowledge, since he was thirteen," Melanie replied and Emily looked aghast.

"Isn't that rape? And how could Jason . . ."

"How can it be rape when it's consensual? Even though laws say it's legal to have sex the age of sixteen with consent, fourteen - thirteen is just …" Melanie sighed helplessly but from the corner of her eyes, she watched Emily's expression with hidden delight. She had seen Jason's affection for Emily, how she seemed to be special and was trying to bring the latter to her side. She was certain that Jason would have a reaction to Emily's disapproval of Elizabeth, and she was looking forward to the chaos that would follow.

"I can't believe that -" Emily was interrupted by her phone which began ringing and she checked the number before turning to Melanie with an apologetic face. "Excuse me, I have to take this. Do you mind if I . . . ?"

"Of course," Melanie tilted her glass to Emily who stood up and moved to another room in order to gain some privacy.