We drive along the parkway. The scent of the ocean fills my head as I tell Emma what happened with Cole. She listens and doesn't say anything for a long time.
When she finally speaks, she seems confused, "Edward seems to think you guys are still together."
I slam my head back onto the seat and look up at the ceiling. "No, Em. We broke up a while ago. He took it really hard." Silence fills the air as the little car bobs and weaves through traffic. After a few moments I ask, "I guess he's not doing too well?"
She shakes her head, "Apparently not. He said you needed space, but that you guys were fine. He's always been a bit of an idealist, but this is a little weird - even for him." She tilts her head to the side as she changes lanes, saying, "Then again, it's not like I'm usually friends with his girlfriends. You know how people can act one way with one person and totally different around another. It seems like my brother's got a little of that going on.
"But he's not what's bothering you. Why are you so bent out of shape? I mean, did anything happen with Cole before now?"
I shake my head, staring out the window. "Not really. I don't know why it's bothering me so much. It's not like Cole promised me anything. I just hoped that - " I swallow my words. I don't know what happened, but I intend to find out. Things can't stay like this between us. I don't want to push Cole, and I don't want to take something he isn't willing to give. I just wish I knew why. There's something between us, something preventing him from acting on his feelings. I feel it stuck there like a chasm that will swallow us whole.
Silence fills the car. Emma finally says, "You really like him, don't you?" I nod. She laughs, "When you first met him, I thought you hated his guts. You did a 180 pretty fast, Anna. Even for you."
"Even for me? What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing bad," Emma says. "Don't take it like that. There are two types of people that flip that fast. The first group is the flakes, the people who don't know what the hell they want. That's not you. You're in the second group - the people who know exactly what they want, but they can't find it."
"The thing is, I think I have found it. Cole isn't like anyone I've ever known." He's passionate, driven, powerful.
"He's kind of old for you, isn't he?"
"Thanks for stating the obvious, Em." I snap. "Sorry," I say pushing my hair out of my face. I look over at her. "Do you think that's why he's acting the way he is? Because I'm too young?"
"Anna, if I ever have a clue why a guy does anything I'll die of shock." She darts between cars as we drive toward the city. She glances at me before jerking the wheel back, "One thing is certain - he thinks you're hot and is too chicken to act on it. You can either forget the whole thing happened or corner him and get your answer."
That sounded like a bad idea. Cornering Cole. I shiver thinking about it. We drive in silence when it finally dawns on me that Emma drove two hours to see me and didn't call first. I glance at her, just noticing that she seems happy, but is trying to hide it. A lopsided smile spreads across my lips, "You're awesome, you know that?"
She laughs, "Yup! But what'd I do?"
"Something major had to happen for you to come all the way out, without a phone call..." I smile at her, waiting for her to tell me. When she grins, I know I'm right.
"I got a job! It's mine, Anna."
"That's great! Is it the one you wanted, over at the paper?"
Emma's giddy now. She nods, "Yup! All I have to do is finish the internship, graduate, and it's onto the lowest branch of the newspaper totem pole." She squeals and I can't help but feel excited for her. "It's perfect, Anna. And oh my God! You should have seen me at the interview. I nailed it! Like, totally nailed it! I'll be working alongside Stacy James - "
"No way," I say leaning forward.
Nodding enthusiastically, she slaps her hands on the steering wheel and squeals, "I know, right? He'll oversee the internship and I'll start getting my own stories in a few months. It's totally perfect!"
"I'm so happy for you, Em. I know how much you wanted this. You're gonna rock it. Just imagine, your own newspaper article with a little square picture of your head. It'll be retweeted worldwide and you'll become an overnight sensation."
She snorts, "That's why I was coming to get you! I knew you'd be the perfect person to celebrate with!" She glances at me, "I have a beach bag filled with towels, bikinis, and trashy romance books. My original plan was to lounge on your beach, but I think some time away from Cole will help your brain work better. We need a Cole-free zone. Why don't we detour to Jones Beach and hang out for a while? You can relax and I can celebrate."
Leaning my head back against the seat, I say, "That sounds completely perfect."
Emma cuts across six lanes of traffic and I think I'm going to die. We make it onto the exit ramp for the beach and we both start laughing.