"A long shirt," Derrick and Emery said at the same time.

Emery laughed. "You can't take her anywhere."

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT.

Layers and Scars and Graveyards

Rachel and Emery were sitting at The Distillery in historic Savannah, chatting about Emery's interview and sharing a po'boy.

"Try mine." Emery pushed her pint of Purple Haze over to Rachel.

"You know I don't like beer, why would I want to drink that?" Rachel asked before she popped a fry in her mouth.

"Because it's good to try new things, right?"

"Not necessarily," Rachel refuted, shaking her head.

"Your loss." Emery took a gulp of her beer and sat back in the chair. The restaurant had a fun, relaxed atmosphere. She and Rachel had been shopping and walking around that morning; day drinking was the perfect way to make the day better.

"So you said the interview was easy. Like, the guy just told you about the job and how hard it was, but you still haven't heard anything?"

"Yeah, it was really weird. It was like he wanted to warn me about the job or something, not really see if I would be a good fit for it."

Rachel twisted her long raven hair into a bun and put a pen through it. "This wine is disgusting."

"Well, it's a place for craft beer. You should order a beer."

Rachel checked her phone, took a selfie, and posted it, ignoring Emery's beer comment.

"So your dad knows you're in Savannah?" Emery asked.

"No, why?"

"He does now. You just posted a selfie, dumbass."

"This could totally be in Nashville," Rachel commented.

Emery set her pint glass, which had been mid-way to her lips, down. "You're supposed to be in Nashville?"

Rachel nodded.

"How is he?" Emery's heart started beating rapidly just thinking about him.

"He's okay, Em, I promise," she answered softly, but with the tone not to push.

Emery cocked her head to the side, examining Rachel. Then Emery decided to trust her and not prod into something she couldn't do anything about.

"So what'd you say when he told you how horrible the job would be?"

Emery smiled, remembering her response. "I told him I didn't care how horrible things were because I wanted to help kids and this job would allow me to do that. He'd told me I had the job immediately."

"So when do you start?"

"Well, I don't think he could really offer me the job right away. He told me he'd get me all the paperwork in a week or so and I would start in another week, but I haven't heard anything."

The server came up to the table.

"Do you have any locally brewed beer here?" Emery asked.

"Yes, we actually have Scattered Sun Belgium Wit by a brewery that opened recently right down the road. It's really good too."

"I'll take that and we want to share the deep fried moon pie," Emery ordered.

"Damn it, I'm going to have to run like 70 miles this week to get over this trip," Rachel moaned.

"It's my birthday. Calories don't count, right?" Emery glanced toward the street; she was really falling for this city-its parks, the cemeteries, the people. She hoped she didn't have to leave. "How are things going at school? How are you and Derrick?"

"Oh, Em, Derrick rocks my world. I can't even tell you how..." She sighed. "How perfect he is for me."

"Perfect, huh?" Emery's mind went directly to Noah.

"I mean, he evens me out. He's never flustered or uptight. If I get all anxious, all he has to do is touch me and I'm done with whatever it is that's worrying me. He has a totally different perspective on life and he's making me different."

"So you haven't streaked through campus yet?"

Rachel laughed. "He'd kill me if I did that. That's the only thing, he's super possessive."

Emery finished her beer and stared into the foam that ran down the sides of the glass. Do not wish for that. You can never have someone that is possessive of you.

"I sort of like it, though, you know? Like he's all caveman, she's mine and shit. When we walk into a room, he never takes his hand off me if he can help it."

The server came back and put their dessert and Emery's beer on the table.

"Emery," Rachel leaned in, "the sex is amazing. I mean, like not want to get out of bed for days amazing. I know I'm not that old and I haven't had that many boyfriends, but he knows how to do everything to make me scream."

"I'm so happy for you. You knew what you wanted and you got it. The wait was worth it, right?"

Rachel smiled. "Ugh, the years..."

"Rachel, he makes you extremely happy. He's a good guy even though he's not in a good business."

"Yeah, he makes me happy."

"There's a little bit of good and bad in everyone," Emery commented.

"Yes, I suppose there is, Em. People are so complex. There's not a person out there who is just good or just bad, we all have layers and scars and graveyards."

"The difference is most people can cover their scars." Emery sighed and leaned back in her chair with her beer. "I can't. I'll never be able to hide my scars, literally and figuratively."

Rachel ran her hand around the left sleeve of Emery's sweater. "You know you can laser those off if you want."

She shook her head. "I don't want to forget."

"I'm pretty sure you won't forget," Rachel whispered.

"No, I don't want to forget that I can't ever not have scars and that they keep me from being normal. I forgot in Nashville. Noah made me forget for just a little while and now my scars are even deeper, my graveyard even more full than when I left Atlanta."

"Em..." Sadness crept into Rachel's eyes.

"No, Rachel, don't do that. Don't pity me. I don't want your pity. I'm serious. I want these to remind me that you and Derrick are it for me. You're my friends, my family, my only life line."

"I love you, Em."

Emery could tell she tried to not look at her with pity, but Rachel was completely unable to hide her emotions, ever. It was one of the things Emery loved about her.

"I love you too, saver of my life."

"You're the saver of your own life."

"I wish that were true, Rach, if it were up to me, I'd drive right back to Nashville right now and throw myself at the mercy of your cousin."

"Em!" Rachel gasped. "You can't."

"I know." Emery took a sip a beer. "And I won't. It would only hurt him and you. I would never hurt you. You know that, don't you?"

Rachel nodded. "This conversation sucks for day drinking. Let's talk about Britney Spears or something."

"What're you, nine? Who listens to Britney Spears?"

"What?!" Rachel asked with horror. "I love Britney! You better not talk shit about Britney."

"You cannot be saved."

The rest of the afternoon flew by just like it always did when Rachel came to see her. The next morning they had brunch at Huey's on the River before Rachel had to leave.

"I'll have the beignets and she'll have the French toast and two Bloody Marys and coffee," Rachel rattled off to the server.

When the server left the table, Rachel put a box on the table. "You know, I love every single part of you, but this moping shit is just getting annoying. You need to find a friend or get a dog or something..."

Emery smiled sadly at Rachel's honest comments. "You didn't have to get me anything."

"I know and it's nothing big, but I want you to wear it every day until you don't need it anymore."

Puzzled, Emery looked at Rachel curiously.

Rachel grabbed Emery's hand, which was on the box. "I'm serious, Emery, wear it every day. Promise?"

"I promise, weirdo. I hope it's not underwear," Emery said, attempting to lighten the mood. Then she popped open the box and took out a brown leather cuff with an engraved gold plate. It read, "You are braver than you seem and stronger than you think."

She shook her head at the statement on her bracelet. Rachel reached over and secured it on Emery's left wrist.

My left arm.

"Every day," Rachel reiterated.

Rachel left right after brunch, since she was going to stop by Derrick's on her way back to her own house. Emery pulled out a book that Rachel had told her she'd love and dove in, losing herself in the characters of a world where kids tested into factions.

The shrill ring of her phone let her know it was an unknown number. Fear prickled in her psyche. No one but Rachel called her.

Her stomach twisted. She didn't recognize the number, but it was a 912 area code, which was Savannah.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Simpson, this is Steve from DFCS. We're going to need you to come in tomorrow, if that's okay. We've had an unexpected exit of one of our employees. You'll be adopting her caseload and we've already designated others for you as well."

Emery was nodding, but not yet speaking.

"Ms. Simpson?"

"Oh, sorry. Sure. I'll be in first thing in the morning."

"Thank you. We'll meet at eight in the morning and I'll get you everything you need. I believe you may have two appointments tomorrow already to either attend or attempt to reschedule."

"Okay." Emery was baffled. She guessed there was no easing into the water, she'd just have to jump in with both feet and see if she could swim.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE.

Iron Man