Knocks on my bedroom door rouse me from my sleep. “Jagger, it’s me, Hendrix.”

“And me, Taylah. Can’t you just kick the damn door down?” she asks.

Groaning in frustration, I’m not in the mood to be around anyone, especially someone as loud as Taylah. I can barely even deal with myself.

“Dad.” Dakota’s voice is only a little bit louder than their bickering. “Can I come in?”

Dragging myself out of bed, I open the door to see three very different people standing together.

“You.” I point at Dakota. “In. The rest of you, keep it down out there.”

“Hendrix tell him my plan; tell him to let me in.”

“Stop making demands, woman.” Hendrix snaps. “I don’t even know you.”

“It’s Taylah. I already told you this. But, more importantly.” She looks back at me. “I’m here on a mission with Dakota, so you have to let me inside your room before I scream everything loud enough for the neighbours to hear.”

“Please Jagger, just take her.”

Hendrix guides her in and looks at me with exasperation. “Sorry bro, I hit my quota for crazy today. She’s all yours.”

“Hey,” she calls out. “Sexy twin number two, where do you think you’re going?”

He glances at her and then glances at me, shaking his head in disapproval. If it were any other circumstances, this would be comical.

“Jagger, go chase your girl so this crazy one can go home.”

“What a way to treat a guest,” she scoffs.

“An uninvited guest, might I add.”

“Potatoes, potahtos.” She walks into my room and sits herself on the edge of the bed next to a laughing Dakota. “As Hendrix so kindly mentioned, the reason Dakota and I have graced you two with our wonderful presence is because it’s time to get operation let’s reunite Jagger and Emerson under way.”

Her name alone tears me up inside. I can’t think of her without wanting to kneel and beg for forgiveness at her feet.

“Don’t waste your time, Taylah, I’ve tried,” Hendrix explains.

“I’m not leaving here without him on board. I’ll set up camping equipment out on your fucking lawn if I have to.” She looks at Dakota. “Sorry about the swearing. It happens when I’m fired up. Don’t repeat the words, drugs are bad for kids blah blah blah.”

“Where the fuck did Emerson find her?” Hendrix can’t get past Taylah and her exuberant presence.

“Guys!” Dakota shouts. “You should be ashamed of yourselves. The actual teenagers in my class at school can sort their shit out faster than you three.”

“No swearing!” we all shout at her.

She rolls her eyes, completely unimpressed by the three of us. “Taylah, finish your speech so I can get to my part.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “What happened the other week changed everything. Actions have consequences, and those are irreversible.”

“No. You know what’s irreversible, Jagger? Regret. It stings and festers. You would know, right?” Taylah goads.

“I don’t regret her.”

“No, but you’ll regret letting her go. What you gave her was a bullshit list of reasons that make no difference to her. You haven’t changed since the moment she laid eyes on you, and now you want to tell her you’re no good for her.” Taylah’s pointed stare is too much.

I look away. “I could’ve beat the shit out of that guy the other day.”

“Could’ve, but you didn’t. That’s what makes you different from the average murderer, serial killer, and all those other wonderful things that roam the earth.” Taylah waves her hand dramatically. “We all get mad sometimes; things push our buttons. I’ve thought about killing your brother at least ten times since I got here. But I didn’t. Just like you didn’t.”

Taylah turns to Drix. “Hendrix, do you mind if I ask you a question?”

He leans against the doorframe. “You’ll ask anyway, so go ahead.”

“If you saw a guy grabbing your girlfriend, what would you do?”

“I’d beat the shit out of him.”

“See?” She’s smiles like she’s got a secret. “Normal impulse. Hendrix, you’re the only one overreacting about this.”

I don’t respond and hope my stony stare is enough to get her to leave.

Taylah clears her throat. “Anyway, this is where Dakota takes over, and you and me,” she gestures to Hendrix and herself, “wait outside.”

They close the door behind them, and Dakota looks at me with worry. “I think they’re going to kill eachother out there.”

I chuckle, because she’s one hundred percent right. “So, what did Taylah tell you to tell me?”

“Firstly, this was all my idea. Secondly, I told her what to do.”

“What? Why?” I can’t hide my shock that Dakota feels strongly enough about Emerson and me to want to meddle.

“So, you know I love taking photos, and I thought it would be the perfect way to show you what I mean without even talking.” She opens up the bedroom door. “Here’s exhibit A.”

In walks Taylah, smiling from ear to ear with a huge sheet of cardboard. She turns it around, and my breath hitches in my throat. Emerson’s face is everywhere. Smiling. Laughing. Smirking. Admiration. Fascination. Love. It’s all there. And right by her side is me. In each photo, I am awarded every single emotion. And I threw that away.

Reality crushes me like a heavy set of boulders. I don’t know what I was thinking. She even warned me not to make a rash decision. Told me it would be in vain, and I thought I knew better. Better than her heart and better than my own.

“What’s Exhibit B?”

“Time to shine, Uncle Drix,” she calls out. He walks in with a ridiculous smile on his face, which is a massive contradiction to several photos of me alone, stuck to the cardboard.  

“You are one sad motherfucker in these photos.”

“So why the fuck are you two smiling like lunatics.”

“Because it worked,” Dakota chimes in.  

“What worked?” She hands me her phone. “Now flick through to see which reaction belongs to which exhibit.” It only takes two swipes, one photo is pure awe and jubilation, the one without Emerson completely void of any emotion, exactly how I’ve been feeling.

“See it?”

I nod.

“Emerson told me it would work.”

“This was Emerson’s idea?”

“Not specifically, but I told her you didn’t smile anymore, and she told me to remind you of things that make you happy.”

“Come here.” Dakota wraps her arms around my torso and my arms circle her shoulders. I kiss the top of her head. “She always knows, doesn’t she? I love you, Dakota.”

“Love you, Dad.”

“So, we going to get out girl or what?” Taylah cheers.

“Firstly, she’s my girl. Secondly,” I put my hands over Dakota’s ears and talk over her head, “as long as you have an exit plan the minute my lips touch hers, we’re good, yeah?”

The four of us are now smiling like lunatics.

I’m finally seeing that I can have a future with Em, and what’s more, I want it badly enough to fight for it as long and as hard as I have to. “Let’s go get my girl.”

* * *

As soon as we arrived outside her apartment, I told everyone I didn’t want them to come upstairs.

“Okay, change of plans,” I announce. “I’m going by myself.”

Taylah wrinkles her nose. “So, we all just hang here and wait?”

“Well, you guys discuss that. I’ll call you later.” I leave their innocent bickering behind and make my way up to Emerson. A quick rap of my knuckles on the door is followed by Emerson’s voice travelling through the house.

“Who is it?”

Choosing not to answer, I wait till the door swings open. I’m not sure what I was expecting to see, but her expressionless face has me in a panic.

“Jagger, is everything okay?”

Her black lounge pants hang off her hips, and her white ribbed singlet is snug over every angle and curve.

“Yeah. I just wanted to see you, but I can go and come back another time.”

“No, you’re here. Please come in.”

The exchange is awkward and foreign, but I decide to soldier on, knowing it can’t be any worse than it already is.  

“Do you want some tea or coffee? Water?”

“I just want you back,” I blurt out.

She stops mid walk and stands still. She doesn’t turn around, and she doesn’t respond. So, I keep talking.

“For the first half of my life, I was reminded on the regular how much of a fuck up I was. For the second half, I lived where fuck ups live. And now, I’m been walking around on new ground, with new rules, new expectations, but the old me hasn’t caught up with the change.”

I run my hands over my face in frustration; it’s disconcerting talking to her back and unable to see her response to my words. “I was used to not allowing myself good things, because I didn’t deserve them. But then you came along, and you didn’t care. You didn’t care who I was, what I did, or where I was going. You loved me, and better yet, you let me love you.”

I take a few steps closer, the distance becoming unbearable.

“You were right. It wasn’t about saving me, but it was about showing me the realm of possibilities once I let myself believe I was worthy. You did that. I found love on your lips, and fuck if I didn’t find freedom in your body. Each and every day you loosened my self imposed shackles just a little bit more. Because of you, I was given a second chance at life, and it was better than I ever expected. I’m asking for a second chance with you, because I know this time I’m going to do it right. I’m going to love you till the world ends and then some.”

My voice cracks with a wave of emotion. “Emerson Lane, come back to me.”