Page 97 of Cerulean Truth
"You know very well how. You're always so rational; it's bizarre. We derive our powers from our feelings, and you practically have none."
The situation was escalating, and I attempted to intervene, but Jackson cut me off.
"Being rational is not the absence of feelings, you big babbling bipolar buffoon, it’s simply handling them differently. Whenyoufeel something, it engulfs your entire existence. I feelsomething, and it just doesn't hold too much weight. Doesn't mean I don't feel it."
"Whatever, dude." Matthew snorted dismissively.
"Good grief, Mat, you're so judgmental! Anyone slightly different from you, and they're instantly unacceptable. If they don't look, talk, or feel the way you do, something must be wrong with them! It's absurd!"
"Guys, let's simmer down; the girls are coming over," I attempted to defuse their conflict.
"What were you guys bickering about?" Justine inquired.
"Emma," Jackson and Matthew said in unison.
Justine turned her gaze directly to me, clearly displeased with the revelation. What was it with her and Emma?
"What about her?" Nino asked, genuinely curious.
"Matthew doesn't trust her because he seems to think she doesn't have any emotions," Jackson reiterated.
"Oh, well, yeah,hewould think that," Nino replied with a knowing smile.
"What, you think Ioozeemotions too?" Matthew asked again, clearly offended.
She pondered that for a nanosecond, then smiled widely. "That's actually very well put."
"Oh, fuck off," he snarled, to which Nino laughed warmly and gave him a slight punch on the shoulder. I noticed something flicker in Matthew's eyes.
Hmm...was there something going on between those two? I had been so entirely focused on Emma lately; it was quite possible I had missed a few things here…
"Ahem," someone coughed.
Speak of the devil, there she was. Emma stood smiling sheepishly next to our cube.
"Hi, sorry, I didn't want to intrude, but I was wondering if I could maybe join you guys for a drink? My friend is leaving, and I'm still too wired to turn in," she asked apologetically.
"Of course, here, have a seat," "Jack" invited her a bit too eagerly. I clenched my jaw.
My high-school level jealousy was getting out of hand. I wanted to shoot him a nasty look, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from Emma. She wasn't in her usual training outfit but had dressed up for the occasion, and she looked good. Hot.Crap.
"So, what were you all talking about?" she asked nicely, sitting down way too close to ‘Jack’.
"Well…you mostly," Matthew answered dryly.
Emma looked at him in shock, unsure whether he was kidding, which is exactly what he had hoped for, the bastard. But she quickly recovered and said, "Good thing I joined you guys then; might provide you with some more insight."
"So, Emma," Matthew continued, a little inebriated, "how come you have so few emotions?" I kicked him against his leg and shot him a warning glance. He was pushing it.
Jackson felt the need to play the instant hero, which also bothered me to no end. What was going on with my dickhead friends?
“Don’t mind the blondish halfwit, Em, his IQ dropped a few points two beers ago and now he only remembers how to annoy people,” he said, while rolling his eyes.
Emma grinned. “That’s great, maybe he’ll annoy me all the way to a real emotion.” She winked, indicating Matthew she hadn’t mind his abrasive question.
She looked at me, and I smiled at her, rather proud of the fact he hadn't gotten the best of her. She slowly smiled back, almost hesitantly, as if she wasn't sure whether or not she wanted to hold onto her anger. Then she winked at me, and I was relieved to see our fight from earlier was over.
Matthew, hugely disappointed his shock and awe hadn't worked, started up a conversation with Justine and ignored Emma for the better part of the evening. Jackson did the exact opposite, and I didn't know who I was more irritated with.
