"What are you—"
"What am I? You're fucking my best friend."
"Em—"
"Don't. I don't want to hear it. You're supposed to be the guy who keeps shit like this from happening."
She's right. It's completely fucked, me and Kaylee.
"I'm so stupid. You two have been hanging out all this time. And I just... I actually believed that you care about her. That you want the best for her."
"I do."
"She's eight years younger than you. What the fuck would you do if it was me and Dean?" She folds her arms. "She trusts you, Brendon. She trusts you like family. And you used that to fuck her."
"I care about her."
"If you cared about her, you'd keep your fly zipped." She moves to the street. "Don't wait up."
"Where the hell are you going?"
"None of your business. I'm eighteen. I'm an adult. Those are clearly your standards. I don't need to tell you shit." She turns and runs toward the Hollywood and Highland center.
She's pissed.
She needs to cool off.
But I'm not going to let my sister do something stupid.
I run after her.
* * *
She's gone.
I check every club on Highland.
I check every store at the strip mall.
I call every one of Emma's friends.
And, still, I keep looking. Find another store. Another bar. Another shady fucking alley.
I don't stop until my phone is buzzing.
It's a text from Walker.
Walker: Emma's at my place. She's gonna stay here.
Brendon: She okay?
Walker: No. But she will be. Is Kay okay?
Brendon: I don't know.
Walker: Fuck. You better figure that out.
Brendon: Take care of Em, okay.