Prologue
Emmy felt very out of place in the high end Manhattan apartment building. She was sure that one of these apartments cost more for one month than what her car was worth. She knew she stuck out like a sore thumb too in her thrifted sundress and sandals, but it was the nicest outfit she owned.
Thankfully the lobby was pretty deserted, except for the doorman that is. That's how you know the place was classy, a doorman.
The middle-aged man had a friendly smile on his withered face. He wore a navy uniform that was also probably more expensive than her car. Which in Emmy's defense was a hammy down from her grandfather and it was almost as old as her 25 years.
"Good evening Ms. is there anything I can do for you?" He had the kindest light in his eyes, which put Emmy at ease.
"Hello, I was invited to a party at this address." Emmy handed over the slip of paper with this address and apartment 433 written on it in Vanessa's beautiful scrawl. Vanessa and Emmy were instant friends when they met their first year at Columbia Med School. They both were there on scholarship and had to work their way through school.
The doorman examined the slip, gave the girl a hesitant smile, and called up to said apartment. After he hung up he gave Emmy directions to the elevator and she was on her way.
The elevator only had a couple people coming out when Emmy got there and she was the only one going up. She pressed the button for 43 and patiently waited while the elevator made its long climb. She wondered who Vanessa could possibly know that lived in this upscale of a place. She really hoped that Vanessa didn't actually go through with the sugar daddy thing she always jokes about. Emmy knew med school was expensive, but come on.
The doors opened on the 43rd floor and Emmy walked out into an empty hall. She located apartment 433; it wasn't hard, there were only ten apartments on this floor. She knocked briskly on the door. It wasn't long before the door swung open and there stood Vanessa. Music and laughter suddenly filled the hallway and Emmy could see their friend group behind Vanessa. Everyone was here; Gene, Wes, Dominic, Ainsley, and Trish.
Emmy became giddy and rushed in to greet everyone, she now felt like she belonged again. Today they all graduated from med school and tomorrow they were all going across the country to their residencies. This would probably be their last night together for a long time. This thought put a bad taste in Emmy's mouth and she tried to distract herself.
"Who's place is this?" She asked, knowing that no one amongst them could afford such a luxury.
Just then a man came around the corner from presumably the kitchen considering he was carrying a tray of food. It was none other than Logan Renzi Jr, his father was a millionaire, explaining the fancy diggs. You could say he was Emmy's nemesis, but that would require a mutual understanding. According to their friends Logan spoke highly of her, but Emmy felt like he picked on her relentlessly.
"Hey Squirt." This was what Emmy was talking about, the stupid nickname that Logan insisted on calling her. She wasn't even that short! She was 5'6", the shortest in their friend group, but not short. And maybe next to Logan, who was well over six foot, she was, but in today's society she was average. In fact, Emmy felt she was pretty average all around.
"Hi Logan, thank you for having me." She forced out like she was swallowing sand.
"Of course, Squirt. You know you're welcome anytime." He winked, causing everyone to laugh.
Emmy felt her face heat up. She brushed it off and sat down between Gene and Wes grabbing one of the drinks in front of her. She chugged it feeling the whiskey burn her throat like her embarrassment burned her face.
"Sure Emmy you can have my drink." Wes said sarcastically.
Emmy gave Wes a smile of apology and he nudged her in return showing he understood. Wes vacated the spot next to her and grabbed a drink from Logan. Vanessa threw a game down on the table and the fun began.
It was roughly three hours later and they had all been enjoying the drinks that Logan readily replenished, some more so than others. Gene reached across the table for a card and knocked Emmy's cup into her lap.
"Oh shit Em, I'm sorry." Gene looked apologetic, but definitely had too much to drink.
"It's ok." She said reassuringly as she stood up dabbing napkins on her sundress. She looked to Logan, he was laughing, at her or Gene she wasn't sure.
"Bathroom?" He got up promptly.
"Follow me."
Emmy fell in line following Logan all the way to the end of the hall. She heard her friends chastising Gene in the room behind them. Logan opened the door on his right and led her into a bedroom. Emmy quickly caught on it was his bedroom. She could see an adjoining bathroom through an open door in the corner.
"Oh um, is there a different bathroom?"
"Sorry Squirt, only one in the whole apartment." Logan said as he grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a tshirt from his dresser.
"Here, put these on and I'll grab you a bag to put your wet clothes in."
She rushed into the bathroom and promptly changed into the borrowed clothes. The t-shirt was three sizes to big and the sweatpants had to be rolled up seven times before she could walk in them. When she exited the bathroom Logan was waiting for her bag in hand.
"This is the only bag I have." Emmy took it hesitantly before stuffing her wet dress into it.
"Why weren't you valedictorian Logan?" She met his eyes for the first time since she arrived that night and saw the surprise in them.
"Well, cause you were goof. Just did better than me I guess." Logan stated with a shrug.
"Pfft you have a photographic memory Logan. You remember everything you've ever read and every diagram you've ever seen. The only way I did better than you is if you let me."
It was silent between them for a moment. Emmy looked away not being able to stare into his green eyes anymore.
"Well, some people just need something more than you. You just have to make the decision on whether to let them have it or not."
"I didn't need your help!" She said hotly. Logan laughed, it was loud and boisterous, and made Emmy feel some kind of way. Which made her even angrier.
"I never said you did. I merely thought that sharing a title like that has less meaning and pull than if you hold it solely." Emmy knew that, but she didn't need any handouts.
"I'm sure if I tried, and actually cared about it, you would have tried even harder and we would have ended up the top of our class. I don't need the pull to get a good residency or procure a good job. My father's money made sure of that. You on the other hand, can utilize the title to go far."
"Why would you do that for me?"
"Like I said, I don't need the pull. And honestly? I like you Emmy and I make sure that those I like are well taken care of." He had a glint in his eyes that Emmy wasn't sure what to make of it.
"Um, we should be getting back." She said hastily as she grabbed the bag from his hands.
She joined her friends that were laughing and carefree, and pretended like she didn't just have a puzzling interaction with Logan. Logan joined them a short while after and didn't even glance in her direction the rest of the night. It was probably for the best she thought as after tonight they were all going their separate ways and probably wouldn't see eachother again. Yep, she would never see Logan again.
