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Emmy
The camping trip was amazing, but sadly the weekend is now over. It's Monday and I'm sitting in Music class with Oliver.
"Alright, class, I have an assignment for you. I want you to pick a partner, and the two of you will come up with a song to perform together. I'd like you to write it yourself, if possible. The school has equipment and instruments if that's something you would like to use. You can either both sing, one can sing while the other accompanies or both can play an instrument. That's entirely up to you, but participation is mandatory. You will have until the end of the school year to work on this. Then, we will have a showcase for the entire school, where your parents are welcome to attend as well.”
Looking around to see who I could work with, I remember that I don’t really know anyone in this school other than my group of friends and, to be honest, no one else in here seems like the kind of people I’d care to get to know.
Sighing, I turn to the only friend I have in this class, Oliver. When my eyes land on him, I find that he’s already staring at me with a nervous smile. "Partners?" he asks. I look at him with hesitant eyes. Lightly placing his hand on my knee, he gives it a little squeeze.
"Come on, Emmy. We would get an A+ for sure. I’ll play, you’ll sing. We’ve got this," he says with a light smile as his thumb gently strokes my knee.
Leaning back, I think for a moment. "Alright, I guess we can try.” I nod.
That gets his smile to go from unsure to a megawatt beam in an instant. "Great!" He claps his hands together, resting them on his thighs. "Now we just need a song to sing," he laughs.
“Well, great songs take time to write. I have a few that I’ve already written, but I don't think they would work for this project. And coming up with a new one might take a little while.”
“Understandable. When you have something, you think you’ll want to use, write down the cords and give it to me, and I'll see what I can come up with on my guitar."
We spend the rest of the class talking about all the silly songs we used to come up with as kids. I find myself laughing hard when remembering some of the good times we had together. The teacher has to tell us to quiet down a few times, but that only makes us laugh harder.
It feels like old times again. Laughing and joking around, like nothing ever changed.
I have already decided that I'm willing to give Oliver another chance. He’s proven to me that he’s sorry and that he loves me. I just want to put everything behind us, because I’m sick of being this unhappy. If I have a chance to have the one person, who always made me feel loved and wanted while growing up, back into my life, then I'm not gonna let this chance go to waste. That is, once he tells me the rest of the story, like he promised.
After class ends, I say goodbye to Oliver and head to Art class. "Put your bags down at your desk, then come grab a canvas and get in line by the door," the teacher instructs and then leads us out the side door towards the grassy lawn. Covering half of the wall of the school building is a big plastic tarp that has been hung up with some of it spreading out on the ground below.
"I want you all to pick a spot on the wall and lean your canvas up against it. Leave a wide space between each person, so you don’t ruin anyone else's work. Then come grab a smock.” We all move to do what is asked of us. "Now, this is what I’d like you to do: I want you to pick a memory from your past. Something that may have upset you, something that you didn't have control over, but still wish you had the power to change or overcome. Then, I want you to come and pick your paint colors. We have paint brushes and sponges, or you can just use your hands if you like. I want you to take that emotion from your memory and transfer it to your canvas."
Sitting down in front of my canvas, I close my eyes, allowing my mind to wander, as I think of the past. There are far too many dark moments to choose from.
After a few minutes of thinking, I finally decide on one. I know it might be petty to pick this memory, because I’m trying to move past it with Oliver, but a part of me feels like this could be a way to help me heal my wounded heart. A way to get the relief that I've never allowed myself to feel.
I pick out the colors, I’ll need for what I’m picturing in my mind, and get to work. I decide against tools and just use my hands and the paint itself. I allow every moment of that memory to wash over me and fill me up until it’s all I see, and as I embrace those feelings of betrayal and hurt, I take all my anger out on the white space in front of me.
After what only feels like a few minutes, when in reality it was probably an hour, I hear the bell ring and jerk my head towards the sound. Class is over already? But I just got started...
Turning back to my artwork, my eyes go wide as I look at the painting. I don't even remember doing half of it! Blues, greens and yellows cover the canvas. The dark blue sky above us from where I sat, waiting for him to speak, the dark green grass that covered the ground underneath, the yellow dandelions I picked at out of nervous habit.
But, what really surprises me, are the red hand prints and paint splatter. I look down at my red paint covered hands. When did that happen?
Red, like the blood from my heart that he ripped out before stomping on it, right in front of my eyes.
Well then. That was unexpected.
But the amount of pressure that has been weighing on my chest for such a long time, is now a hell of a lot lighter. What do you know, art therapy actually does work!
"Great work, everyone. Leave these here to dry and I'll bring them in before the school day is done to finish drying in the classroom. I hope everyone got what they were looking for and are happy with their painting.”
I finish the rest of the day with lighter shoulders, like a huge weight has been lifted.
ANOTHER WEEK COMES and goes, as school starts becoming repetitive. Thank god for my friends, or I would have gone mad with boredom. Exams are coming up soon before the Christmas break and all we've been doing is studying. I spend a lot of time with the guys but with no time to really enjoy it, because all we do is school work and helping each other study for the exams.
Thankfully, this weekend we all get a pass from the administration to go into town, so that we can go do something fun. Our options are to either go see a movie or go to the local fair. It was unanimous, we wanted to go to the fair.
It’s nice to take a break from school and have the benefit of just being with my friends. We were lucky, the snow has not fallen yet, allowing the fair to stay open an extra week before shutting down for the season.
This is my first time ever at a fair, so I can't help but act like a kid in a candy store when we get there. This place is filled with pretty colors and a million different sounds. It’s hypnotizing.
Joe is our guard for the day and we are all required to stick together.
Everyone decides that I get to pick where we go and what we do, seeing how I’m the only one who's never been to one of these things.
Fine by me.
"I know you're in charge here, but if you don't mind me suggesting, I don’t think going on the rides first is a good idea. We just had lunch, and we could end up getting sick and ruin the rest of the day," Charlie says, as our little group makes a circle just inside the entrance.
I think about it for a moment and nod in agreement. “Good point. We should play some games first," I say, looking around.
The mini golf course catches my eye, making me smile a big toothy grin. I look over at Oliver. "Do you see what I see?" I ask him, all giddy.
He looks in the same direction I was just looking. When he sees what I’m talking about, the corners of his mouth go as wide as mine. He glances back at me, making his smile grow wicked. "Ohhhh, you're so on!" he yells, before taking off. I laugh as I start racing after him towards the mini golf course with everyone else following behind.
When we get there, the others all stop and gaze at us with confusion.
"I don't get it?" Talon says, looking from me to Oliver. Showing the worker my wrist band, then grabbing a putter and a ball, I turn to Talon and answer him with a laugh.
"There was this old, rundown mini golf course down the street from the trailer park. Oliver and I found it on one of our random walks. We always liked to go exploring and enjoyed having a place that was just for us." I look over at Oliver and smile, as I remember some of my favorite memories, then turn back to Talon, continuing the story.
"We went around the course collecting old golf balls and found a few old, rusty putters. We took everything home and cleaned them the best we could before going back and fixing the course up to make it playable. We spent so many summer days there, playing. Winner always made sure to use their bragging rights until the other person won."
They were some of the best days of my life. It gave me a way to escape from the world, forgetting where I lived, who my mother was, or fearing where my next meal was gonna come from. I was just spending time with my best friend, my other half.
The others get their equipment and we break up into two teams. "Boys vs. girls!" Lissy suggests with a mischievous grin. "Each girl pairs with a guy. Whatever gender gets the most points overall wins. And the winner of each pair gets bragging rights."
"How about if you lose?" Ben asks.
"Whoever loses has to do the winner’s chores for a week," Talon says with a playful gleam in his eye.
"I’m down!" Charlie says, pushing past the group to stand next to Ben. "I'm playing with him." Charlie hooks her arm around Ben's, leading him towards the first hole.
Lissy, who is standing next to Talon, says, "And I'm with him," hiking her thumb in his direction.
"Guess that just leaves me and you, just like old times," Oliver says, putting his arm around me with a sexy smirk. His sky blue eyes sparkle with delight. He’s been getting pretty bold when it comes to little touches. Any chance he gets, he takes.
I look back towards the girls and a big part of me has a feeling, this might have been a setup. I guess this is one way to get some bonding time in with Oliver.
Since we both poured our souls out to each other, he’s been postponing when he’ll tell me the rest of the story. With exams and everything, I've put off mentioning it, but if he doesn't say anything on his own soon, I will be demanding it of him.
After about an hour, lots of laughter and a few allegations of cheating, we finish the course. Charlie adds up the points and turns around with a victorious smile plastered on her face. "Girls win!!!" she cheers, raising the score sheet in the air.
The guys all groan. "It's not fair, Lissy totally cheated. She pushed me at hole five. And then fake sneezed at hole nine just as I was swinging, making me miss the ball!" Talon complains with a pout, crossing his arms over his chest.
Lissy sticks her tongue out at him. "Did not! I tripped over my foot and knocked into you. It was a total accident. As for hole nine," she shrugs her shoulders. "Allergies, what can I say?" she says while her lips form into a smirk. She shrugs again as she walks over to Charlie and I, giving us a high five.
"These girls, I tell ya, are sneaky little things!” Talon says, shaking his head and smiling.
I look at him in mock horror. "Hey! Who are you calling little?!"
He walks over to me with his sexy swagger, hands in his jean pockets. He flicks his head a little to get the hair out of his eyes, chewing on one of his snake bites, and stops in front of me. He lifts my chin to look into my eyes.
"You, Shorty," he says, then lowers his lips to mine with a feathering touch. Goosebumps form all over my body. I close my eyes, enjoying the heat coiling in my lower abdomen. "But, you're the perfect height for me," he says, pressing a light kiss on my lips. "I'll gladly take any punishment from you." Then, he moves his mouth to my ear and whispers, "But I like the kind with whips and chains the best though."
God, this man is sex on legs.
Talon turns and heads back over to where Lissy and the boys are talking about who has to do what chores for the next week.
I just stand there, stunned, my body still tingling, longing to be fully taken care of by the very sexy blonde swimmer.
I don't see Charlie behind me, until she wraps her arms around my waist, putting her head on my shoulder and snapping me out of my daze. I close my eyes and lean back into her touch.
She kisses my cheek. "How are you? Having fun?" she asks in a soft voice.
I sigh with contentment. "Yeah, so far, this day is one of the best I’ve had. But I still wanna hit a few more booths, then games, and after that we can go on some of the rides.”
"You know I'm okay with it, right?"
I turn in her arms, so that I’m facing her. "Okay with what?" I ask with a slightly confused expression on my face.
She smiles and kisses my nose. "With them," she says, nodding her head in the guys’ direction, who I see are now laughing and joking around.
"I see how much they care for you. You've gotten close with them since you've been here and I like seeing you smile. You look happy, and you really deserve it. I just think the more people who can make you feel that way, the better. It seems that Talon’s changed big time since he met you.
“And Ben, I don’t think I’ve ever heard that guy say more than two words to anyone other than Oliver and Talon, but when he's around you, you can't seem to shut the guy up!" I smile at her words, thinking about all of mine and Ben’s conversations about books.
It makes me feel good, knowing that these two sexy men are changing for the better, being around me.
"As for Oliver, I've never seen him smile since I've been here. But the moment you stopped hating him and started talking to him again... I don't think anyone could pay him enough to wipe it off his face."
I bite my lower lip, feeling a little nervous. "Are you sure you're okay with it? With me being with all of you? I know you joke around and everything, but I didn't think you were serious?”
She nods with no hesitation. "Yes, I’m sure. They are good guys, who all did something to get them sent to this school, but they aren't bad people. They truly care for you. And I know you feel the same about them. Even if you're with them, I know you care about me just as much. I don't mind sharing you. And you never have to worry about anything happening between me and them. You are the only woman they want, and me, I'm 100% into pussy... yours, to be exact," she says with a wink.
Letting out a soft laugh, I hug her tightly before kissing her hard.
Reluctantly breaking the kiss, I put my forehead to hers. "Thank you, you're amazing. I'm so lucky to have you in my life. I love you so fucking much, Charlie. Thank you for being one of my people." A tear escapes and slides down my cheek.
Charlie kisses it away with tenderness. "I'd do anything for you, My Queen.” Then she kisses me with so much passion, our lips part and tongues connect. I’m ready to drag her off somewhere dark to take this further, until I hear someone clearing their throat.
Breaking apart, I look over to find that everyone is watching us with amused smiles on their faces.
My lips form a shy smile. These are my friends, my people. This feels right, like I'm home.
"Let’s go, Love Birds, we have a shit ton more to do!" Talon shouts, as he heads toward the exit.
As Oliver passes me, he leans over and gives my cheek a quick peck before jogging to catch up with Talon.
I’m really hoping this day keeps being this good.
Talon
AFTER MINI GOLF, WE play some other games. Oliver wins the ring toss game, giving Emmy his prize - a little pink bear. The sweet smile she gives him as he hands it to her, makes my heart skip a beat.
More than anything, I want to be with Emmy. In the short amount of time that she's been here, she's become my whole world. But I don't feel right in asking her to officially be my girlfriend until her and Oliver work out their issues. She was his first, so it’s only fair.
I admire Oliver’s understanding and belief that Emmy deserves all the love in the world, and that even if this means she's with all of us, then he’s okay with not being the only love in her life.
Next up is the game where you have to knock milk bottles down by throwing a baseball at it. Oddly enough, Ben wins that one, and he also gives Emmy his prize, a little stuffed owl. She lets out a tiny squeal and jumps into Ben’s arms.
Owls are apparently Emmy’s favorite animal.
He catches her with a look of surprise on his face. Poor sap, he really has no game with the ladies. Sure, the guy could make panties melt right off of a girl just by them looking at him, but he’s never been interested. I always assumed he was into guys because, in all of the years I've known him, I've never seen him touch a girl, but then I also never saw him with a guy either.
I don't think he’s aware yet, but I’ve noticed him looking at me when he thinks I'm not paying attention. There's some heat there, for sure. I'm not really into guys and I've never had any sexual attraction toward them before. But there is something about Ben that makes me want to get a reaction out of him, ruffle his feathers a bit and see what he would do. Maybe I should march right up to him, push him against the nearest wall and ram my tongue down his throat until he's a puddle on the floor. If that leads to something else, well, then I will deal with it then.
Once everything is official between Emmy and us, I could talk to her about it and see how she feels. I think she would be fine with it, if Ben and I ended up having something too. I feel like she would just want us to be happy. That’s just the kind and amazing person she is.
Ben relaxes into her touch, hugging her tight, as his whole face lights up with a cute smile. Pulling back from him, she gives Ben a small kiss on the cheek before skipping over to the girls, who are eating cotton candy.
Making my way over to Ben, I stop next to him, and we both look over at Emmy. She’s laughing at something the girls said. I turn to face him. “That's a nice look on you.”
He turns his gaze from Emmy to me with a look of confusion. “What look?” he asks.
Smiling at him, I lift my hand and touch the side of his lips with my thumb. “The one where you smile like you’ve just been given the whole world,” I say softly.
Lowering my hand, I back away. He stands there with a bewildered look, but I also see heat in his eyes.
I give him a wink before turning to jog over to Emmy.
“Okay, Shorty! Where to next? Another game, so I can whoop your pretty little tight ass? But you can have the prize, of course. What kinda guy would I be if I didn't give my lady my winnings?”
With a playful smirk, she cocks her brow at me. “Your lady, huh?”
Taking a hold of her hips, I back her up, until she makes contact with the wall of the booth behind her, bending down with my lips just brushing her ear. “Soon, Sweet Girl, soon you will be.'' I nip her earlobe and she lets out a small moan that she quickly tries to swallow down. But it’s too late, I definitely heard it, and apparently, so did my dick, because it’s so hard that I could break something with this steel rod.
I move away, while grabbing her hand and dragging her over to play the game where you have to pop balloons by throwing darts.
After getting all the balloons with higher numbers, I end up winning. Emmy sticks her tongue out playfully, making me laugh, before heading over with the rest of the group to wait while I pick out her prize. I have enough points to get her something better than a teddy. I take a look at the bigger prizes, but nothing really screams Emmy. Then my eyes lock on the item on the last row and my smile widens. I tell the man what prize I want and bring it over to Emmy.
With the prize held behind my back, I stand behind Emmy and tap her on the shoulder. She turns around and looks up at me with her beautiful, brown eyes.
“So, Big Guy, what did you get me?” she asks with a cheeky smile.
“For you, My Lady,” I say, bowing dramatically, as I present her with a silver metal tiara. It’s fake but it isn’t one of those cheaply made ones, more like the kind girls wear to prom.
She lets out a small gasp before gingerly taking it into her small delicate hands.
“Thank you,” she gushes, her voice soft and so low, it was almost a whisper. “I love it!”
She puts it on before wrapping her tattoo covered arms around me. “Anything for you, Shorty,” I murmur into her hair as I hug her back.
“Alright! Games are done. Let's do some rides!” Charlie yells out with excitement.
For the next hour, we all take turns going on different rides with each other. There aren’t that many rides where we can all go as a group though. Charlie and Emmy go on the ferris wheel and we all go in the bumper cars. Oliver and I go on The Slingshot and, no joke, I almost shit my pants! But it was fucking awesome! The girls all ride the carousel and the childlike wonder on Emmy’s face makes it all worth it, waiting on the sidelines with all the screaming children running around.
Before we know it, our guard tells us that it’s almost time to leave and we only have enough time left to go on one more ride.
“Who wants to go on The Twisty Straw Roller Coaster with me?” I ask, and they all respond with a bunch of no’s.
“I will,” Emmy pipes up, looking a little nervous as she chews on her thumb. “But I've never been on one before. It looks kinda scary,” she says, looking up at the ride.
I walk over and wrap my arms around her. ”You know you don't have to?”
She shakes her head into my chest. “No, I'll go. I want to keep trying new things, so come on, let’s go before I change my mind,” she says, then drags me towards the line.
Once we are strapped in, I grab on to her hand. Poor girl still looks tense.
The ride starts and she takes a deep breath, squeezing my hand tightly.
The first drop comes and Emmy lets out an ear piercing scream, followed by a hysterical laugh. I smile, knowing that she’s enjoying the ride. Using my free hand, I raise it in the air, letting out my own whoop of excitement.
We laugh and scream the rest of the short ride. Once we are back in the loading dock, I look over at Emmy with a huge smile, but it fades as soon as I see the look on her face.
She looks seconds away from losing the contents of her stomach. Well, I guess the idea to get something to eat last had been a smart one, because I have a feeling this is not gonna be pretty.
“Emmy, are you okay?” I ask, my voice laced with concern as I look at her anxious face. Her eyes go wide, as she slaps a hand over her mouth and shakes her head. I quickly take off her seat belt and she jumps up, running to the nearest trash can.
As much as I hate the sound of it, I go over and hold back her hair with one hand and rub her back with the other until she’s done retching.
Oliver and the rest rush over. “Is she okay?” he demands, his tone infused with panic. I just shrug, not really knowing myself. Emmy accepts the bottle of water that Charlie hands her, taking a drink before wiping her mouth on the napkin waiting in Charlie’s other hand.
Then she starts laughing, like a full belly laugh.
We all look at her like she’s nuts.
“That was AWESOME!” she shouts. “Well, not that! That was disgusting.” She tilts her head towards the trash can. “But the roller coaster was! Thrilling and amazing,” she says, leaning into Charlie's chest. Charlie wraps her arms around Emmy and starts rubbing her back.
Emmy looks at the rest of us. “Thank you for giving me one of the best and funniest days of my life,” she says, then closes her eyes.
I walk over to her and kiss the top of her head. “Anything for you, Shorty.”
And I mean it.
If I had a say in it, Emmy would get anything and everything that's within my power to give. I have money. Not my parents’, but my own, and I would use it all on Emmy if it meant she would have a better life than the one she grew up with.