Snakes and Ladders

Chapter 29: To Be Or Not To Be?

"Please?"

"No."

"Fine. Pretty please?"

"The answer is still no Antonio"

Tony groaned, a disgruntled look on his handsome face "Why not?" He then wrinkled his nose in disgust "And don't call me Antonio"

Emilia glared at him "I'm not being your gay beard for you just to please your parents" her tone stubbornly, absolutely resolute as she kicked a small rock in front of her.

Tony's eyes widened pleadingly, two big turquoise eyes mooning at her in desperation, a pout on his perfect pink lips.

Emilia shielded her eyes "Argh stop! Your puppy eyes are killer!"

The pout slid up into a full on grin "Gracias amiga" Tony then dramatically brushed back his golden hair "It's worked wonders throughout my life" A hint of pride in his sea green irises.

"Yeah well it won't work on me"

Tony smirked "That's what they all say"

Emilia rolled her eyes, poking his chest playfully "Your golden spoon upbringing is showing" she stated before she began to quicken her pace.

Tony followed.

"Come on. It'll only be one time I promise!" He pleaded as he tried to keep up with Emilia's newfound speed of power walking.

"That's what they all say" Emilia retorted, throwing his words right back at him.

Tony snorted, letting out a loud chuckle "Okay that was good throwback"

Emilia smiled sarcastically back.

They then fell into a comfortable silence, Emilia thinking deeply about Tony's plea as they got closer to her neighborhood.

School had just ended and ever since the school camping trip had ended, Tony had been bugging her about making him food as she had regrettably promised in exchange for him going with her.

So after a exhausting day of suffering through classes with the Five, she was ready to bake her favorite cookies, Tony tagging along.

Actually she was most likely going to be doing more than baking cookies, she was doing the whole shabang. Stress baking.

Ever since the student Arabella had gone missing, Tatum had been crowding her in the hallways, sitting beside her in every class he had with her, and even plopping himself by her at the cafeteria. Emilia wouldn't have been that annoyed if it wasn't for the fact that his cult went whether he did, sans Tony.

It was honestly stressful having all of the Five barricade her like bodyguards in the hallways, everyone glaring harshly at anyone who dared meet their eyes.

Emilia had tried to ask why all of them were being so weird but they all ignored her, so she decided to just go with the flow of things and let them be her newfound overprotective dogs.

Along with this new circumstance, Emilia had also noticed how Tatum would sneak glances at her when he thought she wasn't paying attention enough to notice.

She definitely had.

Beaumont was not a subtle being in any way and it showed.

Emilia could still feel his burning cerulean eyes at the back of her head.

However, the final real cherry on top was when Tony had approached her earlier today and asked if she would pretend to be his girlfriend for his parents.

She shut him down constantly, yet he kept on pestering her about it throughout the whole day. It was like he was trying to annoy her to the point that she said yes.

Of course she was stronger than this. Growing up with two older, annoying siblings had made her tougher in the long run. It was quite easy to tune out a person if she wanted to.

However, a question still lingered in her brain, itching to be asked.

With that, Emilia was the first one to break the silence.

"Why are you still pretending to be straight for your crappy parents?" Emilia asked, her head tilted perplexedly. "I thought you were beginning to not care what they thought anymore after last night's dinner"

Tony had already told her about the train wreck of a family gathering he had last night.

Emilia peered at him waiting patiently for Vasiliou's answer. He let out a sigh at this, pressing his lips together to form a tight grimace.

"Well I thought I did but...I don't know their still my parents you know? Even if they are shitty at being parents, I still love them and want them to be proud of me and..." he took a deep breath "...I don't know" he played with the strands of his hair "I like when their happy and if that means pretending to be something I'm not..." he trailed off, a deep frown settled on his lips "I...just hate disappointing them you know?"

Emilia looked sadly upon Tony with empathy. She knew how it felt to be afraid of being a failure to your family. To yearn to be perfect and make the parents proud.

She put a comforting hand on his shoulder "Hey" she tipped up his chin, making their eyes meet "You have nothing to be ashamed of...you hear me? Nothing." Her brown eyes sparkled confidently, the color of quartz in the mid day sun.

Tony smiled unsurely "Yeah...okay" he squeezed her hand, a small gesture of thanks.

As they approached her house, the parent's topic was momentarily forgotten as Emilia began to blabber about the recipes they were going to make. Tony wholly invested, after her mention of chocolate chips.

Shakespeare anyone?

Lately in class my AP Lit teacher has been making us read the script of Othello on our google meets. Honestly can't believe I'm saying this but I'd prefer to read it at school. Having to unmic yourself to absolute silence, only to then read old English is weird and kinda harrowing. Because the only face you see is the teacher. Also (sorry going on a rant here), the fact that I literally don't understand what's going on half of the time and I'm the main male lead of the story, Othello.

Gosh trying to sound like a man is actually quite hard, my voice doesn't go that low.

But anyways yeah that's what's going on with me lately. How about you all? Comment down below if you want.

But I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I finally am starting to get more consistent again (airhorn: heheee/ back to the airhorn chapter/ and confetti randomly appears).

I'll try to get out another chapter soon. It really depends on how much free time and will power I have. My driver's test is coming up this Wednesday and I'm praying to finally pass. Been listening to Olivia Rodrigo's driver's license for good luck 🤞 so let's hope it works!

Love you guys!

~Jaderunner