Emma Johansson

Always something

Scarlett
"Good morning Mrs. Johansson, I am calling you regarding Emma, she isn't in school today and we were wondering where she is." Principal Hiddleston spoke over the phone.

Shit Em, it's your first week and you're skipping school already?

"Good morning Mr. Hiddleston, please call me Ms. or Scarlett. I'm sorry I forgot to call you, Emma is sick today and will be staying home." I lie

"O very well Ms., have a good day and wish her well for me." He says before hanging up.

"I didn't know Emma was sick, and by the looks of it you didn't either." Chris says. Chris and I have been coworkers for years and also great friends. 

"No, she is skipping school again." I sight.

"It's always something with that girl, I don't know how you do it." He says

"Watch your mouth Chris, don't talk about her like that, you have no idea what she has been through and you have no right talking smack about her." I hiss back

"Relax Scar, I didn't mean it like that, you know I like the girl, she's just a handful. That's all I'm saying." He says throwing his hands up in defence.

"I just hope that she will be home tonight, remember the time she left her phone at home and disappeared for three days, I was worried sick, but the imported thing here is that she returned home on her own. I had to send her to her room immediately because otherwise she would have seen me smile. Maria came by that night and we talked about how much progress she had made." I say deep in thought

"Yeah I remember, you had the whole station looking for her. I still wonder how she managed to stay off our radar for three whole days. She was only 14 at the time." Chris chuckled. 

I couldn't leave work early today so I would hopefully see her when I got home. I got home at half past seven, to a perfectly set table and dinner already served. Maria our neighbour and my best friend having small talk with Emms at the table. Maria smiles as she sees me walk in. I know what's happening here, Emma invited Maria so I wouldn't get mad at her, she sure as hell is smart. Not that I didn't know that already, I mean she has never had to repeat a school year even though she skips like half of her classes. 

"Hello Maria, nice to see you here. Emma..." I say as I give Emma a dead glance. Letting her know that she wouldn't get away with it this easy.

***

"You know she's trying right?" Maria askes as I hand her a cup of tea at the couch. By now Emm has gone up to bed.

"I know, but has she told you what she did?" I sight

"She didn't have to, you know just as well as I do that even if she tries, I can see right through her lies." She smirks, making me let out a small laugh as well.

"What do I do with her? I've tried everything, I feel like I will never be good enough. What if I'm not around enough? Every time I feel like she might actually open up to me she runs away." I say holding back tears.

"I know it's hard Scar, but you're doing great. Yes, she skipped school again, and yes she will keep getting into trouble, but she came back didn't she. She came back because she does consider this her home. She came back because you made a place where she felt safe. Safe enough to be herself, I have never seen her more alive as in the past week. And yes you have a job, but most parents do and she is a smart kid, she is used to having to do things on her own. It's hard for her to let anyone in, and that's probably the reason she keeps running away once you feel like she's ready to open up. That's just her way of protecting her heart." Maria tells me with a small smile around her lips.

"How did you get so wise?" I ask her wiping away a stray tear of my cheek.

"I read a lot of books" she says playfully nudging her elbow in my side.

"Can I ask you something?" I say doubtful

"Of course!"

"Do you think I'm being to hard on her? I mean she finally made some friends and I don't let her go" I say looking down at my tea.

"Don't be ridiculous, you're a great mom, you know how many moms would have thrown their kids out of house for the way she sometimes speaks to you. You're patient with her, you're honest with her, you're helping her and you're teaching her. Learning her all about life and manners about what things she can and can't do. You shouldn't sell yourself short." Maria says proudly.

Emma
After I got home I took a quick shower and went by Maria inviting her to have dinner with me and Scarlett. I know they have been best friends for years. They had been childhood friends, and when we moved here and Scarlett found out that she was our neighbor we had dinner together almost every day. She was the one who helped me convince Scarlett that it would be best if I had a two month break from school before getting back into it.

However she was sceptic when I asked her to help me prepare dinner. She asked me what I had done but I just lied and told her I wanted to do something nice for a change. I mean I wasn't going to tell her that I skipped school again and that I had gotten incredibly drunk. I barely remember anything from last night. Besides the chance of Scarlett going full angry parent mode with me reduced significantly when she was over.

After dinner Scar send me up to my room, I went without hesitation glad that I had survived the evening. After about half an hour I wanted to go downstairs to see if we had some ice cream for dessert but when I walked down the stairs I heard Scarlett en Maria talking. I sat down on one of the steps and listen to the whole conversation. I had to cry hearing Scarlett doubt herself. She had been such a good mom, I was just afraid she would leave everytime I did something bad or stupid.

I just though if I run away she won't have to deal with kicking me out, but she always found me eventually. And she always welcomed me back home no matter what I did. She just wants me to talk to her, she doesn't get mad when I run away, she just wants to know why I ran away. 

When I hear the door close indicating that Maria had left I make my way to the living room. Finding Scarlett on the couch with a blanket watching Lucifer. 

"Hey Em, what are you doing still up?" she questions as she sees me appear in the door opening.

"Can I sit with you?" I question

"Sure, everything alright?" she says patting the spot next to her on the couch.

I walk up to her not saying anything, sitting down beside her. She pulls the blanket up so I can get under it as well. I snuggle up to her wrapping my arms around her waist laying my head on her shoulder as tears start falling from my eyes.

"What's wrong Emms?" she says rubbing circles on my back trying to soothe me. 

"I-I'm s-sorry Mom" Is all I can bring out.

We both sit there in a comfortable silence. I must have fallen asleep because I wake up as I feel a kiss on my forehead, I was lay in my bed. She must have carried me up. I hum, letting her know that I was awake.

"Go back to sleep darling, you got school tomorrow" she says and I feel myself drifting back asleep. 

A/N
Hello hello, this chapter is a little longer than the others, I hope you liked it!
I was wondering what everybody was thinking of my story thus far. Please leave a comment to tell me what you think. I hope you have a great day!

Don't forget to drink water!

x S.