The Kents

Fifteen

I walk into the kitchen feeling belittled and futile. I recall Luke's words to me;

"And I promise you that no one in this house will care if you've taken the money and left..."

"Emma!" Erik waves a hand in front of my face.

"Yes..." I search Erik's eyes for any sort of emotion... But what exactly was I looking for?

"Why'd you doze off?" He asks.

"You slept like twelve hours!" Stacey adds.

"Erik do you want me here?" I don't hold in and my eyes start to water. My body, shiver in a very familiar way that was never foreign.

"What?" Erik ducks to look me in the eye.

"Answer me, do-o you consider me your sister? Would you care if I left?" My words come out shaky but direct. I inspect him.

"What has gone into you? Of course you're my sister!"

"...I want you here! I'm loving you little person being all around the house! I wouldn't allow you to take a step away from us! For what its worth, I think I'll hold you hostage! I've always wanted a little sister Em! You're my beautiful little sister...."

He crushes me into an earnest hug and I let an overwrought sob out. His warmth overwhelms me and my heartbeats start to steadily slow. I can hear his heartbeats against my ears in a fast rhythm.

"You have no idea how lonely it was before you came into our lives..." He whispers and I feel his heartbeats grow. I smile against his chest.

"What did Luke do this time Emma?" He adds, pulling me away. I wipe my tears and when everything around me was sharp again, my vision landed on a weeping Stacey who was prepared to pull me into a hug too.

She rocks me in her embrace like a baby, making my heart smile at her sweet wholesome soul.

We all move to the kitchen island.

"What did I say about ignoring Luke Emma? I told you ever since day one..." Erik lectures me, and Stacey shoves another forkful of blueberry pancakes into my mouth.

"Stace enou-bph!" I protest feeling my stomach getting upset.

I gulp one last sip of orange juice and walk away from Stacey's side. I swear she's worse than my mother on my sick days!

"He wanted me to take my share, in money, and leave. He said nobody cared and that the sooner I left, the better it would be for all of us."

"How much?" Erik asks and all eyes land on him.

"15 million." I tell him. Stacey's eyebrows shoot up in utter shock. Erik just stares at some random distance.

"That's quite a number Emma..." He says. His eyes implying something...

"Erik, I don't fucking want the money... What is it with you Kents and your low IQs?!" I tell him and he smiles faintly.

"Then I guess it's settled then..." He says and excuses himself taking a phone call outside.

"Where's Scott?" I ask Stacey while waiting for Erik to disappear and shut the front door behind him.

"He said he was-" She starts to say but I stop her.

"What happened yesterday?!" I whisper and she grins.

"Finally! I thought you'd never ask!"

"Emma he's so hot and all but-" I frown. I hate buts!

"He's hot and all." She repeats and stops.

"I'm sorry I'm not following. Come on Stacey. He'll be back soon!" I urge her to speak.