Little Boy

Chapter O N E

WELCOME!!

Hello to all the new people, and heyyyyy to all the peeps who have come from my other books and know the drill. (Should I be starting a whole story when I have so many to finish?.... Nope.) 

Now, if you've ready I Don't Want To Be Little, you've probably read the note about how things WILL be different in this book. If you've seen the original, apologies, but I'm making pretty significant changes to the story and world and stuff!

If this doesn't bother you, then without further ado....

Enjoy! ~

- Foxx

~

Emerson P.O.V

~

I stared blankly across the dark room, watching the shadows from the tree outside dancing on my wall. Taking a quick glance at the neon numbers on my alarm clock, I internally sighed. 

4:37 a.m.

Turning to face the fall, I pulled the covers up more, cocooning myself and hoping the added warmth would lure sleep back to me. 

Everytime I attempted to close my eyes, and anxiety would find a way to grip back at my chest, jerking me from sleep. What would happen later that day kept buzzing in my mind, and making me unable to fall back asleep. 

I had only gotten five hours before the intrusive thoughts won and jerked me awake with a nightmare. And I had been awake for two hours. Staring into my dark room in silence. 

By the time I closed me eyes again, the sun was peeking out. 

"Em, come down for breakfast!"

Seriously?

My burning eyes peeled open, and I immediately forced them back shut. If he wanted me to come down, he would have to drag me out. 

Sure enough, a minute later, I heard the familiar footsteps coming down the hall to my room. My door creaked open, and I heard the familiar voice saying, "Come on Em, we have to eat before leaving."

The mention of leaving had my stomach tightening, and I pulled the covers closers around me. 

All of a sudden, my blanket was ripped off of me, exposing me to the chilled morning air. 

"Emerson, I know you're awake! Get up!"

I groaned. "No."

Two hands latched onto my ankles, and pulled. 

My eyes flew open, meet the impatient face of my best friend. 

"Downstairs, now," Lukas said firmly, leaving no room for me to protest or complain. But I still did both. 

"I don't want to. I'm going to stay in my bed today. I am sick. Cough cough." I attempted to crawl back up the bed, but he didn't let go of my ankles. Instead he pulled me even loser to him. He let go of my ankles, reached under my arms, and lifted me out of the bed. He set me on the floor, and turned me to my door. 

He nudged me forward. "I said now."

Sighing and grumbling, I trudged down the hall and to the dining table, taking a seat. Lukas bustled around before pacing a full bowl and a spoon in front of me. 

"Eat."

I frowned down at the bowl of cereal in front of me. Lukas had filled it with almond milk, because I was lactose intolerant. 

He didn't understand that I didn't care. 

I wanted regular milk with cereal. Stomach aches be darned. Almond milk was terrible. 

"Em, eat before it gets soggy," Lukas urged, already halfway done with his bowl. I looked across the dining room table at him. He looked how he had since high school, wavy brown hair wild, since he never brushed it before breakfast. His foreign genes left his skin darker than mine, a pretty looking tan that made his green eyes stand out against his skin. I had always been jealous about his pretty eyes. 

"I'm not hungry," I grumbled, pushing the bowl away.

He furrowed his brow. "You're gonna get hungry later during testing."

I shrugged. "Then I'll be hungry."

"But this is the Assignment. You should feel full so you can focus fully on all the questions," he nagged, and I rolled my eyes, ignoring the flash of nerves that made my heart squeeze. 

The Assignment. The day we would be assigned our "roles". Everyone had one, and they were vital to everyday life. It determined the jobs you could get, the people you could be with, and the people you could be compatible with. It was super important, but...

"I'd rather starve than drink almond milk," I said stubbornly. 

"Want a granola bar, or some fruit instead?" Before I could refuse, Lukas was up, taking his empty bowl with him. He rummaged around, and I watched as he sliced some apples and oranges. With some honey, he came back, and switched out my cereal for the fruit. 

"Thanks," I mumbled, taking the fork and eating. He smiled victoriously. 

"Remember, once we get to campus, we will need to separate. They do it alphabetically, and I'll be with the R's," he said, resuming his seat across from me. 

I rolled my eyes at him. "I know, Lukas. I was at the orientation yesterday. With you."

He gave me a sheepish grin. "Yeah, but you weren't paying attention. You were on my phone the whole time."

That I couldn't refute. I had been distracted most of the time, by the game he had. He downloaded way more than me, and that had been much more interesting than whatever the lady on the podium had been saying.  

"Still, I know what's going to happen. We'll separated alphabetically, go to testing rooms, take the verbal test, and then more testing after lunch depending on the result of the first part," I said. "I was paying attention. Mostly."

"We'll meet up for lunch, where we usually do," he stated. "Where is that?"

I bit my lip. "Um... cafe?"

"Which one?" He pressed. 

"Er... Joe's?" I guessed. I knew what the place looked like, but the name always slipped my mind. But I could navigate my way there from campus. Probably. If Lukas was with me. 

He blinked at me. "Sugar and Spice, Emerson."

I tilted my head. "You sure?"

"Why don't you wait at the main entrance for me?"

"But I've never been to this college before," I said. "I don't remember where the main entrance is."

Lukas looked exasperated. I knew I was directionally challenged, but it wasn't that bad. "Ask someone, okay? And if you get really lost, ask for the main office."

I nodded. "And if there's no one around me?" 

"Then I'll just come find you," he said. 

"Sounds good," I agreed.

~