Chronically, Me

Ten

Emerson

For the first time in his life, Emerson Kingsley felt weird before talking to a girl.

Sure, he had felt nervous when he had asked out his first crush. He sometimes even felt a bit surprised when girls approached him. 

So when Emerson felt weird for thinking about asking Drew to be his lab partner for the day, he was confused.

As long as Emerson knew, he always strived to be simple, be it dating or just a simple friendship. Because he always felt confident in what the other person meant to him. 

But he didn't know what Drew meant to him. He wasn't even sure if he wanted her to mean something to him yet.

Well, only one way to find out.

So Emerson squared his shoulders and hobbled on his crutches to her.

"Hey." It came out as a nervous whisper.

His internal battles were forgotten the moment she looked up at him.

Dark bags sagged under her eyes while her face was stretched in what looked like weariness.

But her eyes looked.... lost.

"I was wondering if you could be my lab partner for today."

Emerson had a feeling that though Drew was looking up at him, she wasn't seeing him.

When a minute ticked away and still she didn't answer him, Emerson grew a bit worried.

"Drew, you okay?" he asked.

She blinked a few times before becoming aware of his presence.

"Hey, yeah, yeah, I am good," she muttered, slightly shaking her head as if clearing her mind.

"Would you mind being my lab partner?" he said slowly, putting enough emphasis on each word.

"Yeah, okay, sure," she said a bit too dismissively to his liking. But Emerson didn't linger on it.

They took their place behind a table as the teacher in front recited the proper procedure for the experiment.

Emerson tried to concentrate on the instructions but he kept glancing sideways at Drew who kept zoning out.

When it was time to start, though Emerson noticed her movements were too slow and she kept blinking, he let it slide and offered to do most of the things.

But the final straw came when she almost knocked over a beaker full of acid.

Concerned, Emerson covered her glove-covered hand with his. "Stop. You're not focused."

His touch seemed to jolt her away from absent-mindedness and she gaped at him, fully aware.

"I am okay," she replied stubbornly.

Geez, I wonder who you remind me of.

He almost smiled at that but composed his face into a neutral expression.

"You almost spilled the acid on the table, Drew. You don't look well. You need to go to the nurse's office and get some rest."

Before she could have a chance to argue, he left his spot and went to the teacher in the front who was flipping through a book.

At the sight of Emerson, the teacher visibly brightened. So Emerson put on a warm smile before stepping closer to whisper in his teacher's ears.

After receiving a positive reply, Emerson beckoned for Drew to follow him out of the class.

Drew looked at him warily before she walked out of the class with him hesitantly. Closing the door shut softly behind them, they fell in step together which Emerson found darkly amusing since he couldn't use his injured leg yet.

Drew was silent the entire time. His concern for her urged him to ask her some questions but he hoped for that cloud in her eyes to dissipate first.

So Emerson took a small detour.

"Where are we going?" Drew asked confusedly.

"Somewhere calm."

Awkwardly shifting his weight to the crutches under his arms, not used to them yet, he led her to the football field.