If Not For Her

Chapter 25. "I will hold onto you"

"Is he going to be there?" Chris asked at the other end, "Chris what happened, he won't tell me and you won't either what happened?" "Annie" she started, "no, I just want to know both my best friend and brother are hurting, what's wrong?" She heard Chris's voice break. That was it. Annabeth took her bag and walked towards Chris's house, it was in their neighborhood.

Christina opened the door, she looked bad her hard exterior melted and now she was a mess. Without a word, Annabeth hugged her. She held tighter as Annabeth whispered words to her. "What happened?" She asked wiping her tears. "Meg happened, they kissed and I saw it, I wouldn't believe it if I didn't," she said, between her sobs. All the time she had to know Christina, she rarely cried. Seeing her like that disturbed her.

What was even more disturbing was the fact that her brother would kiss his ex-girlfriend. Meg and Alex were a couple before she cheated on him and Alex was not a boy who would cheat she had seen the way they were around each other, in love. She stroked her hair when her phone buzzed, she ignored it and comforted her. "I will talk to him," she said. "Don't, there is no need" she said. "But" "don't Annie," she said, "fine," "I don't feel like going," Chris said.

Annabeth didn't force her, "do you want me to stay with you?" "No, I want you to go," she smiled as she stood up, "I think I will get some sleep to thank you for coming" Annabeth hugged her one last time before leaving. On her way back she saw a text from Adam,

Can't make it an emergency came up, sorry

It's fine

She texted back, none of her friends were coming at least there would be Emmalyn, Alex, and Nick. She opened the door and saw a note hanging from the fridge

"Basketball practice came up and I took Nick with me, can't make it to the carnival."

Great, it was just Emmalyn and her, she didn't know if it was the practice for the game or if Alex was just finding opportunities to ignore Chris. She had to talk to her brother no matter what Chris said. Before he was her boyfriend he was Annabeth's brother and she had the right to know if her brother cheated on her best friend.

She looked at the clock, it was 4:20, and it would take her half an hour to reach. She dressed in a simple purple dress and walked out in white heels, she loved them. She saw Emmalyn before she saw her. She took a moment to watch from afar, there was no doubt she was breathtaking but now Annabeth realized she had been wrong about her, she was also a good person.

She walked towards her, as Emmalyn smiled at her and looked around her, "no one came" she said. She expected Emmalyn to be disappointed but instead, she smiled "I guess it is just you and me then, let's make the best of it" she took her hand and Annabeth didn't feel the awkwardness she felt comfortable, she laced her fingers and they walked together.

For a moment Annabeth was glad no one showed up. They walked past the colorful stores, and their laughter rang loud. She felt happy the feeling she was familiar with when Emmalyn was near. They neared the Ferris wheel, Annabeth stilled, she didn't like heights and she never tried the Ferris wheel. Emmalyn somehow seemed to sense her hesitation, "just hold my hand, alright, you will be fine" Annabeth believed her.

They sat beside each other, knees brushing, without thinking Annabeth reached for Emmalyn's hand and held it, "don't worry sweetheart I will hold onto you" "that was cheesy, Cole," she said smiling. "Well that made you smile, didn't you? I consider that progress" Emmalyn said tightening her grip as the wheel started, Annabeth inched closer to her and noticed Emmalyn smiled.

"Just look below you it is one of the beautiful things you will see" Emmalyn whispered, she found her voice soothing. She looked down everything looked small, "beautiful isn't it?" Emmalyn asked. Annabeth looked at Emmalyn and whispered "very" she quickly turned her attention back.

"I can't believe you have never experienced this" Emmalyn said with a child-like wonder, "I am glad I got to experience it with you" she smiled, the sun shone behind Emmalyn as the winds blew her hair. Annabeth smiled as she tucked a strand of the hair, she felt Emmalyn catch her breath, she hesitated for a bit but then she felt her relax under her touch. She looked at her face, " you look good with your hair out of your face". It was the first time she saw Emmalyn Cole utterly speechless.