If Not For Her

Chapter 26. "Stay"

The ride ended and they still held hands, as cliched as it sounded, their hands fitted perfectly into each other and finally, Emmalyn realized that the cliches she read in the romance books somehow made sense. As she spent time with Annabeth she realized that what she felt for Annabeth be it friendship or love was different from what she felt for Dexter.

When she was with Annabeth, she seemed to be the only thing that managed to capture her attention. She smiled at the thought. "We have seen everything," Annabeth saw finishing her caramel apple. "Let's not go home yet, let's go somewhere, quiet" Emmalyn said, she wanted to spend time with her. "Lead the way miss," Annabeth said. "Of course," she said as she dragged Annabeth. She heard Annabeth laugh. There was something about her, she didn't understand.

They sat on the edge of the cliff, after years she didn't feel hurt when she visited and she knew it was because of the person next to her. She gave her a candy, and a smile spread, "these are my favorites" Annabeth said, "when did you buy these" her mind wandered to the time she bought them as she waited for Annabeth to get there when Adam said he couldn't make it.

"I had them" she lied. "Thank you," Annabeth popped them into her mouth. "You don't eat candy how do you have it?" She asked. Damn it! She took a breath in, "I like to keep them" she said knowing Annabeth would never believe her. Annabeth looked ahead as Emmalyn popped one into her mouth. She felt the sweet flavor, she didn't like chocolate, not the milk ones Annabeth liked.

"You don't have to," Annabeth said. She didn't argue and spat it out. "How do you eat this?" She asked. "It's sweet," she said. "It tastes horrible" "I think dark chocolate tastes horrible" Emmalyn dramatically gasped, "how could you say something like that?" "Dramatic much?" Annabeth asked.

The silence stretched on, she pulled her knees to her chest as the wind grazed their skin, "what is wrong with you?" Annabeth asked the question bothering her. Emmalyn tried to play it cool. "What do you mean?" She asked. Annabeth kept her gaze at her.

"You don't have to lie, Emmalyn, I know you and for these past days I have gotten to know you more, I can tell if there is something wrong or something is bothering you, you can tell me," she said tenderly. Emmalyn finally met her gaze. She turned to face Annabeth. She had to tell someone.

"There is this thing" she traced Annabeth's face, she nodded, "what thing?" she asked. "Something ballet, something I wanted to do but never did. Dad was artistic and after his death, mum did not like anything artistic." She looked down at the ground " I convinced her to let Eve paint and me learn ballet. But she never allowed me to perform"

"But you want to?" Annabeth asked. "I do," Emmalyn looked up. "Then you should," she said. "It is not easy Annabeth," " you should try to convince her" " let's leave the topic I will figure something out," she said. "You know Emmalyn, this is exactly what your problem is you cannot shut yourself and raise your walls when things get hard. Believe it or not, you can not solve everything on your own," she stood up.

"I will be there for you if you let me otherwise it's no use," Emmalyn held her hand and stopped her. "Stay," she said in barely a whisper, and that was all it took. Annabeth sat next to her much closer than she was before. "What is the play about?" Annabeth asked. "The Nutcracker," Emmalyn said. "I haven't seen it," Annabeth said. "You haven't?" Emmalyn asked, she shook her head in a no.

"Get up" she gave Annabeth her hand, "where are we going?" She asked sitting in the front seat of her car. "To have one of the best nights of your life," she said as she drove to her house. "That is a huge thing to say, Cole," she said. Emmalyn just smiled at her, "you will see sweetheart"

She took out the CD s she collected of the plays and before going downstairs she saw her sister's door open and a text

I am going to stay at Stella's house don't stay up

Her mother was not home yet, she left the candies she bought for her on her bed. She ran down the stairs, "you have a laptop don't you?" She asked Annabeth. "Yes," "great" she ditched the CDs and took her Pen drive, "let's go" Annabeth's parents were at the hospital. They sat in her room Emmalyn sat comfortably in her bed as Annabeth set the Pen drive. Emmalyn started pulling out a bunch of snacks she stuffed in her purse.

Annabeth looked at her, "you will eat all that and still manage to look like that?" She asked. "It is a cheat day" she patted and signaled her to sit next to her. Annabeth got comfortable next to her and pulled the blanket up to their waist. Emmalyn pulled the white laptop towards her. "Be ready to be amazed," she said as she pressed the start button on the screen.