To Be Me

Study Session

The next day rolled around pretty quickly. Emma woke up a bit later than usual. Yesterday really drained her.

Having a quick shower, she headed towards her closet and picked out an off shoulder pink floral dress decorated with falling petals and black pumps to match.

Looking at the full body mirror she had installed behind her room door, she noticed it again.

"That damn tattoo..."

After some seconds, she realized that she didn't... Really hate it.

She had always covered it up cause of mum but she wasn't here so it should be ok?

After a moment of contemplating staring straight at the mirror, she decided not to cover it up afterall.

Getting a stylish black OG bag from the upper compartment in her closet, she took her laptop in her hand and left the room to meet Natasha making breakfast.

"Hey sleepyhead."

Natasha greeted as Emma opened the fridge to get a juice pack.

"Hey Tasha. You certainly do get up early."

"Yh. But why did you sleep in so late today? Did you stay up late last night?"

"Yh. Just a bit." She chuckled turning to go.

"Won't you have something to eat before you leave?"

"No time. I'll get something there."

Setting her plate on the table, Natasha eyes were locked on something as Emma turned to go.

"Emma." She called out suddenly, eyes still locked on what intrigued her.

"Yh?"

She turned as Natasha slowly sat down in front of her plate.

She cleared her throat before speaking.
"Ummm it's just, ummm how do I put this? Your tattoo."

"Oh...I hope it's not against the school rules or anything like that..." There was concern obviously laced in her voice.

"No. No it's totally allowed, I mean have you seen the basketball team," she rolled her eyes.
"It's pretty much a trend now."

"Thank goodness." Emma seemed relived but Natasha looked like she wasn't done yet.

"So what's wrong? You looked like you've just seen a ghost or something."

"Umm it's just."
She seemed hesitant at this point.

"It's just. How long have you had that tattoo if I may ask."

"This? Yh I'm pretty sure since Sophomore year."

"Cool. Yh so can I ask where exactly you got it?"

Emma looked surprised. She seemed to have been caught off guard.

"Actually... This may sound kinda unbelievable but... I don't know." She added chuckling.

Natasha's brows furrowed at her response. "You don't know?"

"Weird right? Like it's my body how is it possible that I don't know how permanent ink got into my skin and all that I know."

Natasha looked surprised.
"But I didn't say anything yet."

"You really didn't have to. I have seen that look on your face on a lot of people."

She dropped her laptop on the table and sat down.

"Ok so how do I put this. I don't know exactly how it got there and coincidentally neither do any of my family members so... Yh. The only thing I remember was we had a family vacation in Miami, after arriving at the airport, we got to our hotel and I went to the beach that night and then boom. In the blink of an eye, the next thing I know I'm on my bed back home in Sacramento. Oh yh and I saw this on me. Crazy story."

"Oh. Sorry to hear that. I didn't mean to pry or anything."

"It's ok Tasha. Really. I mean at least now I have a crazy story to tell." She said wearing a reassuring smile.

"So can I leave now or do you want another round of interrogations." She said, hands slightly in the air like a thief held at gunpoint making them both burst out laughing.

"No. You can go. Hurry up or you'll arrived a lot later than you think."

"Alright I'll just go in and get something first." Emma replied walking to her room..

Coming out, it seemed she had loosed her hair from it's high ponytail and let it fall on her back. Putting much attention into covering up the tattoo as much as she could.

Getting her laptop and phone from the table, she stuffed them into her bag and got going.

                                            ***

Emma obviously arrived late at the meeting point.

It was one of those outdoor café with round tables and umbrellas over each table to shield them from the sun.

They were to meet in a classroom but Eden expressed her gross discomfort and changed the venue.

Upon Emma's arrival, she met Ryan and Oliver already seated on opposite sides of the table and took one of the empty seats between them.

She looked to Ryan and asked, "What about Eden?"

"She texted she'll be here soon. Almost an hour ago though." He chuckled scrolling through his phone.

"Weird that she set the location, moved up the time and is still late." She said under her breath.