To Be Me

Way Back Home

"It doesn't matter if I'm late."

A voice came from behind as they all turned to see Eden stylishly walking towards them pressing a button on her car's smart key to lock it as it responded with a beep.

Upon her arrival, she took the only empty seat left and looked to Emma.

"The only thing that matters is that I'm here. Isn't that right Emma?" She ended resting her bag on the table.

Slowly scanning Emma in a surprised manner, Eden shook her head.

"That's what you're wearing?" She looked a bit irritated. "I mean was the thrift shop all out of early supplies?"

Emma acted as though no one had spoken, brought out her laptop and rested it on the table.

"Eden." Oliver called and turned to her as Emma concentrated on placing an order.

"Just saying. I mean what a waste of my mum's design even though that's so last year."

Throughout the session, Emma, Ryan and Oliver shared their ideas and talked quite a lot about the project while Eden played with her phone the entire time.

When she was tired of that, she took what seemed like a thousand selfies.

Time had passed and it was a bit past noon. So to wrap it all up, Emma assigned the last parts needed to be done to everyone except Eden.

Closing her laptop she heaved a heavy sign of relief.

"That should be all for now. I'll see you guys later then."

Standing up to go, she heard someone call her name and paused.

"So what's my part?" Eden asked in the middle of taking a selfie.

"Nothing. There's nothing left for you to do so you can go ahead with whatever you were doing."

"What did you say?" Eden responded curtly annoyance crystal clear in her voice while slowly putting her phone down.

"Then find something Charity Case."

"Find something... Ok." Emma whispered and chuckled then looked to Eden.

"Well then. Grace. How about you find out what inspires privileged young ladies such as yourself to you know just well how can I put this... Be just like you actually."

"Fine!" Eden replied pissed off as she slammed her hands on the table before angrily walking to her car and driving away.

Immediately Eden left, Emma sank to the chair looking tired and stressed out as Ryan went in to get a drink at the counter.

"You shouldn't take what she says or does to heart Emma." Oliver suddenly spoke.

"She acts like that but deep down, is a really nice person."

"Obviously very deep down." Emma added in a whisper.

The sun was high up in the sky by now. Everywhere and everyone should've felt the heat.

Not being able to take it anymore, Emma took a band from her bag and put her hair back into a high ponytail exposing her shoulder as she would rather not feel the hair play a game of tag with the sweat on her back.

Looking around, she wondered why Ryan was taking so long.

As she turned, Oliver eyes widened as he caught a glimpse of something.

"Way back home." He said unconsciously earning him Emma's attention.

"What was that?"

He quickly regained his composure and he flashed a fake smile.

"Nothing."

Leaning back, he looked very deep in his thoughts and hesitated a little before speaking again.

"I really like your tattoo."

It was at this time she realized that it was completely exposed. The heat was so much she briefly forgot she was covering the tattoo with her hair.

"Thanks. I like it too. It's pretty right?" She turned smiling proudly.

"Very. It's beautiful. The colours really make it pop." He replied giving her one of his signature prince charming look as most people would say.

"So where did you get it?" He asked suddenly catching her off guard.

"Miami."

"Miami?" He sounded surprised.

"Now why would a girl from Sacramento go all the way to Miami just for a tattoo?"

"Oh my..." Emma burst out laughing. "I didn't travel all the way to Miami just for a tattoo Oliver. That's just crazy."

She briefly grazed his arm while laughing.

"Phew. You don't seem like someone who would do that." He joined in on the laughter.

"Unless.... Unless they're really, very, absolutely good then maybe and just maybe. I might consider it but I still don't think I would go."

Bringing his attention back to the tattoo, he asked.
"So what's it mean. What prompted you into getting in. I'm curious."
He leaned in not taking his eyes off her. Not wanting to.

"Umm... This is going to sound really crazy."

"I doubt it. Nothing you're going to tell me would ever sound crazy." He responded, eyes locked on her as though he were enchanted by her beauty and could not resist.

Nervously blinking away, she continued speaking.

"I went on a family vacation to Miami after Freshman year. When we had settled in, I went to the beach that night and the next thing I remember was waking up in my bedroom back in Sacramento with the tattoo on my shoulder obviously. Crazy I..."

She turned to look at him as he still had the same expression she had blinked away from. He seemed completely unfazed by her crazy story.

Quite stunned by this, she forgot to complete her sentence.

"See. I told you nothing you would say could ever sound crazy."

He smiled leaning backwards.
"Totally happens. I understand. I mean if ask me what happened last year over summer break I wouldn't know." He joked around making Emma laugh.

"It's not the same thing Oliver."

"I would beg to differ."

The joyful atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by the sound of someone loudly clearing their throat.

"Oh Ryan. You're back. I wondered how long it would take to get a drink." Emma said still recovering from the laughter.

"Yh it really took it's sweet time to arrive." He said sitting down with the cup in his hand, as his brows furrowed looking at Oliver who was too busy with his eyes locked on Emma to even notice.

Emma began to notice tension in the atmosphere but luckily the sound of Ed Sheeran's Bad Habits came to her rescue as Oliver's phone rang on.