To Be Me

Original

He seemed not to be paying attention as he thought back to Miami just before they became Sophomores. They had gone on a brief school trip. At one of the many beach parties he noticed Oliver scribbling something in a notebook.

Getting closer, he was actually making a sketch of well exactly what Emma was adorning her legs with.

But... That can't be... Right? Oliver had clearly told him it was for a friend he met a few days ago. There in Miami....

"Hey did you hear me?" Emma inched closer.

"Yeah?" He finally paid attention to her.

"I asked how you knew."

He took a brief glance at her feet then slowly shook his head smiling more to himself than anyone else.

Maybe he was just overthinking things.

"Lucky guess. I guess."

"Really lucky." She breathe in the cool air and twirled.

"It's so cool. And the night view with all the twinkling lights... It's different. Beautiful."

Ryan stood dumbstruck for a brief moment watching her as she spun round smiling brightly like a little kid who finally got the toy she always wanted.

She seemed oblivious of the beauty she possessed especially when she looked like that. And it's effect on him.

"Let's go." She waved at him from a distance as he finally realized she had made her way to the car and was already waiting.

Smiling softly, he brought out his hands from his pockets.

Holding the key in one, he  continued walking.

                                       ***

           The drive back to school was rather  smooth and calming. Arriving in front of her dorm, she got off after saying goodbye and started walking towards the door when she heard her name.

"I'll send the pictures to you later ok?" He informed still seated in the driver's seat, his head thrown back to lay comfortably on the headrest. Hair parted as he looked to her.

Yep. He was still very good looking and in case she forgot, here was her reminder.

"Ok. That'll be nice. Well. Goodnight. Goodbye now." She replied and entered the door before she heard him drive away.

Locating her room, she brought out her card about to enter when she suddenly snapped her fingers.

"That's it. I wondered why this felt so familiar."

She thought back to the day before when Oliver had said the same thing about the pictures.

Chuckling slightly while slightly shaking her head, she swiped her keycard on the reader and the door made a beeping sound as she entered and turned to properly shut it.

Turning to go to her room, she was met with great shock.

"Holy....!" Natasha was standing in front of her wearing a pink bathrobe with a serious, worried look on her face. It looked like she had just finished up with a bath when she heard the door beep and decided to almost scare the life out of her.

"Oh Jeez!" Emma held her chest, eyes looking panicked. "You really scared me. How were you so quiet?"

"You're late again Emma." Natasha said after getting a crack out of her reaction.

"Do this one more time and I'll start calling you Mum 'Tasha." Emma replied jokingly still holding her chest heading for her room. The effect of the shock hadn't worn out yet.

"Of course I have to worry. I care after all." Natasha replied heading for the fridge.

"I can't, can I?"

Emma smiled opening her room door.

"Thanks for worrying about me though. I don't think they'll be anymore late nights for me though. I'm just going to go to bed right now. I am completely exhausted."

"I doubt that darling." Natasha commented

"Goodnight. You best go to sleep. We have school tomorrow tiger."

                                       ***

     In her room, Emma quickly slipped out of her clothes and into her pajamas. She wasn't kidding when she said she was exhausted.

Taking a quick pic of the sandals, she put them aside and made a call to Rosie.

It rang three times before Emma heard a familiar voice at the other end.

"Hey Rosie."

"Em. Helloooor. How're you today." She replied in her most Australian accent.

"Ok. How're you. How's Joan and everyone back home?" Emma asked in the same accent.

"All good you know."

"So, what did u have for brekkie?"
Rosie asked.

"I had a chook and now I think I'm up for a biccy. How 'bout you mate." Emma responded.

"I had a shrimp on a barbie. All's good round this parts mate." Rosie replied followed by a brief silence before they both burst into laughter.

"What's up Em cause I'm definitely sure you didn't just call so we can practice our aussie talk." She giggled.

"Yes actually about that..." Emma put the call on speaker as she sat up on the bed and sent Rosie the picture of the sandals.

"I got these yesterday. I couldn't tell you cause I be so tired and worn out."

"Is that??? No way." Rosie wondered sounding very surprised taking her laptop from the table and getting busy. "It can't be right?"

After a very short pause, Emma heard Rosie gasp at the other end.

"It is. Emma, where did you get this?"

"I don't know, someone gave it to me. Why?"

"That's actually a collectable. It says here only 10 were ever made. It  also says it's the first and hopefully not the last innovative design by Oliver Asher? Wow. The original one made only for him was slightly different than the others and it was the only design made in that colour. It's designs were a bit more intricate and it sparkled like the glissening sea under the sun. That's the info."

Emma turned to get a good glimpse of the footwear before returning her gaze to her phone as they now switched to video chat.

Wait what?

She turned again to get a better look. Looking a bit confused she picked it up and sat back on the bed giving her lil' detective a clearer view.

"Wait... Rosie? What did you say about the original one, made just for him."

She repeated the same info but stopped halfway and quickly asked Emma to rotate the footwear in her hands.

"Well, yep that's very correct." Rosie confirmed before turning back to the phone.

"Yes I believe what you're holding in your hands, my dear Emma is the original design."