LOVER BOY ┆emery huang

prologue

𖦹 ׂ 𓈒 🐇 ／ ⋆ ۪
meeting the prodigy

ESTELLA EVEREST, the name was a refreshing feeling in your mouth, a sugary feeling in your mind, as if you were watching the Northern Lights with a cup of Hot Chocolate.

Estella Everest excelled in everything that she did. Soccer, Music, Theatre, Selling a box of Lemons to a Monk named Chuck, she could do anything.

When she was 5 she won the 5th grade spelling bee with the word Pochemuchka. At 7 she started high school courses, and at 10 she began college courses at the University of Miami.

She was a dream of a child to have. Especially to Jessica Huang. For years she would read about the "Golden Child" and envy that an asian was raising the ranks, and it wasn't one of her children. She loathed that Estella's motivation wouldn't rub off on Eddie.

So when they moved to Florida, she almost jumped for joy when she saw Estella Everest shopping for grapes at the convenience store.

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"For the last time Ma'am, you cannot haggle at the super market. This is a Sunoco." The cashier says, holding the bag of cucumbers with an exasperated expression.

"I will not pay a dollar for a cucumber. That is ridiculous. Is this because I am asian that you think you can make me pay more? I refuse!" Jessica Huang says, holding her debit card. This was her first week in Florida and she was just trying to buy some groceries that wouldn't  break cause her to go quote on quote bankrupt.

"Again Ma'am, we can do a 20% off of your entire order but that's the lowest I can go. My manager has explained and I have explained. Now, would you like the cucumbers or not?"

"Not! And while you're at it, put away those high in calories chips."

"Cmon mom! Those are so tasty!" Eddie Huang complains. He was not quite keen on eating food that his mom was willing to pay for. Mostly because it was dumplings or vegetables. Both were not "white people food".

"Shut it Eddie. Maybe once your dad makes more money at the restaurant, then we might be able to purchase this no protein chips."

"Alright Ma'am. Your total is $35.65. Please insert your card whenever you are ready." The employee says, loosing whatever sanity they had left.

"Mommy, isn't that Estella Everest? The girl you've read about in those magazines?" Evan Huang asks, tugging on his mothers skirt. Jessica's head whipped around faster than humanly possible to spot the girl.

And there she was. Estella Everest in her four foot six glory holding a bag of green grapes.

"Oh. My. God. Excuse me. Estella! Estella Everest!" Jessica frantically yells, leaving her debit card with Emery who was standing there sweating.

"Uhm.. here's the card to pay for the groceries?"

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"So you really did finish High School at the age of 10? I read the issue about you in the Washington Post. I would love for you to meet my three sons, maybe even rub off on them." Jessica says, steering Estella away from the fresh produce and up to the registers where her sons waited.

"Thank you miss.. but I would love to finish buying these groceries for my Mom." Estella whispers, feeling a bit embarrassed. She was used to getting attention for being the only pre teen at her college and being the smartest kid in the Florida area. But this was a whole new level of embarrassment for her.

"Don't worry! I'll only take a couple of your minutes! And maybe even your family can come over to my husband's restaurant! You know, when we moved here my sons didn't have anyone to be friends with. But now that I've found you, you guys can be the best friends ever."

"Ah, well that's flattering ma'am, I'll definitely ask my mom once I'm done shopping.."

"Estella meet Eddie, Emery and Evan! Boys meet Estella Everest, the girl I've mentioned many times before. The example you should be following." She pointedly states making the young girl gulp. She absolutely hated when parents would compare her to other kids. That definitely was a road block in making friends of any sort.

"Hello."

"Sup."

"Hi, pleasure to meet you!"

Estella scanned her eyes over the three boys, and then at the mother. Truth be told, they were the first asians she saw in the Orlando area. In Miami, there were a few, but mostly they were old shop keepers or librarians who thought she would talk the moment she entered the premises.

"Nice to meet you all. Now I really must be heading back to my mother. She really needed these grapes and I.." Again she was cut off by Jessica, who was too excited for her own good.

"Now that you have all met. You are best friends now. Please rub off on my Eddie, Emery and Sweet Evan. Eddie needs it most, he thinks that he can just abandon his Chinese ways to fit in with these white people! Emery and my sweet Evan don't need it so much but they do need a smart friend!"

"As lovely as it sounds, I barely know you and I really do need to find my mom.."

" Please just at least stop by my Husbands Restaurant!! We can give discount!!"

Eddie, Emery and Evan's eyes widened at that statement. Their mother loathed giving discounts because it would take away valuable profit. She must be really desperate for them to befriend this "golden prodigy" as Jessica would put it.

"Mommy, maybe you should stop shaking her and she would be more inclined to say yes." Evan stated, looking at Estella's pale face.

"Good thinking Evan. Smart boy."

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JUNIPER SPEAKS!

guys, after 7 months I finally finished the prologue. i've rewritten it 5 times because i didn't like how it read, but this is the best i can do 😭
i'll hopefully publish more in the coming weeks!