Fairy Tale

Chapter 7: The Accident

The three of them sat on the couch in the back corner of the gym. Jorge had made coffee, Emily had her laptop out and was typing away. Minho was asking the questions he had come up with for the report part and Jorge was answering.

"Well that about wraps up my questions." Minho double checked his notes. "You got all that Rocky?"

Emily just nodded typing the last few sentences. She clicked save and quickly emailed it to Minho so they both had it and looked up with a grin.

"Got it. Thanks Papi. If there's anything else I know where to find you."

"Anytime Ma Hija." He got up and went back to his training.

"Ma Hija?" Minho asked.

"It's an endearment in Spanish, like my daughter or my dear."

"And what about Millie?"

Her head snapped up, "do not ever call me that. Ever."

"Okay okay! Sheesh!" He held his hands up.

Emily ground her teeth for a moment, and then sighed. She closed her eyes for a moment.

"It's the name my dad used. He was the only one aloud to use it. And now Papi. No one else."

"No, I get it, Em." He nodded. His voice was oddly gentle.

"Look... talking about it is...not my favorite subject. My home life is not my favorite subject. So...let's just keep this a school business relationship."

"Too bad. I'd kinda like to get to know the quiet shy girl who has a brain and can punch a football player flat and has a secret talent as a kickboxer."

"You'd be one of the few."

He leaned back on the couch, crossing his large arms, his dark eyes were intense, but seemed...gentle and curious.

"You seem to get along with Newt and Sonya."

"Because they are actually kind to me."

"People aren't usually?"

"They are at first." Emily said quietly, she started twisting the sleeve of her sweater nervously, they were getting dangerously close to the off limit topics.

Minho just hummed.

"So...Advanced Science and Math?" Emily asked, trying to change the subject, "I didn't know football players had the brain capacity for anything other than your different plays and routs."

"Excuse me? I resent that very much Miss Rocky! Education is very important. But football is importanter."

He said it with such a straight face, it took Emily a second, but then she snorted and it grew into a giggle, and her cheeks hurt and stomach muscles hurt. Minho grinned at her.

"You don't smile or laugh much."

She caught her breath, and her smile slid a a little. "I don't have a lot of reasons to smile. Life is hard and I have to fight for everything."

"Really? The way Tes talks, she gets whatever she wants."

Emily felt a knife to her heart, and her stomach twisted. It was like a slap in her face. She slid off the couch. And packed up he laptop and notes, taking her glasses off and putting them into her case and into her backpack.

"All right, this was a good start, we can figure out later what the next step is. I'll see you later." She grabbed her bag and took a few steps.

"Wait. Em..."

Emily froze. Her back to him. All her muscles were tense and coiled. Her heart was slamming into her chest and she felt the sting of tears.

"I'm sorry."