Fairy Tale

Chapter 11: Saturday

The next morning Emily woke to the smell of pancakes and bacon. A stab of pain went through her chest. She curled just a bit tighter, trying to keep her tears from falling. 

The blanket was pulled away. Sonya's bedhead and sleep blurred eyes looked at her with concern. 

"What's wrong?" 

"Nothing."

"Bull. You can't lie to me, I may not have coffee yet, but I know there's something. Lay it on me." 

"I just...I don't know-" 

There was a knock at the door, Newt poked his head in. His shaggy blond hair was a mess, but he was carrying a coffee pot and mugs. 

"Why don't you ever bring me coffee in bed?" Sonya whined. 

"Cuz your an annoying twat. And Emy never gets to have someone gush over her." Newt rolled his eyes. Emily, lowered her head, feeling the sting of tears. She swallowed a few times. Chuck placed his furry head in her lap, whining, looking at her with his big sad eyes.

"Man, he really buggen'  likes you." Newt gave he a smile and handed her a coffee, but frowned. "What's wrong, Love?"

"Well I was gonna get an answer when you rudely interrupted, but you brought coffee. So your forgiven." Sonya stuck her tongue out at her twin. 

Newt pulled out Sonya's desk chair, and sat down. It was weird seeing Newt out of his skinny jeans and sweaters, seeing him sitting cross legged messy bed hair and pajama pants and hoodie holding a coffee mug. She just smiled sadly. 

"It's just overwhelming. I guess feeling...jealous. I could have had a family. But...the world is messed and cruel. Your mom is the opposite of Ava. But...I guess you can't miss what you never had." 

"Understandable. Ava is a cold heartless bit-"

"Sonya! Language!" Newt scolded. Sonya just rolled her eyes. 

"Whatever Mama Newt, you know its true." 

"Yes, and why do you think I brought coffee? I would bloody imagine this house is a buggen' shock to the system compared to what she's used to." 

"Yeah...not since dad..." She broke off, and sniffed.

"Tell us, Love. What did you and your dad do?" Newt asked gently.  Emily fiddled with the handle of the mug. Them let go and ran a hand over Chuck's head, he was calm right now, and it made her feel better, his head in her lap. His warm weight on her lap. She took a ragged breath and with a small smile she looked up. 

"Dad used to have waffle Saturdays. Homemade waffles, cartoons and then the afternoons at the gym. Jorge would come over after, sometimes Alby... and we would have blanket forts and pizza and a movie. Or watching the fights. It was just... I loved it. He did it with Teresa for a bit, the waffles. Dad always tried to get her to come to the gym... and she avoided the movies, she came a few times. But once he got sick it didn't happen. I tried making waffles one time. Ava flipped, I had made a mess in the kitchen. Never made them again." 

"You haven't had waffles since your dad got sick?" Sonya asked, her eyes big in shock. 

Emily nodded sadly. "Just brought back too many memories. Ava never made an effort, didn't care that I had lost my dad and all the traditions." 

"Bloody hell, Emy." Newt's gentle eyes looked so sad. 

"So...just a warm mom pulling cookies out of the oven after school...pancakes Saturday morning...maybe a sibling or two, a dog... just feel jealous. I should have had that. I should have had a family."