My Ephemeral Little Mermaid (On Hold)

Chapter 4

Aaron’s POV:

     I dropped of Emily at her house and began the drive back home, for some reason feeling ecstatic.  I was feeling quite triumph, finally knowing the core of Emily’s depressing moods lately. It’s been bothering me.

Emily was technically a girl that laughed at everything from the corniest jokes I could think of to the funniest movies we watched together. That is why it was quite different to see her so depressed and her spirit deflated.

Now I knew; the world was turning against her dream.

As her best friend, I couldn’t help but think of ways to help her but I couldn’t unless somehow her father had a change of heart, which is a lesser percent of that happening then pigs were likely to fly in the near future.

I offered to pay her college or at least pay part of it; my mom approved after all, she loves Emily. Emily disagreed though, something about, “standing on her own.” I shook my head at her stubbornness.

I turned the wheel and drove into the driveway of my house.

“Aaron, welcome home!”

 My mom appeared at the doorway and walked towards me to give me a big hug. I smiled and inhaled her motherly scent she always wore when she stay at the house. She ushered me into the house and demanded that I eat an afternoon snack.

I smiled fondly as I watched my mom fussed around, ordering the maids to cook up an afternoon snack.

My mom was seldom home because of her international career but when she was she made sure to make the entire house know she was there.

In a few minutes, a full gourmet course was set across the table with drinks on the side. We both sat down and began to eat. I savored every bite as I did every minute I spent with my mom.

“So, how’s school?” My mom asked, giving me her full attention. I swallowed my bite and replied cheerfully,

“It’s good so far. I’m aiming for honors this year.”

“Good, good.” She nodded. “How’s Emily? She’s a good girl.” She swallowed a mouth full of her favorite dessert, panna cotta. She knew Emily quite well after all our parents are somehow business partners in New York.

I bit a piece of pizza before spilling the entire story to my mom about Emily’s story. I told her about her dad, her competition, her amazing personality. Just like I trusted Emily with my secrets, I trusted my mom with my life. She listened patiently the whole time and only commented in the right parts.

“So Emily can’t compete?” She asked, once my narration was finished.

I nodded and continued, “Well, technically she can but with her sore throat, I can’t say that she’ll have a chance.” She nodded thoughtfully.

“And she did not try to ask the judges about it?” she asked. I thought about it for a while then replied, “No, I don’t think so but I don’t think they’ll still accept her because of her sore voice.”

“It doesn’t hurt to try right?” She gave me a smile and a kiss and stood up. “Now excuse me, I have to meet with Mr. Wong from China.” She rolled her eyes and left the kitchen.

I sat there on the table thinking for a while and then clicked my phone open. I flipped through the website and then called their contact number.

“Hello? May I please speak with the judges of the national singing competition?”

Emily’s POV

I came home from the picnic feeling light headed and a strange pounding in my heart. I couldn’t be in love with Aaron. It did not sound right, but I was.