Trouble | Billy Tepper -Toy Soldiers-

One

^^(a/n) this is what Shmem looks like to me (its a pic of Ariana Grande)^^

Emily was excited to finally see Joey. They met in kindergarten and had been best friends ever since. He was always protective of her, like a brother, and they were inseparable. They would get in trouble a lot–mainly for going somewhere or doing something they weren't supposed to. Joey always called her "Shmem" as a nickname, so everyone else started calling "Shmem" too.
Joey's father was the head of the New Jersey mafia. He always resented him for it. He had seen some things his father had done and it disgusted him. His mother left his father when he was really young and his parents haven't spoke to each other since. He knew his father loved him and that was why he sent him to the Regis school. His father wanted to make sure he was safe and taken care of, but Joey still hated him and was happy to get away from him and the mafia lifestyle.
Shmem didn't have it so easy either. Her parents were young and not ready to raise a child when her mother got pregnant with her. They had just moved into a trailer together and were struggling to get by. Three months after Shmem was born, her mother died in a car accident. Her father was determined to be the best father he could. He'd always have enough food for her even if he didn't have any for himself sometimes. He'd play his records and dance with her, play games with her, and read to her at night. After he lost his job, he fell into a very bad depression and started drinking heavily. They were almost homeless when her aunt took them in. They had everything they needed at her aunt's house but her father's drinking continued. Her aunt tried to help him in any way she could but it was impossible to get through to him. Shmem didn't recognize the man her father had become. She felt like her father was gone and he would never be the same again.
One night, her aunt and father got into a huge fight and he left. The next morning he was found dead in a near by lake. After he left the house, he picked up some alcohol and got wasted on a dock at the lake. As he stumbled to get up, he fell in and drowned. Shmem spoke at his funeral but she got so emotional, she couldn't finish. Joey came to support her and pay his respects. That was the last time she saw him before he went off to boarding school. She felt so alone. She knew she could always talk to Joey on the phone, but it wasn't the same. She stayed with her aunt and she stayed home from school for a full month. Shmem stayed in her room the whole time. She didn't want to see her aunt at all. She blamed her for letting her father go out that night. She thought she should've known better than to let him go out on his own. Ever since then, things were very tense between her and her aunt. For two years, Shmem begged but her aunt would not let her go see Joey at the school. She was upset that Shmem blamed her for her brother's death. She was already blaming herself for what happened and Shmem's comments were only making it worse. Sometimes they argued and gave each other attitude. Her aunt knew it was childish and she only did it out of hurt and anger. But after two years of it, she decided that it was time to mend her relationship with her niece. The place she thought she could start was by letting her visit Joey.

———

Inside the school, Shmem had no idea where she was supposed to go or who to ask. Then she saw a woman walking towards the stairs. She wondered if she knew who Joey was and where he would be.

"Excuse me?" She said.

The woman stopped and turned around.

"Do you happen to know where Joey Trotta is? I'm a friend of his."

The woman nodded and pointed to an open door.

"Yes. The boys are in the cafeteria, eating lunch right now."

Shmem smiled and thanked her.

There were so many boys in the cafeteria, she wondered if she was going to be able to find Joey. Just then she heard someone yell, "Hey Shmem!" She looked around and noticed Joey waving his arms. "Joey!" She yelled with excitement. "That's her?" Billy asked. "Yeah" Joey replied. "Damn, she's hot!" Billy said. "Don't get any ideas, Tepper..." Joey warned. She ran up to him and gave him a huge hug.