I Go To School. . .With The Vanoss Crew

Part Twelve

Evan
When Emma calms down, I pick up the plate of pancakes I'd gone downstairs to get. Emma looks down at the plate, then up at me, her eyebrows raised. "You didn't actually expect me to let you go without eating, did you?," I say. She sighs. "Come on, it'll make you feel better." I cut off a piece of the first pancake and put the fork full of food towards Emma's mouth. After several moments of hesitation, making me wonder if it will take more convincing, Emma eats the food. I smile at her. "There you go," I say softly. "Feel better yet?" Emma breaks eye contact with me and concentrates on the ground as she shakes her head. I put my hand under her chin and make her look up at me. "Look," I say, bending my head towards hers, "I know it's hard to bounce back from something like that, especially since you lost people so close to you in such a cruel way. But if I've learned anything about you in the days we've spent together, it's that you're strong." Emma squeezes her eyes shut and looks away as a few tears strangle themselves out of her eyes. I frown at her. "Emma why do I have the feeling there's something you're not telling me?"
"Maybe because there is," she says, sounding strangled and still not looking at me. My eyes widen and I stroke her cheek, prompting her with soft kisses and gentle words to tell me. Finally, she agrees to open up. "I. . .I don't like opening to people," she says. "So I usually just keep my emotions inside, because I know that if I open up, it'll just annoy people. You're-You're the first person I'm ever truly opening up to." She looks up at me, and I nod for her to continue. "It's just that. . .I feel kind of like a. . .like a waste of space. . .and of people's time. I-I never know what to do around other people and I get really scared around crowds. I've been replaying this scenario over and over in my head that us dating is just a prank and I'm going to end up just looking stupid in the end." She wipes her eyes roughly on her sleeve. I look down at her, mouth gaping, as she continues. As she does, I can tell by the strain in her voice that she's holding back tears. "I've never dated anybody, and I was terrified when you asked for me to be your girlfriend. Now the only thing I'm afraid of how real all of this actually is." Emma takes a deep breath, then says, "that's it." She looks up at me. All I'm able to do is stare at her, my heart shattering.

Emma
I look at Evan, who's green eyes are wider than an owls. Suddenly, he looks down at the ground and says quietly, "so. . .you think I'm faking all of this?" I nod uncertainly. Maybe I shouldn't have told him all of that stuff. Maybe he would've been better off not knowing.
Suddenly, Evan's lips meet mine. "Baby," he says, kissing my lower jaw bone. "Even if I were faking," he kisses my chin. "I would've fallen for you by now." He kisses the side of my neck, his lips cold but soft against my skin. I whimper as he reaches for the zipper of my hoodie.
"Don't-"
"Shh," Evan says softly in my ear. "Don't worry. I just want to see you." I hadn't realized he'd already unzipped my hoodie and was now pulling it off as he nibbled my neck. He quickly pulled off my hoodie and sat me in front of him. Evan took in my tight grey tank top with wide, awe-struck eyes. My mouth gapes in shock as he lays on his stomach and begins kissing up my arms. "I've never seen you in anything other than sweatshirts, and a T-shirt once. Why don't you wear this more often?" He indicates to my skinny jeans and tight spaghetti strap. I feel myself blushing as he wraps my arms around his neck and pecks my nose. "Hmm?"
"I don't show off my body."
"Why not?"
"Not proud of it. Don't like it. Things along that line."
Evan presses his chest against mine, and he looks down at me with serious green eyes.
"There's no reason you shouldn't be proud," Evan says. "You're beautiful the way you are. Who cares what other people think?" He smiles and wraps his arms around me. "Actually you know what? You're right. I don't want you to walk around in things like this either, because this beauty," he squeezes me tightly. "This beauty's all mine, and if you walked around like this, I'd definitely get some competition." I can't help it, I smile. Evan smiles back at me and says, "and I'm not going to stand competition for very long. After about two guys flirting with you, I'd probably just start knocking them out if they so much as looked at you." I laugh at that, and Evan kisses the top of my head. "Around me is a different story, though. I love you for you. You don't have to play the hoodie card with me." I chuckle.
"What about the guys?," I ask, referring to our other friends. Evan's eyes narrow and he shakes his head frantically.
"You definitely have to wear a hoodie around them. That is required." I smile and wrap my arms around his neck.
"Afraid of your friends trying to 'claim your property'?," I ask, quoting Evan. He nods.
"By the way," Evan says. He presses his forehead against mine. "You're not a waste of space. The guys and I love having you around. There's no reason for you to ever feel any doubt about your existence." A stray tear leaves Evan's eyes. "If I didn't have you, I don't think I'd be able to survive." I kiss his lips softly, and he grabs the back of my head, pulling my lips closer to his. He sighs into the kiss, and I hug him tightly. When our lips finally separate, Evan convinces me to keep eating. So I eat until the plate's clean, and Evan takes the plate downstairs. When he comes back, we snuggle under my covers and watch T.V. the rest of the day.