Heal You (Part II)

Hooked On a Feeling

Her eyes opened, squinting shut as light shined in. She blinked, fighting away the burning sensation that the bright, white light had created. She pushed herself up into a sitting position, yawning as sleep clung to her. 

She blinked, looking around her room. Her eyes traced her grey walls which were contrasted with the willowy white curtains that framed her two windows. She pushed off the green and blue comforter that covered her, placing her feet on the white carpet below her. She couldn't shake the feeling of a deep sleep, confusion muddling her mind. She supposed that was a normal feeling that came from sleep, like the significant feeling of time passing. 

She stood up, stretching with a yawn as she padded through her room, stopping by her mirror. She stared into her eyes which were a bright golden brown, her skin healthy and glowing with youth. She grinned, turning on her heels as she entered the hallway, jogging down the wooden stairs as she made it into the kitchen. 

"Happy Birthday Emma!" a man cheered, dressed in a blue Led Zeppelin tee shirt and plaid pajama pants. Emma smiled, laughing as she looked at the sign that was strung up across the arch way, three balloons tied to the dining room chairs. "I can't believe you're eighteen! You're such an old senior huh?"

"Thanks Uncle Brian" she laughed, pulling him into a hug. He laughed, hugging her back. She held him tightly, so thankful that he had taken her in after her parents had divorced, neglecting their only daughter. 

"Woah, everything okay?" he asked, patting her back as he noticed a subtle shift in her behavior. Emma pulled away, nodding as she smiled. 

"Yeah, I just, I had this weird dream last night. I don't remember much of it, but you died in it" she admitted, sitting down at the island, watching as her uncle moved around the kitchen. 

"Really? Please tell me it was a cool way to go" he grinned, placing a piece of cake in front of her as he took the chair next to her. Emma laughed, shaking her head as she rolled her eyes. 

"You know, traditionally adults don't eat cake for breakfast" Emma pointed out, her uncle rolling his eyes before pushing her lightly. 

"You're still a teenager, and I'm not that old. There's still time for rebellion" he joked, smiling as he took a large bite of cake, frosting smeared on his face. Emma just chuckled, shaking her head as she bit into her cake. "So, any fun plans for your birthday?" he asked, Emma's shoulders slumping slightly. 

"Nope. Cause I really don't have any friends, remember?" she asked, her uncle shrugging his shoulders. 

"C'mon, you have to have some friends" he encouraged, devouring his piece of cake in seconds before going for another. It was amazing he kept a decent figure, seeing as he was constantly eating junk food. 

"I mean, there's Olivia who's in my chemistry class, Jimmy who's in math and Sarah who's in history but they're just school friends. We're friendly and stuff but, in the last year that I've been here, I just really haven't clicked with anyone, you know?" she asked, trying to describe the feeling of discomfort in a school where she just didn't fit in. 

"Well who knows, maybe the start of your second semester will be the day you click with someone" Brian suggested, taking a sip of his orange juice which Emma cringed at, imagining the taste of cake and orange juice mixed together. 

"Yeah, doubt it" she sighed, tucking a piece of loose hair behind her ear. Her uncle rolled her eyes, making a pretend mopey face. "What? I'm not complaining. I'd rather be healthy, happy and doing well in school than getting involved with some scandalous group of kids" she admitted, her uncle chuckling as he shook his head. 

"You are so my niece, you know that?" he laughed, a blush on Emma's cheek. She had never taken him for granted, especially since her mother passed away in a car accident in the last year, her father falling further out of touch. Her uncle was the only family she had left.