Colliding Hearts #Wattys2017

Chapter 11- Concern

Emerson sat on the stairs to the Institute. Her knees were pulled to her chest as her elbows rested on top, her chin in the palm of her hands. Her hair was being braided by Magnus, who sat directly behind her, humming an old song he use to sing to her when she was younger.

The cool air caused her nose to grow cold and with each puff of air she felt what little warmth she had leave. Before they had left Magnus had forced her into a cotton jacket and made sure she had buttoned it all the way and had kept the hood pulled up until they arrived.

She was annoyed, she had left her bag back at her new home, leaving her candy and the rest of the uneaten food. Magnus had suggested they follow after Alec but take their time. It was now edging closer to midnight and Emerson was growing colder and more tired of sitting on the stairs with each passing second.

"Couldn't we have called him? Faxed him, text him, hell, we could have sent him a letter via owl." Emerson complained as she felt Magnus unbraid her hair and begin braiding it once again. She was certain he was just as bored as she was and that was why he was continuously fiddling with her hair.

"One, I left my phone at home, two, no one faxes this is the 21st century darling not the stone ages again, no phone so no text and lastly, this isn't Harry Potter." Magnus chimed as he rolled his eyes at the her suggestions.

He wasn't certain why he had suggested they follow Alec or why she had suggested they wait out here. In fact he still wasn't certain why he hadn't just created a portal and dragged her through and back home. He didn't like the idea of them being here and he knew for a fact they were being watched, so why hadn't anyone come out yet? Maybe they were waiting and if that was the case they could keep waiting, he didn't intend on letting them take her anytime soon.

"I wish I had a pet owl, Harry was so lucky." Emerson muttered as she stuffed her hands further into the pockets of her coat. Magnus once more rolled his eyes as he pulled her hair free of the braid and began only braiding the sides of her hair.

"Didn't the owl die?" Magnus questioned, hardly recalling the events of the book. Emerson loved the series, there wasn't many books she didn't love, but with her ability to read so quickly and recall the events he, himself got all of her books mixed.

"We don't talk about that." Emerson replied as she leaned back into Magnus' lap and stared up at him; him no longer being able to finish the half braid.

"You're bored." He stated as he waved his left hand in the air as a blue mist formed from his palm and formed into a candy bar. Emerson snatched it from his hand and ripped open the package, not caring for what type of candy it was, she was just grateful to have something to do instead of talk.

"You should get a different coping mechanism, I'm honestly shocked you haven't gained so much weight." Magnus commented as he peered down at her, her having not sat up and took to just eating in his lap.

"Fast," Emerson paused as she swallowed, "Metabolism." she finished, eating and chewing as slowly as she could.

"This is boring, I could be planning a party right now, or going to my club. I could be at my club planning a party!" Magnus spoke in a dramatic tone.

"I could be eating dinner." Emerson agreed.

"You already had dinner." Magnus reminded her.

"Second dinner?" Emerson questioned.

"You're not a hobbit." Magnus said as he shook his head at her, she simply shrugged her shoulders before wadding up the now empty wrapper.

Looking for what to do with it, she settled on simply stuffing it into Magnus' shirt pocket, grinning and jumping up as he let out a wail of grief and began complaining about how he didn't want chocolate on his shirt. Emerson watched as he snatched the wrapper from his pocket and set it on fire, narrowing his eyes at her. She gave a sheepish grin and shrugged her shoulders.