Firsts

12

"Mom! Please!"

"Emma. Stop being stupid. He's a boy. You just met him! He's got a million other girls chasing after him. You're coming home."

"Well I want to stay."

"You're 17. So you you don't really have a choice."

She grabbed my clothes that were left on the floor and threw them in my suitcase. She ripped the clothes off my hangers and tossed them in, disregarding the fact she loves everything to be neat.

"How do you think you would pay for this hotel? Your ticket back?"

"Ethan said he would."

She giggled and continued to throw my stuff in the bag of crushed dreams.

"That is exactly what I mean Emma. Stop being naive."

I turned around and hit the water bottle that was sitting on the table. I look up into the mirror that was hanging up in front of me as a tear falls down my cheek, taking the black mascara with it that I put on for our date.

"Let's go."

I was interrupted by my mother speed walking past me, rolling both suitcases headed towards the door.

As it opened, I made eye contact with the same stupid portrait again. It's as if she knew this would never work for me the whole time.

"Mom please!"

She didn't stop for anything I said. She walked straight to the elevator and pushed the button to go down.

Within seconds it opened and she went in taking all of our bags with her.

I stood there, outside the elevator, crossing my arms.

"I'm not getting i-"

"Now."

I walked in.

I hated the way she was making me feel. I hated every part of it. I know I just met Ethan but reality was, I've been waiting for this forever. And that my mom could never really understand.

I stood in the corner of the elevator, not moving a muscle. I was so pissed off, practically steaming. Anything and everything my mom could say right now would make it even worse. All I wanted was to be alone with Ethan.

The elevator door opened to the same eyes I feel in love with over this trip.

"Grayson."

"Hey Emma. I found this in my apartment, figured it must have fallen out."

My mom got out and started walking towards the checkout desk. I had absolutely no idea what Grayson was talking about and didn't have anytime to listen to all the reasons I should stay longer, I've heard them all and still nothing will change my moms mind.

He handed me a small white card, with fine black print.

It read- "fleurs EuroFlorist . le meilleur en France.
roses, tournesols, dais"

At the bottom of the card, Gray signed "To Emma- Gray" in big black sharpie.

I looked up at him, shocked as ever.

"Emma!"

My mom is about to leave the hotel as I look back at gray.

He leans in, placing his soft lips on my cheek. He kisses it gently and moves his head to stare directly into my soul.

"You're welcome."

I blushed and ran after my mom. It seemed like anything and everything was happening at once.

When I reached the hotel door I saw my mom getting into the same car that dropped us off the first time.

I exited the hotel I fell in love with and looked everywhere for Ethan, seeming to find everyone's face but his.

Suddenly, he runs around the corner and our eyes lock.

"Emma!"

"Ethan!"

I took out my one leg that was in the car and was about to run before my mom yelled at me one last time.

"Emma we need to leave now, you're coming back to your family with your mother. You leave this car, everything you love will be taken away. You'll be here in France, alone cold and hungry, and I won't be the one you'll call when you realize you should have come with me."

All I wanted was to be in Ethan's arms. I wanted to wake up to his little smile, and fall asleep in his hugs. I want to feel his hands around my waist, I want to be cheeky in public, look in each other's eyes and know exactly what we've done. I want to cook him breakfast, travel the world, waking up to a different place than the night before.

But everything I was imagining was just a dream. I have school, and he'll be meeting thousands of girls, traveling to all the exotic places I dreamt of us doing together.

I was blind to reality, only seeing what I wanted to see.

The hardest things to let go of are the things you never had. Ethan meant everything to me while I was just a France fling.

I looked up at the face I'd do anything for.

"Please, keep in touch."

Another inevitable tear fell down my check, and I waved goodbye.

"Please Emma!"

Not being able to see from the abundant of tears, I got in the car, and shut the door behind me.

The driver stepped on the gas and drove away, driving away from the millions of memories we made that will certainly...

never be forgotten.