Happy Accidents (CS AU)

Chapter 7: Countdown

Emma's POV

After what felt like hours, Emma finally was able to turn her eyes away from August. She smiled and began to walk away until she heard August call out after her.

"Wait! I never got your name!" he shouted from a few feet away.

"Emma," she called back. "My name is Emma, but believe me, there's no use in knowing it. I made a mistake trying to chase my dreams, and clearly I belong back home, not here."

"Seattle is a nice city, you know," he said with a smile. "Besides, you probably can't catch a plane back to wherever you came from for a few days, so you might as well stay here. I know a guy who could get you a hotel room for half off if you need."

"I came from Orlando, and I have no money, so that's useless. I could probably bargain my way to a ticket if I tried really hard, anyway."

Emma wasn't lying, either.

She lived in a school for 3 months.

"You don't have to do that, come on! At least stay here for a day! There are so many places you could go that you don't need money for. And I could show you around, so forget about taxi charges. You could even stay at my place for the night, if you don't find that too weird."

August was a nice guy, not too hard on the eyes, either. But she just met him. How could she even trust him, let alone stay in his place?

"Thanks, but I really should get home. My, uh, money misses me?"

Well that was stupid. my money? My money? Oh, come on. At least pretend like you have family or a pet or friends or a job or SOMETHING that you would need to go home for, Emma shouted to herself in her head.

"Your money? Okay then," he chuckled. Emma smiled. He smiled back. Somehow, everything in Emma's tiny world felt...

Well, right.

He wasn't lying about anything he was saying.

"Well, I mean, I suppose I could stay. But just for today and tomorrow, then I'll fly home tom- oh, yeah, never mind, I have no money," she said with an awkward chuckle.

"Look, I live alone in a three bedroom apartment, and you could stay with me if you want. It's not too hard to find a job in Seattle, unless you already have a job at home, of course."

"I-I don't. I guess it couldn't hurt to stay for a bit. But only for a little while, because although I might not have family or friends in Orlando or anywhere else, my life is back there."

"You don't have a family?"

"That's a story for another time, I suppose. Moving along. Why don't we begin this 'tour', eh?"

He hesitated. She was concerned. She didn't know what to think.

What is he thinking? I hope I don't seem shady. Oh god, I bet I seem shady. So long world, my life is basically over.

"Alright, then. I guess we should, uh, get started. But, you're just gonna trust me? Just like that? We just met and you're gonna trust me?"

"I have pretty low standards, and I know my way out of a sticky situation."

Emma was lying. She did not trust him.

Well, maybe at least a little. Enough to go into the city with him.

Twelve hours later.

Emma couldn't believe it. Seattle was gorgeous! It wasn't what she had expected, but she liked it. It reminded her of a less-frightening version of Orlando.

Emma was already warming up to August. He was becoming a really great friend. She already trusted him and really liked being around him.

As Emma and August drove back to his place, Kiss It Better came on the radio, and it almost seemed like it was there to haunt her. The opportunities, the life she could've lived. She could have had something to live for.

But no. All down the drain along with the rest of her life.

Emma had thought about it a lot that day. She had been questioning a lot of things, actually.

12:49 P.M. Earlier that day.

Why do these things happen to me? Why can't one thing in my life go right for once? What did I do to deserve this?

2:13 P.M. Earlier that day.

You know what? Maybe this wouldn't have happened if I didn't have such a traumatic childhood. Maybe if I blame my parents, whoever the hell the are, alive or dead, then it will be okay. I mean, it's their fault, right? Yeah. Definitely.

3:37 P.M. Earlier that day.

Maybe if I had done better at my job, I wouldn't have gotten fired. If I hadn't gotten fired, maybe I wouldn't have gotten myself into this mess. Who knows, maybe I could've found love. Friends. Anything! I need a miracle to get through this situation at this point.

7:02 P.M. Earlier that day.

You know what? I bet this guy, this guy right here, I bet he's gonna be another downfall. His apartment will probably burn down while I'm there. Maybe this isn't such a good idea. Should I tell him I'm a bad luck charm? No, he wouldn't believe me. He'd laugh. Why do I care? Oh yeah, I'm gonna be living with him. Sort of. No, not sort of. I will be living with him. Just not with him-with him. That makes sense. Yeah.

9:18 P.M.

Emma, stop worrying. Just take in Seattle while you're still here. Deep breaths, you'll be fine. I'm sure I can find a job. I mean, nothing as good as the opportunity I had, but maybe something close? Anything better than working as a Disney princess for minimum wage. But that doesn't take a lot. Anything is better than that.

11:48 p.m. current time.

Emma stared blankly at the wall as she continued to contemplate everything she has ever done in life. She wasn't even aware that August had been watching her for the past twelve minutes and had already gotten her a cup of tea. He set it into her lap and gave her a blanket.

"You seemed like you needed it."

He smiled. His smile, oh, his smile. Just looking at his smile made Emma smile back. She took a sip of the tea and began sobbing.

She wanted to tell him everything, but she didn't know how.

Might as well start from the beginning.

And that's what she did. All the way from start to end, from foster homes to abuse to living on the streets and all the way up to losing the one thing she still had-her job.

August listened to every last word carefully, and Emma could tell. She had never had somebody she was able to really talk to like that. It felt great. She felt comfortable with him. A feeling she hadn't felt in a long time. He gave her a hug and handed her the remote, then he went to bed. Emma had followed shortly after, trying to get settled into the bedroom he introduced to her as her own. She plopped on the bed and fell asleep almost immediately.

The next morning.

"EMMA! WAKE UP EMMA!"

Emma awoke to being shook back and forth by August, only half aware of what was going on.

"EMMA, EMMA YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP. EMMA!"

Half scared to death, Emma got up. She was at first confused, but when she saw it, she nearly screamed.

Hope you all enjoyed the chapter :) -A