Finding Emmie.

Scene One.

“Are you leaving already?” My mom asks, her brown hair in a messy bun, glasses perched on her nose, she's still in her bathrobe.

Not ready for work yet.

“Because I made you breakfast.” She lays down the newspaper she was reading and stands from our dining table. “It's here!” She says taking it from the microwave.

A buttered bagel and a side of bacon.

Thoughtful, but I'm a vegan.

“Thanks but no thanks mom.” I take the plate and put it at her place at the large table next to her tea. “I'm a vegan, remember?”

I stand on tippy toes and grab the Lucky Charms from the cabinet.

My mom frowns, “You should reconsider Honey. Growing girls need lots of food.” She plops herself down at the table and flips to the Houses For Sale section in the paper. Typical real estate agent mom.

“Yeah, If their growing this way.” I say patting my stomach. I pull open our drawer and grab a white china bowl, and pour my cereal into it. “Besides bacon comes from pigs. Dead Pigs, mom.”

She makes a face.

“I won't argue then Emmie. You make your choices, I'll make mine.” She grabs the bacon and tears it in half, proceeding to gracefully plopping a perfect half in her mouth. “Now sit down. We have to talk.”

We have to talk.

The same words she and dad had said to me when they explained their divorce.

It wasn't me they had said.

It was them.

“About what?” I ask, sitting down parallel from her. I push the memories that scar me from my mind. “Is it bad or good?”

My mom hesitates. “Good, I guess.”

I begin eating my cereal.

No milk.

The way I like it.

“Emmie, I know you've liked Ethan Cartwright for years now.” My mom said seriously. She had set her paper down. “So, I thought you'd like to know he and his girlfriend have broken up.”

I choked mid-swallow on a mini-marshmellow.

“He-he-” I took a deep breath. Ever since I was little whenever I was shocked I stuttered. God awful stuttering. My words became slurred, they blended together. My words changed from English “He did what?”

“Broke up. Huge fight. It was terrible. In public and everything.” My mom said. She waggled her eyebrows in this terrible way. I knew what was coming next. “He's open Emmie! You can finally have a much needed boyfriend!”

My mom was kinda obsessed with the idea that I was a Henderson.

And Henderson's always got their guy.

Don't get me wrong, I like Ethan. He's hot, smart, funny and cute.

But I don't want a boyfriend.

Not right now.

Especially when I finally have a chance at being star in a school play. Being a star does not allow times for boyfriends.

“No thanks mom, I'll pass.” I said discreetly removing the spit up Heart marshmellow from the table cloth. “But how-”

“Did it happen?” My mom said, anticipating my question. “She was cheating on him or something. At least that's what my secretary said.”

I couldn't believe it. Keira and Ethan had been dating since seventh grade. They were the sweethearts. The lovebirds. Never seen five feet away from each other. Keira was the cheerleader, Ethan was the jock. It was a typical love story. I couldn't believe it went wrong.

“Honey!” My mom said suddenly. “It's 8:12. You have one minute to catch the bus.”

I grabbed my bag and hightailed outta there.