Emerald

0.6

Emerald's POV

"Coffee?"

I walked in the diner and nodded at the waitress. I've been here for a while, they know my usual reason to come here.

I sat down in an empty booth.

It was midnight so there was a few people here.

The waitress poured coffee in a cup and handed it to me.

"Isn't it a school night?" She smiled down at me.

"Yeah, I don't really sleep. Mind if I stay longer than usual?"

"I wouldn't mind at all. You're always welcomed here."

I could've smiled and said "thank you". But I just nodded and took a sip from my coffee.

It was relaxing with the dim lights and the warmth of the diner. And the smell of coffee.

"Late night out huh?"

I jumped at the sudden voice. I looked up to my right. I nod. Liam sat down in front of me with his own coffee in his hand.

I stayed silent for a while. "How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

I think for a short while. "Having attention. Being popular."

He stayed silent and sipped from his own mug.

"I went one day with a bit of attention and I hated it." I stared at my hands that were around my mug.

"I guess I just don't care about other people's opinions about me."

"It was hard to just be in a room knowing and hearing people that talk about you. As if you can't hear."

"I gotta say, I kinda hate it too."

"It has to be easier for you."

"What do you mean?" He set down his mug and stared at me.

"Well uh.. you have a large group of friends, girls that would die to be with you, you're good looking without even trying." I put my hand over my mouth after I said good looking without even trying. Oh god. This is the part when he gets up and leaves because I'm so weird.

To my luck, he just smiled at me and let that remark slip past.

"It gets annoying if you didn't realize. You have it easier. You have friends that back you up and trust you."

I look down at my lap. Truth was, I really didn't have friends. "That is, if I had friends." I snorted and drank my coffee again.

"What do you mean. Aren't you friends with that guy?"

"Kyle?" I folded my hands on the table. I honestly didn't know what to do with my hands at this point.

"Yeah. He's always staring at you."

I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Family friend."

"He seems to like you."

"Trust me. He doesn't."

"And what about Nalia. I see you guys hang out together sometimes."

I sighed again. Another person that I let walk out my life because I got mad.

"She's my cousin."

"She is?!" He sounded shocked.

"I know. A gorgeous looking girl who's cousins with me." I laughed at what I said.

"No she's just... how do I put this nicely..."

"Boy crazy?"

"Annoying."

I laughed softly. "I don't want to be mean to her. Sorry I shouldn't have laughed. What are you doing here anyways? It's really late."

Liam sighed. "I used to stay out really late. Then I stopped for a few months. Tonight I felt the need to leave my house." He sighed and glanced at his coffee. "It's a good thing I did too." He looked up at me and did his charming smile that made my heart swoon.

"Why'd you have to get out tonight?"

He looked back down. I could tell he was thinking about it. And whether he was comfortable saying this to me.

I immediately said "if you don't feel comfortable telling me, that's fine, you know?" I sat up straight.

"Thanks. I'm sorry. I really want to tell you, but enough about me. What about you? What makes Emerald, Emerald." He smiled big at me.

I took a deep breath. "Well. I'm Emerald. I dyed my hair last year because my name is Emerald. And since an emerald is a green gem, I dyed it green. I like dark clothes. I'm... I guess different than others."

"That's what I like about you."

His response made me stiff. "What do you mean."

"You know Kathleen?"

I nodded. Of course I did. She was practically everything a teenage girl wanted to be. Perfect. Rich. Skinny. Popular. But I heard from Nalia that she can be a total bitch. Classic popular mean girl.

"Well I'm... dating her. And whenever I talk to her, all I hear her saying is how perfect and popular she is. Everything is about her. She's never asked how my day was. Or what my goal in life was. What I wanted to do."

"Well. What is your dream?"

He's dating her? Nice. My heart was not hurting right now.

"I'd like to run a business."

I glance down at my coffee. "You know my grandpa is a business man? I've never met him but I heard he's a total jerk. He only ever cared for his money and business. Not his son." I looked at the table.

We talked. For hours. The sky was becoming lighter. People who wake up early for work were starting to come in the diner for an early breakfast.

I looked at my screen on my phone. 6:34 am.

My eyes felt full. I was sure that I looked like trash.

"I should've been home two hours ago." I softly laughed.

"Oh gosh." He got up from his seat and stretched. "Thank you so much, Emerald. I felt like I needed another person to talk and to.. connect to. Ya know?"

I nodded. "Yeah. It- it was nice."

Since I came walking to the diner, Liam drove me to my house.

I quickly changed and got ready and didn't feel tired at all.

I went downstairs to the kitchen where I saw my parents.

They put down what they were saying.

"So- uh. Why didn't you come home at 3 like you usually do?" My mom gave me a stern look. "Why are you even going off. Really late."

My dad stood silent and so did I.

"I- i just lost track of time. Sorry, won't happen again. I swear."

My dad looked at my mom. "Lilac, can I tell her now?"

"Tell me what..."

My mom took a deep breathe and smiled.

"I'm pregnant!!" My mom jumped and squealed. My dad grinned big.

I was speechless. I wanted to jump up with them and cry my heart out of happiness. But I stood their shocked. "I- i... i have to go to school."

I rushed out the door. Why couldn't I let myself celebrate with them?

I love them. And I'll love my new sibling.

So why am I walking away?

~*~*~*~