The Lost Girl, Now Found

18) Co-Sheriffs?

Emma's POV

It's been about a week and a half since Graham died, my dad keeps telling me we need to talk about something, probably about who's going to take over as sheriff. I'm on my way back home after dropping Henry off at school, and I guess we can talk about about it.

I walked inside and I announced my arrival. "I'm home!"

Then my dad came downstairs. "Hey Em, you're mom decided at the last minute to go back into work, so it's just us. And we really need to talk about something"

"I know"

"Graham updated his will the day he died" he blurted out.

"What? I thought he was on patrol! I should've known that patrol doesn't take that long. Why are you telling me? What did it say?"

"Well... he requested that we both be the sheriffs"

"Both? How would that even work?" I asked, definitely confused.

"Well, it would be like normal except we could hire more deputies I guess and we still don't out-rank each other We would be co-sheriffs"

"Co-sheriffs?" I said, still a little confused.

"Yep" He told me, popping the 'p' and I just shrugged in response and nodded, showing that I'd agree to it.

"Well, lets go to work Sheriff Nolan"

"After you Sheriff Swan" I rolled my eyes and walked out the door, my dad following behind me after locking the door. 

"Oh Emma?" I looked at him to show him I was listening. "August told me that he had something for you, he said to meet him at his fathers shop" I nodded. "I'll take you before we go to the station"

"Thanks dad"

We got in his truck and drove to the shop and my dad walked me inside an I saw August standing there nervously.

"Hey Aug... What's wrong with you, why do you look so nervous?" I asked him, but it came out a lot ruder than I intended. 

"I have something to show you, it's around back. Follow me." I skeptically followed him, as did my dad, but when I saw what it was I was shocked. 

"No way!!! How did even get it?! Me and Neal st-" I stopped myself before saying I stole a car. "Borrowed it when I was 15!" August couldn't help but laugh at how quickly I stopped myself from admitting to be a thief in front of my dad. 

"Well, Neal always wanted you to have everything, so I asked the owners if they could replace the tags for your own. You may have only just turned 16 when Neal... left, but I felt bad about the way things ended, and I know you loved that car, so it's been in your name for the past 12 years"

"And you've kept it for me all these years?" He nodded with a smile.

"Who's Neal?" My dad asked oblivious to the lie that had just taken place in front of him.

"He's an old boyfriend dad"

13 Years Ago...

I was up to another scheme with my boyfriend I'm going to be 16 in a few months and he just turned 16 a few weeks prior. 

Neal and I have been dating for a few months now, but I really think that I'm falling for him, and it doesn't help that he practically gives me everything that I want, I want to believe that he wouldn't leave, but people always leave.  

We decided that we wanted to sneak into the fair, but then I saw the cutest yellow bug, and I just wanted it so bad. 

"Oh my God Neal! Look at that car it's just so cute!" I practically screamed. 

"Em, if we get caught, they'll send you away" He told me trying to talk some sense into me. 

"Then lets not get caught" I told him with a smirk and he just responded with a defeated eye roll. That's when I pulled out the slim-jim from inside my sleeve. 

"How did you even... never mind"

"Always come prepared babe!" I told him cheekily. 

"You are just too damn adorable" He told me smiling while I got the door to the bug unlocked.

A few months went by and we've just been falling more in love with each other, but we can't use the 'L' word... we can't. 

It's my 16th birthday, and Neal saved up some actual money and he's taking me out to a real restaurant, a pleasantry that I don't get to experience too often. I was great, until we were on the way back to our current foster home. 

"Emma?"

"Yes, bestest boyfriend everrrr"

"I love you" That was it for me, no, he doesn't mean it. 

"Stop the car" He gave me a puzzled look. "Stop the car Neal! Now!!" He immediately did stopped the car and I got out and went to August's house. 

He comforted me until eventually Neal showed up, he knew me too well, he knew where I'd go.

"Emma, please. Just tell me what I did wrong"

"Lets talk outside for a few minutes" I suggested and he agreed, we went outside and we stood on the sidewalk outside of August's apartment. "I have trust Issues Neal! You can't just throw that word out the like that! It's a serious word!"

"Ems, I meant it. I have fallen in love with you. I know the thought of love scares you, but it'll be okay"

"You won't leave me?"

"Never in a million years" I smiled, I knew he was being honest. "Go tell August goodbye, I think you deserve some ice cream"

"I love you too" The biggest smile appeared on his face. 

"I'll go start the car" I turned around to head back inside, then I heard a loud crash and I looked back and I saw my boyfriend on the ground covered in blood. 

"Neal?!" I yelled running towards him, but when I made it over to him he was gone... My first love, dead. Next thing I knew, I was crying into August's shoulder.

Present Time

"God, I still can't believe I almost ended things with him willingly"

"Confused" My dad asked. 

"Neal used the'L' word on Em's 16th birthday and she almost left him" August told him. 

"I had trust issues, the only person I had let say that he loved me was this dork," I said referring to August. "He's like my big brother"

"When you showed up on my doorstep, I was so ready to put him in the hospital, I was so pissed, until he showed up looking for you"

"God, I remember it like it was yesterday. He was such a great guy" I stated with watery eyes. "He died that day" 

"Your birthday?" I nodded in response, not really wanting sympathy, but my dad gave me a sympathetic smile. 

"Okay dad, lets go do some co-sheriffing" I said trying to desperately change the subject.

"Co-sheriffs?"

"Graham left it in his will that we share the sheriff position at the station, so yes, co-sheriffs"

"Cool" He said, kind of confused as to how that'll work, but so were we, we just have to learn as we go, I suppose.

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Much Love
~Jasmine