Fly Away Girl

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Tyler

***

On Thursday, I finally get Emmy to come to the craft store with me. I don't really care about the project. This is more about my bet with Carter.

From: Carter

3:13 PM

Thursday, September 12

scored a date with her on friday. get ready for a full body wax!!!

I roll my eyes and quickly type back a response.

To: Carter

3:14 PM

Thursday, September 12

nice try man. she's about to get in my car and go to my house. would you rather me start with your calves or thighs??

Emmy knocks on the window and I unlock the car, letting her in.

"Hey," she says, out of breath.

"Hey," I say back to her, smiling to myself at how easy this is going to be without all her siblings running around.

The drive to the arts and crafts store is silent. Emmy fidgets nervously in her seat, as if she can't get comfortable.

"You okay?" I ask her as I pull into an empty parking space. She glares at me for a fraction of a second and then flashes me a tight smile. For a moment I wonder if she has somehow found out about the bet, but the look is gone so quickly that I'm sure I've imagined it.

"Fine," she replies. "Let's go."

Emmy grabs a blue shopping cart upon entering the store. Together, we stroll through the aisles, tossing random items into the cart.

"You think we could use these as fake bullets?" Emmy asks me, holding up a packet of darts.

"Sure," I shrug. Emmy rolls her eyes and checks the price before adding the darts to the collection of items in the cart.

"Okay," she says with a satisfied nod. "I think that's all we need." She pushes the cart to the checkout section of the store and I follow her. The cashier flashes her a flirty smile and she blushes and looks away. I roll my eyes.

"That'll be $57.31," he says. He looks at me and then back to Emmy as if he doesn't know who to expect the money from.

I reach into my wallet and pull out two bills: a fifty and a twenty.

At the same time Emmy pulls a twenty out of her wallet.

"I got it," I say. Emmy looks relieved for a second, but then she shakes her head.

"We're both working on this project..."

"Well, then, how about this: I pay and you do all the work?"

Emmy finally gives me a real smile. "Okay," she agrees.

I pay the cashier, who now looks bored, and we leave the store together.

Emmy stares in awe as we enter Briarwood Homes, the gated community where I live. I wave to Allen through the window, and he waves back and unlocks the gate for us.

I watch as Emmy's eyes widen as we pull up to the house at the end of the street.

"This...is your house?" Emmy squeaks.

I nod. Emmy shakes her head. "Wow," she mutters under her breath.

I park in the curved driveway and we enter the house through the front door.