Offspring (A F.R.I.E.N.D.S Novel)

The One with all the Offspring

The One with all the Offspring

Emma didn’t realise the true heaviness of the box she was carrying until she reached the second flight of stairs. How her parents walked up and down constantly all those years ago baffled her.

And they did it for ten whole years of their lives.

Her parents, well her whole extended family actually, would always tell their offspring of the many events that took place within the Greenwich street apartment block. The break ups, the many ruined thanksgivings and the many crazy people they met.

And now it was the girls turn to start their lives here.

Hopefully it wouldn’t begin with Emma tripping up the second flight of stairs.

‘Come on Em, move your ass. I can’t wait around here all day!’ Erica shouts to Emma from below, holding even more boxes than the blonde.

‘Man. As soon as we are unpacked I’m hitting the gym. These stairs do not agree with me.’ She calls back to her friend, picking her box back up and proceeding to climb the seemingly endless amount of stairs.

Erica rolls her eyes and continues along, staying a few steps behind; just in case Emma was to drop anything.

Just a few more, Emma thought to herself, as she reached the landing of the third floor. Emma could see it, apartment 20.

Their new home.

‘That’s it, isn’t it Em?’ Erica catches up to Emma and drops her boxes on the floor next to the door.

They both just stare at it in utter disbelief; the green door, the golden plated numbering. It was everything their parents had told them it would be.

‘You two do know how to open a door, right?’

The girls turn around to find Erica’s father standing there, smiling as wide a humanly possible.

‘No dad, I thought there was some kind of magic code or something.’ Erica said with sarcasm, her father chuckling behind her. Her dad had come to help move a few of the move 'heavier' boxes up here for them. By the look of it, he seemed to have done a pretty decent job. ‘Can you please pass me the keys?’

‘Here you go.’ Chandler says, passing the small silver key ring to his daughter.

‘Do you want me to keep your car as well or…?’ She asks, jokingly nudging Emma’s shoulder, pointing at the black motor vehicle key still attached to the ring.

‘Well, actually your mom and I were talking about it. We want you to have the car.’

Erica was in shock.

‘What!?’

‘You heard me. Those earphones you kids always wearing making you deaf or…?’

‘OMG THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU DAD!’ She said, throwing her hands around her father’s neck.

‘Suppose you don’t have an extra car for me too, uncle?’ Emma cooes, batting her eyes. Chandler tosses her hair.

‘Ah no, just the one for now. Sorry Emsta.’

‘Uncle! I thought we had discussed the use of that nickname.’

‘Oh, I’m sorry, E-Dizzle.’ Chandler says, striking a ridiculously 80’s pose.

‘Ugh I give up!’ She laughs as her uncle encompassed herself and Erica in a tight embrace.

‘We’re really going to miss you girls, you know that? And we are so very proud of the both of you.’ The girls hug back, a small tear falling from Emma’s eye.