oxygen (e.d.)

short chapter 11: emerson's first date

{riley}

i smile as sloane goes into a frenzy, helping a terrified looking emerson find the right earrings.

"this isn't that big of a deal-"

"hush," sloane says, "this is what i was best at."

"she's telling the truth," i nod my head, "every date i went on with dad, she picked out the outfit for."

ethan ducks his head in, then immediately ducks it back out when he sees the piles of clothes and makeup she has sprawled around her room.

"hey!" i laugh, "get back in here."

he sighs and gives in, walking through the doorway.

"we need to work on your room." he says, "this does not meet my expectations."

i cough a little and em ducks her head and plays with her bracelets.

"but we can work on it together, make it fun. change things up a little?" ethan suggests quickly, trying to cover his tracks.

lately they've been trying really hard to understand each other and how to communicate properly. it makes me happy seeing both of them really want that good father daughter bond.

on the bad days, i just keep telling him, "she'll grow out of it. she's a teenager."

"oh it was my fault," sloane waves him off with a lie, "i trashed it looking for highlighter."

"speaking of that," ethan says, inspecting the makeup at his feet, "why are you so dressed up."

"she's-" sloane starts to say with a big grin.

"aunt sloane," emerson interjects, doing the 'cut it out' motion.

"- going to play laser tag!" sloane lies with enthusiasm, "with her friends. who are all girls."

"oh my god, sloane," i roll my eyes, "really?"

"laser tag?" emmy groans.

"what's really going on?" ethan glances at all of us.

"she-"

"i have a date." she deadpans.

ethan's eyes widen and he parts his lips in surprise.

"you," he points at her, "have a date? and you weren't going to tell me?"

"because i knew you'd be like this," she rolls her eyes.

"wyatt!" ethan yells, still making eye contact with emerson.

wyatt appears in the room and says, "what's up?"

"she has a date," ethan whispers.

"oh i know," wyatt grins, "she told me."

"what?" ethan yells, "you told wyatt?"

"hell yeah," wyatt fist pumps emerson.
i stifle a laugh.

"with who?" ethan asks, voice accusing.

"a guy in my health class..."

"oh you had to pick him from health class?" he groans, rolling his eyes, "he's probably a pervert."

"dad stop," emerson snaps, "cody is a really nice kid and i think you would get along."

ethan's quiet for a second, then nods, his hard demeanor softening.

"where are you guys going?"

"roller skating."

"with who?"

"just us."

"does he do drugs? drink?"

"no."

"what time will you be home?"

"gosh, dad," emerson rolls her eyes, "i don't know. i wish you would let me be a normal 15 year old."

"i'm just being a dad," he argues.

"e," wyatt cuts in, "just chill with her. it'll be fine. alexa already had her first date and it went great. you sometimes just got to trust the kids."

i high five wyatt and we all turn to ethan. he has no one on his side, and he's defenseless.

"fine," he gives in, "but you have to update me every two hours, okay?"

"got it." em agrees.

<ethan>

i anxiously wait with riley on the living room couch as sloane finishes getting emmy all dressed up.

"oh my god she's dating now," i groan, not being able to believe my little girl is growing up.

"it's fine, ethan," riley laughs, "just relax."

i hear footsteps and both our heads turn to the hallway, where emerson stands.

she looks beautiful, she really does.

she's wearing a black jean skirt and a flowery top and her hair is curled. i can also tell sloane did her makeup by the way her cheeks are sprinkled in blush. that's one thing sloane never grew out of.

"you look so good!" riley exclaims and grins.

"you do," i admit, "good job on our part," i joke to riley.

"ahem," sloane coughs, "i will take some credit."

the doorbell rings, and i feel like everyone gets a sense of panic.

"few words before you open the door," i stop her, "you have promise me these things, okay?"

"what?" she groans.

"no drugs. no drinking. no illegal doings. no sex."

"dad-"

"promise me," i plead, "it would make me feel so much better."

"i promise." she gives in, "we're just going skating."

"also," i call again, "have fun. be yourself. you look great."

she smiles at me and i feel a sense of relief

i get up to be at the door with her when she opens it.

standing in front of me is, well- a very nice looking normal boy.

"hey em," he grins and then looks at me, "mr. dolan?"

"ethan," i say, holding out my hand, "cody?"

"yes sir." he shakes it.

riley appears next to me, maintaining a smile and also shakes his hand and introduces herself.

"see her by 10?" i ask.

"9:50."

"even better." i nod.

emerson laughs nervously and ushers him off the porch.

"have fun!" riley calls after them.