Snakes and Ladders

Chapter 2: The Letter

"Damn you weren't kidding when you said your dog could run" the golden haired stranger said, currently scratching Scott's ears with affection.

"Yeah. He's a good dog just a nightmare to catch" Emilia chuckled

It had taken them roughly another twenty minutes to finally track him down and catch him. During their discussion, Scott had ran to the local grocery store, which was in their favor because of the attention he brought to the scenery. We had finally lured him by using....wait for it....peanut butter coated biscuits.

Before they had gone after her dog, the unknown stranger had took a quick stop to his house, proposing they should dip the plain treats in thick peanut butter to trick her dog. And it worked, unsurprisingly. So furthermore now both the stranger and Emilia were sitting comfortably on the plush couch in her living room, casually chatting.

Although thus far, the attractive stranger wasn't giving her much to work with, barely saying anything about himself. Just so she wouldn't figure out his identity.

But Emilia's curiosity could not be quenched, she had to know who he was. Not knowing aggravated her to no end.

"Come on" Emilia pleaded "At least tell me where you go to school"

But her valiant efforts were simply futile as the boy's stubborn demeanor stayed intact.

"Nope" he said shaking his head "From what I know so far from you, your a smart girl. Which means you'd easily be able to figure out who I am, and I'd like to keep up with this charade for a little while. It's fun."

Emilia groaned "Your a horrible person for not telling me your name. What am I suppose to call you. Stranger?"

"I actually liked your nickname you gave me earlier. Blondie"

"You actually want me to address you by your hair color? That's a first" Emilia said surprised.

He shrugged "It's not like your calling me a dumb blonde. So I'm good with it"

"I prefer to call dumb blondes bimbos instead"

Blondie snorted "Good to know" he drawled

Before I could retort with a sarcastic reply, my older sister Lilac burst into the room, a gigantic grin on her face, clutching a letter tightly towards her chest.

From her sister's expression, she turned to lean over to Blondie whispering "Close your ears"

Blondie looked confused once again as Emilia clamped her ears tightly.

"What are-" but he was cut off with a ear piercing shriek from none other than Lilac.

He clumsily fell off the couch from the noise, making Emilia laugh at his misfortune.

"I told you dude" She said sniggering as she held out a hand to help Blondie up.

He glared playfully at her before taking her hand and laying back on the couch.
Blondie turned to stare at Lilac "I'm sorry who are you?" He asked a bit of bitterness in his tone from the recent incident.

Lilac turned to him raising one of her perfectly arched brows, unimpressed. "Who am I?" She scoffed "I should be asking who are you?" And in a millisecond she altered her behavior becoming more preppy. "No seriously who are you? Your the first boy Emilia has invited to enter our home. Are you her boyfriend?" She asked excitedly looking ready to squeal again.

Blondie appeared to guess this as well as he put a hand up to stop her. "You must be her sister I'm assuming?" Although he said it more as fact than question. Lilac bobbed her head in agreement.

"Well for your information no. We're not boyfriend and girlfriend" He glanced over at Emilia "She's not my type" Blondie stated pursing his lips "No offense" he added as an afterthought.

Emilia shrugged, unbothered. "It's okay you're not my type either"

Lilac looked absolutely crestfallen at this reveal "Ah man that sucks. Especially because my sis Em needs a man in her life" she turned to address her sister "I mean she hasn't had a boyfriend ever" she said disgruntled

Emilia sighed at her sister's antics already fed up with her. "Yes Li you've established that I'm single several times" She sarcastically retorted rolling her eyes.

She pulled her lips into a distasteful frown "But Emmmm! As your older sister it's my job to help you catch a guy" She voiced as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I don't need to catch a guy Li" Emilia said picking up Scott "That's what Scott is for" She said grinning as the dog sleepily snuggled into her chest.

Beside her she heard Blondie crack up at her words, laughing at the irony behind it. She grinned back at him.

Lilac looked like she wanted to argue once more but Blondie stopped her, again.

"What's that letter in your hand?" He said inclining his head towards the sealed paper envelope.

"Oh!" Lilac exclaimed seeming to remember why she had barged into the first place, because she forcefully shoved the letter into Emilia's hands.

"Open it!" She demanded loudly pointing directly at the paper.

"Okay...." Emilia trailed off. She flipped it over to rip open the seal, but she abruptly stopped when she saw the stamp.

She widened her eyes immensely.

No way.

This couldn't be.....but the official red leather stamp said it all.

It was her admission letter from Queensburry Academy.

She took a deep breath.

This was it.

This would determine her future education.

Blondie leaned over her shoulder to peek at the letter. Once he saw the stamp, his face depleted of all color, becoming as pale as a ghost.

Emilia turned to him, a questioning look at his actions. But as he didn't answer, intently staring at the letter in her hand. She rubbed off his weird behavior off, and turned back to the task at hand.

Opening the letter.

She carefully teared at the corners, delicately ripping the flap of the seal off.

Emilia scanned through the words systematically stopping short when she reached the words she wanted to hear.....

We are ecstatic to inform you Miss Wentz that you have been accepted into our prestigious school, known for educating only the best individuals. Welcome to Queensburry Academy jaglion.

This time it was Emilia's turn to squeal.