The Chemistry Test

34. open hearts and falling stars

Day Fourteen

The soil was cold.

I'd woken up extra early to make the most of my day, and to start it off on the right foot, I wanted to spend some time in my garden, alone with my thoughts, and only the plants to keep me company. 

I folded my legs beneath me, toes brushing against dew speckled petals from last night's rainfall.  The sun was just barely peeking over the horizon, filtering streamlets of light through the leaves above me. 

It was always so peaceful here.  Everything was still, serene, and beautiful, and if I didn't have the biggest assignment of my life due today, I wouldn't have wanted to leave.

That is, until I was interrupted.

"Whatcha doin?" 

I turned to meet Emett's sparkling green eyes as he clambered down the stairs and plopped himself next to me in the flowerbed. 

"Hey, Em."  I smiled at my brother, ruffling his messy blonde hair.  "Why are you up so early?"

"My stomach had the rumblies."  Emett giggled, fishing a couple fingers into his bag of Germie Wormies to pull out a green gummy worm.  "Why are you up?"

"I have a big day today."  I smiled, pulling my knees into my chest.  "Early bird gets the worm, right?"  I reached over and plucked the green gummy worm from his grasp, dropping it into my mouth as he grumbled in protest.

"Hey."  he pouted, crossing his arms.  "Not cool."

Munching on the gummy goodness, I gave him a cheeky smile as he pulled another worm from the bag, eyeing me carefully.  He leaned away from me and quickly gobbled it up before I could snatch it from his sugar coated fingers.

"Oh, yeah."  Emett smacked his lips, licking the sugary speckles from the corners of his mouth.  "You got the play today."

"Right-o."  I nodded, "Good memory."

"You're gonna kiss a boy."  He mocked, poking my side, "You're gonna catch boy cooties."

"Eww."  I pushed his shoulder, giggling alongside him.  "And you're gonna watch me."  I widened my eyes at him and he wrinkled his nose.

"Awkward."  he murmured, biting the tail off his gummy.  I nodded in agreement, reaching down to pluck a daisy from the soil. 

"Let's hope it's not too awkward."  I smiled over at him, threading the daisy through my strawberry blonde tangles.  "Right?"

"Nah."  Emett licked his teeth, giving me a goofy smile.  "You're gonna be awesome as always."  He wrapped his small arms around me and I hugged him, resting my cheek against his disheveled blonde locks.

"Thanks, Em."  I smiled, happy to know he had at least an ounce of faith me.  More faith than I even had in myself.

And, at the moment, definitely more faith than I had in Zak.

----

Whispers followed me as I walked through the theater doors.  The normal hubbub was at a lull, crew members milling around quietly and Gorveau's beady eyes tracking my every footstep as I made my way into the building.

"Miss Scott, finally on time I see."  he grinned, gesturing toward the first row.  "Take a seat."

I smiled nervously at the rest of the cast, plopping down next to Mark and avoiding the blazing pair of azure eyeing me from a couple seats away. 

Maybe if I pretended Zak wasn't there, he'd disappear. 

Slowly but surely, my eyes flickered over to the stark shadows accenting his jawline, watching as his Adam's apple rose and fell when he swallowed.  His dark, wispy hair, which was normally left messy, was neatly combed and styled for the play.