Emma

Chapter 34

"Thanks again for taking us to the picnic since Lala's mum had already left because someone forgot to remind her to wait."

Adeola said glaring at Emma. Emma giggled and shook her head.

"It's not my fault! I honestly thought that you had told her the time when Jeremy called you!" Emma said pouting and swinging her arm round Greta's neck before pulling her closer.

"You know you love me," Emma said planting a kiss on her cheek. Adeola mumbled something and folded her arms causing Emma to giggle more.

Cole chuckled as he shook his head at both of them, before turning to look at Lala who had insisted on staying in the front seat.

"Are they always like this?" He whispered, raising an eyebrow at her.

"A hundred percent always." Lala said nodding her head vigorously in response. Emma giggled again and Cole caught her smile in the mirror causing the smile on his lips to grow.

"So what's up with this Cole guy?" Adeola said attempting and failing to whisper, not knowing that Cole could hear her. Cole stifled a chuckle and tried to focus back on the road.

"We're just friends." Emma said, she didn't know why, but when she said those words, it caused her smile to widen.

It was then that the full force of it hit her. She was actually friends with someone she used to find so hard to look at without a though of pure dislike, and now here she was, in his car, with her friends, and going for a picnic.

She knew there was more to it and 'just friends' didn't explain the way she felt with him, but she couldn't quite place her finger on just how much more.

She looked towards his direction only to be met by his deep grey eyes already directed at her, a smile formed on his lips causing Emma to mirror his expression.

She felt as though his eyes were some kind of furnace and just one look at them warmed her whole body.

She was snapped out of her daze by the feeling of Adeola shaking her.

"Did you just hear anything I said?" Adeola said sounding amused by how her friend blinked a few times before turning back to face her.

"What?" Emma said still recovering from the impact the realization had on her.

Adeola laughed and shook her head, "Never mind, we're here!" Adeola said pointing out to the group of people that surrounded the place, some of them seemed to pause as they glanced at the car and Cole couldn't help but chuckle as he parked by the far end of the field.

He got out and opened the backdoor for Emma and Adeola to get out.

"What happened to Lala?" Adeola asked, wondering why she hadn't come out with Cole.

"She fell asleep telling me something about how her wish had come true concerning flying green stuff." Cole said chuckling and walking to Lala's side of the seat before opening it to reveal a sleeping Lala.

"I'll take her back to her mum, you can introduce your friend to everyone." Adeola said putting air quotes on the friend part before lifting Lala up and walking away.

Emma's cheeks couldn't help but warm up at the sound of Adeol indirect assumption and a smirk spread on Cole's face as he noticed her flustered state.

"Okay so like, after every concert we have this get together picnic. Just to eat, talk, have fun and all that stuff." Emma said leading him to the group of people that had already spread a cloth on the floor and were removing various kinds of foodstuff.

"Would you believe me if I told you that I've never actually been to a picnic." Cole said a smile on his lips, already knowing her reaction.

"Seriously? You're going to love it! Its fun and you get to taste all sorts of foods from various places and talk with people and get to know so many mind-blowing stuff!" Emma said gushing on and on about the things she had gotten to know in just one picnic. Cole chuckled at her enthusiasm.

"You've forgotten I'm not really into going out." Emma giggled and nodded.

"Then I'm lucky that you decided to come." Emma said looking up at him with a wide smile on her face.

"No, you're Emma." He said returning the smile and only causing Emma's smile to widen if possible

"Hello." An awfully cheerful voice was heard from in front of them and they turned to be met by a man with a wide smile on his face. Cole immediately recognized him as the man who had preached on stage.

"Hi P.J this is Cole. Cole, this is Pastor Jeremy." Pastor Jeremy laughed and shook his head.

"How many times do I have to tell you to stop introducing me as Pastor Jeremy, It makes me feel old." He said rolling his eyes and grinning at Emma.

He directed his gaze back to Cole whose eyes seemed to have darkened just by watching the exchange.

"Hi, I'm Jeremy aka Emma's babysitter/half brother." Jeremy said stretching out his hand for a handshake.

Cole unwillingly took it and didn't know he was squeezing it until he noticed the look of discomfort cross Jeremy's face. He let go of it and flashed Jeremy his naturally sadistic smile.

It seemed as though either Jeremy didn't notice or he was some kind of masochistic freak, because his smile got wider.

"Nice to meet you Cole, hope you guys have fun." Jeremy said as he waved at them and walked away. Cole could sense the genuine sincerity in his voice only causing Cole to suspect him more.

"I don't think I like him very much." Cole said a slight frown playing on his lips.

"Probably cause you're not used to people." Emma said shrugging and trying to hold back a laugh.

"No, that's not it." Cole said, oblivious to the fact that Emma was amused by his dilemma.

Emma shook her head and grinned.

What did Jeremy do to him or is he just jealous or something? Emma pondered on the thought before bursting out in laugher. Cole's eyes furrowed in confusion as he watched her.

"Is someone Jealous?" Emma said in a sing-song voice when she finally caught her breath.

"No," Cole said in a whisper as though trying to concince himself. It was Cole's turn for his cheeks to heat up only causing Emma to laugh more.

"Don't worry Cole, you're my one and only Gris." She said as she entwined her fingers with his, a smile still playing on her face.

"I better be." Cole murmured the slight shade of pink fading away and leaving him to mirror her expression. He didn't know what she meant by 'her one and only Gris', but he loved it. He loved the feeling of being her one and only anything.

They walked hand in hand to the group of people who had now settled down on the floor, finally reaching them and Jeremy's already gigantic smile increased as he spotted their locked fingers.

"Okay everyone, before we say the opening prayer, I'd like to introduce you to my friend here! His name is Cole and this is his first time joining us, so please show him lots of love!" Small murmurs of greetings were heard and Cole nodded his head offering them a small wave.

He slightly stumbled as he was suddenly pulled down by Emma so he could sit beside her. Cole turned to see a wide smile playing on her lips and causing his to turn into a smile also.

"You're going to love it!" Emma whispered slightly squeezing his hand and causing him to chuckle at her excitement.

"Ok everyone, shall we bow our heads as we have the opening prayer?" Jeremy said closing his eyes and bowing his head, everyone followed, including Cole.

Not because there was a force, not because he didn't want to seem odd, not even because Emma was doing so.

Simply because he wanted to, he wanted to feel that tranquility he felt the first time he had bowed his head and closed his eyes.