Not So Average Life

29- Barbeque

Emma's point of view-
"Hey friend, going to lunch?" I popped up in front of Lexi.

Lexi and I have gotten closer during the semester. I noticed a look on her face she's obviously trying to hide.

"Are you ok?" I concernedly asked her. "You can always talk to me about it. Of course, if you don't feel comfortable please don't."

"No no no. That's not what.... never mind." She shook her head.

I proceed to talk and joke about other things we'd usually laugh about but she was ignoring all of them. So I finally stopped her. "Do you want to talk about it?" I carefully asked.

"I, I don't think I want to have lunch." She said so we headed outside.

We quietly sat down at a bench beside the football court and suddenly out of nowhere, she just broke down in tears. I quickly comforted her, but didn't really know what to do beside handing her tissues. She stopped awhile after.

"I I'm sorry," she sobbed.

"No, don't be." I felt really sorry for whatever's happening to her. "If you need someone, I'll be here ok?" I pulled her in to a hug.

"Thanks." She wiped away he tears.

"If it makes you feel better, let me tell you a secret. I haven't really told anyone in the school yet. So.... the Carters, are actually my brothers." I awkwardly smiled at her looking at her reaction.

"You're joking. But your last names..." she looked at me confused.

"Oh I meant stepbrothers. My dad married their their mom after, well, my mom passed away." I tried holding my tears in thinking of my mom. "Anyways, just don't tell anyone."

"Why not?"

"They don't want people to know. They're not really crazy about me you know." I chuckled to myself she did too.

"That I can see. They're not the fan girl type huh. My turn. So uh, I actually have a sister and she has Down syndrome." She looked down, embarrassed. "This morning, her school called us and say they didn't want her to study in their school anymore. Because she was bullied and that she should find a school for special need."

"Oh my god I'm so sorry to hear that." I comforted her again.

"You shouldn't be. Anyways thank you, I feel a lot better after telling someone about it." She smiled at me and I returned the smile.

After school, I wave Lexi goodbye and went on my way.

"Emma!" Jace called out to me.

I snapped my head towards him. "Oh hey Jace. What do you want?"

"Um, I was thinking we could talk about.... you know, during the football game?" He mumbled.

"The football game?." I looked confused.

"We kinda had a moment? But since you and Lexi became closer, we haven't even talked about it." He kept playing with his fingers looking nervous. "Emma, I like you. I really do. I've like you since the first day I met you."

I stared at him surprised. I didn't know how to react. I do feel something for him too but I didn't know what to say at that time. It came up like a bolt from the blue.

"I... I don't know Jace."

"Is this about Ryan? I mean we all know you liked him." He asked frustrated.

"What? No I don't like him anymore." I retorted.

"Oh.... then it's Jay isn't it." He questioned like he's interrogating me.