Amidst love and heartbreak

ARON the good boy

She is beautiful. I see her playing with the kids and my heart skips a beat every time. I have had a crush on Emily for as long as I remember. She is just amazing. Double major. Hard-working. Stubborn but caring. Her blonde curly hair now sticks to her face because she is all wet. Courtesy of me and my brilliant idea. Emily needs to let loose a bit but she is always in such a rush that she probably forgot how to live her life. I know she likes me. Sometimes, Emily would give me hints. We would flirt when we go out for a drink or a quick meal or when we are at college. 

Suddenly, she stopped and took out her phone from her back pocket. Her blue eyes now had confusion in them. I wonder who is texting her. I continue playing with the kids and from time to time I try to catch her attention with some water. She smiles when I do that but it’s not the same smile. 

That goes on for some minutes and now her face has turned one of interest and maybe flirting. I know that because it’s the same face she makes every time we tease each other. Who could that be? I hope it’s not that jerk Ethan. He’s been coming around here for quite some weeks now and I have had enough of it.

After she is done with her phone she continues playing with us but her mind is suddenly elsewhere. In a blink of an eye, she comes closer to me and gives me a  really tight hug. My poor heart skips a beat one more time. What is she doing to me? And what is this hug for?

“Thanks for this amazing idea,” she said when she released me. “I really needed it and  I finally got it now,” I was happy that she was enjoying it but I didn’t understand what she got. As if she read my mind, Emily continued her speech.

“My assignment is about play and its importance to make connections. Well, having played with them for about an hour now, made me realise what was important about it. Look at what they are doing now. Look how they come to you every time I try to sprinkle them or the other way around. I have it. I know what I will write,” she said with joy coming out of her. 

“I am glad my brilliant ideas are helpful, pri…” I said stopping myself from calling her princes. I don’t know why but I always stop myself when endearments try to come out of my mouth. I don’t want her to get scared away. I know she wants to graduate before even thinking about anything related to hearts and feelings and I will respect that.

We noticed that Maggie was finally home, so we decided that it was time for a quieter activity. I helped Kyle change into his spare clothes that his mum always puts in his backpack and Emily went inside with Emma to do the same. The soft sound of the music playing on the second floor, where Maggie’s room was situated gave away the fact that she was probably writing. It must be amazing to be able to do what you love for a living. Well, I kind of do that with the school. I play my favourite game and it pays for my education. How cool is that?

We got into the living room and Emma, Kyle and I started playing a kid’s version of Monopoly. We left Emily with her Eureka moment. She is so concentrated when she works. I wish I had her perseverance.

This Kyle boy is blowing my mind. He is always so nice to Emma. he tells her how cute she is and he just gave her his cookie. I mean, who gives out his afternoon snack if you don’t have other motives. We might have something in common. The difference is that he is going after what he wants. I am waiting patiently for four years for her to notice and spare a thought on us.

Her phone vibrates again. Probably a text. I know she will not pick it up. She never does when she is working, anyway.

Emily picked up her phone from next to her laptop and smiled when she saw it. s**t. The same exact smile that she had earlier. I have a weird feeling about this, but there is nothing I can do about it. 

She starts typing and her smile becomes a grin. What on earth is happening now? My curiosity is killing me, but I can’t ask, can I? She is not my girlfriend. We are not even dating. But we are friends. I can throw it out there as a curiosity.

“Everything alright?” I asked. Not that she showed any sign of discomfort but I really didn't know how to start the conversation.

“Yep, it’s fine. I am almost done with the main part. There are some touches here and there but I will do that tonight. 

“Was that Kyle’s mum? Is it time to bring him back?” I asked, hoping that that was the case, but she shook her head. 

“No, I already agreed with her about the time. We have thirty more minutes.”

“Who was it then. You were smiling so brightly. Don’t tell me that your nana is in town. I would love to see her again. That old lady cooks so well that I would love for her to adopt me,” I threw a joke trying to cover for my curiosity.

“Let’s say that was definitely not my nana. It’s just someone that thinks he’s funny,” she said and left it to that. Details. I need details. The bad feeling I had at the pit of my stomach was getting worse. I had a bad feeling and the fact that she didn’t give any more information made me fear the worse. Who was I to ask for more information? As I said before, not the boyfriend, not the one dating her. I am only the person that has waited for her patiently for the past four years to open her eyes and notice me.

-------

After we talked to Miss Maggie and left Emma under her care, we left the house to drop Kyle. The poor boy was super tired now. He was almost falling asleep walking back to his house. Even though it was only a short walk I offered to hold him on my back. I know he is supposed to be old enough to walk for ten minutes but after an afternoon like the one we had, If I had someone offering to hold me on his back I would happily accept.

When we came in front of a detached house, I put him down. His eyelids were dropping already. His mum was nice. With a smiling face, she took him from me and took the backpack from Maggie.

Now that her babysitting duties were finished, I wanted to spend some time with her.

“What do you think of a milkshake or something to eat? I am starving,” I asked hoping that she would say yes. 

“Well, I don’t know. I still have things to finish with my assignment, Aron,” she answered pondering the idea in her mind.

“You can’t say no. I helped you with babysitting. I had the brilliant idea of playing with water…”

“Yeah, thanks to you I am all wet now,” she said back trying to change the subject, but I had other ideas on my mind.

“My, my. I didn’t know I had that effect on you.” I said jokingly. She served it to me on a silver platter. I couldn’t make a comment. The good boy and all, but still a boy.

I noticed her face blushing even though she pushed me with her body to make it as if we were playing. This was our usual game. She would put herself in some very compromising situation. I would jokingly throw a word here and there. Emily would blush and change the subject as fast as she could in whatever way she could. 

Since she didn’t say anything more, I took it as an agreement from her so I pulled her to our favourite diner. We sat at our favourite table and we placed our orders. In less than twenty minutes our burgers and her milkshake were here.

“Time to dig my teeth into this delicious burger,” I said with my mouth-watering. Apart from the fact that I really like my double cheeseburger, the water war we had earlier and just the various interactions with two five-year-olds had drained me and I needed a recharge.

She took a french fry from her plate and while she put it in her mouth her tired face changed into an emotion that I couldn’t place at the moment. She took another one and her eyes trailed out of the diner where there were a group of people, probably our age that was about to come in. she lowered her head and took her burger with both her hands. She brought it near her face, more as if trying to hide behind it than actually biting it. Her blue eyes finally noticed mine following her movements and she finally decided to bite.

I could hear loud talking from behind me and I knew it was the ones that were out of the diner a few moments ago. We had some random conversation after that until she decided to go to the bathroom.

 She left me with my thoughts and the very loud group of people still talking. 

“What are you trying to do with her, anyway?” a boy asked in a joking way.

“What do you think I will do, man?” the other one asked and I had a feeling I had heard that voice before.

“But, how? She’s got that nerd practically attached to her every day,” the first one stated.

“He doesn’t bother me. I will make her send him away. I am on it already,” the voice I came to dislike responded and that was the moment Emily came back from the bathroom. My anger was at the top right now. He was talking about Emily. My Emily. Well, not really mine but you know what I mean.

She noticed my change of mood and asked concerned: “Are you ok? Is there anything wrong with your burger?”

I shook my head. I didn't want her to know just yet. I was not sure of what I heard. I have a general idea but I don’t want to accuse people of things they haven’t done, yet.

“I just think I am tired. Those two little monsters wore me off,” I said and faked a smile.

“Finish your food and we can go. I have the stuff to finish anyway,” she said in a caring way. She is always such a sweetheart.

A few moments later, though, I felt someone approach the table.

“Hello, Emily. Is this why you couldn’t go on a date with me today?” the voice said and my head snapped to look at his face. Ethan. The one and only. The true definition of ‘a player’. He was definitely after Emily.

“Hello, Ethan. We are just having something to eat after my part-time job,” Emily responded as if she was trying to justify her actions. What is she doing? Why does she need to give so many details? 

Then it hit me. He was definitely the one she was talking to earlier today. And that piece of s**t already asked her on a date. The bad feeling was getting worse and worse. I think I am screwed. That son of a b***h is going to take her away from me. And. I. Can. Not. Do. Anything. About. It.

I won't go down without a fight though. I might lose her but I, at least, want to try my best and if it still will not be enough, then... I do not know. I might have just thrown four years of my life in the bin just for a f**k boy to come and get the best my life has had during these years.