The Water Lilie's

Chinese takeout and story time

Jackson and I drove down the street and followed the road down to my house. We lived in a fairly quiet neighborhood, along with the water down by the parkway. We live in a bigger home, so it has always been the hangout place for all my friends. My mother, Ellen, is a nurse practitioner and she works at our local hospital, horrible hours, but she makes good money, to say the least.

" Emzy...?" He asked glancing over at me.

I had not realized I didn't say a word the entire drive. My eyes were fixated on the passing trees outside my window. I rolled down the window and reached my hand out feeling the soft breeze against my skin.

"Yes..."

"Are you okay?" He asked again softly.

"I'm fine," I said matter of factly.

But truly I was not and I knew he could tell because he reached his hand over to my left one and placed it on top of mine intertwining our fingers together.

He has never done this before.

I let out a soft sigh or relaxation and brought my other hand back into the car. I rolled up my window and placed my right hand over his. I looked at him, I wanted to tell him what was wrong but the truth is Natasha has been the only one of my friends that I have told.

I want to tell Jackson, I need to tell him. I just don't want him to think I'm crazy, I like him so much more than a friend if I ruin this-

Oh god, I did not just think that.

"Emzy... Hey smile, you got a beautiful one. Turn that frown upside down!" He laughed.

"Jack... I just have a lot going on." I replied.

"Tell me, I'm you're best friend come on Em!" He pleaded.

"You'll think I'm crazy...." I frowned and pulled my hand away from his.

He gave me another sympathetic look. Oh god, those puppy dog eyes kill me.

"I already do, just tell me it won't change a thing I can promise you that."

" Slow down, there's my driveway," I said pointing to my brick house.

" I know what house is yours, ya know." He laughed.

"Right ..." I sighed. I'm totally losing my mind.

He pulled up to my house, my mom must have left for work early today. She's been working many night shifts lately. I'll be glad if I even see her in the morning before I leave.

"Your mom isn't home yet?" He asked.

"She's working nights lately..."

"Oh, would you like some company? We can order in ?" He said as he turned to look at me, his dark brown eyes melting my heart.

"Jack you're parents are probably waiting for you to get home."

I replied.

" Oh come on, you know they could care less. My treat before the big day tomorrow?"

"Oh fine, let's go before I change my mind!" I laughed as I hopped out of his red Ford Ranger.

I unlocked the door and we went inside.

A note was left for me on the side of the stair banister when I walked into the hallway. I took my shoes off and walked towards it as Jack followed me inside.

"Working a night shift today. AGAIN. Please order takeout, love you. -Mom"

I read the note out loud for Jack to hear.

"Well then," He said, "looks like takeout food was our destiny today my friend."

----------------

We sat in my living room watching the untold stories of the ER as we sat back and enjoyed our Chinese takeout- although it was not the most appetizing show to watch while eating Chinese food or any kind of food for that matter. I set down my bowl of noodles on the table and let my stomach digest what I had just eaten. Suddenly, Jackson grabbed the TV remote and turned off the televison

"Hey!" I yelled. "It was getting quite interesting, thank you very much!"

"Emzy..." He said as put down his food and turned around, that way he was sitting to face me.

"Jack...?" I asked.

"Why would I think you're crazy...?"

"Are you being serious right now?" I laughed at him.

"Well yeah, I care about you. I don't want to have to put you in a mental ward."

" Oh my God, Jackson you are so mean." I couldn't help but laugh though, his face is stern and serious almost as if he is taking me in for questioning at a police station.

" Oh come on, Im serious. You've been acting strange all day, and you've barely eaten your food."

" Well to be fair," I said, " We were just watching the untold stories of the ER which totally grossed me out, you know these noodles share a strong resemblance with internal organs."

Jackson began to laugh, he flopped back and laid down on the pillow of the couch. Once he stopped laughing he began to give me a serious look again.

I grabbed my necklace and began to trace my thumb along the flower and my eyes looked down into my lap.

"You really want to know?"

I asked.

"Of course." He said.

And with that, I began to tell him about my crazy dreams and the stories my grandmother told me as a kid and why I've been acting the way I do, but I just can't figure this out. Why do I have these dreams? I want to know...

"The stories I've been told could not have haunted me all these years, after all, they were just creatures we learned about in mythology class and definitely nothing more than old folklore. Right..?"