"Erm, hey Emily?"
"Yeah Mason?" Asked Emily as she scribbled down the notes.
"Wanna grab a coffee tonight?"
"Sure.... I'll ask Daisy" she said, her concentration still on the notebook.
"No, like just you and me.... like a date" he ended in a soft whisper.
After the whole Mason dumping the food tray on David fiasco, he became as famous as David was. He had lots of girls swooning over him but he decided to stick with Emily and Daisy. He had become the typical 'Star of the School' student. Even teachers liked him.
"Date?" She looked up to stare into his eyes.
"Yeah"
"With me?"
"Pretty much" he shrugged.
"Why?"
"Because I like you? I thought that was pretty clear when I dumped that food tray, or when I almost punched Mr. Warren or when-"
"Yeah, I get it now. I- I'll have to ask my dad. How about we keep it for tomorrow? I'll ask my father tonight when he gets home" said Emily.
"Sure. That works too. Soo where's your favorite coffee place?"
"You are taking me on a date. You decide. I'll just show up... if I can"
"Ookkaaay"
It was lunch, Mason had gone off to practice for football with his team. Emily sat down with her sandwich in front of Daisy who was swinging on her chair.
"Mason asked me out"
"WHAT!?" Daisy almost fell off her chair.
"Yeah. I said I'll have to ask dad..."
"So, do you like him?"
"I don't know. Maybe. Maybe its just platonic. But you know, he will understand me differently... since we grew up together. I really don't know. But I don't think a date will harm, will it?"
"Em, youre thirteen"
"Yes. But who said I'm having sex with him. Its just a date. If it comes down to actually dating, I'll wanna wait a year. Like when I'm 14 or 15"
"Oh.... you really think Louis will allow?"
"What's harm in trying" she chuckled.
"Yeah. Sure... okay then. All the best" said Daisy with a forced smile. Yes, she didn't want to do anything with Emily or even confess her crush but this was all to fast and overwhelming.
Emily was in her room, doing her homework when Louis came in.
"SWEETIE, I'M HOME"
Emily smiled before going downstairs and hugging her father.
"Hey dad.. write new songs?"
"Yeah. I'm still working on the last one. Can't quite find the Rhyme... how was your day?"
"Good. Dad, can I go out with my friend tomorrow evening?"
"With Daisy? You know sweetie, you don't have to ask about going with Daisy" said Louis as he gulped down a glass of water.
"Well, erm, its not Daisy, it's Mason. Remember Mason?"
"Yeah, maybe. Isn't he the one who was with you at the orphanage?"
"Yeah. He is"
"Is it a date?"
"Maybe.."
"Then no"
"What!? Why?"
"You're only 13 Emily. You should not be dating right now" Louis shook his head.
"I'm not gonna be dating. I'm gonna go on thay date and if I like it then I'll talk to him if he wants to wait a year because even I don't think I'm ready for dating right now, but a date won't hurt"
"Still no. And that's final"
Emily huffed before stomping off to her room.
"EMILY! COME DOWN HERE"
"WHAT!?"
"If Daisy goes with you, I'll allow" Louis shrugged.
"But its a date"
"I've kept forth my terms, if you don't agree then ask your papa."
After an hour of arguments, Louis allowed her to on the date but Daisy would be secretly sitting on another table for her safety. Emily still didn't know what safety they were talking about but at least her parents agreed.
The next day, she sat on her bed as Daisy did her makeup. She kept it simple with no eyeliner and just a little natural pink blush and a pink lipstick along with mascara.
Emily wore a loose purple top with a nude cardigan and black skinny jeans. It was the first time she was going on any date.
The plan was that Emily would enter first and then 5 minutes later Daisy will go in and take the table behind Mason.
Louis wanted her to plant a small mic so that he could hear the conversations as well. He was still not in favour of his thirteen year old daughter going on a date.
Emily was in the bathroom getting ready when Harry called Daisy.
"DAISY! What are you doing?" He hissed.
"What do you mean?"
"Why are you sending Emily on this date. I thought you'd talk her out of it"
"What's the point? I mean, I don't know if she likes me, hell I don't even know if she is interested in girls. So there's really no point holding her back"
"But-"
"She's here, bye" she hung off as she looked at her bestfriend.
Emily looked beautiful. She wore ankle boots and a watch and kept her brown hair down with two clips pushing away her loose hair that fell on her face.
Thinking about it now, Daisy regretted no talking Emily out of this. And to think that she had to see her whole date.
"Lets go"
Emily arrived at the small cafe where they were supposed to meet. Soon enough she spotted Mason at a table who got up from his seat with a smile and like a gentleman, pulled out a chair for her.
"Wow. Never thought someone could look so casually beautiful. How does it feel to be effortlessly beautiful?"
Emily blushed before thanking him for the comment.
Emily didn't even notice when Daisy got in. She was so into the conversation they were having that she forgot that a worl around her existed. Turns out Mason was more than just a pretty head and sports player. It intrigued her how he was so intrigued by ancient literature. Till now she discussed about this only with Daisy and that too to a small extent. Daisy was more into modern literature.
She didn't realize when 2 hours oassed and the waiter kept the bill at their table.
"Lets split?" She suggested knowing well enough Mason wasn't going to allow her to pay all of it.
"No no. I asked you out. My treat" he said with a large grin.
"C'mon Mason" she whined.
"Nope" he said as he put the money down.
They got up to leave. Mason went for a small hug and as they pulled he leaned in for a kiss.
"NO!! STAY AWAY FROM HER"
Emily's head shot towards the voice to see a man in black hoodie and goggles staring angrily at Mason.
"Dude" Mason started.
"Nuh- uh. Don't you dude me"
"Dad!?" Emily hissed
"Yes. It is I, dad. Now come on home. Let's take you away from this leech"
"Excuse me?" Emily blinked offended.
"Its okay Em. I'll meet you at school"
"You don't get to call her Em. Shoo now"
Emily slapped her forehead as Mason left the shop. Daisy finally burst out laughing at the whole scene.
"OH MY GOD! THAT WAS EPIC" she roared with laughter as they sat in the car.
"What was so epic about it? Dad what were you doing there?"
"Ruining your date off course. That boy ain't right for you"
"You don't even know him"
"I know you and he ain't right for you"
Emily huffed and pouted as she sat silent the whole ride.
As Louis dropped Daisy off, he gave her a little high five before driving off towards their own house.
"I'm so sorry about that day" Emily apologized on Monday.
They were in the middle of the corridor before the morning bell.
"Hey its okay. Fathers ARE that protective. Just Didn't realize he was spying on us."
"Ugh I know. He gets too paranoid sometimes. Or sometimes too excited"
"Sooo, how was the date?"
"It was amazing. I've never been with someone who has made me forget what time it is or where we are.... except my uncles and dads off course. But you know, never with someone my age"
"Erm.. so will you be my girlfriend?"
"Mason- I- umm. I wanted to-"
"You wanted to what?" He asked with hope.
Emily took a deep breath before looking up into his eyes. His eyes sparkled as he stared down into her. He was biting his lips nervously as he waited for her answer.
"I wanted to.... I want to be your girlfriend" she smiled at him.
"Really?"
"Yeah" she breathed out.
"Great" he let out a big smile.
He leaned down before his hands grabbed her waist and pulled her towards him. He let his lips meet hers. Emily was taken aback as it was her first kiss. It felt strangely nice. Emily moved her lips a bit as she slowly got the hang of it and closed her eyes. It felt amazing to be in his arms and in his touch but yet there was something missing. She didn't quite know what it was but a part of her was repelling Mason yet it felt nice to be in his presence.
Daisy was walking towards Emily's locker to greet her this morning. Her smiled slowly dropped as she saw the scene in front of her. Her breath hitched and she gulped to fight back tears that were forming and were out of her control. Before her tears could fall, she had turned away and ran outside the building.
She took uneven breaths and closed her eyes. The scene replaying in her mind. She had fallen for Emily harder than she had ever imagined. It was difficult coming out of it. She fetched her phone from the pocket and dialled his number.
"Hi..... I'm sorry. I didn't know who to call"
"It's okay Daisy. Its okay. I don't know what happened but it seems like its related to Emily...."
"Yeah" she whispered.
"I'm in London. I landed right now. I'll pick you up. You're at school, right?"
"Yes"
"Okay then. Keep calm. I'll be there"
It shouldn't hurt that much. She told herself. But it did. She thought that if she let go of Emily, she'll move on from her crush but she didn't expect to hurt this much. Her chest hurt and she felt empty.
While her mind was clouded with thoughts a black car pulled up beside her.
She smiled sadly as she climbed into it.
"What happened?" He asked.
"Emily..... and Mason.... I saw them kissing" she sighed as it all came back to her.
"Oh honey. Come here" Harry pulled Daisy to her chest and rubbed her back in consolation. "Lets go home?"
"I can't go home. Mom will kill me for skipping school"
"Not your home. Louis is making scrambled eggs and pie for me. I asked him to make some extra"
"Oh. Okay" she muttered.
The whole ride she sobbed as she told Harry how she felt. How she felt numb. How stupid she felt. How she wanted to never go back to school or how she wanted to erase that image off her mind.
"HOW DARE HE KISS HER!" Louis growled on the dining table as the food from his mouth sprayed out of his mouth.
"Louis! Calm down... and don't talk with food in your mouth" Harry sighed.
"Erm. Also, I realized that... I realized that..."
"Yeah sweetie?"
"I am.... I am- well... um... gay... lesbian... I am not at all attracted to boys" she said looking down in her lap.
"WELL THAT'S AMAZING!! Oh my God! Is it first time you are coming out?" Asked Louis
"Yes.... you both are the first" she shrugged. She started crying again.
"What happened?" Asked Harry with a soft voice.
"No one ever told me coming out was so overwhelming"
"Come here" Harry pulled her into a tight hug. Louis smiled before leaving his food and running around the table to join them in the hug.
"Its going to get harder and overwhelming. There's so much ahead of you. You are going to face so many people who might not like you. But you have to be brave through it all. If you have chosen to accept yourself then you have to accept the challenges. Love is only for the brave" said Louis.
"Thank you so much" she whispered.
"We're always here. When you need a home to run away to, you're always welcome here" smiled Harry at the young girl in front of him.
"So you are going to come out to your family?"
"To my uncle.. He's Trans.. Definitely not my father. My father kicked out my uncle.. my mother maybe... I think for now, you two are enough"
"Off course. Take your time. You don't need to take it all at once. If you ever feel unsafe or anything just give us a call, okay?"
"Okay. Thank you"
"Its okay sweetie"
"Shall I drop you back to school? Otherwise your mom will be worried. Plus we'll pick up Wmily as well"
"Yeah. I just need to wash my face"
"Okay then we'll get ready as well"