Emma's Story

by Mitchel Grace

  That morning, Emma and Evan met Jasper and Paul outside to catch the shuttle. As they waited for it, Paul and Evan immediately connected again. It didn’t take long for Jasper to chime in either. It was strange. They wouldn’t see each other for an entire year, but when the time came, those three boys would become the best of friends all over again. Then there was Emma. A couple of years ago, she would have been right there with them chatting it up, but something had changed. For some reason, it was like Jasper and Paul looked at her differently. In a way, she saw them in a different light, too. Before they were just kids, but now it had become apparent that they were different. Emma found herself noticing when Jasper or Paul would pay any special attention to her. She viewed it as them flirting or trying to get close to her for more reasons than just to have a friend. She wasn’t completely wrong when it came to Jasper. Still, they had to find a way to get back to how things used to be, if they were going to spend the whole day together.

  “Are you okay?” Jasper asked Emma as he broke away from the group and walked over to her.

  “I’m fine. Why?”

  “You’re just being really quiet. As a matter of fact, you were really quiet last year when we came to visit, too. What’s going on with you? We used to have a lot of fun.”

  “I don’t know. I guess just hanging out with you guys and my brother seems odd. Let’s just say that I don’t particularly love guy talk, and that’s all I hear when you three are in a group. I hope that doesn’t sound mean.”

  “No, I get it. Things are different now. We’re all changing. I’ve got an idea, and you can say no.”

  “What is it?”

  “Why don’t we let Evan and Paul go their own way, and we can explore the park together. Then you won’t have to suffer through guy talk. We can discuss whatever you want.”

  “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”

  “Come on. Don’t you like me anymore? I thought we were friends.”

  “We are. A guy and a girl spending the day together just seems like a date to me, though.”

  “Would that be so bad?”

  “With the experience I’ve had with boys lately, yes. I think I’m taking a break from the opposite sex for a long time.”

  “Okay, then it’s not a date. It’s just two friends walking around the park and trading stories.”

  “What kinds of stories?”

  “Well, you can tell me what kind of guy trouble you’ve had that would make you give up on the opposite sex.”

  “I don’t know if I want to talk about that.”

  “Oh, come on. I’ll tell you all about my problems with women, too. We can trade stories and laugh about it while we’re in the most magical place on Earth.”

  “We’re going to Paris?” Emma joked.

  “Very funny. Disney can be really fun, or so I’ve heard.”

  “Fine, but I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into. A lot of things have gone wrong over the last few weeks, and I don’t know if you want to hear about it.”

  “I think I’ll manage. Let’s go. The shuttle’s here,” Jasper said.

  Once they were at the park, the pairs went their separate ways. The first place that Emma and Jasper went to was a restaurant. They figured it might be a good idea to get some food before they explored.

  “Are you actually going to pay forty dollars for a couple of hamburgers?” Emma asked while looking at the prices on the menu.

  It was ridiculous. Everything in the park seemed to be overpriced.

  “I’m only buying one hamburger. I thought we agreed that this was not a date. You can get yours,” Jasper said with a smile.

  “You’re the guy. Are you actually going to make me pay? I guess I could use my dad’s card, but . . .”

  “I’m joking with you. I’ve got this. My parents gave me plenty of money for today. I have to tell you that the meal won’t come without expectations, though.”

  “Expectations? I don’t think I like where this is going.”

  “I just want a story. Tell me what’s turned you off of dating.”

  “Oh, that’s simple. All guys are cheaters and liars.”

  “I did not know that about myself. Thanks for informing me that I’m a cheater when I’ve never cheated on anyone.”

  “You know what I mean. Boys are out for themselves, and any connection you make with them is only skin deep, as far as they’re concerned. Even you’ve got to admit that.”

  “I don’t think that’s true. I’m here because I enjoy your company and nothing more. I don’t really think our dads’ love for our mothers is skin deep either. What actually happened?”

  “I was going out with this guy, and it turned out that he was seeing his ex-girlfriend behind my back the whole time. My dad caught him doing it, and he even admitted to it. Dad told me not to talk to him, but I did anyway. He blamed me for his cheating. He said I was too young and immature. He kept saying he needed more, and that’s when sex came into the conversation. He wanted someone more mature, and that had nothing to do with my actual maturity level or age. It had to do with the fact that he was never getting into my pants, so excuse me if I think all guys are shallow.”

  “He was stupid. That’s not how it normally works. Most guys can see what they have when a girl like you is with them.”

  “You sound like my dad. I’m over it, though. I’m just going to take a break from dating for a while. Why are we even talking about this anyway? I thought this was supposed to be the most magical place on Earth, and so far all we’ve done is order overpriced food and establish that my dating life is in the gutter.”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ve got a proposal for you, though.”

  “See, this is why I didn’t want to come with you. I said it wasn’t a date, but you’re already proposing to me,” Emma joked.

  “No, I’m waiting to do that a little later on. I’ve got to gain your trust first. Here’s what I really want right now.”

  “Wait a minute. So I was right? You did have an ulterior motive for rescuing me from guy talk.”

  “I suppose I did, but I want to rescue you from one more thing today.”

  “I don’t need rescuing from anything, but go ahead.”

  “Treat this like a date. We’re just friends, and with no more than we see each other, that’s all we’ll probably ever be, but I’ve had some bad experiences with the opposite sex, too. I know you’re different, though. Let me show you that there’s an exception to the rule when it comes to men.”

  “So in your mind, you think that you’re going to show me a great time today and rescue me from believing that love is a lost cause. It sounds like a really bad romantic movie. Are you sure you want to do that? I’ve been told I’m a little immature, a really bad date, and a complete tease.”

  “You’ve been misinformed, and that’s what I really want you to see by the end of today.”

  “All right. If anyone could be different, it would be you. Let’s give it a shot, but just to be clear, we’re only friends, and this is just an experiment,” Emma said and smiled.

  Throughout the day, they explored the park and talked about everything that was going on in their lives. It was simple, and unlike what Emma expected, it didn’t seem to come with any strings attached. Jasper was a friend who just so happened to be spending the day with her. That kind of simplicity was something she had been missing when it came to the opposite sex. She always felt like dates came with expectations and rules, and then there was all the hassle she had to go through to convince her parents to let her date anyone. This was different, though. It wasn’t what she would call romantic, but it was better than what she was used to. Long after Evan and Paul had decided to go back to their rooms, they were still out. Just outside the park, there was a movie theater, and Jasper suggested that they catch a movie before they headed back for the night.

  “That sounds great. The new Withered Fang movie is out. I’ve been wanting to see it,” Emma said.
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br />   “Withered Fang? Are you seriously going to make me see that? You know it’s just a movie with a bunch of shirtless guys who turn into werewolves, right? The story is just an afterthought.”

  “So you won’t go see it? That’s typical.”

  “What is that supposed to mean? I didn’t say I wouldn’t see it. I was just pointing out how it’s a movie that’s just an excuse for girls to see a bunch of shirtless guys. If you really want to see it, though, I can suffer through it for two hours.”

  “I think it’s about a little more than that. I read all the books, and for your information, I liked them. You wouldn’t be complaining if it were a movie where a bunch of women were taking their shirts off.”

  “Actually, that’s called porn. I’m pretty sure I would feel awkward about watching it with you. Let’s go, though. Maybe you’re right, and the story is better than I think. I can suffer through a few man nipples if it’s got a decent story,” Jasper joked.

  “No, I want you to enjoy the movie, too. How about you pick? What do you want to see?”

  “Well, Slasher 3D is on.”

  “You can not be serious right now. Why would you want to watch something like that?”

  “I don’t know. Who doesn’t like scary movies?”

  “Me or anyone who doesn’t enjoy seeing people murdered. You know . . . normal people. Maybe we should just go. This has been a good day, and ruining it by arguing about movies seems like a waste,” Emma said and started to walk away, but Jasper grabbed her hand and spoke.

  “You’re right. This has been a good day. That’s why I want to keep it going. Why don’t we compromise? Paul makes fun of me because I love a book called Destiny. They made it into a movie, and it’s playing, too. The film didn’t have a big budget, but the story is great. I know you would love it. It’s romantic, and I think it would be the perfect way to end our day. What do you think?”

  “I think that sounds good. Why does your brother make fun of you for liking the book?” Emma asked as they were getting their tickets.

  “It’s a romance, and he doesn’t think a guy is supposed to enjoy that, but I think it’s a really sweet book. It reminds me of what I want out of life.”

  “And what is that?”

  “A girl I can love and come back to throughout my life, no matter what has changed or how long it’s been since we’ve seen each other.”

  “It sounds nice. I’m afraid things don’t usually work that way, though.”

  “They will for me. I’ll make sure of it.”

  “If you say so,” Emma said as they made their way into the theater.

  The movie was great. Emma was particularly struck by how romantic and innocent the characters were when they were around the same age as her. What she saw play out on the screen was a representation of what every girl should want from a boy. The lead character, Eric, wasn’t the typical boy you see in a teen angst movie with a rippled six pack and dreamy eyes, but he was exactly what a woman wants. He would do anything for the girl he loved, and that love transcended time and distance.

  As they were leaving and making their way back to the shuttle, Jasper took her hand. It wasn’t odd like Emma thought it would be. This boy had always been nothing more than a friend, and she just knew that anything romantic would be awkward, but it felt right.

  “So what did you think of the movie? It was a lot better than some werewolf flick, wasn’t it?” Jasper asked.

  “It was great. You don’t think I’m going to be like Olivia from the movie, though, do you? I don’t think I could live up to that, and we’re just . . .” Emma managed to say before Jasper pulled her close and kissed her.

  It only lasted for a few seconds, but it was altogether better than anything she had experienced before. Words like safe, special, and loved came to her mind when she felt his arms around her. This was what she had been looking for, and as he pulled back, Emma found that she had no words. All she could do was simply look into the eyes of a boy who had managed to capture her heart in a day.

  “I don’t expect you to be like someone from a movie. I just want you to be exactly who you are. That’s always been good enough for me. Whatever the future holds is beyond this week, so I’m not worried about it,” he said.

  “Stay at the hotel tomorrow.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I know my parents, and they’re going to have something planned for all of us to do. Say you feel sick and stay in the room. I’ll do the same. I don’t know if this is a good idea, but I think I like you. You’re the first boy who hasn’t disappointed me yet. I want to spend more time with you.”

  “I’ll do it,” Jasper said with a smirk as they got onto the shuttle.

  “What is that grin about?” Emma asked and smiled.

  “I told you I was going to change your mind about guys before the day was over.”

  “Hey, the jury is still out on that issue. Tomorrow I’ll decide how I really feel about you and guys. Today went well enough, though. Thanks for giving me a day I’ve needed for a long time.”

  “Actually, I should be thanking you. I’m not a very big hit with the girls at home. That’s why I liked Destiny. Eric wasn’t the perfect guy, but he managed to find someone he was perfect for. Thanks for giving me hope. If I can show a girl as beautiful as you a good time, then anything’s possible for me.”

  “All right, now you’re just kissing up,” Emma said and blushed.

  “It’s working, though, right?”

  “You tell me,” Emma said and kissed him again.

  That was Emma’s first real taste of love. It wouldn’t last because it couldn’t. They lived too far apart, but for five more days, she was going to have the time of her life with the most unlikely person.

  Chapter 2

  Caught!

  The following morning, Nathan came into Emma’s room and woke her up. They had made plans the day before to get some breakfast with their friends and make a day out of it.

  “I don’t feel very good, Dad. Can I just stay here for today?” Emma asked.

  “What’s wrong? You’re not getting sick, are you?” Nathan asked.

  “I think it’s just a stomach virus. Maybe I can rest up today and come out tomorrow.”

  “Are you sure? It’s going to be fun.”

  “I think so. Do you mind?”

  “Of course not. If you feel bad, I’ll stay here with you. You don’t need to be alone at a . . .”

  “No, I’ll be fine. You and Mom have been looking forward to this vacation. I’ll just rest, and I’m sure things will be better tomorrow,” Emma said quickly.

  Nathan looked at her skeptically. She had been very quick to tell him not to stay. Something seemed like it was going on, but he didn’t know what. Ultimately, he decided to trust his daughter, and they got ready and went to eat breakfast with Jason and Chloe.

  As soon as her parents walked out, Emma got up and started getting ready. It had actually worked. Instead of spending a boring day out with the family, she was going to explore whatever she and Jasper were doing. Then again, what were they doing? That question bothered Emma. She hadn’t wanted anything serious after what happened with the last guy she dated. Was all of this a big mistake? Before she could think about things any longer, she heard a knock at the door.

  “Hey, maybe we shouldn’t hang out today,” she said as she answered the door.

  “Okay, but why?”

  “I didn’t want anything like this when I came here. I wanted to take a break from things, and I’m starting to think this is a bad idea.”

  “Then just stop overthinking it. This isn’t anything serious. It can’t be. We’re just friends who happened to go on a date yesterday, and we’re spending time together now. It’s simple.”

  “All right. When you put it that way, I guess I am thinking about this a little too much. Come in,” Emma said and led him to the couch.

  It was at that moment when she realized she hadn’t thought this through. They w
ere alone, but what were they supposed to do? It wasn’t like there was much to do in the room. Emma started to feel overwhelmed. This was a disaster. What if he thought she was boring, or worse, what if Jasper thought she had invited him over for some other reason? She had treated this whole thing like a secret, even though it was something pure to her. What if it wasn’t so pure to him, though? Was it possible that he had expectations about why he was being invited over? Jasper didn’t seem that way, but he was still a guy.

  “Okay, you’re going to have to let me in on what you’re thinking. I’m not a mind reader, but it looks like your head is about to explode,” Jasper said.

  “I just realized that we have nothing to do here, and I was wondering why you chose to come over.”

  “To hang out with you . . . was there supposed to be another reason?”

  “Forget I said anything. I’m just overthinking things again.”

  “Well, stop. I’ve got the perfect thing we can do. Let’s get room service. I’m hungry, and I know you probably are, too. While they’re bringing our food, we’ll get to know each other more. I’ll tell you anything you want to know about me,” Jasper said as he walked over to the phone.

  They ordered breakfast, and then Jasper sat back down beside Emma. She didn’t know what she wanted to ask him first. There were so many potential questions, but for some reason, the worst one was what came out of her mouth.

  “What kind of name is Jasper?” Emma asked.

  “All right, it’s good to know you’re one of the many people in the world who think that my name is weird.”

  “Sorry. Emma’s not that great either. It sounds like someone who lived on a farm in the thirties. I don’t know what my parents were thinking. At least Evan has a name that feels like it should be used in this century.”

  “I like Emma. It sounds simple and pure. It matches you.”

  “Simple and pure? You don’t know me very well. You’re making some big assumptions there.”

  “I don’t think so. I think you’re the good girl type. That’s okay. I’m not any different.”