Chapter Text
The little girl holding her mother's skirt, hanging onto it as her life depended on it. Her little fingers clenching into the material the closer they got into the house. She was looking anxiously around the neighbour, with almost tears in her eyes. They just moved in and they were already meeting new people.
"Sweety, the lady we are going to is very nice", her mother kneeled and looked at her daughter with loving eyes. "She has four amazing kids. I am sure you will become friends with them." She bit her little lip and shook her head, hiding under her gold shoulder length hair. The woman sighed and patted her on the head, walking towards the house.
The little girl did not like kids. They were always mean and judgy. Whenever she went to play with them they always laughed at her shyness. So she just stayed alone, playing with her own toys.
"Mon!" The beautiful woman hugged her mother with a big smile on her face. "Oh God, you look amazing!"
"Well look at you, Lisa! Four kids and you look better than ever!" Both of the women laughed and then they eyes landed on the little girl, still hanging onto her mother's skirt. "Let me introduce to you my little princess Emily", the woman kneeled down and smiled to the scared girl.
"Oh she is precious, Mon..." the warm look on the woman's face made the little girl take a step closer. "You are such a beautiful little girl, Emily" a little blush appeared on her cheeks, making her even more adorable. "Come in both of you, I will introduce you to my kids" she nodded shyly, and followed her mother, still hiding behind her figure.
"Chris, baby bring Scott. He still hasn't eaten dinner!" After a while four kids ran down the stairs, making the girl hide even more.
"Mom you should have seen Chris... seriously he's such a..." the girl stopped talking noticing guests in the house. "Oh sorry!" She blushed a bit and I produced herself as Shanna.
After a while, other kids came as well, with Varly, Chris and Scott respectively.
"Hi" the youngest boy came closer to the still confused and lost girl standing near her mom. He was the same age as the girl. "You wanna come with us? Chris is doing a play" she widened her blue eyes and looked up at her mom, not knowing what to do. No kid ever asked her to play with them. When the woman smiled, the little girl was pulled by the middle boy, Chris, and lost in the next room.
"Scott, damn it! Eat your dinner!" Lisa shouted after the kids, making Mon laugh out loud.
**
"I hate boys!!" She hissed falling on Chris' bed with a deep sigh. He stopped doing his homework and looked at her. It was ten years since their first meeting. She was 15 now and Chris was slowly preparing to get into college. They became like brother and sister. Inseparable. He was the one who helped, the always shy Emily, fight with her fear of kids and even helped her make some friends outside of Evans family.
"Ouch", she looked up and giggled seeing his 'hurt' expression.
"I hate boys my age!" She changed her statement, making Chris raise his brow. Her smile disappeared and a single tear took its place. He put the books away and hurried to his friend. "I... broke up with Glin..." Chris sighed apparently relaxed, and pulled her towards him, soothing her back with his hand, letting her sob as much as she desired.
"What happened?" He was furious inside. He hated this little guy from the beginning. The 'famous, rich boy's type of guy who played with girls and their feelings. He was concerned about her. She went to school a year before everyone so, she was so happy that she got her first boyfriend so soon. Especially that he was 16 and quote insert 'so cute and handsome'. But he did remember himself when he was 15 and his dating life, so decided that he will not get involved in her. But all he wanted to do now is go and kick this little bastards ass.
"He cheated on me..." she pushed away from him to wipe away the tears. Her cheeks became red out of a sudden and she looked away. "I told him I don't want to have sex yet, and... he..."
"I'm gonna kill this bastard", she gripped into his arm, stopping him from leaving.
"No, please... I..." He shook his head and pulled her back into his arms, kissing the top of her head and saying sweet words to her ear.
"You did a good thing. I'm proud of you." She chuckled and punched him playfully on the arm.
"Oh yeah because I can't have sex till what? 21?"
"24... college and uni is a hell, so..." they both started to laugh, ending the day with a hot chocolate and an apple pie made by Lisa.
**
"You promise?" Tears could not stop falling when he was standing near the, already packed car. He was away to the acting school in New York which meant he would only come home for holidays.
"I promise. I will call you at least once a week and write you a letter whenever I can", he ruffled her hair and hugged her, feeling her trembling from crying. "And hey you can always visit me."
"Sure, I can see my mom accepting that" she answered sarcastically making him chuckle. "Just take care ok? Don't forget about us... me. I mean just don't be a stranger!"
"Sure thing", he winked at her and got into the car. "I'll call you when I'm there." And he was gone, leaving his house and friends behind.
"No kisses?" She jumped hearing Scott's voice behind her ear. Due to the same age, they have become good friends. More like friends that love to annoy themselves. Really annoy, but even though there was a platonic love there.
"Well, you can kiss my ass, if you want", he laughed out loud, and gave her a side hug, knowing well how heartbroken she was. After all his older brother did have a special place in this young girl's heart.
**
"I'll come to Boston to see you", She smiled through the FaceTime at the man on the other side. Her heart broke seeing his sad face.
"It's OK, Emy, you're opening in Madrid soon. I'll be fine." He tried to smile, but she knew him long enough to know, that this was a forced one. East was with him since he had his own place and the thought that this angelic dog was not with him anymore must break his heart into pieces. "I'm serious! I will mourn for a while, come home, eat some Boston pizza, and will be fine. Promise." She felt bad. She knew how much East meant to him. He had this dog since he moved out of the house, and he helped Chris so much with his loneliness and anxiety.
"I'm sorry, Chris..." She started tears in her eyes when she imagined what he might be going through. What kind of a friend was she, not to be able to help him. "I wish I was..."
"Emily, really don't" a little chuckle on the other line made her smile just a bit. "Talking with you is quite enough, really", She sniffed and bit her lip. "Don't cry, you know how I hate that" she nodded and noticed a smile approaching his face. "I've got to go. I'll FaceTime you at the end of the week, alright?"
"Take care, Chris!"
**
"I'll pick you up from the airport" She shook her head at the small camera of her smartphone.
"I can take a taxi, you know?" He snorted, which made her chuckle.
"Ma would whoop my ass if I would let you come here in a taxi!" She burst out laughing imagining Lisa beating the shit out of her adult son. "Plus I want to." She blushed and bit her lip, which went unnoticed by the man, who winked at her, making her pout. "You're still such a kid!" He joked, taking a sip of his Stella. "What time you landing again?" She noticed how he was looking for something, probably his notebook to write everything down. He was so old-fashioned.
"I should be in Boston at 16:35. Give around fifteen minutes for me to get by bags and stuff." He nodded and wrote everything down. "Thanks, Chris." He looked up and frowned. "I'll try to find something nice soon enough." He shook his head once again, crossing arms on his chest.
"You are already thinking of running away from me before we even moved in together?" He straightened and smiled softly. "Emy, come on, stop overthinking. I live in a house which is way too fucking big for me. It will be nice to have a company", He winked at her, and she responded with a smile. This man could be the most irritating person in the world, but also the nicest and cutest guy on earth at the same time. "Ok, need to go, promised mom to goo and see her tonight", he sends her a kiss and turned off the camera. She turned around and looked at her bags. That was it. She was coming back home. After all those years, she can finally be herself again.