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Post by Andrew on Feb 17, 2012 10:33:41 GMT -5
The moment Taegan entered his life again, he was busy dealing with a broken heart. He didn't blame Emma, and he never would. Because in that reality--that old reality--he was head over heels in love with what he thought was Emma. He knew what he was looking for, and what he found in Emma that he so desperately needed. It was love. A mothers love. He loved Emma, for all the right reasons at one point. Somewhere down the line, it got twisted in tangled in a path of thorns. No matter what he did, someone got hurt. Emma was hurt, he was sure of it. Probably even upset with him over the fact he had kissed her. But, Taegan came in and stirred things up. He wasn't locked away in his room pen and paper in hand, listening to sad music. Instead, he was out every day. If it wasn't to the park, it was somewhere equally amusing. He forgot how much he'd missed her, Taegan. Things were so different now. He was different. (talking to your mothers ghost does these things to you.) But for the last two days, he's back to being locked in his room. But, for a completely different reason. And that, is what brought him downstairs, in search of Emma. He needed to talk. About what happened, about where they stood as professor and student. And... about Taegan. " Emma?" He called out, looking around the empty living room. Where the hell is everyone? |
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Post by Emma Lawrence on Feb 17, 2012 15:34:38 GMT -5
Just Takes Time
Her exact words had been "Stay away from the pool or you'll drown" when she left the group of children with their teenage "babysitters" in the backyard. Really, it was a way for the children to play with people who wouldn't constantly gripe about not getting a break, and a way for her to get some down time. She'd been fussing with getting classes ready and done since five in the morning, and it was time for a midday reprieve.
Today being her cheat day, Emma sat on the counter of the kitchen, tuned into Ellen Degeneres and sipping her chocolate shake through a straw that was thick enough to pass for a sex toy. Her cheeks were still flushed from the heat of the impending spring outside, hat comfortably passing over her forehead and threatening to slip into her eyes. "Cian, why is your head so big," she grumbled, pushing it up for the ump-teenth time this afternoon. Kidnapping his fedoras was simply out of habit, and she was somehow always surprised when they didn't fit.
A clank at the sliding glass door made her turn her head to see a toddler being chased by a preteen, and accidentally slamming into the invisible blockage. "Ooh, baby," she laughed as she watched him rub his nose, still stunned from the impact, soon joined by the teen who took him up in her arms. "He all right?" she called through chuckles, receiving a nod. Then they disappeared into the backyard again.
Just as she was getting back to Ellen, another sound pervaded through the air. "Emma?"
"Kitchen," she called instinctively, taking a gulp of her shake. |
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Post by Andrew on Feb 17, 2012 15:49:16 GMT -5
Those mere seconds before he heard an answer, seemed to drag on. As if you could hear a clocks infamous sounds. Tick, tock... tick, tock... Even his heart was racing. He wasn't sure what to do. But, he knew if he could tlk it out. Everything would be better.
"Kitchen,"
He nodded, taking in a deep breath, both hands in his jeans as he strolled through the archway into the kitchen. "Hey." He smiled softly, noticing she was in fact alone. "Hey." Now he was just repeating himself. Christ sake, spit it out. He told himself. "I was hoping I could talk to you," He tacked on. "If your not too busy, that is." He gave a nod, reassuring himself that talking to Emma was the best--right--thing to do.
"I've been thinking a lot, and despite what happened... I knew I could come to you."He sighed, walking in further and leaning against the counter. "I don't even know if your any kind of mad at me for what I did... But I, I feel like I should apologize to you before anything else."
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Post by Emma Lawrence on Feb 17, 2012 15:56:59 GMT -5
"Hey."
Turning her head, straw still between her lips, she saw with surprise that it was Andrew, who had obviously come looking for her. At his repetition, she put the drink on the counter and turned to face him fully. "Hey," she returned, sensing very strongly that something was troubling him. He was radiating with worry and guilt, coming off in smoky, gray rays from his body. She blinked, focusing her thoughts and turning off her Empathy for the time being.
"I was hoping I could talk to you, if you're not too busy, that is."
She reached for the remote and turned off the television as Ellen was mid-sentence. Once adjusted to give him her undivided attention, she picked up her glass and began to drink again. "Never too busy for my favorite dude," she said with a grin, straw settled between her teeth. She took a long sip, puzzling over what could be eating at him.
"I knew I could come to you."
"Always can, Andy. Nothing's going to change that. And maybe it's me putting on my mom jeans, but I spend too much time watching Lion King with my kids, so I have to quote it: 'Gotta put your past behind you.' What's done is done. I'm not going to hang on it unless you need to get it out of your system in order to move on. I'm not going to pain you like that--or pity you." With Emma, growing up at been a whole lot about tough love, which she found she brought to her own parenting and teaching skills. Sometimes it hurt, but she thought she had turned out okay.
"I feel like I should apologize to you before anything else."
She snickered, shaking her head. "Apology accepted. Thank you. Now what's on your mind?" |
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Post by Andrew on Feb 17, 2012 16:05:44 GMT -5
"Never too busy for my favorite dude,"
He smiled, busying himself with filling a cup of coffee. He listened intently as she talked his head down slightly. He couldn't help but chuckle at the Lion King quote. "Good to know I guess." He sighed, finding his spot beside her.
"Apology accepted. Thank you. Now what's on your mind?"
"You and I both know what I just said was no form of an apology." He smirked. "Thank you." He smiled softly, sipping on his coffee. "Taegan?" Just saying her name made him grin. A soft laugh escaped him then. "With everything in my life. My mom, My dad, siblings, even you. She's been by my side through all of my hard times." He took in a deep breath, eyes closing.
"I've had a crush on her since we were ten... and she has no idea."
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Post by Emma Lawrence on Feb 17, 2012 16:11:29 GMT -5
"You and I both know what I just said was no form of an apology."
"Past behind you," she snapped with a grin, not wanting to dwell on it. They both knew what he had meant, but she wasn't in the mood to go through all the technicalities of the soppy, wet stuff that went along with sincere apologies. She looked over her shoulder for a moment, watching him move up beside her as she sat unmoving on the counter. Then she turned to face him again.
"Teagan? Was that a question? Or was he uneasy bringing up the subject of her? She sifted through her files of memory, trying to remember the face. Bright eyes, nice girl. The one who had seen Emma scold the kids at the front door. Lovely first impression. A grin broke her face and she forgot completely about the chocolate shake. "Ooh, a crush," she echoed deliberately, scooting closer so her legs were hanging off the edge of the counter. "Tell Emma all about it."
She was suddenly very aware of how dull her life had become now that she was excited about sharing gossip with a boy more than five years her junior. |
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Post by Andrew on Feb 17, 2012 16:17:45 GMT -5
"Past behind you,"
He laughed softly. "Right." He nodded softly. This felt... good. It was nice to be next to her and not have his heart ache for his mom. Maybe it was those eyes, or her smile that reminded him of his mother. But, it was nice. It was comforting.
"Ooh, a crush, Tell Emma all about it."
He chuckled, looking at her before shaking his head. "Well, when we were younger she use to..." His voice slowed the words that came out next. "beat..me..up." He smiled brightly. "Seeing her here again... is like..." It was hard to explain.
"It stirs up old feelings." He said simply with a sigh.
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Post by Emma Lawrence on Feb 17, 2012 16:25:56 GMT -5
Now very convinced that she would never be able to figure Andrew out, Emma reacted to his confessions. Perking an eyebrow, she laughed at his explanation. "Beat you up?" she reiterated with an end chuckle, trying to figure out if he was joking by the smile that was growing on his face. "Call me crazy, Drew, but that doesn't exactly seem...endearing." Somewhere there was probably some psychological reason behind his feelings--Emma's brain screamed masochism, but that seemed very unlikely for a sensitive writer like himself--but she wasn't going to search for the answer.
The fact and important thing was that she had been right and he had moved on. He had found someone else to love, someone with whom he had a chance to be in a stable, secure relationship. Someone who would love him back and was in the right league and age category. "Well, have you asked her out?" she inquired with a nudge to his shoulder. "Girls love it when guys ask for surprise dates to fun spots around the city. You should go all Prince Charming on her. Sweep her off her feet, go nuts. You're young, right?" She gave him another nudge, going back to her shake.
"Then you'll get married and meet her parents and have little mini half Andrew babies. Omigod, can I be the godmother please? Want some shake? It's my cheat day." She offered him her glass, giggling at her own rambling. She was far too excited about this potential adolescent relationship. "You have to tell me when you make a move. So I can harass you both in my class." |
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Post by Andrew on Feb 17, 2012 16:38:22 GMT -5
"Beat you up?" she reiterated with an end chuckle, trying to figure out if he was joking by the smile that was growing on his face. "Call me crazy, Drew, but that doesn't exactly seem...endearing."
He had to laugh at that. "Didn't feel endearing either." He grinned. "But that's how she was. She's a tough girl. Though if she tries now she knows she'll lose." He smirked. "It was always me her and Jake and Ryan."
"Well, have you asked her out?"
Andrew quickly shook his head. "Girls love it when guys ask for surprise dates to fun spots around the city. You should go all Prince Charming on her. Sweep her off her feet, go nuts. You're young, right?" The moment he opened his mouth, she went on, only making him more freaked out about this as he already was.
"Then you'll get married and meet her parents and have little mini half Andrew babies. Omigod, can I be the godmother please? Want some shake? It's my cheat day."
He was beginning to think she had too much chocolate. Which is why he grabbed the offered cup and set it on the opposite side of him. "You have to tell me when you make a move. So I can harass you both in my class."
"Woah, slow down." He took in a deep breath. "Emma. Your talking to a guy who has never asked a girl out in his lifetime. Let alone, sweep her off her feet. I know her parents. I know her, but I have NO IDEA what I'm doing. That's why I came to you..."
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Post by Emma Lawrence on Feb 17, 2012 16:45:34 GMT -5
Suddenly it was all making sense. The pieces started to fall into place, and her eyes shone with realization when he went on about how he was planning to pop his dating cherry. A bright smile lit up her face, though it fell when he took away her cup without taking a drink. "Mine," she whined, reaching for it. "I only get one cheat day a week. I'm being good so far." Grabbing it from his other side, she gave his head a decent slap before sucking down the remainder of it.
Her cheeks rounded with a smile as she set the cup down. "Oh my god, yes! Don't worry, it's easy. We're not that hard to impress, trust me. Just ask Cian. I was a pushover. He asked me out on a date after we'd met for the first time and I said yes. No worries, I've got your back. You'll be swooning ladies before you even lift a finger." Leaping from the counter, she grabbed his hand and set him in front of her. "Okay, let's do a little role playing to see what you've got so far. Now pretend I'm Teagan--what's the first thing you would say?"
She was already planning an agenda in her head. She'd teach him how to act chivalrous to really throw Teagan and make her coming running back to him, she'd teach him how to dance, how to pay for dates... Maybe even a little advice on kissing. No demonstrations, of course, but a lot of people judged the potential of a relationship based on the first kiss. He had to do it well if Teagan made the first move and took him by surprise. This was going to be too much fun. She couldn't wait to teach Maura how to flirt without being a whore, and talk to her about boy problems, and watch her go on her first date. |
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Post by Andrew on Feb 17, 2012 16:52:02 GMT -5
"Mine," she whined, reaching for it. "I only get one cheat day a week. I'm being good so far."
He smirked, shaking his head as he finally let her have it back. "Okay, okay. Just don't go all ballistic and speak in tongues, okay?" He was joking of course, partially. There was a look in her eyes then, and he knew something was coming...
"Oh my god, yes! Don't worry, it's easy. We're not that hard to impress, trust me. Just ask Cian. I was a pushover. He asked me out on a date after we'd met for the first time and I said yes. No worries, I've got your back. You'll be swooning ladies before you even lift a finger."
He was hesitant to say the least, but he nodded softly. "Okay..." He spoke softly, watching as she jumped down off the counter and facing him. "Okay, let's do a little role playing to see what you've got so far. Now pretend I'm Teagan--what's the first thing you would say?"
"Hi?" He paused. "No, I can do better. Um, Hello Taegan."
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Post by Emma Lawrence on Feb 17, 2012 17:07:33 GMT -5
She cocked a brow. "'Hello, Taegan'? That's it? That's all you got?" She gave him a playful shove. "Give her a compliment or something. I mean, not obnoxious. Because that'll be too obvious. Maybe the way she chose to accessorize that day, or how she did her hair that morning. Just a little something." She started to remember how she met Cian, how their chemistry in the beginning was shaky and awkward, but she knew he had definitely sparked an interest in her. Maybe it was the way he was automatically good with Oliver, or the way he smiled and blushed when she told him Dean wasn't her husband. Didn't matter.
((Fuck, I'm sorry. XD short and shitty.))
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Post by Andrew on Feb 17, 2012 17:14:38 GMT -5
"'Hello, Taegan'? That's it? That's all you got?" She gave him a playful shove. "Give her a compliment or something. I mean, not obnoxious. Because that'll be too obvious. Maybe the way she chose to accessorize that day, or how she did her hair that morning. Just a little something."
He took in a deep breath, closing his eyes as he thought of Taegan. Like the one day at the park when she wore that strapless sundress, and how beautiful she looked in the golden light behind autumn trees. As his eyes opened, he was sure he knew what to say. "Tae." He paused.
"I don't know what to say..." He looked to Emma. "I think I know what to say. It's just..." It was hard to say it aloud. "Maybe if I wrote it down first?" He asked softly.
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Post by Emma Lawrence on Feb 17, 2012 19:12:47 GMT -5
It was an idea she wished she had come up with. Of course a writer would do better if he wrote it down first. "Excellent, definitely. Go for it." Rounding the counter, she dug through the drawer and handed him a piece of paper and a pen. It would be interesting to see what he came up with. Personally, poetry never did anything but irritate her if it was used as a pickup line, but maybe Taegan was different. And maybe he wasn't writing poetry, either. Peeking over to try to get a glimpse, she crossed her arms on the counter, leaning.
Then it dawned on her. "Have you really never asked a girl out? Really, you? But...you're like...perfect," she chuckled, shaking her head and pulling the hair in her ponytail. "That didn't come out right. I meant just that you're a very good looking guy. I'm surprised that you haven't had a lot of girls falling at your feet to get a date with you. Especially since you're a poet. Girls are so drawn to sensitive types. You've got everything to offer a girl. What gives, Drew?" By this time, she had gone around the counter again to ruffle his hair with her hand and link her arm around his neck, letting it rest over his shoulders. |
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Post by Andrew on Feb 17, 2012 20:00:49 GMT -5
"Excellent, definitely. Go for it."He waited until Emma handed him a piece of paper and a pen. Taking a deep breath, he turned around and started to write, as he leaned over the counter. "Have you really never asked a girl out? Really, you? But...you're like...perfect," His brows furrowed, looking back at Emma before turning back to the paper in front of him. "That didn't come out right. I meant just that you're a very good looking guy. I'm surprised that you haven't had a lot of girls falling at your feet to get a date with you. Especially since you're a poet. Girls are so drawn to sensitive types. You've got everything to offer a girl. What gives, Drew?"" Don't get me wrong, I can flirt. But uh, never can get up the courage to ask a girl out." He commented as the pen flew away on the paper. " Almost done." He replied softly before grabbing his coffee cup. Five minutes passed, and he handed it over to Emma. Tae, you know me. You get me. You are, and always will be my best friend. But I can't continue this charade. Do you remember that day when we were ten years old? The one where you wore that gorgeous blue dress that twirled when you spinned around? That's the moment when things changed between us. I know I'm rambling by now... and I know you know I do that when I'm nervous. So...
Lemme shorten it to this.
I want you. Taegan Jade Rowlins. All of you or nothing at all. " So uh," He paused, leaning against her slightly as he watched her read the last few lines. " How'd I do?"
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Post by Emma Lawrence on Feb 17, 2012 20:23:30 GMT -5
Receiving the paper, Emma pulled it up to her face to read it. It came straight from the heart. Any guy who could remember something that specific from when he was ten years old was automatically impressive, and she knew Taegan would think so too. She smiled as she passed over the last few lines, setting the paper back into his hand. "I think any girl would consider herself lucky to get something like that," she said with certainty, nodding curtly and folding her arms.
"Now your next job is to teach Cian how to write me pretty things like that," she joked with a grin.
Her hat fell into her eyes again and she pushed it up past her hairline. "So when are you going to give it to her?" she inquired, pushing stray bang-length strands of her hair out of her face. "That is--how long do I have to wait before I can start making fun of you two in class?" With her arm around his neck again, she pressed a firm kiss onto his cheek. "Cause you know there's no way you're getting out of his one, bud."
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Post by Andrew on Feb 17, 2012 20:34:31 GMT -5
"I think any girl would consider herself lucky to get something like that,"
The breath he didn't know he was holding, came wooshing out in a loud sigh of relief. "Now your next job is to teach Cian how to write me pretty things like that," He smiled. "Yeah, sure, anytime. fifty bucks." He joked back with a grin.
"So when are you going to give it to her?" she inquired, pushing stray bang-length strands of her hair out of her face. "That is--how long do I have to wait before I can start making fun of you two in class?"
"Uh, tomorrow night? We're watching a uh, lights off movie-a-thon of Nightmare of elm street." He paused. "It'll be just us, and... hopefully it goes well. Oh, and please don't." He smiled, feeling her lips press against his cheek, her arm around his neck.
"Cause you know there's no way you're getting out of his one, bud."
"Of course. Pleasure from pain, right? Gotta love it." He chuckled.
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Post by Emma Lawrence on Feb 18, 2012 15:57:01 GMT -5
"Oh, of course," smirked Emma cynically, jerking her eyebrows up, making quotations with her fingers, "'movie night.' I've played that card before." The best part was following the music of the movies in the background, letting that dominate the moves or position or heat. She smiled to herself momentarily, making sure it wasn't on her face long enough for Andrew to notice. Her -ahem- activity with Cian was their business and theirs alone.
"Oh, I almost forgot," she said, standing upright and pulling him with her again. "You guys are going to have to go out eventually, you gotta know how to dance, right? Please tell me you went to, like, at least once high school dance. She'll be ridiculously impressed if you can dance. Or at least know how to keep rhythm with your feet. Come on, show me."
((RAWR. sorry, s+s)) |
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Post by Andrew on Feb 18, 2012 16:01:51 GMT -5
"Oh, of course," smirked Emma cynically, jerking her eyebrows up, making quotations with her fingers, "'movie night.' I've played that card before."
Andrew's brows raised, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he was pulled along with her again.
"Oh, I almost forgot," she said, standing upright and pulling him with her again. "You guys are going to have to go out eventually, you gotta know how to dance, right? Please tell me you went to, like, at least once high school dance. She'll be ridiculously impressed if you can dance. Or at least know how to keep rhythm with your feet. Come on, show me."
"Um..." He cleared his throat, looking around. "There's no music... Besides, she's the dancer. I'm the guy who writes like frost. Remember? I mean, I can dance...." He paused then. "I think..." He sighed, turning around and placing his head on Emma's shoulder. "I'm hopeless."
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Post by Emma Lawrence on Feb 18, 2012 16:08:46 GMT -5
Tilting her head back, Emma let out a hearty laugh. "Don't worry," she said, giving his shoulder a pat. Reaching for another remote, she clicked on the nearby stereo, a soft and breezy tune starting up on the station. It was easy enough to dance to, she figured, especially for someone who was just starting out.
"Here," she began, taking hold of his hands, "start like this. It's classy and won't make her feel like you own her yet." As she brought his hands around her to lay on her waist, she eyed him, adding, "Don't freak out." Her smile softened, and she wound her arms around his neck, starting her hips in one direction, moving with the beat of the music.
She nodded, getting him to move with her instead of letting her do all the work. "Good, keep going. Think you can take the lead?" She inched closer, their hips touching gingerly, her chest barely given enough space between his. |
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