Chapter 1

Emma's POV

“Are you sure about that?” I asked my mom as soon as she flashed her diamond ring in my face.

She's been head over heels in love with her new man, and while they get on my nerves sometimes, especially on the days I caught them making out in the living room, one thing I can't deny is the fact that they are good together.

“Yes honey.” She replied beaming. “What's wrong?” Mom looked concerned, she probably sensed that I wasn't so cool with it, but I didn't want to be the party pooper.

“Oh no. Don't get me wrong. I just wanted to make sure that you are certain about it.” I replied to her. “Besides, is it an old people's thing to not propose in public. Why did he slip the ring under the duvet?” I teased her.

“Please!” She said, laughing. Before Mark, my soon to be step dad, it's been a really long while since I saw my mom so happy. She was a workaholic. A lifestyle I think she picked up after my dad.

It was a great save from alcohol, but I still didn't have her to myself, it was all work, then Mark came along.

“So what's next?” Do I get to be on your train?” I asked.

She seemed so eager to laugh at every single thing. That probably is what happiness feels like.

I hope I get to experience it someday.

“You know that's a given.” She replied.

I wasn't expecting that. I know it was a little delusional of me to think it was all a joke, but some part of me really wished it was.

I needed my mom!

Her marriage to Mark was going to mean a lot.

Mark is a great guy, but I'd rather we stayed like this. I don't ever want anyone else to hurt my mom the way dad did. He broke her so bad, she could not help it.

Our life wasn't so great afterwards, but it was at least drama free.

Mark, who owns a chain of stores, one of which my mom operated, started visiting more often, and not just for business sake.

In the beginning, it was nice that she came back from work less grumpy. Or that she started staying out a little later, giving me a itsy-bitsy little bit of freedom.

Then she brought back leftovers, which were far more classy than the veggies we always had for dinner.

I was excited and wished that whatever was driving change in this direction never stopped.

Then she started coming home with my own pack. I knew she couldn't afford that from her salary, and that was where the suspicion started setting in.

I mean, it was great that I could finally relate to all the great foods the girls at school always talked about, but I had my mom less.

Mom was home less frequently, fortunately or unfortunately, it was also around that time that a new neighbor moved in with her kids, both about my age.

Kayla made the first move. “Hi, I'm Kayla, he's Kevin.” She broke into my thoughts on one of those days when I stood in the hallway, hoping no one saw me while I gawked at how toned ‘he’ was. It had always been ‘he’, now I knew his name, I could call him by his name in my dreams. Shamelessly, I was enjoying the fact that he was stealing my dreams and that I said everything I ever wanted to say to him in real life there.

“Oh. Uhm. Hi, Kay, Kayla.” I stuttered dumbly after she snuck up on me. Her voice clearly betrayed that she found it amusing. She was seconds away from ripping at the seams.

“I'll tell him you fancy him. Some yeast to his ego that is already far off the roof.” She gave an eye roll and stalled off. She was a very attractive girl. For a second, she made me wish I was into women. I'd have all that beauty to myself, till my eyes caught Kevin again. I instantly unwished it.

He was a Greek God in the form of a high school kid.

“Oh, and he takes your classes too.” Kayla turned back and said when she was already within his earshot. Kevin turned back immediately and looked at who Kayla was referring to.

Determined to not let him see me, I turned back and ran back into the house.

I'm not proud of the last bit of memory I have from that morning, but the story is really incomplete without it.

Mom always had the decency to not be in the same space I was when she and Mark were on their never ending calls they made when Mark was out of town.

This time around, I ran inside determined not to let Kevin see who his stalker was.

Mom was clothless, stark naked. I wished that was all. She was on a video call with Mark, and trust me when I say she had more clothes on than he did.

I immediately ran back out, screaming.

This time around, Kevin and Kayla ran towards me. With each step he took, I saw his thighs contract and relax, his hair toddling in the breeze, and his eyes looking for who just made the eerie sound in the ever quiet hallway. They had gotten really close before I remembered that I had to have something to tell them. Stupid me!

I can't say anything about mom, never, that was between her and I…

“Are you alright?” He asked. The moment he opened his mouth, I wished he took mine in his. My hormones were rioting and running wild. Kayla, who understood, stood behind him, laughing at the exchange.

I was too embarrassed, already reddening in the cheeks.

Kevin put his hands on my shoulder and held my face in one hand. “I asked if you are alright. You screamed really loud.” He repeated.

“Sorry.” It's the only thing I could utter. My mind was blank.