5 Chapter 5 (2/2)

”I was going to take this to Matilda too, but I forgot” Emma says. ”I was using it as a bed for so long, that I forgot to take it with us... but if I sell this dress, then I'll also have to sleep on the floor...”.

Wyatt does a fake cough to get Emma's attention. When Emma looks over at Wyatt, he was pointing at the top bed of the bunk bed. ”Why not use the actual bed that's been here all along, like I suggested a while ago?” Wyatt asks.

”Are you sure I can use that?” Emma asks.

”Am I sure-” Wyatt begins to ask, ”no one else is using it! Of course you can have the bed! If you want to sell that dress too, we can go back. We have plenty of time”.

Emma nods her head and says ”Okay” in a low voice.

The two of them head back to Savvy Threads and walk inside. ”Back already?” Matilda asks.

”Sorry” Emma says, ”I forgot that I had one more to bring”.

”Don't worry, child” Matilda says, ”you must've really been at work with all these”.

”Yeah, Wyatt even let me miss class once because I stayed up all night” Emma says.

Wyatt begins to laugh to himself, as if he was feeling good about himself for doing it. Suddenly, Emma jabs him in the side with her elbow and Wyatt says ”Ow!”.

”Wyatt, can I talk to Emma once again in private?” Matilda asks. ”I need to have a talk about her overexerting herself”.

”Oh... yeah, okay” Wyatt says with a suspicious look on his face.

After Wyatt leaves the store again, Matilda looks down at Emma and says ”I had a talk with the young man”.

”About what?” Emma asks.

”About laibah” Matilda says.

”B-but, Matilda!” Emma complains. ”Why would... What did you tell him!?”.

”Don't worry, dear” Matilda says, ”I didn't tell him about you. I just wanted to make sure he wouldn't betray your feelings just because you're a laibah”.

”... and... what did he say?” Emma asks, softly.

”He seems promising” Matilda says. ”Apparently, his first friend was laibah. He's all clear. I even gave him the ol' look in the eyes to make sure he wasn't lying test. He doesn't seem to hate laibah one bit”.

”Yeah...” Emma says, ”I think I've already known that... but”.

”But?” Matilda asks.

”But what if he still feels that he can't... be closer” Emma says, ”all because I'm a laibah? Even if... we could... you know... get that close... I don't think I could tell him about that, ever”.

”Hm...” Matilda says as she thinks to herself, ”that is quite the conundrum. Shall I go ask him if he'd be willing to date a laibah then?” Matilda teases Emma.

”No!” Emma panics. ”Please, no! Don't do that”.

”Alright, alright” Matilda says, ”settle down. I was only teasing you”.

”Yeah, and giving me a heart attack” Emma says, taking deep breaths. ”You're too lively to not do something like that!”.

”Oh, quit your piping” Matilda says, ”you're too young for having a heart attack that easy”. Matilda hands a little more money to Emma and says ”Remember to take your time. Don't rush things. But also remember that it can't work out unless you're honest with him”.

”Alright, Matilda” Emma says as she walks away, ”just try not to get too involved in this”.

”I won't” Matilda assures.

”Promise?” Emma says, looking very worried.

”You're such a worry wart” Matilda says, ”I promise”.

Emma and Wyatt make it back to the dorm room once again. After they get there, Emma immediately lays down on the top bunk of the bunk bed. Wyatt sits down on his bed beneath her and says ”It's already been a long day, and the day is barely half over”. Wyatt then begins to scratch the back of his head and laugh. ”At least it was fun” he says, ”but we still have time to do something else, if you want... can you think of anything to do?”. Emma doesn't respond. ”Emma?” Wyatt asks, but Emma still doesn't respond. ”Hello?” Wyatt asks as he stands up. Emma was laying down on the bed and staring at the ceiling. ”Earth to Emma?” Wyatt asks as he waves his hand over her head.

Emma's head shoots off of the bed as she looks down at Wyatt. ”W-What?” She asks.

”Are you okay?” Wyatt asks. ”You seemed like you were really zoning out”.

”I'm... fine” Emma says.

”Are you sure?” Wyatt asks. ”Because the other day, you seemed to be having a really bad dream. You were even crying in your sleep and everything... are you sure you're fine?”.

Emma nods her head and says ”Yeah... just got a lot on my mind”.

Wyatt looks down, feeling like he's somewhat helpless in this situation. He feels like something is wrong, but he doesn't know how to help. ”I-if... you say so...” he says.

”I've been thinking” Emma says, ”the Autumn Festival is coming up soon, isn't it?”.

Wyatt takes a sigh of relief and asks ”Is that what was on your mind? Y-yeah, I think it's in just about a month”.

”Do you... maybe...” Emma says as she tries to find the right words to say ”wanna go together this year? I-I've never been to the festival before. I was kind of hoping that we could... go?”.

Wyatt smiles and says ”Yeah, sure! Let's do it! I've never been before either though, so I won't make for a good guide”.

”That's better!” Emma says, ”I don't really need a guide, I'm just glad I have someone to go with! It can be a first for both of us too!”.

”Yeah” Wyatt says, ”it'll be tough being around so many different people, but it should be fun. What should we do for the rest of today? Do you want to just relax?”.

”Oh... yeah” Emma says, ”I think I'll just relax for now”.

”Alright” Wyatt says as he stands up. ”I'll be right back then!”.

”Where are you going?” Emma asks.

”Ah, well” Wyatt says, ”my check from work was finally cashed in today on my cash card, where I keep my money stored. I was going to go pick something up, like maybe some food. If you want to stay here for now, I'll just be right back”.

”I can come with” Emma says as she sits up.

”Alright” Wyatt jokes, ”then let's go on one more quick adventure for today”.

The two of them find the nearest general store, which was a couple blocks away from Savvy Threads and Out & About. There, Wyatt buys some dry food they can store in the dorms. Wyatt also buys a pillow, a blanket and some sheets.

”What's all that for?” Emma asks.

”It's for your bed” Wyatt says with a smile. ”I wanted to be able to get this before, but I didn't have enough money”.

”It's... for me?” Emma asks.

”Yep” Wyatt says, ”hopefully it makes you feel more at home”.

Emma was silent for a moment, before she looks up at Wyatt and says ”Thank you!”.

”Anytime” Wyatt says. ”It wouldn't be fair if I were the only one sleeping well, and you definitely seem like you could use a better sleep”.

”It's not even my birthday yet” Emma says with a laugh.

”Wait, when is your birthday?” Wyatt asks.

”December 25th” Emma says.

”On Christmas?” Wyatt asks. Emma nods her head, seeming a little shy. ”That's way too cool!”.

”It's not... that cool” Emma says. ”When is your birthday? I'll try and return the favor”.

”You don't have to do that” Wyatt says.

”Just tell me when your damn birthday is...” Emma demands.

”July 2nd” Wyatt says. ”You kinda... already missed it... b-but don't worry, it's fine. You don't have to-”.

”Then next July” Emma interrupts. ”I'll return the favor”.