8 Chapter 8 (2/2)
”You know... be Wyatt's wingman?” Aeris says. ”Help him ask Emma out. Like, it's so obvious the two want to be together that it's embarrassing that they haven't noticed it themselves. It's starting to make me cringe”.
”No” Jackson complains, ”you do it!”.
”Why are you so opposed to this?” Aeris asks. ”Do you still have your doubts about Wyatt?”.
”I can only trust Wyatt as much as I could trust any human” Jackson says. ”If the two of them went out, I can almost guarantee that it's because Wyatt thinks she's human. I still have my doubts about how much a human would go through for a laibah”.
”Well, think of it like this” Aeris says, ”would you go that far for a human if you liked them that much?”.
”No I wouldn't” Jackson says, ”that's why I wouldn't trust a human to work the opposite”.
”You're always so negative” Aeris says. ”Now you're the asshole that needs to lighten the hell up”.
Jackson thinks for a minute. ”... I guess you're right” Jackson says finally. ”Don't get me wrong, I won't go out of my way to get between them. However, I still can't imagine it working out between them”.
Later that night, when Wyatt came back from work, Wyatt sits on his bed and says ”Tomorrow is Friday, which means it's almost the weekend again. Got anything in mind on what you might want to do during the weekend?”.
”Not... really” Emma says. ”I haven't been able to think about that lately”.
”We don't have to do anything if you don't want to” Wyatt says. ”Relaxing is a good choice too. But if you can think of something to do, let me know”.
Emma nods her head and says ”Okay!”.
”By the way” Wyatt asks, ”Are you stopping by Savvy Threads tomorrow?”.
”Ah, that's right!” Emma says, ”I haven't been keeping up with my sewing! I don't have anything to sell this week! What with getting sick and all, I haven't been able to work on it as much”.
”What about the festival?” Wyatt asks. ”Are you making something to wear to the festival? If you want something special to wear, I can help you buy something... that is, if you don't want to make one for yourself”.
”Ah! That's right!” Emma says. Emma then begins mumbling to herself, saying ”How have I not thought about that yet!? Oh no, there's not much time... and I still have to make something for Matilda! How am I going to be able to do both? I'm going to have to work even harder”.
”Emma?” Wyatt asks. Emma kept mumbling to herself. ”Emma?” Wyatt asks again, but Emma didn't respond. Wyatt stood up, next to Emma's bed and asks ”Emma? Want me to help?”.
”H-help with sewing?” Emma asks.
”W-well, I don't know anything about sewing” Wyatt says, ”but I can buy you something for the festival if you want... unless you want me... to help with... stitching and stuff”.
”The problem is” Emma says, ”I don't think I could be a good enough teacher. However, I'm low on cloth, and I usually just take the... scraps left out... on the streets”.
”I can buy clean cloth and materials” Wyatt says.
”Really!?” Emma asks. ”B-but I couldn't ask you to do something like-”.
”Don't worry so much” Wyatt says. ”If it helps you, then it's fine. It shouldn't be too expensive. You need to not work yourself sick again”.
”... Right” Emma says quietly. ”Thanks, Wyatt”.
”No problem” Wyatt says.
Emma began working on stitching for a little while. Eventually, the two of them sleep for the night. As the next day began, they woke up in the morning again and prepared for school. When class started that morning, all the student were excited about two things. Tomorrow was the last day of August, meaning The Autumn Festival was getting closer. Also, tomorrow was Saturday, meaning another weekend was already within reach. The first class went by quickly, but relatively less quiet than yesterday. There was less complaining, but more excitement amongst the students. Today seemed to pass by quickly, and before they knew it, lunch period began.
”I've been thinking” Jessica says. ”We never really get to do anything together outside of class”.
”There's lunch” Jackson says. ”We do that together”.
”It's true, I was there” Aeris says sarcastically, while elbowing Jackson in the side.
”Ow, come on!” Jackson complains. ”I was just joking around!”.
”Anyways” Jessica continues, ”I was thinking. Why don't we hang out and do something this weekend? You know, together?”.
”I'm not into that kind of stuff” Jackson says. Aeris elbows Jackson in the side again. ”Ow!” He complains. ”Kidding! Geez!”.
”Sure” Aeris says, ”we'd love to find something to do. Anything in mind?”.
”Well, if everyone here is old enough, how about we go drinking together?” Jessica asks.
”I've never been out drinking before” Emma says, thinking to herself.
”Yeah, how about no?” Jackson says as he thinks ”If Emma drinks, she'll lose control of her shapeshift, no doubt” to himself.
”How about hitting up the arcade?” Jessica asks. ”Or maybe the park? Game of billiards, maybe?”.
”Those all sound kind of fun” Wyatt says.
”I'd give it a shot” Emma says, ”but what's billiards?”.
”It's pool” Aeris says.
”Like... swimming?” Emma asks. Aeris, Jackson and Jessica look over at Emma with a worried expression on their face. ”What?” Emma asks.
”... Aaaanyways” Jessica continues, ”how about we meet up by the school gate tomorrow. We can think of what to do as we go”.
”I'm down” Wyatt says.
”I'm up for the task” Emma says.
”I'm Jackson” Jackson says sarcastically. With a quick reflex, Jackson shields his side from Aeris's elbow. ”Not this time, Aeris” He taunts.
”I'm going to start limiting you on bad jokes” Aeris says. ”I'll keep a tally chart and everything, and start assaulting you once you've exceeded your limit”. Jackson begins laughing nervously, until he eventually asks ”What time is the meet up? Noon... or what?”.
”Mid-day, if that works for everyone” Jessica says. ”I do want to sleep in at least a little on the weekends”.
”That's fine with me” Wyatt says.
”Yeah, that's cool” Aeris says.
After school ended, Emma stays up late working on stitching. When Wyatt comes back, she was nearly finished with her project. ”At least I'll have one thing I can give Matilda this weekend” Emma says.
”Oh?” Wyatt asks. ”You're already almost done with something?”.
”Mm-Hmm!” Emma says as she nods her head slightly.
”You work so fast” Wyatt says. ”You're not working yourself too much, are you?”.
”Don't worry, I'm fine” Emma says.
”Alright, Alright” Wyatt says as he puts his hands in the air, as if to surrender. ”Sorry I keep nagging you”.
Emma thinks for a minute and says ”You remind me a little bit of Matilda” then Emma giggles.
”Uh... thanks?” Wyatt says as he sits on his bed. ”I'm exhausted, so I'm going to sleep soon. Do you want me to leave the light on for you?”.
”Hm?” Emma says as she continues working on her project.
”If you want to stay up and finish your work” Wyatt says, ”I'll leave the lights on for you”.
”Oh, no! No, that's fine!” Emma says. ”If you need sleep, you can-”.
Wyatt laughs softly and says ”It's fine. Your stitching is important to you. The light won't bother me”.
”Oh...” Emma says, feeling bad because Wyatt is always trying to help and she feels like she hasn't done anything to deserve it. ”Okay”.
Emma thinks for a moment, then gets up and turns the lights off. ”Is something wrong?” Wyatt asks.
”No, it's just...” Emma says as she thinks. ”You're always trying to help, and then telling me not to worry... but I worry about you too, and I don't want to be that selfish. You need rest so you don't get sick too, so don't tell me 'it's okay' or 'don't worry'. At least let me help you too”.
Emma sits down next to the window, and begins working under the moonlight. Wyatt was thinking of what to say. Eventually, Wyatt speaks up, saying ”Sorry, I just always worry about people like that” with a laugh.
Emma laughs softly and says ”That makes two of us!”.