10 Chapter 10 (2/2)
”I think Jessica” Aeris says, ”since it was her idea”.
”I think it should be Aeris” Jessica says, ”she smarter, and it'd probably make more sense for a laibah to be the president of the club”.
”Is this a niceness competition?” Jackson says. ”We can't even decide on a leader, let alone our own damn futures. How about this? I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 10”.
”5” Jessica says.
”7” Aeris says.
”Aeris is the president” Jackson says, ”congrats. You're the president of a non-existent club!”.
”Wait, what was the number?” Jessica asks.
”It was 8” Jackson says.
”How about the club room?” Emma asks.
”Should we try asking Principal Schafold if we could use the roof?” Wyatt asks. ”I mean, we already eat there, so...”.
”Sure, why not?” Jackson asks. ”Try it when it actually matters... in about four months”.
When it was time for lunch, the group sat on the roof again. Emma thought to herself about what she wanted to do and how she should do it. As she thinks, she recalls something Matilda had once told her, before she enrolled in Harrison University. ”If you're worried about what's going to happen all the time” Matilda had told her, ”Then it shows you're not ready to give up. Try finding something that'll give you the time to find your place in the world. A girl your age should probably enroll in a college anyways. Try that, and give yourself time to find your place in life. Don't let your past ruin your future”. As Emma thinks to herself, she says ”Sometimes, Matilda really reminds me of mom” to herself.
”Well” Aeris says, ”we may not have come up with a plan for our distant futures today, but at least we came up with something. It's a good start”.
”At least it's something” Jackson says. ”Maybe college won't be so annoying after all...”.
”Maybe not” Jessica says. ”This could very well be the real start of the rest of our lives”.
”Suddenly, it doesn't sound so impressive anymore” Jackson says. ”If the rest of our lives will be this boring”.
”That's not what I meant, jackass” Jessica says. ”What I mean is, maybe it could be all uphill from here”.
”Shit, I'd hope so” Aeris says.
”It'll only be uphill if that's how we make it” Wyatt says. ”We just have to do our best to make sure that's the case”.
”Oh my god, you're such a nerd” Jackson says.
”Are you asking for a broken rib?” Aeris asks Jackson.
”Geez, okay” Jackson says. ”I'll be nice”.
Later that night, when school was over, Wyatt and Emma head back to the dorm. Wyatt leaves for work, and Emma stays in the dorm to work on stitching. ”The future is hard to think about” Emma says to herself. ”I want to keep making clothes, but I also can't imagine much past the festival... I don't even know how I'm supposed to get through the next couple weeks. How am I supposed to create an opportunity under these circumstances, mom?”. Emma waited, as if waiting for an answer from her mother to come down from the heavens. ”I can't even be honest with Wyatt, let alone try to lead myself through the next couple weeks. What am I supposed to do?”.
”What am I supposed to do?” Wyatt asks his coworker, Amelia, during work. ”The festival is so close, and I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do. I know she's probably nervous about it too, but I'm not sure if I can make her genuinely happy”.
”You're pretty crazy about her, aren't you?” Amelia asks. ”Why the sudden worry about making her happy?”.
”Because...” Wyatt says as he thinks about the correct words to say. ”I've seen her cry, and I've seen her sad. It's the type of face that makes me want to cry just for seeing it. She's had it pretty rough, and I think... she deserves better than that”.
”And now you're not sure if you're the right one to do that for her?” Amelia asks. ”Are you giving up before you even try?”.
”I... don't want to give up” Wyatt says. ”I just...”.
”Want what's best for her?” Amelia asks. ”Look, if I had a nickel for every time I've heard a line like that... I wouldn't be working here”.
”Then... what do you think I should do?” Wyatt asks.
”Well, if you have the heart to think about someone like that” Amelia says, ”then I'm sure that makes you more than capable of making her happy. You need to worry less, and pay attention more. Find out what she enjoys in life, and try to provide that, to show you appreciate them. If you spent all your time worrying about if you can or can not just naturally make people happy with your mere presence, then of course you're setting yourself up to fail”.
”Thanks” Wyatt says, ”that does help. Although, out of curiosity, how many times have you heard stuff like that?”.
”Oh, all the time back in high school” Amelia says. ”I go to Jamestown Central University now, but I had to help my friends all the time back in high school. Some of them are engaged now”.
”What year are you in?” Wyatt asks.
”I'm a third year student” Amelia says. ”This is my last year at my college”.
”What are you going to do when you get out?” Wyatt asks with a laugh, ”love advice?”.
”I'm actually going to be an engineer” Amelia says. ”Automotive Engineer, to be precise”.
”That's pretty cool” Wyatt says.
”And you?” Amelia asks.
”I don't know...” Wyatt says. ”I haven't quite figured it out. Whatever I do though, one thing is for sure. I do want Emma to be there”.
”So her name is Emma?” Amelia asks with a quick laugh.
”I thought I told you that a while ago...” Wyatt says in disappointment.
”Probably did” Amelia says with a shrug. ”I probably just forgot. It's been a long day”.
When Wyatt comes back from his job, Emma was still up and working on making clothes. ”Oh, you're back” Emma says. ”Was it a long day? You look kind of tired”.
”It was a long day” Wyatt says, ”but mostly because I've been spending too much time trying to think about... well, the future and stuff”.
Emma laughs to herself and says ”I know what you mean. I think all of us have been worried about it all day”.
”Well” Wyatt says as he sits down on his bed, ”I'm sure, eventually, we'll have everything figured out”.
Emma nods and says ”Yeah. We don't have to rush it, but... well, let's just try working it out... together”.
Wyatt smiles and says ”Yeah... Together. I think I'd like that”.