Chapter 61 The Wallflower

Mrs. Darling was the loveliest lady in Bloomsbury, with a mocking mouth that had one kiss on it that Wendy could never get. Though there I was, perfectly conspicuous on the right hand corner.

 

-Peter Pan

 

Blake

 

I think we were ten or twelve when we first met. We were at a beneficial of some kind. I don’t even remember.

She was dressed up like a princess, but her eyes held an uncomfortable look, as if she didn’t want to be there at all.

I think that’s why I noticed her, because she was an average girl where looks came in. The only reason I paid her any attention was because she seemed to be enjoying herself just as much as I, which was far below zero.

I remember leaning against the wall across the room, my shirt only half tugged into my pants, which I knew annoyed my father, but even then I did not care.

She was standing with her parents, but her eyes were searching for the nearest exit and she seemed to debate whether or not to make a run for it.

I studied her for a  while, curious. I’m not sure how I ended up talking to her, but ever since then it became a habit.

I’d talk to her, she’d get annoyed with me, and we continued like that over the next few years.

She was always the quiet type, preferring to let others take the spotlight.

No matter how often we argued, well she argued, we got along rather well, even if we didn’t have a lot in common.

I was surprised when we found her in the Canyon. No matter how well I liked her, she didn’t seem like the surviving type.

“You’ve changed,” she says.

I frown. Have I? I don’t think there’s much difference from who I used to be. “No I haven’t.”  I look at her. “You just decided you didn’t like me before ever talking to me.”

She casts her eyes down. “That’s not true,” she whispers.

I study her for a moment. She has certainly changed. She’s more assertive than before. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she’s not Emma anymore. But I’ve seen her eyes and her earlier outbursts are too much like the Emma I remember. And she’s still a bit awkward.

It’s just like her to date an alien.

I sigh. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I did change.” I suppose we have all changed in one way or the other. The end of the world tends to do that to people. “Maybe I’m finally able to be myself instead of who my parents wanted me to be.”

There is something sad in her eyes now. She must know how that feels. I know her parents didn’t want her to go to art school. They wanted her to pursue a more prestigious career. It’s a shame though. I’ve seen some of her drawings. She’s really good. One of her murals won a prize once. They displayed it in the city library.

I’m surprised when she tells me her story and how she met her alien friend. I wonder why he didn’t give her to their Seekers. “He must really like you then.”

She fumbles with her necklace and I’m not sure she hard me, but the expression on her face is softer now, just like before when she spoke of him.

I smirk and she does notice that. It seems she only ever notices things about me that piss her off.

“What?” she says annoyed.

I sigh again. This Burns better be worth it. “Don’t make us regret it, squirky,” I say and I turn to leave.

I have gotten as far as five steps when her voice stops me. “Blake.”

I look over my shoulder and she bites her lip. A smirk is fighting its way to my lips, but I suppress it. It’s still funny how uncomfortable she is around me.

She sighs. “How do I get back?” she asks sheepishly.

This time I can’t help but laugh. “You should pay more attention squirky. How did you manage to survive for so long?”

“Shut up,” she glares at me.

I laugh again. “Come on. I’ll show you the way.”

She glares some more, but walks up to me and I gesture down the tunnel. She follows my lead, still glaring.

Man, she’s pretty when she’s angry.

***

I smirk as my eyes met Emma’s. It’s obvious she’s trying to avoid me. And by the way her cheeks heat up, she realizes I caught her in the act. She stomps away, dragging a grinning Ashley with her.

 

I didn’t expect to see her here on Jeremy’s pool party.

 

I watch as Ashley detaches herself from Emma’s grip and walks up to the refreshment table and I take my chance.“Care to tell me what that glare was for?” I ask.

 

She sighs. “What do you want, Blake?”

 

“I’m just talking to you, squirky. No need to get all hostile.”

 

She glares again and walks away, but I grab her wrist to stop her. “Come on Emma. Don’t be like that.”

 

She looks at me now with something like upset in her eyes. “Why do you always s do that? Why do you always go out of your way to get under my skin?”

 

That’s what she thinks I’m doing? Maybe I should try a more direct approach then. “Cause you wouldn’t spare me a second look if I didn’t,” I say.

 

She stares at me for a while and then shakes her head and walks away.

 

I sigh and watch her get cornered by Cynthia and her best friend Rachel. This spells trouble. Cynthia is a spoiled brat. She is used to getting what she wants and apparently for the time being she wants me. At least that’s what the rumor is at school. Cynthia is an incredible flirt and really selfish. She may be pretty, but she’s not my type.

 

I’m too far away to hear their conversation, but I can see it’s not a pleasant one.

 

Emma turns and tries to walk around Cynthia, but Cynthia pushes her into the pool.

 

I narrow my eyes as the other girls laugh at her. To her credit, Emma ignores them and walks away with dignity.

 

I shake my head in disgust. I don’t like girls that are mean without reason. Or girls that are jealous. I grab a towel and walk up to Emma. “You okay?”

 

“Leave me alone!” she snarls at me.

 

For a moment I’m taken aback. We may argue from time to time, but she’s never snapped at me before. Cynthia must have really upset her.

 

A shriek makes me turn around just in time to see Cynthia go under. A smug looking Ashley strides past me towards Emma and I grin. I’m gonna have to thank her later.

 

Sill laughing, I walk up to the pool and stick out my had to help a furious looking Cynthia. I’m not a complete jerk after all, even if I would have liked to throw her in myself.

 

***

“Blake! We have to go! We need to get out of here!”

I wince at the loud voice that echoes through the tunnels. She needs to be more quiet.

“Blake!” She stops in front of me, wide-eyed. “We need to go. Nate has lost his mind. There’s one of the aliens in the hide-out!”

“Rachel,” I say, “calm down.” I pinch the bridge of my nose.

“But the alien…”

“Rachel?” Emma says confused.

Right. Perhaps I should have warned her, but it slipped my mind.

Only now Rachel notices I’m not alone. She blinks confused and does a double take. “E-Emma Dupree?”