Post by laura on Oct 6, 2012 13:01:42 GMT -8
{name:Emma#|#picture:18}
The block party wasn’t for Emma, not in the slightest; it was all for Elijah, and maybe a little for Trista, too. When they’d walked out into the warm evening air, everyone there had greeted him with friendly ‘great to see you back, Eli!’ and ‘welcome home!’, without so much as giving her a second look. Not that Emma truly had anything to complain about - she didn’t want the attention of a street full of strangers. Many of which had the same attitude as Trista did.[/blockquote][/font]
Elijah was in his element, of course, darting from group to group, laughing and talking to everyone he could. His mother had dragged him off away from her ages ago, leaving her in the same position she’d been in since she’d arrived – standing on the outskirts, looking in, silently watching.
Now, Emma sat alone on the lawn of one of the neighbours homes, picking thoughtfully at a cupcake as the block party got into full swing. A younger couple were sat a few yards away, cuddled into one another as they stared up at the darkening sky, talking only loud enough for the other to hear.
There had been a time, not so long ago, when Emma would have rolled her eyes at the sight and moved swiftly on; but now? Now she had aches and cravings. Looking away from them, a frown creasing at her brows, something else quickly caught her attention.
Trista was weaving her way through the party goers, her hand latched onto the arm of a woman, dragging her behind her and straight toward Elijah. The woman was tall (more so in the heels she wore) and skinny, her dark black hair loose around her bare shoulders, and the smile on her face almost erupted when Elijah turned around to see her.
Jean clad legs suddenly cut off her vision, moving directly into line of sight.
“Hi, Emma!” Rylee grinned down at her, his eyes bright with… excitement? Hell knows.
She sighed, trying to forget that girl heading directly toward her Elijah. “Hey.”
Taking that as his cue to sit down, he did just that, dropping down with a heavy ‘humph’ on to the grass beside her. Leaning back onto his heads casually, Rylee blew out a deep breath. “So, -not that I’m complaining, because hell yes I get my shot- but why are you sat here on your own? Elijah is over,” He raised his head and pointed at his cousin. “there. Who’s the girl he’s talking to?”
“I don’t know,” Emma grumbled, her eyes boring into the woman’s face. “But Trista sure looks happy, doesn’t she?”
Trista Walker was smirking like a cat who got the cream, beaming up at her son as he smiled down at his pretty friend.
“Yea, sure does. She’s been grinning like that since first thing this morning; must have been something to do with that phone call.”
“What phone call?”
Rylee shrugged, “Dunno. I got up for a piss and I heard her chatting on the phone to someone. She said, ’You have no idea how happy you’ve made me!. Could be anything.”
“Mhmm,” Her interest in the subject faded fast when she spotted the woman latch her hands onto Elijah’s arm, drawing herself into him closer.
Oh, hell no.
She angled her head for a better view. “Whoever she is, she’s certainly friendly.”
“She’s got nothing on you, I can tell you that.”
Emma found herself watching the woman’s hands far too closely. They edged up Elijah’s arm in exactly the same way Emma’s did – like fuck any other woman was going to touch him the same way she did. Emma did not share.
She darted up from the grass, dusting off her blouse and righting her jeans.
“Woah, easy there cowgirl!”
A solid hand wrapped around her ankle, stopping her from moving another inch. “What?!” She snapped, glaring down at him.
“Don’t be jealous.”
“I am not jealous.”
“Then what’s wrong?” Rylee asked.
“I…I…don’t know. I want to find out who she is.” Or who she thought she was.
“Emma,” He shook his head, “You are definitely-“
“Rylee!”
Trista’s animated call silenced him, leaving him gaping at his aunt.
“We’ve run out of wine, can you believe it? Do me a big, big favour and go get some more? Take Emma with you!” Before he could so much as open his mouth to answer, she trust a wad of tens into his hand. “Take the scenic route. The walk is lovely this time of night.”
Emma shook her head, “I should tell Elijah that-“
“I’ll tell him,” She offered with a smile.