Chapter 4: Intro To A New LIfe

Chapter 4.

 

4: Intro To A New Life

Thursday the sixth of December

“Coffee anyone?” Madison said coming into our new living quarters for the next three years. She acted like she had been here a hundred times. Behind her was a tall boy with thick dark hair. Obviously it was Madison’s older brother, as they looked similar.

“Oh my mistake, Emerson this is my brother Logan, Logan this is Lauren’s boyfriend Emerson.” She said.

Emerson came out of the kitchen area and wiped his hands on his jeans before shaking Logan’s hand firmly. I came from the dining room to stand next to Emerson.

“Lauren, lovely as always.” Logan said coming to give me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I swore I heard Emerson growl from behind me. I chose to ignore him and take my coffee from Madison’s hands. It was still warm and had my name on it, literally.

“Ah, a grande caramel latte, so there is a god.” I said as I sipped and savored my drink. I put my drink down on the counter and asked if Logan and Madison wanted the grand tour, they agreed. I checked my watch, it read seven o four, and knew we had about an hour before classes would begin. Logan only came to see Madison off by orders of his parents.

Emerson returned to the kitchen to direct the movers and tell them where to put stuff. Emerson and I had been here since five o’clock this morning trying to get the whole “house” put together. I worked on Madison’s bedroom and mine while Emerson did the kitchen and dining room. I did one bathroom and he worked on the other, then we did the living room together. It was finally almost done when Madison and her brother arrived.

Madison screamed when I showed her the room I had done for her. She refused to leave it until she absolutely had to. “Come on Logan, I’ll show you the rest of the house, unless of course you want to stay with your hyperactive sister instead.” I said laughing as Madison looked in every drawer, behind every door, and under every object.

“Uh, the choice is obvious then isn’t it?” Logan said walking back through the doorframe. I followed close behind. I showed him my room next. It was painted a dark brown with pink trimmings. I thought it was a pretty neutral for a girl’s room.

“Yeah, anyways this is my room. Kind of boring I guess but yeah that’s me.” I said. Logan kept looking at the shiny watch on his wrist.

“Hey if you need to go it’s cool.” I told Logan. He looked at me thankfully, like he would have never gotten out of here.

He smiled, “Thanks Lauren, you’re an angel. I have a thing, see you later then?” He said backing out of the room.

“Yeah, later, sure.” I watched him turn around and leave. I walked to the window to peek through the blinds and watch Logan climb into his sports car.

“Hey, Laur. I’m going to head to my place to get changed and you know school.” Emerson said coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist. I turned around to face him; he still had his arms secured around me.

He smiled down at me with his goofy smile, “You’re mine.” He said softly before leaning down to kiss me. I kissed him back until his toes curled, and then I pulled away and pushed him away.

“Go before you make us both late for class. Besides knowing Madison she’ll reject my first ten outfit choices and end up doing everything for me.” I said looking into Emerson’s eyes. He kissed my cheek and then left the room.

“Bye Maddy.” Emerson yelled down the hall. I laughed at his relationship with my best friend. Not a minute late Madison burst into my room.

“Okay outfit time!” She said dramatically flinging my closet doors open. She shook he tiny butt while she sifted through my oversized closet.

“Well while you do that, I’m going to take a quick shower. Don’t go overboard.” I warned walking towards my bathroom off my bedroom. I quickly turned the water on hot and stripped off my clothes.

I stepped under the hot water and let it run down my back. I let my hair down, the sheet of blonde tumbled down my back and onto my shoulders. “No time to waste.” I thought to myself as I quickly washed my hair and body.

Finally I grabbed a towel and stepped onto the cold tile floor. I looked at my steamy reflection in the mirror as I dried off. I brushed the length of my hair a couple times and walked out in my robe.

Madison was intensely staring at my shoe rack when I came out. She turned swiftly when she heard me. “Lauren you have only two pairs of green shoes, it’s outrageous!” She said putting her hands on her hips.

“Isn’t that enough?” I asked looking at the outfit she laid out for me.

“Two pairs of anything are never going to be enough ever! Have I taught you nothing?” She groaned dramatically. Sometimes my best friend was a little over the top, okay maybe a lot over the top.

“Guess not. Will you just pick something and get out? I don’t have all day you know.” I said with my scariest facial expression.

“You know Laur, we’ve been friends forever. You don’t scare me anymore.” She said coming to my bed with a green pair of loafers. I smiled, lucky she didn’t give me a pair of heels to wear.

“Good to know, I’ll find some new material Maddy. And thank you.” I said as she turned and walked out leaving me with only a small wave of her fingers.

I stared at the short green plaid skirt lying neatly on my bed. Obviously Madison didn’t understand the season called winter. At least she gave me a white long sleeve tee; I had a slightly better chance of not turning into a popsicle with that.

I threw on the clothes knowing I had little time. I yanked on my shoes and socks then raced to the bathroom to work on my hair. I blow dried it straight and let it hang down naturally. Quickly I did my make up and dabbed a little lip-gloss on, a squirt of perfume and I was back out in my room.

Grabbing my navy blue peacoat I messily wrapped the green chunky scarf Madison picked around my neck. I clasped the gold charm bracelet my mother gave me as a child around my tiny wrist.

Someone knocked on the front door. I yelled to Madison that I would get it, as I knew she was still getting ready. I put my second diamond earring in as I walked fast down the hallway.

“Hey, I came to get you and Madison. You guys probably would have gotten lost.” Emerson said stepping inside, out of the cold outside.

“Great, make yourself at home. I’ll get Madison, coffee, and my school stuff. I’ll be right back.” I said giving him a fleeting kiss although I had seen him thirty minutes ago. I rushed back down the hall to Madison’s room.

“Madison come on! We have school and Emerson came to take us to class. Lets go!” I said opening her door not bothering to go in.

“One second! I have to look my best Laur; I’m the singleton in this little group of ours. Besides you know the saying there’s only one chance to make a first impression or whatever, I want my first impression to be fabulous.” Madison said pinning her hair back with a couple shiny pins.

“Well we don’t have a second. Now come on you look fine.” I said looking at her outfit.

She chose a soft pink blazer that went good with her hair. A simple tan tank top under that was just low cut enough to not break dress code. She wore dark grey skinny jeans with silver ballet flats with cute little bows on the top. She looked great; no boy would resist her innocent look.

Madison pushed past me towards the hall. “Come on slow poke! Quit staring and grab your stuff. We have places to be and boys to kiss.” She said, her backpack bouncing with every step. I shook my head and snickered.

Seven forty seven my watch read. I grabbed my leather messenger bag off my bedroom floor. I walked down the hall and grabbed my keys and sunglasses off the table in the entryway. I opened the drawer in it and got my UGG gloves out.

Emerson came behind me and handed me my coffee. “Thanks, you’re an angel Emerson.” I kissed him quickly on the lips and opened the front door. I slipped my sunglasses on to shield my eyes from the sun that reflected off the light dusting of snow. Emerson slipped his hand into mine and Madison trailed behind us her sunglass-covered eyes glued to her IPhone, thumbs texting away. I smiled happily.

Emerson steered me towards the A building. He said lunch; sports games, plays, and more went on in there. Apparently every morning the headmaster made announcements in the auditorium in building A. I gladly let Emerson guide me there.

When we finally reached the A building doors all I wanted to do is sit down. Emerson opened one of the giant doors and ushered Madison and I inside. I stripped my gloves off once we were inside. Madison gasped from besides me. The building inside was like a castle.

The building had a grand marble staircase, a hundred doors, very spacious, and with surprisingly good natural light. “Come on girls, we have a schedule to keep.” Emerson said pushing us forward toward two large wooden doors. One was propped open and students were filing in.

Madison and I almost got lost in the crowd a couple times so I latched onto Emerson’s hand and death gripped Madison’s forearm. We were steadily pulled through the wide opening trying to see what the rush was about.

The crowd parted enough for me to see a grand stage at the bottom of the carpeted stairs. We walked down a couple rows and Madison spotted three open seats next to each other.

“Oh no, follow me ladies.” Emerson said pulling me down the rest of the stairs to the front row. Three seats had reserved on them.

“For us?” I asked in confusion.

“Yes, lets just say I’m pretty popular around here.” Emerson said smugly. I looked at him with a strange look; I had never seen this side of him before.

“I’m kidding Lauren. My mother is the woman who is going to appear on the stage in a few seconds. Didn’t you wonder how I got Madison the spot? Or how I got those days off of school when we first met? Well it was not because I’m just that cool believe it or not.” He said sinking down into his chair. I followed his lead and sat down in the chair beside him.

Just as Emerson said a young woman who looked like she was in her mid-twenties stood center stage behind a large podium a few moments later. There was a single spotlight on her. She tapped the microphone before speaking.

“I now present Mrs. Phillips, headmistress.” I sighed, relaxing knowing that wasn’t Emerson’s mother. Another woman walked on stage that was older, probably forty, that was Emerson’s mother. I could tell because he has her eyes.

Emerson leaned over closer to me and said “My mother.”

“I know. You have her eyes.” I said back quietly.

“Good observation Ms. Daniels.” He said jokingly.

“Shhh, I think she’s about to start.” I said back. Emerson just laughed as I turned to focus on the stage as the lights around the room dimmed slightly. Papers were being passed around the room. When the stack reached me I took one and handed them to Madison. The woman started to speak.

“Good morning students.” She said enthusiastically. She waited a moment then continued.

“Today is a beautiful winter day. Christmas break is approaching quickly and we all know what that means!” She said in a singsong voice. She paused for dramatic effect.

“The winter festival! We need as much help as we can get so make sure to sign up with your booth idea. The sign up sheet is in the main hallway outside the main office. That concludes today’s announcements, dismissed. Have a great day everyone.” She said and stepped from behind the podium to exit the stage.

The mindless chatter started again. We got up to leave the large auditorium. “Wasn’t that just swell?” Emerson asked in a fake sugary tone.

“It was, it sounds like something fun! You know what we should run a booth together at the festival! That would be so fun, what do you think guys?” Madison said not noticing the sarcasm in Emerson’s voice.

“It was a joke Maddy. That’s not a good idea. You just got here, don’t you want to enjoy the life of a private school rich kid before you throw yourselves into the extra curricular activities of my lovely school?” Emerson said smirking at Madison; she glared back, while I snickered. A light went off in Madison’s head, never a good sign.

“Maybe I’ll run a kissing booth. I’m sure Lauren would be happy to help out with all the kissing, right Laur?” Maddy said, turning towards me.

“Um…” Madison looked at me with a stern look telling me what to say. Emerson turned around too, with wide eyes waiting for my next move. I could have a little fun every once and awhile right?

“Oh yeah, I would definitely sign on for that. Say Emerson, who’s the best kisser at this school? Send him my way when you get a chance would you?” I said in all seriousness keeping the joke alive. Obvious Emerson caught on and decided to play along. He looked around the auditorium like he was lost.

“Hey Lauren, I think I found just the guy for the job.” Emerson said turning back towards me.

I looked around to find the guy Emerson saw. “I don’t see him. Where is he?” I asked.

“He’s right here.” Emerson turned my head and tilted my chin up. Then he kissed me.