|
|
|
962 posts
|
0 likes
|
|
Authored by
Nu
|
Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
|
Advanced Member
|
Post by Nu on Oct 19, 2017 11:16:55 GMT
She felt the usual eyes on her and she turned to give the four mothers a simpering smile. "Say hi to the monsters, Leah." She waved at the mothers who rolled their eyes and continued with the gossiping. Emma was more or less used to the gossip and stares about how inappropriately tight her clothes were and whether she knew this was a place for children and they shouldn't be distracted.
Emma was just glad they hadn't gone after Leah.
As she waited for Nora, Nick's friend Elliot's daughter, Emma could hear them whispering behind her back. They were wondering why she was still there now that Leah was clinging on to her leg. What else was she waiting for and whether it was Elliot. She wanted so badly to turn and unleash her brand of verbal abuse but she held herself back. She didn't want to give them cause to make her daughter's life a misery without all the invites to birthday, slumber and camping parties these maniacs are always having.
When Nora finally came out, Emma breathed a sigh of relief and waved at the younger girl. "Nora! Hey! Your dad's running a little late so Nicky asked me to pick you up." She grinned. "Jamie's sick today right?"
|
|
|
|
|
944 posts
|
0 likes
|
Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
|
Advanced Member
|
Post by Trix on Oct 23, 2017 18:58:51 GMT
The smile that never slips Nora was out the door in record time, with her best friend sick at home, she had no reason to linger. It was best if she got out before any teachers stopped her to ask about her dad. The very thought of it caused her to roll her eyes as she stopped outside the door and scanned the area for a familiar face that was there to pick her up. Typically it was her best friend's older brother, who she had a big silly crush on. But in her defense, he was a cop. And cops were like superheroes which he was also obsessed with. A total dreamboat. Her eyes slid right past Emma briefly, but when she noted her calling out, she registered who it was.
With a giant grin on her face, she walked towards her, casting a side eye at the nasty mothers of the nasty girls in her class. "Yeeeeup! He totally bailed on me today. We're gonna have words later," She shrugged. Before giving anything more to Emma, she cooed at Leah and smiled, "This is gonna be better though! Girl time! I swear being in a car with Nicky and Jamie or my dad, gah! They don't even know what makes for good conversation." She was fully aware that she was ten, but even a young girl like her could think of something decent to talk about.
Nora shrugged off her backpack, "So what's on the agenda? Because surely you're not going to just drop me off right? Please?" She flashed a smile again.
425 | notes ulla |
|
|
|
|
962 posts
|
0 likes
|
|
Authored by
Nu
|
Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
|
Advanced Member
|
Post by Nu on Nov 1, 2017 4:53:44 GMT
Leah was a shy girl and meeting new people always annoyed her but she always fed off of other people's joy at meeting her. It was going to take her a bit to warm up to Nora but when she did, it was like they had been friends forever.
Emma gave an exaggerated eyeroll and groaned. "You have no idea. I'm so glad I have Nicky's mama around. And my own mom because too many boys is not fun." She joked. She loved all the men in her life. With one or two exceptions but she wouldn't trade any of them for the world.
That Nora even wanted to hang out with her had Emma grinning widely.
She had friends! Sort of.
"Well, Nicky said your dad would be gone for awhile and I have some time before my next yoga session. Wanna grab a cone and then go to my studio?"
|
|
|
|
|
944 posts
|
0 likes
|
Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
|
Advanced Member
|
Post by Trix on Nov 3, 2017 15:56:12 GMT
The smile that never slips Nora nodded enthusiastically, happy to have someone who understood her problems. Elliot was always with his band, her countless uncles more or less who had helped raise her. None of them had wives or girlfriends that were worth bringing around and they also didn't have any kids. Most of the time her company was made up of middle-aged men who drank and were kind of rowdy. Her dad was always apologizing for her upbringing, but she didn't have much to complain about other than the lack of estrogen in her life. "Don't get me wrong, I love Jamie and my dad and all of the crazy guys in my life, but a girl needs a lady in her life to understand the stuff ya know?" And she was right around the corner from that stuff happening. Elliot would probably pass out if she asked him any kind of personal girl questions.
Elliot must have had a late class as Emma said he was going to be late. It didn't bother her any, in fact, she was ecstatic to get ice cream and see Emma's studio! Her face brightened and she nodded quickly, "Yes, yes and please yes! That sounds so cool!"
She clapped her hands, "So you're Jamie's aunt, right? Because he's always trying to explain his family set-up to me and, well, I dunno, I can never keep up with it. I just know that Nick is his brother, but only like, half. Because they had different dads, biologically, or whatever." The whole thing was hard to remember, but she found it fascinating to talk about. Despite the friendship she had with Jamie, she still had some things to learn and if he wasn't going to show up to school, she was going to learn it on her own. Via is aunt, er, she thought.
425 | notes ulla |
|
|
|
|
962 posts
|
0 likes
|
|
Authored by
Nu
|
Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
|
Advanced Member
|
Post by Nu on Nov 3, 2017 20:08:45 GMT
"Oh for sure. And you can totally come to me for anything. Nick is useless at things that have even a whiff of female about it and I doubt your dad would uh...well." She chuckled. Emma wanted to ask why Nora couldn't talk to her mother about things happening but the girl was talking a mile a minute and in time, she simply glossed over it. Maybe the mom just wasn't in the picture anymore.
Her enthusiasm really was infectious and Emma wondered whether she was like this when she was Nora's age. She should ask Nick. He wouldn't mince his words. He'd probably embellish how awful she was though...
Emma laughed and nodded. "Yeah, Jamie's my brother's son. We all kinda grew up in a weird family. And since Nick was just a few years older than me when we were younger, we stuck to each other and he's like my brother. And somehow nephew because of my brother and his uh...wife I guess? I don't know, they have a complicated relationship." She shrugged and laughed. It had been a while since she had to explain her family situation. She had always accepted the fact that they had an unconventional family and she loved it.
After strapping Leah into her car seat and making sure Nora was strapped in as well, Emma went to the front and started driving towards the ice-cream parlour right next to her yoga studio. They made idle chit-chat through the journey and she realised Nora seemed to be her kindred spirit. Which was a weird thought to have but still, Nora was adorable and Emma thought she reminded her of herself.
Emma texted Nick as they walked into the parlour to tell her of their plans and told him to tell Elliot to pick Nora up later at her studio.
After getting their ice cream, which Emma was sure she was going to regret later with Leah, they got to the yoga studio and had a blast trying out all the poses. Nora fell all over the place with Leah trying to hold a pose. Leah just kept rolling around the mat like a bowling ball, making both Nora and Emma giggle.
By the time Elliot arrived, he would see them in a giggling pile, sweaty and red-faced.
|
|
|
|
|
944 posts
|
0 likes
|
Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
|
Advanced Member
|
Post by Trix on Nov 6, 2017 16:05:17 GMT
The smile that never slips After quite a bit of arguing and shit-giving, Elliot found himself able to leave the raucous that he liked to call his band. They'd landed a gig in the next week or so and had to nail down all of the set details. Typically he'd have brought Nora along with him or had Nick drop her off, but the manager of the club they were playing at weren't keen on having kids around. And Elliot had quite a chatty kid at that. Plus, with Nick's sister/aunt having to pick her up instead, he didn't quite want to give the appearance that he was an unfit father because he lived the lifestyle of a musician. He might not have made it big yet, but he wasn't struggling either.
Upon arriving at the studio he'd been told to pick Nora up from, he felt a little nervous. Nick had talked about Emma countless times. She was his childhood best friend, a real ball-buster, but funny as hell. She wasn't what made him nervous, it was the way Nora felt about her that made him question whether he should have left some stranger to do it. Nora was particular about people, although her talkative personality wouldn't lead anyone to believe so. Women were her worst obstacle because she could read them better than anyone else he knew. She called out those who were fake and those who needed to loosen up. Sometimes it made interacting with anyone difficult for him. But he wouldn't trade her brashness for anything.
As he walked in, he heard laughing, three different laughs. To his relief, one of them he recognized as Nora's. And there he saw a pile of girls laughing away and unaware of his presence. It didn't take long for Nora to look up and when she did, her smile made his heart nearly burst, "Daddy!" She struggled to untangle herself from the others and laughed as she rolled over and sprung up to greet him.
Elliot wrapped her up in a hug and kissed the top of her head, "Having fun, Nugget?" He smiled when she nodded and looked up to the only one that was his age, which he assumed was Emma. "Thanks again for getting her, I hope she was on good behavior," He glanced down at his daughter and she scrunched her nose at him while sticking out her tongue.
425 | notes ulla |
|
|
|
|
962 posts
|
0 likes
|
|
Authored by
Nu
|
Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
|
Advanced Member
|
Post by Nu on Nov 6, 2017 21:35:34 GMT
Exactly her type. Leah's father was a musician and it was because of that that they entered into a whirlwind romance and got her.
Not to say that was going to be happening with Elliot, because Emma was just slightly more mature than her twenty year old self and was now a little more scrutinising with the men she brought into her life.
Although that didn't stop her from staring at the man Nora ran up to. He was all smiles and just generally a good-looking man so she didn't exactly blame herself for looking at him way too long. Leah stayed close to her mother as Emma stood up to her full height, towering over everyone in the room. She approached Elliot and Nora and held her hand out for a shake. "She was as well-behaved as any other ten year old." She teased, looking at Nora with a wink. "Hi, I'm Emma. It's good to finally put a face to the many...very detailed things Nick has told me about you." Her eyes shone with mischief as she looked to Elliot. "This shy lil kitten is Leah. Say hi." She placed a hand gently behind Leah's head, urging her forward. The little girl took a tentative step around Emma's leg and gave Elliot a quick wave.
|
|
|
|
|
944 posts
|
0 likes
|
Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
|
Advanced Member
|
Post by Trix on Nov 8, 2017 18:17:24 GMT
The smile that never slips Elliot nodded in full understanding. He was well aware of the behavior of a ten year old. He was just glad he'd gotten past the younger years relatively unscathed. His little girl had been a peach growing up, sassy and full of spunk just like her mother. And Elliot was well aware that Nora's best friend was related to Emma, so he could only imagine the familiarity she had with the age group as well.
As she introduced herself, Elliot grimaced. Nick would go into detail when talking about him. He just wondered what kind of details she was talking about. "He's pretty extra, isn't he?" He laughed and rubbed the back of his neck, he'd be sure to ask his best friend exactly what he'd told this beautiful woman about him. Honestly between his daughter and Nick, there was plenty of oversharing that could be had about him. He looked down at Nora, but she was too busy trying to perfect one of the poses she no doubt learned during her time here. Pulling his gaze away from her, Emma introduced the little girl that had successfully wrapped herself around Emma's legs.
She waved and Elliot could feel his heart melting. Immediately he thought back to Nora at that age, it had been one of his favorites, but he'd definitely lucked out. His mouth quirked up at the side and he waved back before giving a full blown smile. "She's adorable," He lifted his eyes back to Emma and could clearly see the similarities in appearance. "She looks a lot like you." His eyes glanced back to Nora and he realized that she looked much more like her mother than she did him.
425 | notes ulla |
|
|
|
|
962 posts
|
0 likes
|
|
Authored by
Nu
|
Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
|
Advanced Member
|
Post by Nu on Nov 17, 2017 4:21:16 GMT
Of course, it didn't help just how immediate his reaction towards Leah was. She was sure he was reminiscing Nora at Leah's age and that warmed Emma's heart. Nora must have been a force to be reckoned with. Briefly, she wondered how Elliot dealt with that.
Emma forced herself not to tease him about how he had practically called her adorable too. She chuckled and nodded. "Thank God. I don't need a constant reminder of her father. The alimony I don't get every month makes sure of that." She rolled her eyes and shrugged, turning to Nora just in time to correct her pose, lest Nora went tumbling down on her neck. "You gotta make sure your arms are tucked under, baby." She reminded the younger girl. She turned back to Elliot and smiled. "So, did you settle whatever it was that had you running late?" She asked.
|
|
|
|
|
944 posts
|
0 likes
|
Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
|
Advanced Member
|
Post by Trix on Nov 20, 2017 15:40:56 GMT
331 Words
|
Death of a Bachelor
Put my heart on my chest so that you can see it too
Elliot had realized after he spoke what he'd implied, and while it was unintentional, it was far from being false. Adorable was tame compared to what he could have said in order to make himself backtrack. What shocked him was the response that he'd gotten. Obviously the father was not in the picture and there were plenty of ill feelings towards him. He didn't intend on prying, but he couldn't help the frown that followed her comments. "Doesn't sound like the kind of person I'd want to look like either, no worries though. She's 100% you."
His eyebrows pulled together as he watched Nora, mostly out of worry that she was going to fall or something. His daughter was not known for being graceful and balanced. She was clumsier than he'd thought possible. But as Emma corrected her posture and the pose, somehow Nora got it without tumbling over and hurting herself. His shoulders eased and he smiled a bit. All he could think was that his worries of Nora not liking Emma had been all but smashed. Nobody else would have been able to touch Nora like that if she had a problem. Plus, he was certain she'd have found a way to call him if things were bad.
Her question caught him off guard and he laughed once, "Uh yeah. I guess you could call it settled." If the guys had known what he was doing at that particular moment, however, he would have had hell to pay. They'd have insisted that Emma drop Nora off at the bar. But they were also hell bent on getting him over his emotional and physical dry spell. Neither of which he felt was appropriate when the woman had just picked up his child from school with her own child.
Smile even though you’re sad
|
|
|
|
|
|
962 posts
|
0 likes
|
|
Authored by
Nu
|
Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
|
Advanced Member
|
Post by Nu on Nov 21, 2017 7:20:12 GMT
271 Words
|
My persuasion can build a nation
You'll do anything for me
She found herself frowning when she realised she had been badmouthing her ex, something she hadn't intended to do, not in front of Leah at least. The girl still hero worshipped her father and Emma wasn't going to change that until absolutely necessary. Of course, Leah also hero worshipped Nick so she supposed it balanced out. Still, she wished she could take back what she had said.
"Thank God for small miracles." She gave a small laugh before shrugging. They had just met, Elliot didn't need to know her life story.
Emma frowned in amusement at Elliot's surprise at her question before narrowing her eyes. "I'm not going to ask you what that means. At least not yet." She chuckled before looking down at Leah who had tugged at her pants. "What is it, kitten?" She asked, crouching down beside Leah. "Can Nora stay?" She whispered and Emma chuckled. "I'm sorry baby, Nora has to go home because her daddy's here."
Leah's face fell for a second before she perked up again. "Can I go with Nora?" She whispered again. Emma looked at Elliot and laughed sheepishly. "Sorry, you must be running late." She turned back to Leah who already had a small pout on her lips. "Sorry kitten, you can stay with me through class. You like that, right?" Leah asked with an encouraging smile. Leah nodded quietly before going to the corner with her bag and rummaged through it. Emma bit her lower lip and stood back up to her full height.
"Well, Elliot, it's nice to have met you finally." She reached a hand out toward the man.
Who run the world
|
|
|
|
|
|
944 posts
|
0 likes
|
Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
|
Advanced Member
|
Post by Trix on Dec 12, 2017 5:11:59 GMT
402 Words
|
Death of a Bachelor
Put my heart on my chest so that you can see it too
His shoulders eased in relief at the fact that she wasn't going to poke at him for information about what he meant. To describe the men that he worked with would take much longer than he was willing to talk about them. He'd known the majority of them for his whole life and that was where the problem lied. She didn't need to know that much though.
He watched the interaction between Emma and her daughter and it reminded him again of Nora when she'd been that age. Saying no had been one of the hardest things he could have learned and even to this day he still struggled with it. In all honesty, he'd gotten lucky that his lack of saying no hadn't gotten him in more trouble. Nora was still a good kid, she knew when he was serious and she took it easy on him when she knew she didn't need something that he was likely to say no to. But it did make him frown at how sad it made the small girl that he was picking his daughter up and taking her away.
Nora seemed to pick up on the exchange too because not long after Leah took off with the bag, she skipped over and gave the little girl a hug, "I'll be back to play again soon, pinkie promise." Once she felt like she'd done all she could, Nora trudged back to Elliot with a frown on her face. "I can come back right?" She first looked at Elliot and then at Emma. "Please?"
Elliot wrapped his arms around Nora's shoulders and pulled her to him, "I'm sure you can, maybe we'll get you into a class or something so she's not wasting all her time outside of it, yeah?" Nora nodded excitedly and gave Emma a one-armed side hug before she headed towards the door. Elliot shook his head and took Emma's hand, "Uh yeah, sorry again about that. Thanks a ton for getting her. I owe you big. It was great to meet you though." He flashed a smile and shook her hand once before letting go and glancing back at the door, "Alright, I'll uh, I'll see ya around, yeah?"
Smile even though you’re sad
|
|
|
