Disclaimer: All characters and places not recognizable are imaginary and belong to me. I do not make any money off this fan-fiction.
Chapter 1: A Tearful Goodbye
Carriage Apartments
2562 Porter Lane
Juliana Landings, Maine, USA
August 18, 2031
8:00 am
"Well, that's the last of it," Marianne, Emily's apartment-mate, says as she points out of the window and towards the rectangular parking lot that is framed by two oak trees that have red, yellow, and orange leaves with her index finger.
Emily looks through the window and sees the moving van that is carrying her dearest possessions slowly exit the parking lot and amble down the road.
Emily surveys the fresh coat of white paint on the walls and the white carpet. She enters the adjoining bathroom and makes sure the walk-in shower with a glass door and pink vanity are clean. Next, she makes sure the refrigerator is empty and the dial is turned to the off position so that the next tenant will not end up with a watery mess on her hands. Then, she checks to make sure that the chimney has been swept and the fire poker is in the proper place. Marianne follows Emily around.
"You have completed every possible task, Emily. Sit down and watch some television with me," Marianne says as she plops down on the leather sofa and presses the power button on the remote control.
"I just can't sit down. I've got all this adrenaline running through my veins," Emily says.
Marianne ignores Emily and stares at the colorful images on the television.
"Instead of watching television, would you come with me to Danielle's Doughnut Delights after a jog?" Emily asks as she gets an idea to pull Marianne off the couch.
"Think of all the sweet, gooey, raspberry goodness a raspberry jelly doughnut will give you and you will miss it because you would rather sit on the couch and eat potato chips," Emily says with a smirk as she watches drool slip out of the right corner of Marianne's lips.
"All right, I'm coming! Wait for me!" Marianne yells to Emily as she hears the creak of the chain on the door and the click of the key as the door is locked.
As Emily jogs in her gray sweatpants and sweatshirt, she remembers the first time she met Marianne.
Flashback:
Margaret Cunningham Center
Heartland Falls University Student Union
Juliana Landings, Maine, USA
September 19, 2028
3:30 pm
A brown-haired, brown-eyed, 5'4" girl pulls down an advertisement for an apartment from the bulletin board at the student union of Heartland Falls University.
"Looking for an apartment?" Emily asks the girl.
"Eek!" the girl screams as the hairs on the back of her neck rise.
The girl turns around and sees eyes as green as shamrocks.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you," Emily says.
"If you're looking for an apartment, you can share my apartment," Emily says.
"What's the catch?" the girl asks.
"There's no catch. You'll have to pay half of the rent and we can share duties like washing dishes and buying groceries." Emily says.
"Do we have a deal?" Emily asks.
"Do I accept this deal? On the one hand, I get shelter and a new friend. On the other hand, this could be a trap. Even if it is a trap, I'll take anything," Marianne thinks.
"Deal," the girl says after scratching her head for five minutes.
"My name is Emily. What's your name?" Emily asks the girl as she holds out her hand towards the girl.
"My name is Marianne," the girl replies as she reluctantly shakes Emily's hand.
Flashback ends.
Cartwright Street
Juliana Landings, Maine, USA
August 18, 2031
8:25 am
"Emily!" a panting Marianne shouts as she catches her breath after running for 25 minutes to catch up with Emily.
"Marianne!" Emily says in a normal, calm voice when Marianne approaches her.
"You haven't even broken a sweat, Emily. How do you do it?" Marianne asks.
"I run everyday," Emily says matter-of-factly as her ponytail bobs up and down behind her head.
"Oh, there's Danielle's Doughnut Delights!" Let's enter!" Marianne excitedly says as she forgets about her tired, achy muscles.
The girls enter a brick-red building with glass windows that are covered with advertisements for the new 'American Dream', a glazed doughnut with white icing and red and blue sprinkles on it that form a house with a picket fence and a little dog in the yard. A neon-red sign above the door reads Danielle's Doughnut Delights.
"Welcome to Danielle's Doughnut Delights! Step right this way," a 16 year old girl with hot-pink hair tied in a bun and sparkling blue eyes cheerfully says to Marianne and Emily.
Marianne and Emily follow the girl to a table covered with a blue and white checked tablecloth.
"My name is Amy. Here are your menus. The special for today is the 'American Dream'. Would you like anything to drink?" the girl asks as she hands Emily and Marianne their menus.
"Orange juice for me," Emily says.
"What about you, Miss?" the girl asks as she turns toward Marianne.
"I would like a mocha latte with extra whipped cream and a maraschino cherry on top," Marianne replies.
The girl goes to wait on another table, while Emily and Marianne decide on what to order. After a few minutes, the girl returns with Emily's orange juice and Marianne's mocha latte.
"Are you ready to order, yet," Amy asks.
"Yes, I'll have two 'American Dreams,' please," Marianne says.
"I'll have one 'American Dream' and a blueberry muffin, please," Emily says.
"All right, it will be ready soon," Amy says with a smile as she sticks her pen behind her ear and places the notepad in the pocket of her red apron.
"So, what are your plans for today?" Marianne asks Emily.
"I don't have anything to do except go to the airport at 1:00 pm today to catch my flight. You will drive me to the airport, right?" Emily asks.
"Sure," Marianne says.
"Well, that gives us a lot of time to shop or get a manicure," Marianne says.
"Who are us, exactly?" Emily asks.
"Hannah from Vermont wants to visit you and your sister, Jackie, is coming," Marianne says.
"I haven't talked to Hannah since high school. She was my best friend in high school. She convinced me to run for prom queen and found me a replacement date for prom when my date bailed. She was also the lead singer and guitarist for a rock band. Did she give up her dreams? What is she doing now?" Emily asks.
"She married Carson Bailey, a billionaire, and she's having a baby," Marianne says.
"Congratulations to her!" Emily squeals as she claps her hands.
"So, why is she coming to visit little old me?" Emily asks.
"She wants to ask you to be the baby's godmother," Marianne says.
"Me? A god-mother? Is she crazy? I can barely take care of myself. How am I supposed to take care of a little baby?" Emily asks.
"Breathe," Marianne says.
"I'm also moving away to Santa Clara, California, to go to law school. How will I manage?" Emily asks.
"You don't have to take care of the baby, yet, Emily. Hannah is well and won't die any time soon. It's just a precaution," Marianne says.
Just then, their food arrives.
"Enjoy your meal. If there's anything you need, just holler," Amy says after she sets the muffin and American Dream doughnuts on two red plates in front of Emily and Marianne.
"Thank you, Amy," Marianne says since Emily is too preoccupied.
"I'm going to be a god-mother" keeps repeating itself over and over again in Emily's mind like a mantra.
"What's up with her?" Amy asks Marianne as she points to Emily.
"Nothing," Marianne replies.
Amy scurries off to wait on other tables.
"Emily! Earth to Emily!" Marianne whisper-shouts as she waves her hand in front of Emily's face.
"Hmm," Emily replies.
"Our food is here," Marianne says.
Emily mechanically nibbles on her blueberry muffin.
"If you aren't going to eat your doughnut, I'll be happy to take it off your hands," Marianne says.
"Three doughnuts! Are you crazy, Marianne? All that sugar must be going to your thighs and hips. You'll look like a balloon when you are 40 years old. I guarantee it," Emily whisper-shouts.
"Why can't I enjoy it, while I still can?" Marianne asks as she takes a big bite out of her 'American Dream' doughnut.
"At least I got Emily out of her brooding session," Marianne thinks.
Carriage Apartments
2562 Porter Lane
Juliana Landings, Maine, USA
August 18, 2031
10:00 am
"Sis, how are you?" Emily asks as she hugs her sister.
"I'm doing fine. Marianne told me that you are moving today. Why?" Jackie asks.
"I'm going to law school. It's one of the best law schools in the world," Emily says.
"Best law school?" Hannah asks as she enters the living room.
"You really must do something about service over here," Hannah says.
"Who is the charming brown-haired woman who is taking the trash to the dumpster?" Hannah asks.
"That is probably Marianne. Today is trash day. I forgot all about it," Emily says.
"Stop being so condescending, Hannah! Marianne will think your billionaire status has gone to your head," Emily says as she surveys the fur coat Hannah is wearing.
"I have an image to keep. Let her think what she wants. Now let's see, you need a manicure. How about Pedro? I know he'll squeeze you in even if he has to cancel some nobody's massage," Hannah says.
Before Emily can reply, Hannah pulls out her red cellular phone.
"Hi, Pedro!" Hannah says.
"Hi, darling! What may I do for you?" Pedro asks.
"A friend of mine needs a total makeover. Can you squeeze her in for a manicure, pedicure and haircut and finish in the next couple of hours," Hannah asks.
Pedro skims his appointment book.
"I can do it if you can get your friend here in the next five minutes," Pedro says.
"Thanks, Pedro. I owe you," Hannah says.
"I know. See you later," Pedro says and hangs up the phone.
"Pedro says he can fit you in, but only if you come in the next five minutes, Emily," Hannah says.
Pedro's Beautiful Girls Beauty Salon
4321 Nebraska Street
Juliana Landings, Maine, USA
August 18, 2031
10:15 am
"You're late, ladies," Pedro says as Hannah enters his salon with three other girls.
"No, we're on time," Hannah says.
"You should have been here 10 minutes ago," Pedro says.
"Well, make an exception for me, then," Hannah says as she flutters her long eyelashes at him.
"It will cost you extra," Pedro says to Hannah.
"Don't worry, just charge it to my tab. Carson will never find out about it," Hannah says flippantly.
"So, which one of you ladies is the lucky lady?" Pedro asks.
"That would be me," Emily says.
"Follow me then," Pedro says as he leads Emily to a back room.
Pedro's Beautiful Girls Beauty Salon
4321 Nebraska Street
Juliana Landings, Maine, USA
August 18, 2031
10:18 am
"Here's a robe," Pedro says as he hands Emily a white fluffy robe that has a picture of a golden crown over the wearer's chest and has the words Pedro's Beautiful Girls Beauty Salon written underneath the crown.
"When you are ready, call me. I'll be waiting outside of the door," Pedro says.
Emily slips the robe over her red shirt and blue jeans and takes a seat on the dentist's chair in the middle of the room.
"I'm ready, Pedro," Emily shouts.
Pedro enters the room with two tall, burly, black-haired men who have bronze skin and black eyes.
"This is Manuel. He will do your manicure," Pedro says as he points to the man on his left.
Pedro continues as he points to the man on his right, "This is Pablo. He will do your pedicure."
Manuel and Pedro file and buff Emily's fingernails and toenails. When they are finished, they apply some oil to Emily's fingernails and toenails.
"Pedro!" Manuel calls.
Pedro glides into the room.
"This young lady is ready for her haircut," Manuel says.
"Thanks, Manuel," Pedro says as he pushes Emily out of the backroom and into another room where he cuts people's hair.
Walls are pink and are covered in pictures of movie stars with various hairstyles. There is a mirror every 10 inches or so along the wall. In front of each mirror is a table where Pedro stores his scissors and other tools of his trade. In front of the table is a tall chair that he can raise and lower as he wishes. Emily sits in the chair.
"What kind of hairstyle do you like?" Pedro asks Emily.
"Something that is easy to maintain," Emily replies.
"How about layering your hair to give it dimension and curling your bangs so that they don't fall into your eyes?" Pedro asks.
Emily nods and Pedro gets to work, snipping away at Emily's hair.
Pedro's Beautiful Girls Beauty Salon
4321 Nebraska Street
Juliana Landings, Maine, USA
August 18, 2031
12:18 pm
"I give you a masterpiece," Pedro announces when he enters the waiting room.
Emily shyly enters the waiting room and waits for Jackie, Marianne and Hannah to react.
"You look amazing," Marianne says.
"You look good enough to eat. Any guy would fall in love with you," Jackie says.
"Very nice," Hannah says.
"Thanks, Pedro," Emily says as Hannah pushes Emily out of the door and into her car.
Jackie and Marianne follow.
"All aboard! The next stop is William Hayes International Airport in Portland, Maine," Hannah says.
William Hayes International Airport
Portland, Maine
August 18, 2031
1:20 pm
"Well, I guess, this it guys! I'm going to miss you," Emily says as she hugs Marianne, Hannah and Jackie in the lobby of the airport.
"Marianne, thanks for being my apartment-mate. Hannah, yes I'll be your baby's godmother and Jackie, take care of yourself," Emily says with tears in her eyes.
"How did you find out that I wanted you to be my baby's godmother?" Hannah asks Emily.
"Marianne told me," Emily replies.
"Oh!" Hannah says.
"Don't cry, we will come and visit you on your birthday," Marianne says.
Jackie and Hannah nod.
"Thank you, you guys are the best," Emily says.
"You better hurry or you'll miss your flight," Hannah says.
She gives Marianne, Hannah and Jackie each one last hug and heads over to the luggage check-in desk to get her boarding pass and her gate pass. Next, she goes to the security area. When it is her turn, she takes off her white running shoes and places them in a gray tray. Next, she places the tray onto a conveyor belt. Then she goes through a metal detector and heads over to Gate 5 and observes people, while she patiently waits for her flight to San Francisco, California, to arrive.
William Hayes International Airport
Portland, Maine
August 18, 2031
4:00 pm
"This is the last call for all passengers boarding Flight 401 to San Francisco, California," the shoulder-length brown-haired lady who is dressed in a navy blue dress suit at the gate announces.
Emily suddenly wakes up from her nap and hears the announcement.
She quickly runs to the gate and presents her pass.
Then, Emily enters the airplane and waves to the flight attendant who greets her. She quickly finds her seat in economy class, pushes her seat back as far as it will go and buckles her seatbelt.
"This is a new chapter in my life. Whether or not you are ready, Chester University, here I come!" Emily whispers.