A/N: This fic is a little different than Wemma one's I've written before. There's no Carl. Yay, it's set in the future, and there are two different narrators. Division line=New speaker. Hopefully it won't be too confusing.
"Emily, it's time for dinner,"
I hear my mom call. I tell my friend that I was video chatting that I have to go and close my computer. I drag my feet all the way downstairs to the dinner table. I sit down, put my hand under my chin and pout.
"Ew Em, your face looks ugly," My annoying five year old brother teases. I stick my tongue out at him in response.
"Emily, put that tongue right back in your mouth," My mom scolds as she walks to the table, sets the food down and sits. "You are too old to be behaving so."
He started it, I want to say, but perhaps she's right. Twelve is quite the mature age. "Mom, why did we have to move here," I say instead.
My mom sighs as she begins making her plate. "I told you and your brother that I thought we needed a change. Besides I used to live in Lima once upon a time."
She pauses for a second, I guess in reflection before she finishes with her plate and passes the bowl to me. I make mine and my brother's plate.
"I don't think we needed a change," I say giving the pout a return. "I miss my friends mom."
"We've only been here a day," My mom tries to reason. "I know you miss your friends but you can still chat with them right?"
I begrudgingly shake my head yes, "And you'll make new friends when you start school on Monday," she continued. "A pretty girl like you could probably be the center of attention."
I smiled at that. Mom likes to call me pretty because I look just like her. I even have her curly red hair. My brother looks like my dad, blue eyes and all.
"Jake's happy we moved here, aren't you Jake," My mom says to my brother.
"Um hmm," he says with a smile. "I love it here mommy."
Momma's boy, I sigh. We've been here for five hours, how can he love it already?
William McKinley Elementary School looked like a prison when my mom drove up to it on Monday, though I may have just been imagining the bars seeing as I didn't want to be there in the first place.
"Hold your brother's hand as you walk," My mom said once I finished unstrapping him from his car seat.
"Yeah," Jake stuck his finger in his nose. "Hold my hand."
"Ew," I complain. "Mom, Jake just-" I paused when I remembered mom's dislike of germs. She'd have him sanitizing for an hour. "Whatever, you're not walking us in on our first day?"
"I can't," she said. "I'm running a tad late to my job."
Good thing I didn't tell her about Jake. I nodded, closed the backseat door, grabbed my brother's other hand and began to walk. "Come on," I said. "And you are so gross."
I have to admit, I'm nervous as I drive to work. I'm going back to McKinley. I haven't walked those halls in nearly 15 years. I know so much has changed since then. I take a deep breath before I get out of my car. I can do this.
As I walk down the halls it all does seem familiar. The trophies in the display cases are different and there are photos of different people on the wall but the overall feel is the same. When I get to my new old office I notice that the glass doors have been substituted with brown painted walls. So goes the familiarity. My nameplate hangs beside the door: Emma Pillsbury-Wright. That gives me some comfort as I turn the knob to go inside.
Mom was wrong, I think as I sit by myself at lunch. I hate this school. Everyone here already knows each other and is not willing to 'accept the new girl.' I want to go home. To my real home.
I sit pouting over my mashed potatoes when I see someone approaching me. She's a kind enough looking girl. I remember her smiling at me when I was introducing myself to the class earlier.
"Hi, my name is Emma," she says when she reaches me. "Can I sit down with you please?"
I ponder for a moment. She seems cool enough. She has my mom's name after all and at this point I'm really in no condition to turn down a possible friend. I slide my tray closer to me so she can have more room across from me and say, "Yeah. Sure."
"Your name is Emma you say," I ask as she sits down. "My mom's name is Emma. My name's Emily after her. I guess mom didn't want to be too vain," I laugh.
She laughs as well. "Yeah, my dad came up with my name. Apparently I'm named after a very special lady he tells me, but I don't know who. I think Emma Thompson the actress maybe."
"I like your hair," she adds after a pause. "It's curly like mine except mine is brown of course. I have hair just like my dad."
"And my hair is like my mom's," I say.
I begin to pack my bag in a hurry. I had spent most of the day studying every kid in the school, it's what I always do when I'm new to a job, and lost track of time. I have to hurry or I'll be late picking up the kids and I'm never late. All of a sudden I hear a knock on the door. I say it's okay to come in. I really miss having the glass there. That way I could be able to see who I'm inviting in.
"Emma, is it really you," I hear as the door slowly opens.
I look up from my packing to see who the visitor is. They clearly know me. "Will," I ask as I turn around. He smiles and nods.
"I can't believe it," I laugh. "It's been so long." I can't believe he still works here. I go to hug him. He hasn't changed a bit. Well he has a wrinkle or two and I might detect just a hint of gray on the edges of his light brown curly hair, but other than that it's almost as if he's been frozen in time.
After we pull back from the hug, he takes my face in both hands and just stares at me for a moment. "You're just as beautiful as ever," he marvels as he releases my face.
I blush just a tad. "So what brings you back," he asks. "Did Charles' job finally transfer him back here?"
"Actually, Charlie died a few months ago," I say sadly. "I just thought we needed a change you know."
Will nods in understanding. "So what made you pick Lima as that change?"
"I don't know," I say. "Well my family does live here and as much as I wanted a change I still wanted some sense of familiarity I guess. Luckily the town hasn't changed much. So what about you? I heard you married shortly after Charlie and I moved."
"I divorced shortly after you left too," Will said. "About a year later."
"Oh," I nod. "Didn't work out too well huh?"
Will shooks his head. "I have a daughter though," he stopped and checked his watch. "Speaking of, I'm going to be late picking her up from school."
On that note I remember that I'm in the same predicament. "Yeah, I have to pick up my kids too."
"Oh, you have kids?" Will inquires.
"Yeah, two," I answer as I make my way past him out the door.
"Do they go to McKinley Elementary," he asks following behind me.
"Yeah," I answer as I hurry to the exit.
"That's where my daughter goes. We should follow each other."
XXX
It's good to see Will again. I haven't seen him in thirteen years, since my husband and I moved to Chicago. I never expected to see him again but I'm glad I'll have someone at McKinley that I know.
When Will pulls into the parking lot of McKinley Elementary, I pull up in the spot beside him and wait for Emily and Jake to come out.
I look over at Will and he makes a gesture for me to roll down the passanger seat window so we can talk to each other.
After it's down he asks, "How old are your kids?"
"Five and twelve I say."
Will ponders for a moment. "My daughter's twelve. Do you think that our kids are going to be friends?"
Before I can answer I notice Jake and Emily walking in the parking lot toward my car. Emily is flanked by a girl about her age with brown shoulderlength curly hair. I knew she'd make friends here, I smile.
The trio walk to my car and Emily opens the door for Jake to get in. She then turns to me and says, "Mom, this is my friend Emma."
"Lovely to meet you," I smile. "Beautiful name, do you need a ride?"
"No," she smiles. "This is my dad right here," she turns to Will's car. "Dad, this is Emily," she introduces my daughter.
"Nice to meet you," Will smiles. "You are the spinning image of your mother." He looks at me. "I'm glad our daughters are friends."
"You named your daughter Emma," I ask surprised. Will shrugs.
"Do you two know each other," Emily asks as she finishes strapping in Jake. She turns from me to Will and then back.
"We used to," I explain as Emily hops into the passenger seat. Emma has already made it around to the passenger seat of Will's car.
"See you tomorrow Emma," Emily says as we start to pull out.
"Bye," she calls back and waves. Will waves as well but his wave was more than likely intended for me.
Please review. It's very motavating(: