Circle of Trust
by L. Gabrielle
CHAPTER ONE:
Emma pushed back a wipsy strand of blonde hair behind her ear, and sighed. Studying for finals was not how she wanted to spend the day. She glanced over her study sheet for English. The mass majority of it was notes on "Hamlet". She normally understood Shakespeare, or at least, she understood it while her class was going over it. Now, however, her mind was elsewhere.
She had forced herself to study hard this year. Freshman year is a big deal. She knew she was smart enough to not go insane with worry over her grade levels, but when iambic pentameter starts to look more like oddly written Russian, she knew she should be alarmed.
She couldn't help but shift her thoughts to Manny Santos, her now ex-best friend. Rumors had been floating around school that she was pregnant. She really hoped it wasn't true, but given Manny's wild behavior lately, Emma really couldn't put it past her. Manny's image came back to her in a vivid flash--those tight shirts, those pants. She shuddered. Manny now is a mere fraction of what she used to be -- caring, loyal, with high standards.
"It's really unbelievable how much of a difference a year makes," Emma mused.
Her concentration was broken by her mother running down the stairs in a hurry, holding Emma's baby brother, Jack, in her arms. "Em, I'm sorry I have to do this on such a whim, but Snake's at the hospital and I promised I'd be there for the diagnosis," Spike's voice was strained. She hadn't been getting much sleep lately, what with baby Jack's late night crying sessions, and her husband's weekly chemotherapy sessions.
Emma stood up. "Say no more. Give him to me." The homework laid forgotten as she unstreched her arms welcomingly to baby Jack. Emma pulled the infant closer to her, trying to silence it's sudden tearful departure from his mother.
"You're a lifesaver, Em," Spike said, rummaging around to find her purse. She found it slung haphazardly on the back of a kichen chair, and slipped it over her small frame, along with a light jacket. "I'll call you from the hospital once we leave. Feel free to get yourself dinner if you get hungry."
"I will. Don't worry. Say 'bye', Jack!" She moved her brother's arm in a waving motion at her mother's stressed eyes. Spike smiled, kissed Jack's forehead, as well as Emma's and was out the door.
Emma spun back around, and with Jack on one hip, went in search of his baby seat, so she could place him next to her at the kitchen table and possibly get some more work done. Once found, the idea was essentially moot what with Jack's constant gurgling and screams for attention.
"Okay, okay, all eyes on you," she said with an weak and exasperated smile. "Guess the Great Dane will have to wait..."
[Authur's Note: Let me know what you think. I hope to have the next few chapters up in a few days. Constructive critisim is always appreciated. Thanks!]
