Chapter One

Homemade Lemonade

It's July 2004 and Emma and Chris aren't doing well together. Between Chris being somewhat distant, temperamental and preoccupied with music and overall lack of communication between the pair Emma assumes it'll only be a matter of time before their relationship is over. They talk everyday but the romance leaves a lot to be desired.

Even in her heart she knows it's pretty much over but for some reason she's holding off on cutting the cord. Afterall, Chris was there when she was alone this year when the people she always could count on were notably absent from her life and with Manny gone on summer vacation to camp at least she can count on Chris even if she's unhappy.

This summer is sure to be a dud. Sean comes by to work on Mr. Simpson's old clunker of a car but to say it's awkward to talk to him is an understatement. Their breakup wasn't the best and even though she'd admit some faults the way things were left were awkward at best but she's willing to play nice. This day is quite the scorcher and Sean spent several hours with the car which has a broken AC system, being alone has given him a lot of time to think. Emma was looking out the window and would watch him periodically. One day mom was home from the salon and she made a large pitcher of lemonade. Spike was washing dishes from lunch and told Emma, "Why don't you bring a cup out to him?"

Emma didn't say a word, but she felt silly bringing him anything, and then wondered internally what would she say to him? She never had any issue before, why is this any different? She finally left the window, realizing her mom knew what she had been doing for the past hour thinking and watching out the window.

Sean wiped the sweat off his forehead as he leaned over the open hood quietly and focused. She grabbed a tall plastic cup from the cupboard and walked out to him slowly. "Sean," she called to him, getting his attention, "figured you're thirsty out here."

Sean walked over from the curb and took it off her hands, "Hey, um thanks."

Awkwardly she replied, "Don't mention it."

She went to quickly walk back to the house when he called to her, "How are things?"

She wasn't sure, bringing the lemonade and just leaving it at that she hadn't thought too much about what he'd say. She had a million things bubbling in her head and all she did was say, "Fine." even though things were far from fine.

She turned around as he leaned over the hood of Snake's car before uttering again, "Can I say something?" She turned around and walked closer to him to hear him out. "For whatever it's worth I am sorry for how things played out."

"Sean you already apologized." She awkwardly noted not trying to delve too deep in conversation, "water under the bridge. I brought you lemonade, consider it my peace offering."

"I didn't mean it before, I was just being a jerkoff. Are we cool I guess? Peace offering accepted although I wasn't very nice to you after like whatever."

"You don't have to do that."

He sadly lamented, "I want to, Em. You, especially you and of course your family Mr. Simpson did a lot for me and I didn't pay it back."

"You're helping now though, that's gotta count for something."

"Ya, I'm doing this car now but I don't know what I'm saying, maybe I got too much sun today but I was just thinking I just feel like I owe you one just say what you want when you need me to do you a solid and I can do that. I just can't stand you holding back from me. We were friends before before we became something else entirely."

"Is that what we're calling it? Friends?" Emma asked rhetorically without thinking and then caught herself and then chuckled at the ridiculous inquiring while stammering out a rambling apology, "I'm sorry nevermind. For the record though, you said when we used to be something. Nevermnd it's stupid."

"I'm sure it isn't. I can take it. After what I did I deserve it."

"When you said I didn't want to do anything with you. That wasn't true. The truth is I wanted to do everything with you as stupid and improbable as it sounds."

"Oh," he just uttered flatly flattered by her confession, "I um.." he didn't know how to respond.

She softly continued her thought he had interrupted, "And then just like that then I lost you and now it's just weird for me now to talk to you. So yeah," she tensed and welled up suddenly and didn't like the way she was feeling and talking. "I'm over it though. It's fine, it's whatever." She wasn't over it, not by a long shot because she still holds that grudge and took what he said to heart.

She didn't mean to get that candid and she surprised herself in a way. It was the truth, they were her thoughts that were paraphrased on paper in her diaries never to be seen by him and now she had just verbalized it. Emma Nelson never cared what general people thought of her, but Sean was different somehow, she laughed it off before stating simply, "I'm going to go inside."

"No Emma wait, it's not stupid. Don't let anyone especially me make you think you're stupid. It's my fault. I didn't mean to upset or offend you. I screwed up, I know that now but yeah. Story of my life, me screwing up."

Sean could hear the wince in her voice and the tears in her throat while she was turned around but she had stopped walking at this point and still in range her tone was soft defeated and slow as she replied, "The past, the past is in the past I just wanted you to know." She turned to face him, "Enjoy the lemonade, I'll see you around."

As she turned around to walk away he told her with a tone of desperation in his voice, "I'll think of something to make it up to you. You didn't deserve that."

She whipped her head around to respond, "I said you don't have to do that, and besides what about the girlfriend?"

The truth was he didn't think about Ellie, he was more concerned with making amends. Did he love Ellie? Most likely but people can fall in love more than once in their lives so yes he does love her but he has a lot of love in his heart for Emma.

He'd been thinking about the damage he caused to her for a while but she seemed past it but it seems like it was a big deal to her and it was somewhat to him. He loved Emma, now in a friend kind of way but she was something special and even as a friend he still has high regard and he want to make her smile again like before the awkwardness of their past came up. He wasn't sure if Ellie would be okay with him revisiting the old friendship with Emma but he then replied, "She'd likely understand, she's not so intimidating once you get to know her. Maybe you and Chris can uh come to the billiards tonight and you'll see." He added, "It's a peace offering."

She softly smiled, "Sure, I'll ask him. See you around when you're done you can put the cup on the porch."

"Thanks."

"I'm gonna go back in the ac." She went straight to her room and flopped on her bed and sighed letting the ac and fans do their work on her slightly glistening arms.

She grabbed her phone and texted Chris:

'Um hey you want to get together tonight and go to the billiards?'

Chris quickly responded, he was already on his phone but didn't text her:

'Yeah sure I have something to tell you too later I guess I'll tell you when I see you'

Emma shrugged, not really giving it much thought, glossing over the text and sending Chris:

'See you later.'