Chapter 2: Museum
Emily's Pov-
I sat frustrated by my computer, I had to write a really good article if I wanted to show the newspaper editor that I can be more than just an intern. Ever since I injured my shoulder my plans on becoming a swimmer was crushed but I eventually found out that I really wanted to be a journalist after college I applied for an internship to the Bugle Picture News and now I'm doing my very best to show my bosses that I can become more than just an intern.
I took another sip of my coffee since I knew I was going to have to work late.
I kept trying to figure out how to make a boring event as a reopening to a museum to sound interesting without lying, which was almost impossible since there was not much to write about it.
After another sip of my coffee I tried to figure out how to make the museum sound more interesting. "Museum brings the past to the present." "Relive history once again." "These fossils are colossal." I kept trying to figure out ideas on how to make the article sound slightly interesting but I couldn't figure anything out.
The hours flew by but I didn't move from my laptop, I just sat there and tried to figure out anything to write but eventually I gave up. I turned off my laptop and decided to try again at the museums reopening.
Paige's Pov-
I was in my bed, trying to get some rest after another night off dancing in front of strangers that threw cash at me. When I got home my eyes felt like they were burning and it felt like I was going to pass out at any second, being in a soft bed felt like a blessing.
"Mommy, mommy wake up!" I heard Aaron say as he jumped onto my bed.
I groaned as I tried to force my eyes open. "What is it sweetie?" I asked.
"Today is when you said we were going to the museum." Aaron said starting to push me to get me out of bed.
"Aaron I'm tired can't you watch TV with Hanna for a while?" I asked.
"No, her shows are bad." Aaron said.
"We can go to the museum later." I said and tried to get back to sleep.
"But you promised." Aaron said and I could her in his voice that he was starting to get sad.
I looked at him and remembered how much he looked forward he had been looking forward to get to the museum. Ever since he was a kind he always liked cavemen so he had looked forward to see them in museums.
"Ok, just wait for me to get dressed." I said and Aaron's sad face was replaced with a big smile as he cheered in joy.
He ran out from my bedroom and I got up and started to get dressed.
"You can't seriously take him to the museum, you'll fall asleep before you get there." Hanna said as she walked up behind me.
"I know, that's why you're coming with us." I said.
"I don't want to go to a museum." Hanna complained.
"Please Han, I can't keep an eye on Aaron when I'm this tired. I need your help." I said as I begged her for help.
Hanna was about to say no but then she sighed annoyed "Fine I'll come with you." Hanna said.
"Thanks." I said as I forced myself out of bed to get dressed. I was almost stumbling as I walked to my closet.
"You're so tired you walk like you're drunk." Hanna said.
"I know." I mumbled as I took of my shirt and just dropped in on the floor.
"Helloooo I'm still here." Hanna said.
"I'll accept any dollar bills you can throw at me." I joked as I felt how tired I was, I almost fell asleep standing so I sat down on the floor.
"Paige?" Hanna said and ran up to me.
"See why I need your help at the museum?" I said as Hanna helped me up.
"Yes, I'll keep an eye on him all day." Hanna said.
"Both eyes, when he sees something he likes he'll run to it." I said as I found my balance.
"I'll make you some coffee in your big thermos." Hanna said as I fumbled trying to open the zipper on my pants but my hands were too shaky from the lack of sleep.
"Hanna? Little help?" I asked.
"No way, if you want help with that just get a boyfriend." Hanna said.
"Do I have to remind you how it went the last time a guy got into my pants?" I asked referring to in college when I got pregnant after that I had lost all interest in dating.
"Aunt Hanna, please help." Hanna muffled her voice trying to sound like Aaron.
"Sorry Aaron need my help." Hanna said and ran downstairs as an excuse to not help me.
"Fine" I said to myself and I put both my hands in my pockets and pushed down as much as I could until my pants slid of my waist and then I just kicked them off, not the sexiest way I ever undressed but at least I was out of my pants.
I quickly got dressed in a pair of slacks, a t-shirt and a baggy hoodie. I got downstairs where Aaron was jumping with excitement by the door and Hanna handed me my thermos. I took a big gulp of the coffee Hanna had made for me, I drank so much I almost burnt my mouth.
"Easy there Paige, I only filled one thermos." Hanna said.
"It's ok Han, I can do this." I said as I held my sons hand. "Are you ready to see some cavemen?" I asked and Aaron nodded as he giggled with excitement.
I unlocked the front door and Aaron almost ran out dragging me with him.
"Take it easy Aaron we'll get there." I said as I lifted him into my arms and started to carry him to the car since that was the only way to make sure he wouldn't run.
"Hanna you drive." I said as I checked my pockets for the car keys.
"Paige, I already got the keys." Hanna said and held them up so I'd notice them.
Hanna unlocked the car doors and I helped Aaron into his car seat.
"Cavemen!" Aaron cried in happiness.
"Yes Aaron, Cavemen!" I said.
Hanna just rolled her eyes as she drove us to the museum, on the way there Aaron giggled and I tried to catch up on some sleep.
A few minutes later:
"Paige, wake up!" Hanna said and started to shake me.
"Ok, I'm awake." I said, I was a bit frustrated since I was still tired.
"Ok, which one of the Vampire Diaries girls did you have a sex dream of this time? Hanna asked.
"Hanna!" I yelled shocked. "There is a kid in the car." I said and looked at the backseat when I was sure Aaron was sitting.
"No, I let him out before I wake you up, so be honest did you have a sex dream of Elena, Bonnie or Caroline?" Hanna asked. Hanna knew I was gay.
I realized I had feelings for girls when I started college and at a party me and a girl named Shauna played a very grown up version of 7 minutes in heaven and when the lights were turned off and things got heated I knew for sure I was into girls. My relation with Shauna didn't last but I was sure that I was into girls, I guess that's why they guy who took advantage of me on that party where I got pregnant made his move on me, or maybe it was more than one guy. All I can remember from that night was that I was drinking and when I woke up my panties were on my head and the jeans I had worn was ripped.
I cleared my mind from that memory and looked back at Hanna.
"You can't just turn your back to Aaron, he'll run away." I said and got out of the car and ran up to Aaron. I lifted him up on my shoulders so he could see above the crowd.
"Are you excited to see cavemen?" I asked and Aaron put his hands on my head and said "Faster mommy, faster!"
We walked inside the museum and I felt how tired I was as soon as we got in so I put Aaron back to the ground and I squeezed his hand so he wouldn't run off, since he was so excited I'd consider to put him in a leach.
"Easy there Aaron, you don't even know where the cavemen are." I said.
"Come on mom, I don't want to miss them cavemen." Aaron said and I felt the he was really tugging hard on my arm now.
"Aaron calm down, you will see them." I said as I'd rather just sit down and get some shuteye.
"Paige, are you ok?" Hanna asked as I took a sip from my coffee.
"No, I'm tired and this coffee doesn't help." I said.
"Ok, well why don't you just… take a seat on that bench and rest for a few minutes." Hanna said and nudged me towards the closest bench. "While I take Aaron to the big cool cavemen. Hanna continued.
I didn't wanted to be a wet blanket but I just had to sit down.
"Ok, Aaron you stay close to Hanna and she'll take you to the Cavemen." I said and Aaron looked up at me looking a bit sad.
"You don't want to come with me?" He asked.
I could instantly tell that he wanted to be with me.
"Don't you love me anymore?" Aaron asked.
"No it's not like that." I said and went down on one knee so I could look make direct eye contact with Aaron. "You know I love you more than anything else." I said as I cupped his cheeks.
"I just need to rest a few minutes then I'll come with you and we'll have lots of fun." I said.
"Come on… A-man." I used his nickname to get him to stop being sad.
"You promise?" Aaron asked.
"Pinky swear." I said and held out my right pinky finger and Aaron hooked his pinky finger with mine and he smiled.
Aaron and Hanna walked off and I sat down on the bench and breathed out, I felt like I was a senior citizen, I closed my eyes and tried to get a few minutes of rest.
Then I heard a clicking sound and I opened my eyes and saw a woman with long raven hair, she looked very fit and she had big brown eyes.
"I just got the picture for my scoop, museum bores people to sleep." The woman said and sat down next to me.
"I've read more boring things in the news." I said as I looked at her.
"I'm Emily, Emily Fields." The woman said and reached out her hand.
"Paige McCullers." I answered and shock her hand. I couldn't help but check her out, she was very attractive and she had a smile that really brightened up the room.
"You a photographer?" I asked.
"I'm a journalist, well an intern journalist, I'm trying to break through." Emily said.
"How about you?" She then asked.
"Nothing yet, I'm still looking, I get a few temps job to pay the bills but nothing serious." I answered. I didn't felt like telling her I was a dancer since everyone who hears that assumes dancer means slutty stripper.
"I know what that's like, I've had tons of meaningless part-time jobs as well." Emily answered. "I was a barista when I was in high school." Emily continued.
"Wow, I didn't thought you looked like a barista." I sad and Emily reached an eyebrow.
"How is a barista supposed to look like?" Emily asked.
"Not as hot as you." I said then I mentally slapped myself.
"Did I just say that out loud?" I asked.
Emily laughed and said "Yeah, you did." Emily then leaned in closer to me. "You're good." She said.
"Actually I'm terrible at this." I said as I tried to hide my shame. "I haven't dated in four years." I said.
"Well, how about we change that." Emily said. "Can I have your phone?" Emily asked.
"Wow that went fast." I said as I handed Emily my phone.
Emily shrugged and said. "Life is too short to not take a risk." As she added her number among my contacts.
"You're right, I should really get back into dating." I said and nodded.
"Well, when you're ready…" Emily said and handed me my phone. "Feel free to call me anytime."
"Ok, I think I…" I said and then I felt something jumping me from behind.
"Mommy!" Aaron cried as he hugged me from behind, he liked to sneak up on me.
"Hey buddy, where is Hanna?" I asked and Aaron just looked around. "I don't know."
"Ok, I should go now." Emily said and got up.
"Wait, it's not what you think." I said and ran after Emily, carrying Aaron on my back.
"I'm sorry I didn't knew you were spoken for it." Emily said.
"No it's not like that" I said and then I sighed. "I'm a single mom, Aaron here is the only man I want in my life." I said to Emily who looked confused at me.
"Look, I think you seem very nice and I'd love to go out with you." I said, and Emily looked back at me and smiled. "Ok, call me when you got the time." Emily said.
"Do you want to come with me?" I asked.
"No, I have to get back to work, but really call me." Emily said as she left.
"So Aaron, did you get to see the cavemen?" I asked.
"I saw monsters." Aaron said.
"Monsters?" I asked.
"Yes, it was big and so cool…" Aaron said as Hanna came running up to us.
"I thought I told you to keep an eye on him." I said to Hanna.
"I swear I just looked away for a second and he was gone." Hanna said.
"I wanted to see cavemen but I saw monsters." Aaron said.
"How did they look?" I asked.
"They were big." Aaron said.
"Ok where did you see these monsters?" I asked.
"Over there." Aaron said and pointed to a hallway, Hanna and I walked there, I was still carrying Aaron on my back, after sitting down I felt like I had regained my energy.
"They are in there." Aaron said and pointed to the dinosaur exhibit.
We walked in and then Hanna stopped in front of a triceratops skeleton.
"Monster!" Aaron said excited and pointed to it.
"That's not a monster, that's a dinosaur." I said.
"What's a dinosaur?" Aaron said.
"It's a kind of animals that lived long before the cavemen." I said.
"They look cool." Aaron said.
"Well this is a rhino-saurus." Hanna said and pointed to the triceratops.
Then we kept walking and Aaron pointed to a stegosaurus and asked "What's that dinosaur?"
"Well that's erm… a big-o-saurus." Hanna said.
Now I was unsure if Hanna was joking or if she really didn't knew the dinosaurs' names.
"Aaron there is one more dinosaur you just have to se." I said.
"Is it big?" Aaron asked.
"The biggest." I said and Aaron giggled. "Yaay mom! Show me show me." Aaron said and I walked up to the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
"Wow, it's huge!" Aaron cried.
"Yes it is." I said.
"What is that one called?" Aaron asked.
"That's a scary-saurus." Hanna said. Seriously Hanna, everyone knows what that one is called.
I brushed that thought out of my mind and looked to Aaron.
"Are you hungry?" I asked.
"Yes, mommy" Aaron answered.
"Well there is a McDonalds nearby, we can eat there and then we can get back here." I said.
Aaron was happy since he knew he'd always get a new toy when he ordered a happy meal.
We went to the McDonalds and ate and then when Aaron went to play in the ball pool Hanna looked at me like she wanted to say something.
"What is it?" I asked.
"There is something I must tell you." Hanna said.
"I know, you don't know the names of the dinosaurs." I said.
"No, it's not that it's… how long do you think you can be a stripper?" Hanna said.
"I mean what will happened if Aaron is in middle school and he hears from one of his friends that you does that for a living?" Hanna continued.
"I know, I mean taking my clothes of for strangers is not what I wanted to do with my life and I've been looking for any other kind of job that'll pay more so I can quit my dancing job and start there." I said.
"But what if that won't happened?" Hanna asked.
"I just have to live on hope and in the meanwhile I'll have to suck it up and dance all night so I can make sure Aaron at least have a happy childhood." I said. I decided to not mention Emily to Hanna since it didn't felt like the right time.
"I know but I just hope it'll happened soon." Hanna said.
"I know, don't worry." I said as I reached for my fries.
"Hey! You can't eat too much of this." Hanna said and pulled away my fries.
"Hanna! I was eating those." I said frustrated the she had stolen my food.
"What, you need to think about your figure, you can't get fat then the midnight perverts wouldn't want to throw their money at you." Hanna said and I wasn't really sure if it was a good or a bad thing.
"What, I'm just doing this because I care about you." Hanna said and took a bit from one of the fries and then she smirked.
"Fine let's get back to the museum, I want to see how many more dinosaur names you'll get wrong." I said and then I went to the ball pool and got Aaron and then we returned to the museum and stayed there until it closed.
