Meeting You Ch. 8
"What's she doing here?" Sam asked Emily as she headed for the bar.
"She was invited before they broke up and I cannot rescind an invite," Emily said as she grabbed another martini. "I kind of thought that she wasn't going to show up but it is just my luck. Did you know that it wasn't just how I act?"
"What are you talking about?" Sam asked as he grabbed a beer.
"She broke up with him because she's worried about what his payment maybe for having me plan this party," Emily said as she watched the people on the dance floor. "She heard the rumors about me supposedly asking for sex as payment from other fraternity presidents."
"Is that seriously what your payment is?" Sam asked with a smirk on his face.
"Yea, sure, the girl whose only had sex once and it was considered rape, was left for pregnant by her stupid asshole of an ex-boyfriend, and had an abortion all before the age of 16; is asking all the fraternity presidents for sex after planning a crush party," Emily said as she led Sam onto the dance floor.
"That all seriously happened to you?" Sam asked as they danced to Tim McGraw's Don't Take the Girl.
"Yep and that's one of the few reasons I don't trust too many guys," Emily said as he spun her.
"So what's with me and Aaron then?" Sam asked.
"I'm not sure really," Emily said before heading back towards the blackjack table.
"So what is your payment going to be?" Sam said as he sat down next to her.
"My standard payment is usually four newly released VHS tapes," Emily said as she watched the dealer. "I do have something else in mind for Aaron though."
"And what would that be?" Haley asked as he sat down again. "Sex?"
"No, it would be an invite to Ambassador Prentiss' Thanksgiving bash, since his parents are going to be there and so that he isn't stuck here for the holiday," Emily said as the dealer busted. "Haley, let's get one thing straight. You know absolutely nothing about me; so you have no right to judge me. And I suggest you stop saying that I want sex from your ex-boyfriend because I really doubt that Aaron would like to hear that I kicked you out of the party."
"You wouldn't dare," Haley said.
"See that's another thing you don't know about me. People around here take my threats very seriously," Emily said as she headed for the house.
After five minutes of deep breathing and a quick meditation cycle, as advised by her therapist 5 years ago, Emily finally felt ready to head back out to the party. As she walked out of her room, she ran head first into someone.
"Are you ok?" Aaron said as he looked at the girl in front of him. "Emily, is everything ok?"
"Oh, hey, Aaron. Everything's just fine," Emily said as she walked towards the kitchen. "Did you need something?"
"I've been looking for you," Aaron said as he watched Emily grab a glass of water. "Are you sure everything is alright?"
"Why were you looking for me?" Emily asked as she sipped her water. "Everything's fine."
"I wanted to thank you for everything that you have done, not just for the party but also for agreeing to help Sam and I study for developmental psychopathology," Aaron said as they headed outside.
"Like I've said before, it's not a problem," Emily said as she sat at the blackjack table.
"You're going to make me ask for it aren't you?" Aaron asked as the dealer dealt them both a hand.
"Yep," Emily said as she signaled the dealer to hit her 12.
"What is the payment for your planning this party?" Aaron asked as he stood with 20.
"Well since I know for a fact that your parents have accepted an invite to Ambassador Prentiss' Thanksgiving bash, so I thought that since Bianca and Sam were coming with me, I'd invite you so that you won't be stuck on campus for Thanksgiving," Emily said as the dealer placed an 8 on her 12. "I would need to know by Monday night since I plan to head out around noon on Tuesday afternoon."
"Seriously?" Aaron asked as the dealer flipped his cards showing a 20 as well.
"It's either that or my standard four newly released VHS tapes," Emily said as the dealer dealt another hand. "I figured that the first payment would be better for the both of us. It'll take about six hours maybe a little longer depending on traffic."
"You seriously don't mind me joining in on your holiday traditions?" Aaron asked as Emily got blackjack.
"What holiday traditions?" Emily asked as another hand was dealt. "I've spent the last three years here at school for Thanksgiving. This is the first year in forever that my parents have even spent anywhere near the U.S. for Thanksgiving."
"When was the last time you just did something fun with your parents?" Aaron asked as Emily walked over toward the normal tables they had set up.
"The last time that we actually did anything remotely together that didn't have anything to deal with my mother's Ambassador duties would have to have been when I was five and it was just before my mother became the Ambassador," Emily said as she took another sip of her water. "Just let me know before Monday night so that I can call Helga and let her know to have an extra bedroom ready for you."
"I'll go. You're right about me being stuck here for Thanksgiving since my parents accepted your mother's invitation for her Thanksgiving bash," Aaron said.
"Ok, well I'll see you on Tuesday around noon," Emily said as Jen waved her over to talk.
Tuesday 11:30 a.m.
"Do you have everything ready to go?" Emily asked as she walked into her bedroom to find Bianca lounging on her bed. "Aaron called and said that he and Sam would be over in fifteen minutes so that we can pack the car."
"My bag was the one you most likely tripped over when you walked in the front door," Bianca said without looking up from her book. "Now do you have everything that you'll need for this long weekend with your family?"
"Don't remind me. I have everything packed but I have a feeling that I will be making at least one trip to the liquor store this weekend," Emily said as she dragged her suitcase out into the foyer.
"Emily," Aaron called into the deserted Theta house. "You girls in here?"
"We'll be right out," Bianca called from the back of the house. "I can't wait to see your mother's face when she sees that you brought Aaron Hotchner with you for Thanksgiving."
"She already knows that he's just coming as a friend and that he was going to be stuck here since his parents accepted her invite for Thanksgiving," Emily said as they walked toward the living room. "Jen's allowing us to use her Jeep for this drive since I truly doubt that my car would be able to fit us all and our suitcases."
"How long is the drive going to take?" Sam asked as he placed the suitcases in the back of the Jeep.
"It all depends on traffic but it should be just under six hours if the traffic is good. We should get to the house about 6, just in time for dinner," Emily said as everyone piled into the car. "I figured that we'd pick up two pizzas and a few pops from Golden Rock before heading out."
Six hours later
Emily was finally glad to be in Washington. Sure it meant having to deal with her mother but it also meant getting out of the car; once they got to the house. The drive hadn't been that unbearable but it also wasn't the easiest. At first the guys had talked about sports before Aaron started reading one of his law textbooks and Sam pulled out his CD player. Bianca had been asleep since just after they got on the New Jersey Turnpike; which left Emily with listening to the silence that filled the Jeep.
"Ok, guys, I'm going to warn you now. The house is huge and I still get lost at times, even though I've lived here for the past three summers," Emily said as she turned into the Kent subdivision.
"How big is this place?" Sam asked as he looked at the other houses in the subdivision.
"Let me see if I can get it right," Bianca said as she turned to look at the guys. "It has seven bedrooms, ten bathrooms, a ballroom, pool/guesthouse, and a gym. There is a ton more but I'm willing to bet that Emily will give us a tour after we eat dinner."
"Here we are," Emily said as she pulled up to the security gate. "Emily Prentiss, Bianca Steffy, Sam Kassmeyer, and Aaron Hotchner here for the weekend."
"Em, welcome back. I think this is the first Thanksgiving that you've spent here," James, the security guard, said as he had her sign the guest sheet.
"Hey, James, Mother decided to do a Thanksgiving bash this year and I was requested to make an appearance," Emily said before driving up the driveway.
"How many stories is this place?" Aaron asked as Emily pulled around to the garage.
"Six stories," Emily said as she pushed the garage door opener. "Looks like dad brought home a new acquisition."
"Is that the new Aston Martin DB7?" Sam asked as they got out of the car.
"You'll have to ask my father that one; he's the car nut," Emily said as she closed the garage. "Let's head inside. Helga will most likely have dinner on the table soon."
Aston Martin DB7
aston_martin/1994-db7/