7. Growing Up
"Jayden! Put me down!" Emily shouted, as she giggled.
"Apologize," he told her, laughing.
"Never!" she shouted.
Jayden spun his sister around. Jayden was changing a lot. His voice got deeper, and she would mock him.
"You're old!" she laugher, as he tickled her.
"I'm barely seventeen!" he exclaimed.
"I'm twelve!" she exclaimed, teasing him. "You'll be eighteen soon!"
They were in the park. Mentor had let them go out, and Jayden chose the playground, knowing Emily had never been there.
"Jay!" she shouted.
"Apologize Mils!" he ordered, laughing.
"I'm sorry!" she shouted.
He let her go. "That wasn't so bad, now wasn't it?"
"Shut up Wayn," she muttered, as she sat on the swing.
"Hey, you okay?" Jayden asked, as he saw her face drop.
"E-Eleven years today," she muttered. He took a seat next to her. "I-I don't remember her. I want to meet her. Why did she have to go? Why doesn't he want me?"
"I can't answer that. You're mother loved you so much. I remember, the day you were born, she made me promise to protect you if anything were to happen to her. You were her whole world. You're mother was like mine. She fought for us," Jayden told her.
Emily jumped to Jayden's arms and cried her heart out.
Emily fell asleep in Jayden's arms. He carried her out of the playground and toward a tree. Once under it, he sat down and laid back against a tree.
A girl walked toward then with a boy. The girl looked around Jayden's age. She had brown hair. She was taller then Emily, but shorter then Jayden. The boy looked about fourteen, or thirteen. He had black hair.
"Hey," she said. Jayden looked at her brown eyes.
"Hello," he whispered.
"She's asleep?"
"Yeah. I'm Jayden."
"I'm Sarah, and this is my brother Ian," she said.
"This is Emily, my sister," he said, looking down at her.
"Is she okay?" Sarah asked, looking at the sleeping girl.
Jayden shook his head. "Eleven years ago today her mother died. My father died with her."
Frowning, she looked at Emily. "Poor girl. How old was she when your mother died?"
"She's not my mother," Jayden said.
Sarah glared at Jayden. She stood up. "How can you say that?"
Emily stirred, but she didn't wake up.
"Oh, I get it. Emily and I aren't related, at all. She's like a little sister to me. I promised her mother I would protect her with my life. Emily was one when she died."
"How did they die?"
"Do you remember when monsters attacked eleven years ago?" Jayden asked, trying to act like he didn't know what they were.
She nodded.
"Our parent's got caught in the battle and were killed," he explained.
Sarah nodded. "Want to hang out with Liam and me?"
"I'll ask Emily," he answered. "Mils, wake up. Em, come on."
"Five more minutes, old man," she muttered.
"Tickle monster will visit you," he whispered. He reached for her stomach and tickled her.
She sat up laughing. "Jay, stop! I'm sorry! It's not my fault you're so old!"
"Watch it little girl," he threatened teasingly.
She smirked. She noticed a girl and boy watching her.
"Uh h-hello," she whispered. She looked at Jayden, panicking. She hadn't had much social opportunities as Jayden.
"I'm Sarah. This is Ian," the girl introduced herself.
"I'm uh, um," she stumbled.
"Emily, Jayden told us," Sarah said. "Emily, I was wondering if you want to hang out with us."
"I-is Jayden going?" Emily asked in a small voice.
"Yeah, Em," he answered, smiling.
"I-I uh, guess," she whispered.
"Great. I know the perfect place," Sarah said. She grabbed Ian and Jayden's hands and pulled them up. Emily stood up herself. Jayden took her hand, and smiled at her.
'Are you okay?' Jayden mouthed.
Emily nodded. He took her hand and they followed the two civilians. They walked to a small shop.
"What's that place?" Emily asked her brother.
"They sell cupcakes," Jayden muttered.
Emily nodded, still frowning.
"What do you guys want?" Sarah asked.
"Chocolate," Ian answered, talking for the first time.
"Emily," Sarah offered.
"Um, same as him," she answered.
"Me too," Jayden added.
Sarah nodded. She walked to the counter. Ian walked to a small table with four chairs. Emily and Jayden followed close behind. Once they were seated, Emily and Jayden on one side, while Ian was to sit with his sister.
"What's up?" Ian asked.
"What do you mean?" Jayden asked, confused.
"You two are weird. I mean, I see the way you two act. It's like you've never been out," Ian said.
Jayden tensed. Emily looked away.
"So it's true, you two have never been out. Why?" he inquired.
"None of your business," Jayden told him.
Ian nodded. He smiled at Emily.
"Hello," he told her.
Emily smiled softly and muttered a low, "Hello."
"How do like living with this guy?" he asked, nodding his head at Jayden.
"It's great," she whispered.
He nodded and sat up when Sarah appeared with a tray dozen, chocolate cupcakes. Jayden stood up to see if he was of assistance.
"Thank you," she said, smiling. She frowned at the seating arrangments.
"Ian, would you mind switching seats with Jayden?" Sarah asked her brother.
He shook his head and sat next to Emily. The young girl tensed. The group began eating the cupcakes, not talking much.
After everything was done, they stood up and walked to the door. Slowly, Ian grabbed Emily's hand.
Emily blushed, only having had two boys hold her hand. She looked at Jayden, and saw him tensed.
She gave him a small smile. She turned to Ian. His faced inched towards her. Emily froze. She had never been in a situation like that. His lips slowly touched hers. Emily snapped out of her daze. She pushed Ian and punched his face.
"Emily!" Jayden shouted in shock.
Emily shook her head and ran away. Jayden ran after her.
"Emily! Emily, stop!" Jayden shouted.
Emily stopped. She was tensed, and shaking. Her eyes were shut. Her fists were balled up on her sides.
"Emily, it's okay," he said, as he took her in his arms.
"I-I didn't want to hit him!" she cried. "I-I don't know what happened!"
"It's alright," he said. "Let's get you home."
Chapter 8: Red and Yellow
After training for about twelve years, Mentor believes they are ready for the next level. Can they handle the pressure of the world in their shoulders?