Christian Grey P.O.V.
I have absolutely no idea how to speak to sixteen-year-old girls. I wasn't speaking to them when I was sixteen and I certainly have no idea how to speak to them now. And yet, I'm pretty positive that telling one she looks bad probably wasn't the best way to go. But I mean, she laughed. She couldn't have been that angry if she laughed, right?
I spent half the night on the phone with Child Protective Services basically begging them to take her back, and now I feel bad. But what am I supposed to do? I can't play daddy to this kid. It literally wouldn't be fair to her. I am incapable of taking care of a child. However, they told me in order for them to find a home that I deem "suitable" they would need at least a month or two. And by suitable, I mean a home in a decent area and not a group home. I'm not that cruel.
Ana was upset about my phone call and has barely spoken to me. I don't know why she is so upset. It's not like she wants to take care of a sixteen year old after we've been married for a month.
"Christian, it's just so wrong," she scolded me, waving her hands angrily. For some reason her anger has always amused me.
"Baby, it's not our job to do this. I'm not placing her in a shitty foster care home. I'm making them find her a place to stay with a good family," I sigh, running my hands through my hair. "Fuck, I'm even going to pay for her tuition so she can go to a private school in the city, what else do you want from me?"
"I want you to realize that this is your little sister!" Ana screamed. "That this girl has had no one to look out for her for the past sixteen years! You don't need to be her father but you are her big brother. She needs some security for the first time in her life."
I sat at my desk and watched her pace. Neither of us said anything.
"She doesn't seem like she wants to stay," I finally said, breaking the silence. Ana shot a dirty look at me.
"Because you completely overwhelmed her. God, Christian it's like you have no idea how damn wealthy you are! This was intimidating for me and I didn't come from poverty! Look at this from her perspective. This girl just finds out her biological brother is a billionaire and she has been barely surviving. Imagine how that has to feel," Ana pleaded with me.
And I understand. I really do. And I feel terrible that there is a girl how there who came from the same father and had to stay with him. I wish someone had adopted her. I wish that she were living in a nice suburb with a fucking golden retriever because the kid has probably been through hell. And there is nothing I can do for her to make it better.
"I can't help her, Ana. I guarantee that whatever she has been through I can't make any better," I finally sighed.
"Just give this a chance, Christian. I know you'll regret not getting to know her," she says. And there's a part of me that knows she's right.
My family is coming over to meet Emily. I would have brought her to my parent's house, but I can guarantee the last thing this girl needs is to realize that I have yet more wealthy people in my life.
My mom cried on the phone when I told her about Emily.
"Please Christian! You need to help this little girl!" she cried. I love my mom to death, but I think she was being a little bit dramatic.
"She's not a little girl. She's a bitchy sixteen year old with an attitude problem and her current mission in life is to piss me off," I mumble, rubbing my eyes. I don't have time to keep explaining this situation to everyone. I've already agreed that she could stay here indefinitely unless we (and we probably will) find her a better option. What more does everyone want from me?
"Well darling, you were no angel teenager either. She's probably just overwhelmed," she lectured as I rolled my eyes.
"You sound like Ana," I sigh. Of course she does. Neither of these women are ever wrong.
Mia cried when I first told her. Don't get me wrong; I love that girl with all of my heart. For the longest time she was the only person that I let into my life. But for her to be jealous of a 16 year old orphan…I mean really. Talk about being ridiculous.
"I guess I'm just upset that you have another little sister," she said after she finally calmed down.
"Mia, we both know that you are always going to be my best friend. You were the first person that I've ever connected with. I'm just helping her out right now. In fact, I'd really like it if you could get to know her. I know that she's younger than you, but she could probably really use a friend," I explained to her.
"Well we all know you're no help in that department. You don't have any friends," Mia finally sighed. There was no trace of humor in her voice.
I laughed as I rolled my eyes. "Thanks Mia."
I knock on Emily's door a half an hour before my family is supposed to come. I almost smile to myself. I didn't call it the guest room.
"Um…hold on!" I hear her yell. Finally she opens the door.
"Hi," she says shyly, giving me a half smile.
"I just wanted to let you know that my family should be here in half an hour," I tell her, but I'm a little caught off guard. This is the first time I've actually noticed how beautiful this girl is. She's wearing make up, and I suddenly feel terrible about my comment on her appearance. The only thing I know about teenage girls is how incredibly insecure they are.
"Ok, um, I'll be down soon," she says quickly, and wipes her palms on her gray dress. I can tell she is nervous.
"You don't need to be nervous," I tell her, smirking a little bit.
She looks at me like I've offended her for a second and then her face returns to neutral.
"I'm not," she snaps and slams the door in my face.
I guess that's the only other thing I know about teenage girls. They're incredibly moody.
My family arrives promptly at 5 pm and I can feel the nervous tension as they enter the foyer. They all look at me expectantly, as if I'm hiding Emily away somewhere.
"Well?" Mia finally asks. "Where is she?"
"She's up in the guest room getting ready. She's nervous to meet all of you," I say, and for some reason I'm smiling to myself.
"Oh well someone tell the darling girl that she has nothing to worry about," my mom starts, shooting a look at Mia.
"Does she actually look like you?" Elliot asks, as if that's the most disgusting thing he's ever heard. "I just can't picture a girl with your face."
"Thanks," I say, rolling my eyes at him.
"I'm so excited! Ana says she's cute," Kate smiles, and I think this is the first time I ever seen her acting pleasant.
"Well I'm going to get her," Mia says, and starts out of the room.
"Mia!" My dad yells, but it's too late. She's already halfway up the stairs.
Ana comes out of the kitchen and hugs everyone in my family and then she and Kate start into the living room. For some reason I'm nervous. It's not like this girl is reflection of me or anything like that, but I just feel like my family needs to approve of her. She shares my DNA and I'm worried that if they reject her, they'll really be rejecting me. Of course I know my parents would never say anything negative, I just want them to genuinely help me help her.
Mia comes walking down the steps with Emily following closely behind. They're actually engaging in some sort of conversation and I see them both laugh. Interesting.
"Hello Emily," my mother smiles warmly at her. "I'm Grace, Christian's mother. This is my husband Carrick." She gestures to my dad standing beside her. Emily swallows for a second and then finally puts on a smile that I have yet to see over the past two days.
"Nice to meet you," she says. She goes to shake my mother's hand, but to her surprise my mom pulls her into a hug. I see her tense instantly. Fuck. I can only imagine where her fear of being touched came from.
"Oh sweetie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," my mother says, still smiling. I can tell she probably feels bad and she's trying to make up for any awkward situation.
"Oh no, it's ok. Sorry," Emily says quickly.
I look at Elliot and wait for him to introduce himself. He finally catches my eye.
"Oh," he says. "I'm Elliot, Christian's brother. You guys are literally twins," he says, looking back and forth between the two of us. "I won't hug you, but can I at least get a high five?"
Alright Elliot, she's not four.
She looks at him like he's crazy, but then walks over and gives him one. I actually see her giggle again. Why can she be so polite to everyone but me?
"This is my fiancée Kate," he says, gesturing towards Kate.
"I'm also Ana's best friend. She's said so much about you," Kate says, all smiles. Seriously, what the fuck? Ana must have told her that Emily flipped out on me last night. She's probably proud of the common enemy.
"Oh," Emily says awkwardly, and I can tell she doesn't know what to say. What happened to the girl that was ready to tell me to go fuck myself last night?
Dinner goes surprisingly well. Mia manages to keep Emily involved in conversation the whole time. Until she decides to make everyone uncomfortable.
"So did you have a boyfriend back in Detroit?" Mia asks, like Emily is here on Spring Break or something.
She flushes scarlet and I can tell that she's immediately uncomfortable. However, I feel the need to wait for her response. She better not have a fucking boyfriend. She's sixteen years old. Wait am I seriously getting upset over her personal life?
"Oh no," Emily answers, starring down at her plate.
"Well don't sweat it. There were so many attractive guys at Carlyle Prep when I went there that I'm sure you'll have like 6 by the end of your first week," Mia states and I nearly choke on my water.
I have not mentioned anything to Emily about staying here for school in two weeks or about even attending the city's best prep school. Mia needs to stop speaking.
"Mia," my dad hisses, clearly uncomfortable by the audacity of her statement.
"What? Carlyle is known to have the hottest guys in Seattle. Why is that a bad thing?" Mia says, clearly still not understanding.
I shoot daggers out of my eyes at her across the table.
"Mia can you give me a hand with dessert in the kitchen?" Ana asks, trying to change the conversation.
"Why don't we just wait for Gail to bring it out?" Mia asks, and I'm about to actually murder my little sister.
"What's Carlyle?" Emily finally asks, looking around at all of us.
"It's the best school in the city. You'll love it so much! Christian went there after getting expelled from everywhere else and I went there after. He didn't tell…" Mia trails off when she finally catches my eye. "Oh."
"I guess I hadn't thought about school," Emily says, avoiding eye contact with any of us. Seriously Mia? Fuck.
"We'll talk about that later," I mumble.
"I actually don't feel well, I think I'm going to get some air," Emily says, nearly running out of the room.
I hear the elevator doors and it takes me a second to realize that I have no security on her. But she's already gone.
Emily Freedman P.O.V.
I can't tell if I'm upset or if I feel like crying. I guess I should be happy. My rich older brother wants me to go to a fancy prep school. But for some reason this bothers me. I don't want to go to a school with a bunch of rich kids like Christian Grey. I don't want to be the new girl in eleventh grade at a private school where every other kid has known eachother since pre-school. Why can't I just go to a normal high school? I've gone to a regular school my entire life and it's always been good enough for me.
And how dare he not consult me? One minute this whole thing is only temporary and the next he's basically picking out my class schedule. I walk down the sidewalk and realize I have no idea where I am. I see a bunch of expensive shops, so the area has to be semi decent. Besides, I from the ghetto of Detroit.
A coffee shop called The Bean catches my eye. It looks indie and stands out amongst all the preppy boutiques. I don't even have any cash, but I step inside and curl up in the corner booth. I just can't be around any of them right now.
I notice a group of guys around my age starring at me from the other side of the coffee shop and I feel my cheeks flush. It's not that I don't like guys, I've just never really given them a chance. But maybe I could. I mean, if they were interested of course. I decide to give them my brightest smile.
They all laugh at each other, and three of them start heading towards me. Oh shit. I don't know what I'm supposed to do in this situation. I notice the one in the center looking me up and down. He just screams bad boy. I like it.
"Hi," he says, smiling at me.
"Hi," I say back, surprised at the high pitch of my voice. Who am I?
"Why don't I know you?" he says, looking at his friends. I guess this is to confirm that they don't know me either.
"I can't say I know you either," I say, keeping my cool. Better to not give too much away to this random stranger. No matter how attractive his dark eyes are. They're the deepest shade of brown that they're almost black, and yet they're mesmerizing. His black hair hangs to his eyebrows under his knit hat.
"Everyone knows us," the one on the left says. He's a typical blonde and not at all my type.
"Well apparently not everyone," I say, smiling sarcastically.
"Mind if we sit?" the middle one asks, sliding into the booth next to me. His two friends sit across from us.
"What if I had said no? I don't typically dine with strangers," I say to him, biting down on my bottom lip. I have no idea what I'm doing but it seems to be working. These guys are talking to me!
"Luckily you're not dining," the one with dark eyes says as he cracks a crooked smile. I think I'm in love.
"Lucky for me," I giggle. Oh fuck. I just giggled.
"What's your name beautiful?" he asks, leaning in towards me. I can smell him and it's distracting.
"Um…it's Emily," I say. "I just moved here. Sort of."
He cocks his eyebrow at me but doesn't question it.
"Well Emily," he says, drawing out the sound of the L in my name, "my name's Jamie." He smiles again. He's so into himself I should be disgusted.
"And what about your friends?" I ask. Although I actually could care less.
"How rude of me. That's Scott," he says, gesturing to the blonde. "And that's Nate," he says, gesturing to the one with light brown hair. Nate stares at me and for some reason I'm suddenly uncomfortable.
"Do you guys go to Carlyle Prep?" I ask. I mean I might as well try to find out more about the beautiful boy in front of me.
"Is that even a question?" Jamie asks arrogantly, as he looks around at his friends. "The school wouldn't exist without us."
"Well I'm transferring there in the fall," I say, smiling at him.
"Well if you want to come to –" Jamie begins but he's suddenly interrupted.
"Emily," a voice hisses behind me. I turn and see Christian with two of his men in black behind him. "You're leaving."
"Are you ok?" Jamie asks me. I should probably tell him not to get involved, but instead I just climb out of the booth.
"I'll see you around," I smile at him one last time before shooting daggers at Christian.
"Not if I have anything to say about it," Christian whispers in my ear as he shoves me out the door.
I know I'm supposed to be angry with him. But this school year just got a lot more promising.