Chapter Ten

Sunset Stroll

Emma and Sean took a sunset stroll to distract themselves. Sean took this opportunity to show her the places he likes in town such as the boardwalk.

It was nice, they couldn't ask for a better evening. The weather was calm and comfortable. The sounds of recorded music and live music echoed around them. The scent of funnel cakes, cookies, and other goodies lingered in the air. The couple took notice of the children and adults around them. They were enjoying themselves and immersing themselves in the beachy vibe. He was content to spend time with Emma, someone who up until recently he hadn't seen a great deal of.

Sean felt a little guilty about thrusting Emma to the somber news at the Cameron House. With Emma diving head-first with little to no warning, into the abyss of daily life in Wasaga Beach

It wasn't all bad though.

Emma felt the opposite. She was quite fond of Wasaga. "This is so nice," Emma remarked after a bit of comfortable silence, as they sat on a nearby bench facing the beach. Sean was deep in thought and not paying attention, "What are you thinking about?"

When Sean returned to reality after a second or two he questioned. "Wonder if I can win you something on ball toss or popping balloon darts?"

Sean was always good at those things and he wanted to show off. He had good luck in games. Anything to keep his mind off of his father's prognosis. Sean and Emma were still seated on that boardwalk bench. His arm was around her and he pulled her closer to him, "I got my good luck charm."

Emma acknowledged and didn't want to rain on his good time. She couldn't ignore what was going on and how he raced to be at his father's side. She didn't want to bring up the recent and sore subject of his father. She was fortunate he was happy about their newfound ever-budding romance.

She decided to bring up something to fill the silence while trying to feed her curiosity. She was curious about the formalities. Were they together or did he say they were together so his mom didn't ask any questions? She nudged his arm. She asked, "So you introduced me to your mom as your girlfriend, huh?"

He blushed and smiled big, knowing it would come back up when they were alone. "I was ambitious and presumptuous. I got ahead of myself."

"Since we're being honest, I believe you're supposed to ask that question."

He blurted, "Sure I asked you out."

She giggled, "I don't recall."

"Y'know, for breakfast, and today's date didn't I?" He joked and got a little more serious, "You know I do want that, as long as you do."

"Oh, I do."

"Then it's settled, girlfriend."

"Boyfriend, I like the sound of it."

"I do too." He then asked to make it official, "So will you be my girlfriend?"

"Of course, I will, again."

"Is this the third time?"

"Third time is the charm so they say."

He kissed the top of her head and migrated to her forehead. While Emma's still not a huge fan of PDA she still allowed some kisses to happen in public. Sean told her kindly after a few silent moments. "Thanks for coming with me today even if it's not all sunshine and rainbows."

"I want to be there for you wherever you are."

"So let's try to have some fun before we head back. Let me win you something while there's still light out."

Emma and Sean got up from the bench hand in hand and Sean led her to the games. As luck would have it he won her a purple Carebear within a few minutes with a ball toss. He excitedly presented it to her brimming with pride and accomplishment and she put it in her other arm. "See! I still got it."

"Impressive. Thanks, Sean." Emma beamed and kissed him on the cheek. "No one ever won me something before. You got other hidden talents?"

"You're welcome and lots, you'll have to wait and see."

"Looking forward to it."

"Well, now that's out of the way, what do you want to do now? Your wish is my command. Within reason of course." He said to her in a cheesy tone. They turned around and he observed some of the rides nearby to the ball toss and the other games. "I have enough to get some ride tickets. Want to?"

"I guess so, sure." Despite Emma's fear of heights, they embarked on the Ferris wheel she didn't mention it. She tried to hide the fear as they got buckled up in their seats after passing through the turnstiles. If it was the carousel or the bumper cards she wouldn't sweat but it's the heights that kill her.

"You okay?" Sean whipped his head backyard with furrowed brow and asked with concern. Simultaneously they ascended onwards and upwards. He changed the subject to distract her, "Hm I wonder if you could see my parent's place from here on Flamingo Street."

The pair couldn't help but notice the sky above. The moon emerged. The sky transitioned into a cool and dark cerulean hue as the warm sunlight set downward from above. The sky freckled with flecks of light dark orange cloud remnants resting on the horizon.

"Ooh Sean, I think I see it" She exclaimed while lying through her teeth she refused to look downwards or open her eyes. Sean could see the entire beach town, it could be observed from their vantage point.

The wind blew her long hair the higher they went. Emma tried to stay calm and hesitated with her eyes closed. She held the horizontal bar tight with both hands. He turned his attention back to her. He tried to calm her down while still being nervous himself, "Don't be scared, Emma, I'm here. Keep your eyes on me."

She faced him. She adjusted her seat with her eyes open. She gasped a bit due to the sudden movement of the kart. They both looked at one another as their kart met at the very top where the ride stopped. They sat there in silence until Emma broke by stating the obvious. "I guess I'm still afraid of heights."

"Can I tell you a secret?" She shrugged her shoulders and nodded her head careful not to move much. "That makes two of us."

"You?" She raised her brow, wide-eyed, and questioned he managed a nervous laugh. "I didn't think you were afraid of anything. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Pfft, sure and yes I have fears, don't we all?" Sean laughed, "I didn't think you'd agree to go on this deathtrap with me."

"I suppose but I didn't think you did for some reason."

"I do too have fears."

"Like what?"

"I fear lots of stuff, no laughing ok?"

"Promise."

"Fears of like most of the irrational variety. I guess for starters, I have a bad case of stage fright, I freeze. One of the reasons I didn't help you with that interpretive dance in grade 7. Oh and definitely fear public speaking it's like one and the same for me. I try my damnedest to get out of it. I fear using a public washroom because I skeeve it. When I say it all out loud it sounds kind of stupid. What about you?"

"I don't know, isn't listing off fears bad luck?"

"So you're superstitious? I can see that. Or you don't want me to tell yours?"

His distraction in the form of conversation caused Emma to bring her defenses and fears down by a lot. "I guess. I know my mom is. I guess if I had to pick something to bring to the fear table it's trusting. Trusting for me doesn't exactly come easy."

"Afraid of trusting you say?"

"It isn't funny."

"You trust me now."

"You haven't given me a reason not to. If I'm being honest, I always feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Things are going well, and then I wonder not if but when things are going to go south. So when it does I guess I'm less surprised by it. I don't intend to curse something but I do by thinking all negative. I can't help it. I couldn't stop it if I tried. I'm impatient too so I can't trust things are going to be just so and I don't exactly trust the process on alot of occasions. I can call it self-sabotage but, it is what it is."

Sean could relate to and understand what she was saying. Emma didn't intend to put a damper on things especially alluding to Sean's situation with his father. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to be a total Debbie Downer today. Which for the record, today on the whole has been great even with circumstances being what they are."

Before he could say anymore, they were back on the ground unharmed. Emma couldn't wait to get off the kart. She clutched her new Carebear Sean won her and he offered her. "Well it was a nice distraction given the circumstances. I'm glad you're with me. I wouldn't handle things so great on my own."

"You should give yourself some credit where it's due. I wish you could see the Sean that I see." Emma beamed paying him a compliment.

"I wish you could see the Emma I see," Sean whispered softly as he caressed her cheek.

"I guess that's what's so great about us back together again is that we have a better understanding of one another. I love reconnecting with you, even when we were only friends in the beginning. I don't want it to stop."

"It doesn't have to." Sean happened to see Emma's light blue watch reading 8:35. "Is that the time? Bree's having a fire at her place I almost forgot."

Emma nodded as she checked the digital display itself. "You think we should skedaddle or head back to your place?"

"Nah, my mom and Trac will call if need be, and besides it will be fun. Trust me. I think my friends will like to see how a Degrassi girl could throw down."

"I guess so. I don't think Misty is a fan of me." Emma confessed to Sean laughing as they made their way toward Bree's house. "Girls know when another girl doesn't like her."

"Yeah, she's tough and not exactly surprised. She's not easy to get along with and doesn't have any girlfriends aside from Bree and Cami. Hey, maybe that'll be a chance to change her mind about you."

Emma was doubtful.

They didn't plan on staying that long and making a casual appearance. They sat by the fire at first with their red solo cups drinking some nondescript alcohol. Bree sauntered on over to socialize with her company. "Bree, thanks for inviting us."

"Fashionable latecomers," Her arms outstretched greeted the happy couple. Bree pulled them into a big old hug, "Thanks for coming! How is it going at home?"

"Not great at home but Emma and I had to get out. It's so tense I can't describe it. I need a strong drink, I can't believe I'm saying that." He shook his head humored.

"Help yourself to our coolers."

Sean added once he reached into the cooler and grabbed himself a beer and a Mike's Hard Lemonade for Emma. Once he cracked open the beer he took a sip and added, "He looked so awful. He can't speak. He has all kinds of machines around him, and he's been on morphine and will most likely be on it for the rest of his life. Bleak prognosis. I don't want to remember him like this. He can't even speak to me. I don't expect him to, and I don't deserve for him to. I abandoned him when he needed me. I have shit for luck."

"I'm so sorry Sean."

It meant more to Sean than they realized.

"I'm not gonna feel sorry because he kind of did it to himself. I can't look at him or bear to look at him much longer so that's where I am at."

Bree understood by reading between the lines. She pulled him into a friendly somber hug. "I know, okay? You're gonna be okay. It's natural for you to hurt so let yourself grieve. We are here for you."

"It's so hard to watch him March toward certain death when a week ago he was up painting the shed out back."

Emma stood by his side and observed. She was unsure of how to be around his friends even though they were friendly aside from Misty.

Sean socializing she wasn't far off but every so often she could feel stung and stabbed by Misty's eyes. Staring at her with the most vindictive expression from across the party.

She wondered to herself, what had she done to her?