Beautiful Hearts

8

Emaline

"Of what?"

She turned and looked at me defiantly.

"Relax. I already told you I'm not going to tell your friends."

"Because you're perfect, right Emaline? Good, generous... So I should be thankful now? What would you prefer - bend down on my knees or..."

I looked up irritated.

"I just came to tell you I'm not going to reveal your secret in front of anyone. Think about what you want. I just want this stupid tension between us to disappear."

She looked at me in horror.

"Oh, God, you want us to be friends, don't you? You want me to help you join our group because of Declan..."

I looked at her like she was crazy and then burst out laughing.

"Forgive me, but your friends are the last people I would like to befriend with..."

She seemed reassured, but I had to add something that would surely make her angry again.

"Except Declan." Her sharp look bored into my eyes but I couldn't give her that too. "He's my friend and you'll have to accept it."

"You just said you won't say to anyone..."

"I won't. Even to him. As hard as it would be, If I'm telling you your secret is safe, it really is."

"Emaline, can't you find friends of your own? That just can't happen. If you two are friends, then..."

"I'm not asking you. You'll have to accept it. I'll tell him we're cousins ​​but nothing more. I promise."

She became worried again.

"You're opening Pandora's box. It's been easy so far because we didn't catch their attention. But if they learn that we are relatives, they will find out the rest. Please, Emaline..." It seemed hard for her to plead for something." Just stop seeing Declan."

"I can't."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T?!"

"Don't shout."

"It's not like he's your childhood friend, right?!"

"Yes, but he's good friend material. I really like him. I would like to get to know him better. Just stop acting weird when I'm around. For the hundredth time, I'm not going to reveal your secret."

She sighed again and put her hand over her forehead.

"Ok, now leave."

I raised my brows but walked out. She wasn't kind or thankful but I didn't really expect her to change her attitude toward me just because I was a decent human being and wasn't going to throw her in the fire.

I had a girl date with Connie tonight. We couldn't see each other at the beginning of the school year and now I can't wait for her to come.

Lana looked at me murderously when she saw that Connie came in, but I couldn't keep reassuring her all the time. She had to learn to trust me. We went up to my room and Connie told me about her upcoming performance at the opening of the football season. I listened to her absently, still thinking about Lana and Declan.

"What?!"

I jumped on my seat in surprise.

"What?"

"You seem distracted. You're not even listening to me and usually, you're a good listener. Something's bothering you. Tell me."

I looked at the glass of water in my hands.

"It's about Declan."

"You b***h! You started to like him, didn't you?!"

"No!" I cried out in annoyance. "For God's Sake, would all of you stop? He may be gorgeous but I DON'T like him that way. We're just friends. It's just... We grew closer, as friends..." I bolded the last word. "But he doesn't know about me and Lana."

"What do you mean? What about you two?"

"That we're cousins...and we don't like each other." Okay, that may be a little overboard. I wasn't sure If I like her or not.

"Then just tell him."

"I will but then I thought...what If he stops wanting to be my friend? He has a crush on her, what If he gets annoyed by me not getting along with her…?"

"That's stupid. It's not because of you. You tried. And please, stop saying he has a crush on her. It makes my self-esteem go even lower."

"Stop being ridiculous. The guy was with you for months."

"You say it like it's been years." Connie laughed.

"I didn't even have any boyfriends. So months are ok in my opinion." I chuckled.

"Ok, let's say he really gets annoyed. Would it be that bad? I mean, you've been friends for literally a few weeks…"

"I know but I really like him. And I'm tutoring his little brother. It would be so weird If things get bad between us."

"Well, you should have thought about that earlier."

I smacked her on the shoulder and she screamed like the baby she was.

"But you're right. I should have thought…"

"Em, just tell him you two are cousins. You don't have to explain further. If the two get together, she'll fog his mind anyway."

I looked at her in silent horror, I hadn't thought about that. Looks like our friendship was kinda doomed from the beginning.

We talked for a little more and I told her I was going to train with him.

"I'm impressed. He'll deal with you after a workout that has exhausted him, given the fact he can do much more interesting things in his spare time. He didn't offer to train with me and I was his girlfriend."

She crossed her arms over her chest and I chuckled.

"Connie, you look fine."

"But I'm not in a good shape."

"Ok..." I tried to change the subject. "How are things with Ted?"

"Fine. He's fine... But I'm not feeling excited over him. I don't know, sometimes I feel like Declan broke me. I haven't been able to really get into someone after he broke up with me... "

Sometimes I regretted sharing with her that I took lessons with Declan's little brother. Since then she couldn't stop talking about him and I felt awful. She had just begun to overcome him and I brought her back in the beginning…

Later on, after I sent Connie off, I was climbing the stairs when I heard Lana's slightly raised voice. My room was directly opposite the stairs, so I had nothing to do in front of her room, but my curiosity overcame me and I took a step aside until I began to hear her words more clearly.

"...and do you know what she told me? That I can't decide who her friends will be. That's who your favorite Emaline is." I heard the muffled voice of aunt Sophie but I couldn't comprehend anything. Then Lana started her rant again. "Only you and your generation give a s**t about family relationships. I'm telling you, she's trying to get closer to the boy I like, and you're still defending her!"

Stunned, I put my hand over my mouth. Probably Aunt Sophie made a remark about her tone because I couldn't understand what Lana was saying anymore. I hurried back to the room before one of them could see me and closed the door.