Breathing ∞ Kol Mikaelson [1]

[31]

Emma moved around the house in the morning, getting ready for the day ahead. With her bag packed, dressed and ready, all that was left was to get some breakfast before heading to school. Moving around the kitchen, she turned her head at the sound of her mother entering the room.

When Emma returned home last night, it was understandable that her mother was disappointed at the disobedience. But Emma had an easy way out. After all, she'd already spent the day lying to people she was doing a school project, why not use the lie to her own advantage one last time. While her mother scolded her for leaving a project for the last second, there didn't end up being some big new argument between the two.

However, the tension caused by the last one still remained in the air between the two. While the silent treatment had ended on both sides, the conversations were still superficial and simple. Neither party actually breached the subject hanging in the air like an axe. Emma hadn't even mentioned the stolen journal, no matter how much she wanted to. She wasn't sure if her mother had noticed she moved them.

"So, I know you're still processing everything, but tomorrow's a big day. We should do something." Marissa suggested as she broke the silence. "Is there anything you want to do? Any requests?"

For a moment, Emma remained silent as she drank her tea, debating whether she should just be honest, or continue acting like nothing was wrong. However, with her mother wanting to make plans, Emma doubted she'd be able to restrain herself for a whole day tomorrow. So, she chose honesty. "There is something I want, but you've made it clear you don't plan on giving it to me."

"You're really not letting this go, are you?" Marissa sighed in defeat. No matter how much she tried to dissuade her daughter from the path she was on, nothing seemed to be successful in changing her mind.

"No. I want us to talk about it, mom, and not like before. Not the safety and survival propaganda, but actual answers. I want to know what happened to dad. I want to know what happened in New Orleans and why we've been moving so much for the last six years."

Marissa nodded her head in understanding. She evaluated her daughter's request. It was always clear Emma got her stubbornness from her father, and Marissa had encountered it many times before. Because of that she'd learned that, at a certain point, it was best to give in. And right now, it seemed like the better choice for everyone involved. She wanted to, not only help her daughter if she was so insistent on remaining in this world, but also fix the rift which had formed between them. And with Emma officially becoming an adult, Marissa knew that if she waited too long like this, it might be too late when she gave in.

"Alright, tomorrow I'll explain everything. I have to work in the afternoon, but the morning is all yours, and I'll answer any questions you may have." Marissa agreed, and for just a moment Emma let the surprise show on her face. She was hoping her request wouldn't end up in another fight, but she wasn't expecting to get acceptance from her mother. "But right now, you need to get to school. Have a good day, sweetheart."

"Thank you, mom. I'll see you later." Emma said as she grabbed her bag off the chair before heading for the door. However, as she passed by her mother, she couldn't help but pause for a second as she pulled the older woman into a short hug. She wanted to have this small moment, where things were starting to look up and seem good again. After all, she couldn't actually know how tomorrow would go.

Walking through the halls of the high school, Emma typed away on her phone. She wasn't showing it on the outside, but a part of her was certainly eager for tomorrow to arrive. And in the spirit of preparation, she was writing down all of the questions she wanted to ask her mother. Because of her distraction, she didn't notice an obstacle in her path until it was too late to avoid it and she smacked into it.

"Shit." Emma grumbled out in pain, her arm quickly reaching towards her arm which had smashed into the open locker door in her path. "Crap that hurts." She complained as she tried to catch her breath, silently scolding herself for not paying attention where she was going.

"I am so sorry. I didn't even see you, I-" The owner of the locker and its evil door started apologizing profusely, his blue eyes as wide as a deer caught in the headlights as he slammed it shut.

Emma couldn't help but laugh as she shook her head dismissively. "Matt, Matt, it's ok. Don't worry about it. I wasn't looking where I was going." She explained, sending him a smile to make it clear she didn't blame him or anything. Accidents happen.

"Are you sure?" He questioned.

"Trust me, I may whine a lot but the worst that's gonna happen is a good bruise." Emma said with a laugh as the two started to move along again. "On a lighter note, I see the cast is finally gone." Emma said as she pointed to his hand.

"Yeah, it's healing well, and I can go back to work soon, which is great." Matt said happily, flexing the fingers in his hand just to further prove his point. It made Emma laugh in amusement as she veered off the path to reach her own locker. Matt joined her, knowing they were headed to the same class anyways.

"I'm glad to hear it. I think the school's missed its darling quarterback." She said teasingly, making Matt shake his head with a smile on his face. He was clearly happy he could start getting back to doing the things he loved.

"And you'll be happy to start getting the extra fries I always give you at the Grill." He added on to her previous statement, and Emma answered by shamelessly nodding her head in agreement. The two burst out laughing as Emma opened the door to her locker, ready to grab the books she'd need for the first half of her day.

However, as she reached inside, something caught her eye and distracted her from her original goal. Instead of the spine of a book, her hand grabbed hold of a long velvet box. With the door of her locker as a divide between her and Matt, Emma couldn't stop herself from opening the box and glancing at the thing it held inside. And it just made her even more confused; both the item and the note on top of it.

"You okay?" Matt asked, noticing the shift in Emma's mood. The sound of his voice made Emma snap out of her thoughts and close the box once again as she pushed it back into her locker.

"Yeah, all good. Come on, let's get to class." She said as she pulled out the books and closed her locker before the two started moving along the halls once again. As they did, Emma couldn't help but glance down at the note she'd taken with her, wondering who it may be from.

Because in this town, nobody but her mother would have known what tomorrow was. And yet there it was, a gift and a note with two simple words written on it.

'Happy birthday!'