Before It Ends • Hessa • Emery Scott

𝙵𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗

AUDEN.

"Hey, baby." I say, as I approach Mallory. She waves shyly, her cheeks flushing at my nickname. "Are you ready for our date?"

She nods, and I take her hand in mine. Since I don't have a car, or parents helping me get to where I need to go, her and I decide to stay at the school and sit at the picnic tables by the playground. Her father works and she always stays in the school gym and waits for him to pick her up. Emery sometimes picks me up if I miss the bus, and I've already texted her she needs to pick me up after school is over for her. She didn't reply but she read it. I honestly don't care if she forgets to pick me up because she'll be the one in trouble with the parents, not me.

Anyways, Mallory is super cool, and super pretty. She's the first one I asked on a date, because she is the prettiest. Tomorrow I have a date with Angela, and she's kind of sweet, but is kind of mean to the other girls. And Sedaya and I are going to get ice cream next week. Her mother offered to take us after I asked her out in front of her. She's so sweet, and her dark skin and light eyes make her very cute. She's my second choice if Mallory decides she doesn't like me.

"How was school for you today?" I ask her, and she shrugs. Mallory doesn't talk that much. She's really shy, but I like her anyway. "Well, I had a lot of fun. I got my feedback for my science project. I got an A+."

I sit down on one side of the picnic table, and she sits on the other. "That's really good, Audie." She says quietly, and I smile.

"Yeah, it is." I look down at my bag, before remembering something. "Oh, Mal! I forgot that a brought us a candy bar. So it's like a real date."

I laugh as I pull out a Kit Kat and cut it in half. I hand her one half and we both take a bite of it at the same time. "I love chocolate." She beams, a smile growing on her face.

"I thought you would. I'll bring some tomorrow for you. But I won't be able to sit with you because Angela will probably expect me to sit with her at lunch because our date is after school." I explain and her smile fades.

"Oh yeah. I forgot about that."

I reach over with my chocolatey fingers and touch her hand comfortingly, "it's okay. You have my heart, remember that."

Her smile grows at my words, and I take a bite of my Kit Kat.

We talk about random stuff, her dog Alpha, our favorite types of chocolate, and the math test coming up. We also sit in silence a little bit, enjoying each other's company.

I feel my small hand-me-down iPhone buzz and I check it to see:

Emery: I'm here, bud. Get your ass outside.

I look up at Mallory who is now looking at the empty playground in a daze. "Hey, babe. I have to go. My sister is here."

She glances over and nods, standing with me and following me back into the gym. "I'll see you tomorrow, Audie." She waves softly, and I give her a side hug.

"Okay, bye!" I run out of the gym with my bag hiked on my shoulder, scanning the parking lot until I see Emery's light blue Ford. She's looking down at her phone with a big frown on her face, like usual, and there's a boy beside her.

I furrow my eyebrows before jogging up and opening the back door. "Who's this?" I inquire, and Emery flings her phone on the elbow rest.

"Nobody important." Emery teases, and I see the stranger smile at her and chuckle softly. He then twists himself around in his seat, reaching his hand out.

"I'm Cole." He greets, and I hesitantly shake his hand.

"Auden." I reply, and he gives me a friendly nod before twisting himself back around.

"I'm your neighbor, Auden." He says looking through the rear view mirror, and I try to dig around the memory files inside of my brain.

"Oh! You're the neighbors my mom and dad went to see!" I smile. "It's nice to meet you."

"You too, buddy." He chuckles.

Emery keeps quiet in her sour mood as Cole and I strike up a conversation about video games. He plays fortnite, and would absolutely love to play a game with me once he gets his Xbox set up out of boxes. I'm really excited! Cole seems like a really good dude, and I wanna play all the games with him.

Once we get back to the house, Cole waves us goodbye as he goes back to his house beside ours. Emery and I enter our own house.

The car is here, but the house looks empty. "Mom! Dad! We're here!" I shout. Emery closes the door and stomps up the steps to her room. What is up with Mrs. grumpy pants?

I walk into the kitchen and grab an orange from the bowl on the island counter and sit down to peel it. They might be in the basement while dad works. I want to tell them how I did on my science project!

I hear the basement door open, and mumbles coming from my parents. "What are you talking about? You're young! You still feel nice and tight even after two kids. I'd call that a miracle from heaven." Dad mutters, and I hear the snap of their lips kissing.

Ew, what does that mean? Nice and tight? Like... a rope knot or something? "What's tight?" I ask as they both walk into the kitchen. They both jump at my appearance, but soon relax.

"Nothing, Aud." Mom says, and I shrug. I look over to see dad half smiling at mom. I'm still curious what it means, but I guess it's nothing. "When did you get home?" She asks, and I shrug.

"I dunno. Like two minutes ago." I say, popping a slice of orange in my mouth. "Emery is upstairs."

Dad's eyes light up, "oh perfect! I can give her the gift now."

Mom shakes her head, "wait, baby. Did you take the book out? I want to be there when you give it to her." She says quietly, and dad nods.

I look at them confusingly. "What gift?" Dad leaves us, going towards the steps.

"Emery's annual pile of books. Also, one more thing but it's a surprise." Mom says, "I would tell you but all you do is yap about every secret I tell you!" She accuses and I giggle.

"Oops..." I tease, and she smiles.

"Oh, you better get dressed! Grandpa Vance and Grandma Kim are in town and they want to go to dinner with us."

"What! Since when?" I love hanging out with my grandma Kim! She's so fun, but she lives in Washington and we live in New York. Emery likes grandpa Vance more though. I think his first name is Christian, but my dad has always called him Vance, so we just sort of have always called him Grandpa Vance.

"They just got here this morning, that's where your father was." Mom explains, picking up my orange peels from the counter and throwing them in the trash.

"Oh, well I'll go get ready!" I say, dashing out of my seat and up the stairs. I'm so excited! I'm like the smiling emoji!

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𝙰𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛'𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚎

Happy Halloween!!!! Who or what do you plan on dressing up like?

  What do you think of Auden's POV? Which girl do you think he should choose?

   I'm excited for you to read the upcoming chapters! I'm about thirteen chapters ahead right now. Sorry, this chapter wasn't as long as the others! Xx

Chapter Fourteen: Oct. 31, 2020