Unreal

Chapter 3

After an awkward pause Annie said, "Well, I better get going. Guess I'm only cooking for one tonight though since somebody has somebody has a da-ate," then she got up and went into the kitchen.

Waiting for Daniel agitated Emma. She was so anxious for him to come, wondering had he forgot about her. Technically he wasn't late, but she wondered if he would be late. If he was one to forget about important things or if he was someone who was late always, just a little. 

Her anxious thoughts consumed the time she spent waiting for Daniel. Finally, at exactly 5:58 Emma heard a knock on the door. She stood up immediately and scramble to the door, almost tripping over her feet before she caught herself on the doorknob and stood up straight. 

Emma opened the door gently. She gasped and smiled. She had never really looked at Daniel before and she had to admit, he was beautiful. He looked so ravishing, his smile was so charming, his blue eyes looked so angelic. He was wearing a black hoodie, dark blue jeans, and a huge smile on his face.

"Wow," said Daniel. "You look beautiful," he said, staring at her in awe. She smiled and blushed.

"Thanks," was all she could let out. She felt so flattered, she didn't know what to do. "You look great as well," she said.

"Why, thank you," Daniel chuckled. "Shall we go?" he asked as he held out his hand.

"We shall," Emma smiled as he slipped her hand into his. His hand was warm, not sweating, but warm. Like a feeling of comfort that he was her safety. 

She stepped out of the house and her auntie screamed from the kitchen "Have her home by midnight!"

"Will do!" Daniel shouted with a big grin on his face. Emma laughed. They walked down the street together as the sun in the sky was slowly setting.

"So when's your birthday?" Daniel asked. Emma groaned. Her birthday, she had almost forgotten.

As much as Emma wanted to get older so she could get out of this desolated, godforsaken town Emma didn't want to celebrate her birthday. She couldn't imagine growing older without her parent by her side, she didn't want to. 

She had always spent her birthdays with her parents. One time her dad was on a business trip in Europe and he still came home so he could celebrate his daughter's birthday. Just the thought of a birthday without her parent made her think. 

This was the 17th birthday that they would never be alive to witness. They would never celebrate Christmas together ever again. And they would live to see the day of her graduation. Or her wedding. They would never get to watch Emma leave for college or hold their grandchildren. 

Emma started to tear up and zoned back in. She was still walking with Daniel, and had not replied to his question, had given no explanation for her groan.

"You okay?" asked Daniel as he let go of her hand and put his arm around her.

"Yeah. I just forgot about my birthday until now. You really don't have to do anything for my birthday, it's fine," Emma said, looking to the ground.

"You're avoiding my question," he said, "When is it?"

"Tomorrow," Emma mumbled.

"Of course we're going to do something for your birthday," Daniel said as he kissed her on the top of her head. "You're important to me, therefore anything that concerns you is important to me." That made Emma feel warm inside. 

Daniel was kind and admirable, nothing he did could ever upset Emma. His compassionate and gentle words always stuck in her head like a favorite song that made her happy whenever she thought about them.