TW's: None :)
Emily's routine became waking up working with Clara on paper work, meeting with Jeremy and zooming with Lawyers. On the third day of this routine as she was settling down across form Clara at the Yale-NUS College library to get some work done her phone rang, the screen displayed a number but no name, she picked it up half expecting it to be one of the Lawyers instead Alyvia was on the other line
"Agent Emily?" She said with forced confidence, Emily's eyes met Clara's, she had touched base with Alyvia once she made it back to the school but Alvyia had insisted to her that she was fine.
"Ali, is everything okay sweetheart?" Emily had heard the nickname in passing from her friends, at the moment it kind of just slipped out.
"Nothing! I am absolutely amazing, I just wanted to check in and see how you are doing? Are you still in Singapore or have you left?"
"I'm okay, and yes I am still here. You can also call me just Emily no need to worry about the Agent part. Are you sure you're okay? " Emily had been holding off on telling Alyvia about the potential adoption even though she really wanted to, but the chance of it falling through was still present. The last thing she wanted to do was get the girls hopes up only to let her down.
"Yes! 100% I am settling in wonderfully, just wonderfully." Alvyia did not want to admit to Emily the truth of what was happening, she just couldn't do that, she couldn't put that on her, but she also could not take another day of this, each moment felt like her skin was crawling. She just needed to hear Emily's voice, even if soon it would dissipate due to time zones and forgotten promises, it always worked that way.
"Hey, Ali?"
"Yes?" she said in a chipper tone,
"How about I come see you today? After school?"
"Oh! That- That would be nice."
"Well it's settled, I'll stop by your dorm at 3:30?"
"Sounds good to me, I'll see you then!" With that the line disconnected and Emily placed her two fingers on her temple letting out a sigh, "She is lying through her teeth." she mumbled to Clara,
"About?"
"Being okay, she's overcompensating in her tone, she's trying too hard to prove everything's okay. There is something that she is not telling me- I know it but I can't place it."
"Hmmm, sounds like someone I know."
Another sigh escaped Emily's lips- "Me?" Clara got up from the table and sat next to her resting her head on Emily's shoulder, a silent confirmation to her question, as well as a silent reassurance that things would be okay.
________________________
True to her word Emily was waiting outside Alyvia's room when she got back from her last class, making sure to paint on a believable smile she greeted Emily,
" Hi!" With a smooth and calm,
"Hi" in return Emily followed the teen into her dorm, it was not too small but definitely not big either. Ali's side had some posters and books, as well as a few dying plants. Sitting on the edge of the half-made bed Emily asked,
" What do you want to do?"
"How about coffee?"
"Sounds like a plan, could we take the train?"
"Sure, I haven't ridden it yet so you gotta lead the way though."
Taking a dramatic bow, Alvyia announces " Of course, today I am your guide."
Emily giggles a little, "What an honor!" They made their way into the CBD, entering the MRT down a long escalator,
"What does MRT stand for?" Emily questions looking up at the big orange sign that hangs above the entrance.
"I'm not quite sure, but me and my friends always call it the Monkey, Reptile Transit. Because there are so many Monkeys and Monitor Lizards- technically they were here first but fun fact there is now a suspended crossing for animals on the way up to Woodlands where they can cross without getting in the road!"
"That's cool, I'm glad they can cross a little more safely." Alyvia nodded eagerly. They got on at the East-West line where they rode it to the Circle Line and got off at Holland Village. Alyvia led the way to the Tiong Bahru Bakery nestled behind a big mural. At the little bakery, Emily got a Black Coffee with two Splenda, Alyvia got three espresso shots with almond milk. They sat outside sitting in silence staring at their coffee, Emily broke it
" What's your favorite thing about living in Singapore?" The teen immediately perked up
"So much, but mainly I love the public transit I can get anywhere on the island, I love the parks and I love Sentosa, but my absolute favorite is bubble tea. I'm gonna miss it when I graduate."
Graduate? She must not know about the relocation. Emily thought. Probing further she inquires, " So once you graduate you will go somewhere else?"
" I mean probably I don't really plan on staying for the grad program here" she shuddered, "I am not sure yet but I can't wait!" Alyvia tried so hard to make that part sound happy, she kept telling herself focus on graduation then you can get out, one more year.
"That sounds exciting."
"I think so too."
"How has being back at school been?"
"Great! I am so happy to see my friends and get back into a routine and some normalcy after everything." At least the first part was true, Alyvia thought.
"You sure?"
"Yes, like I told you before 100%"
"You would tell me if something was wrong right?" Alyvia had this bad habit where she trusted people who showed her kindness too quickly, the last time she did that the person she had trusted cut ties, and spread nasty rumors (They were a full grown adult too). Not that Emily would do that, but the cut ties part whether intentional or not was a very plausible action. Emily reached across the table and squeezed Alyvia's hand, Alyvia felt that far too familiar longing of comfort to be able to completely melt into safety.
"Yes, I would." Alyvia squeezed her hand back. There the two of them sat staring at their coffee making small talk till Emily took Alyvia back to her dorm, this time via a taxi so that she could make it before curfew,
"I guess this is my stop." Alyvia said pointing to her dorm's door, Emily had slowly been learning about how Alvyia, stuffed with what figure has abandonment, to alleviate some of the stress of not knowing when or if she was promoted to the girl,
"How about we schedule a check in call tomorrow evening?"
"I'd like that" Alvyia smiled more so to the floor rather than to Emily,
"Six okay with you?"
"I think so, I should be done with dinner hall by then!" Emily placed her hand on the teen's shoulder as she said her goodbye. Turning to walk down the hall Emily started to head the direction they entered form, Alyvia whispered quickly and quietly,
"Could I have a hug?" Turning on her heels to look at the teen, you wouldn't have guessed she was 17, her body covered by layers of clothing and her pleading eyes, the eyes that looked like the eyes of 12 or 13 year olds who she worked on cases with, it was the look of pure fear.
"Of course come here honey," Alvyia proceeded with caution like if she did one thing wrong, she would get in trouble, she put her arms around the women, as if it were natural instinct Emily embraced the girl. Emily's love language was not very often one of physical affection but for this girl it felt like second nature, all she wanted to do was to pick her up, take her away from this place, and keep her safe. Alvyia was trying so hard not to cry, the lump in her throat grew bigger by the second but she reminded herself, Emily is temporary, this is all just temporary. As if Emily could sense it, she pulled her closer, resting her chin on the teen's curly hair, and planted a small kiss on her head. In response Alvyia relaxed a little more into the embrace but all things came to an end and Alvyia's logical brain warned her of this being most likely the last time they would see each other, whispering into her shoulder,
"Thank you, Emily. For Everything."
"No need to thank me Ali, I'm happy to help. Always."
A/N
Was this a short filler? Yes 100% but it needed to be done because next chapter is... well I'll let you see.
Anyway Hello! How was your week? Mine was a very special level of rough, home school to regular school is not so easy. I hope yours went okay, little reminder to take care of you and eat something, drink something, and rest if you need in whatever manor is best for you,
& with that I'll see you next Friday!
Another little picture for reference (It's the MRT):