Chapter twenty-six: Reflection (Emma's POV)
After meeting up at the pool and swimming around for a while, we all decided to head back up to our rooms. We all went back up and hit the showers so we could wash off before dinner. I wrapped a towel around myself and stepped out, wiping my hand over the fogged up mirror that blocked my own reflection.
I sighed, grabbing the edge of the sink, leaning forward while staring at myself. I began looking at myself with a scrutinizing gaze, assessing my nose, lips, skin, eyes, the faint freckles I had, the way my nose scrunched up at times. Rachel and I look nothing alike, not that we should, but is that why he chose to make me think of her with him? We're polar opposite people, in our personalities and our looks.
Her nose doesn't have as many freckles as mine does, and neither does it scrunch up. Her lips are bigger than mine, fuller, and plumper. Her skin is flawless, with no blemishes whatsoever. She's tall, long legs, soft, smooth, and shiny blonde hair. And mine? Plain old brown, a little wavy and down to my butt. I'm all right. Average. But Rachel?
I snapped out of my thoughts when I realized someone was knocking on my door. I looked at myself in the mirror, blinking when I saw the tears flowing down my cheeks. I wiped them away before taking a deep breath and pulling on the robe, opening my bathroom door, and getting the bedroom door.
"Hey," Nick grinned.
"Hey," I stepped aside and let him in. "Just give me a minute to change and I'll come right out." I plastered a smile onto my face because I don't want him to know what just happened. He doesn't need to know that I'm so insecure about myself.
"Hey," he grabbed my arm and pulled me back when I turned to go back into the bathroom. I turned to face him, pulling my lips into a thin line. "Your clothes are out here," he pointed to the bed.
"Oh," I laughed while going and grabbing them, "I forgot I kept them out here," I rolled my eyes.
"Emma," he pulled me back again, "Is everything okay?" he narrowed his eyes at me slightly while scanning my face.
"Yeah, why wouldn't it be?" I asked, feigning confusion.
"All right, can you look at me?" he asked while tilting my chin, making me look at him.
"I'm just tired, that's all," I shrugged.
"Last time you were tired you could still look at me. What's going on?" he questioned.
"Nothing," I shook my head.
"Okay, I'll let you change," he let go of me.
I went into the bathroom and locked it while I got dressed before splashing cold water on my face and then stepping back out. He was sitting on my bed, staring off into space. "Hey," I sighed while sitting beside him.
"You were crying, weren't you?" he asked while staring at the blank TV screen. When I didn't answer he turned to me. "Why?" he questioned, arching an eyebrow at me. He wasn't gonna let this go.
"I looked in a mirror," I mumbled with a small shrug.
"Those didn't seem like tears of joy to me," he gave me a pointed look.
"They weren't," I chuckled dryly, "I just didn't like what I saw, it's no big deal," I shrugged it off.
"And what did you see?" he asked while sitting in front of, cross-legged.
"My plain brown hair, brown eyes, freckles, my nose which scrunches up when I laugh, my lips which are fairly chapped, my skin which doesn't glow under the sun, my body that doesn't have curves or anything flattering for that matter..." I trailed off, "My eyes aren't blue, my hair isn't shiny, my lips aren't plump or full, my skin is frankly suffering and a little burnt," I shrugged like it was no big deal.
He sighed while scooter closer, taking my hands in his. "Your eyes are brown," he nodded, "Like pools of honey. Your hair is brown and long and wavy, it flows gorgeously down your back, cascading in waves. Your freckles paint your adorable nose that scrunches when you laugh, dotted along like constellations very faintly. Your lips are the best lips I have ever come across, very tempting and kissable, frankly, my desire. And the smile they form lights up my entire world and any room you walk into.
Your skin blushes and glows from within with the hues of pink that coat your cheeks. Your body is stunning, there's no other way to describe it. You have curves in all the right places that you show off in the perfect way and are very flattering. You have a kind heart, and that's probably the most important thing and also the thing I like most. As much as your lips," he smirked.
I smiled, letting out a laugh.
"You're all I could ever ask for and more. You're absolutely perfect, the world will agree." He gave my hands a light squeeze.
"You really think so?" I questioned.
"I know it," he shrugged while leaning forward, "Everyone knows it. You just have to look at your reflection the right way. If you could see yourself the way I see you, Emma, you'd understand why I'm so obsessed with you. If you saw yourself through my eyes right now, good Lord," he shook his head while scanning me up and down, "You'd fall in love," he smiled.
I might fall in love with him if he talks like that any longer.
"And I-" he began.
"I think I get it," I nodded with a grin before leaning forward and smashing my lips on his.
He fell back and lay down while I lay on top of him, not letting our lips lose contact.
-----<3-----
"You okay?" he asked while rocking our hands back and forth while we walked to the elevator.
"Yeah," I smiled up at him while he put his arm around my shoulder.
We spent time just lying together, hands and legs tangled with each other while we talked and laughed, that time now led up to dinner which is where we were heading. We got in the elevator with Finn and Allison as I slipped Nick's arm off of me. Elijah was standing there with them, holding his dad's hand. We stepped in first and stood behind them while some other people stepped in as well.
Nick and I were in the corner at the back and he took that moment to press a kiss to my cheek, pulling away while Elijah watched us. "What are you looking at?" Nick asked, turning Elijah's head to the front.
Elijah tapped his dad's arm and whispered something in his ear before looking at us. Finn smiled before telling Elijah to keep quiet with a soft chuckle.
As we began stepping out, Nick picked up Elijah. "What did you tell your dad, Eli?" he questioned as we entered the dining hall.
"That you kissed Emma," he said, sucking his thumb.
Nick sighed while pulling his thumb out. "What did I tell you about that?" he asked.
"You said pwetty girls don't wike it," he said while looking up at the chandeliers.
"And who are we with?" Nick asked while smirking at me.
"Emma," he looked at me.
"And Emma is?" Nick questioned.
"Very pwetty," he tried touching the chandeliers.
I laughed while we walked to our table and took our seats, sending Elijah over to Allison. We ordered and Elijah began playing drums with the breadsticks while Allison scolded him. She began getting frustrated when he wouldn't listen and handed his responsibility to Finn.
I get the feeling that Finn just ends up taking care of Elijah more, he seems to have more patience, although I will say, watching Allison try is very amusing. But Finn wasn't so lucky tonight. He held his head in his hands at the table while Nick and I watched.
"Elijah, come over here," Nick called him over.
He hopped out of his chair with Finn's help and walked around the table to us, almost tripping over the carpet.
Nick pulled him up in his lap and fixed his hair while talking to him in hushed tones, whispering something in his ear before setting him down to go back. "Watch your step!" he called out and Elijah walked around the fold in the carpet.
"What did you tell him?" I asked out of curiosity.
"That I'd give him a new Hot Wheels car and chocolate tonight if he stops. And you'd give him a kiss," he shrugged nonchalantly.
I laughed before looking at a blushing Elijah. He sat quietly, waiting for his food like we were, sneaking glances at me. I blew him a kiss and he grinned like crazy, doing a little dance.
I smiled to myself while turning to Nick. "You know what? I think I like Elijah better than you," I rested my elbow on his shoulder.
"Oh, really?" he smirked.
"Really," I smirked.
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Chapter twenty-six
Nick is just so sweet, isn't he? <3
Next Chapter: Reliving that night
Sneak peek: we might be going on a little date and it may be a little similar to the first one they went on ;)