33: Cilantro

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Chapter 33: Cilantro

"Before I go I need to discuss something with you", my mom said while packing up her bags. It was still my birthday but my mom has to go since she has an important meeting to attend tonight. I was trying not to get emotional about the fact that my mom was leaving me again. But I didn't let that show, I have to be strong for my mother, as she is working hard for both of us.

"First of all, why didn't you follow me on Instagram young lady? You kept my follow request pending for weeks!"

My mom recently opened an Instagram but all she posts blurred selfies of herself and embarrassing childhood photos of me as throwback. Leo religiously follows her and makes sure to make fun of every childhood photo of mine she posts. He even got one of them framed. It was a picture of me sitting on the toilet while pretending to read a book. I hid that or else I would have ended up smashing it on his head.

"Second of all", she paused getting all serious again. "I think you need to sit down for this baby". I sat down, apprehensive of what she is going to say. Is she okay? I am not around to take care of her when she is out of Florida so I am always worried about her. "I am... I am seeing someone. And i-it's kind of serious. We- we even got engaged but- but I didn't have the heart to tell you this. I am so sorry Emerson. I know it's too much for you. It was very selfish of me I know. But I was afraid you will be upset because your dad-".

"Mom I am happy for you", I said taking her hand in mine. "I don't care about my dad. I hate that man. I can never forgive him for what he did to you. After all these years he never bothered contacting us. Besides Boris is a great guy".

"Wait how do you even know about Boris?" She asked looking surprised.

"Before getting engaged he wanted my permission so he found my number and contacted me. Since then we talk frequently. I was actually waiting for you to break the news to me. I am happy for you mom. And I think Boris is a great guy. And Maisie is an adorable kid. I can't wait to have her as my sister. Though you could have picked a guy with a better name".

My mom laughed hugging me. I will miss her a lot, I rested my head against her shoulder sniffing the familiar smell of her lavender shampoo.

............

"Well sulking doesn't look good on your pretty face, princess", Leo said winking at me. I don't know what got to him but Leo was in a very flirty mood today but I was too upset to give any attention to that.

"Let's go to the beach, bitch", George said getting up to apply his sun tan lotion for the third time. "I actually wanted to say that to someone for a long time!"

It was still my birthday so everyone wanted to go to the beach to celebrate but I was still upset about my mom leaving. Everyone was at my place with their sun tan lotion, sunglasses and beach ball ready to take me to the beach but I had a dark cloud over me.

"Why don't you guys go and I will go with you some other day?" I suggested. I know I was being a major party pooper but I can't help myself.

"What? Are you kidding me? We are not going to the beach without you!"he said sounding appalled. "Hailey! Stop swapping spit with Derek and help me carry Emma's ass to the beach!" George barked.

Hailey who was too busy making out with Derek, they both finally broke apart, looking exasperated. "Eww. Swapping spits? Seriously?"

"What would you prefer then? Canoodling?"George retorted. Hailey threw George's duck float at him. Of course George is the one who has to take his giant duck float to the beach.

"Emma if you don't go, we are not going either. Besides we might stop at Napoli.... you know grab some pizza there. They do sell the best deep dish pizza in-".

"We are going to the beach!" I said closing my bedroom door behind me to change.

"You are not wearing that ugly top to the beach. This isn't even a top its like a sweater", Hailey commented taking a good look at what I was wearing. "You can't wear that when its a hundred degrees outside!"

"I am not feeling hot", I lied. To be honest I was sweating inside but my halter neck bikini was too small for me as I brought it years ago. I felt a little bit self-conscious. Now I regret having all those pizzas.

"Take off your sweater Emma!" She said pulling my ugly top but I resisted.

"Whoa there!" Josh cried out entering my room seeing Hailey pulling the sweater off me. I bet he just got a wrong idea. "This place is in dire need of some holy water", he shaked his head disapprovingly with that he disappeared.

.............

I ended up wearing the tankini without the ugly overlong top, instead I was wearing a loose top over it which Hailey approved and jean shorts.

The drive to the beach went smoothly. Accept we had a little fight over which song gets to be played on the stereo as we all had different preferences.

It was a beautiful day. There were white clouds all over the blue sky. By the time we went to the beach the sun was behind the clouds and it wasn't that hot now.

"Can we play volleyball?" Sebastian suggested.

"But I wanted to float on Bastian", George said pouting. George named his duck float after Sebastian. He hated it but George wasn't willing to change it.

"I think you can do that later", Sebastian said. "We are going to play volleyball".

Sebastian and George teamed up and so did Derek and Hailey. Leo and I decided to play later since they were too enthusiastic about it. "Since I am single as fuck, I will be the referee", Josh said.

Leo and I rested on a deck, Leo decided to take off his shirt. And oh my.... I couldn't take my eyes off him. Before he could notice I averted my eyes away from him, making a promise to myself to not look at him like that again or else I wouldn't hear the end of it. I don't want to inflate his ego anymore.

"Want me to rub lotion on you?" Leo asked with a smirk on his face.

"No thanks. I will pass", I said. Can I rub lotion on you? And run my hands over your abs? Of course I wasn't going to ask him that.

After they were done playing we played two matches one with George and Sebastian and another with Derek and Hailey but we lost both of them. But the others were very serious about it. "You are the worst referee ever!" George shouted. Hailey claims that she saw George cross the net line but George claims he didn't. Unfortunately Josh was too busy checking out girls to see if it was a foul or not.

"That was a foul", Hailey said. "I saw it. You did cross the line! Uggghh if only Josh saw it".

"Hey I was just admiring girls aka beautiful works of art!"

"Do you wanna get out of here?" Leo said since they were having a full on argument and it was kind of hard to rest under the sun ignoring that.I am pretty sure they will drag us in it soon.

I got up looking at him. "Where?"

"To somewhere shady where I can easily sell you off to a Colombian drug lord of course", he replied sardonically.

............

"You are really not gonna sell me to a drug Lord, are you?" I asked crossing my arms on my chest. We were on a boat on our way to some place that Leo was taking me. I had no idea where we were going.

"Yeah I am. His name is Chi-Chi Piccolo", he joked. We were finally on an small island. It wasn't exactly an island but due to high levels of water the land was covered making it look like there was a lonely hill in the water. It wasn't too far nor was it too steep.

"I am not going to climb that. I am too lazy for it", I said taking a good look at the hill it was probably quite a few meters high.

"Come on Justice!" Leo insisted. Of course I ended up climbing the stupid hill but boy it was worth it for the view was magnificent. We watched the sunset together, Leo casually leaned in to keep his head on my shoulder but I was too awed by the view to say anything.

"This is breath-taking", I said looking at Leo who was looking at me now.

"No I think you are breath-taking, princess", he replied taking his head off my shoulder not before kissing my shoulder. I swear that small gesture was enough to make my heart beat faster against my chest. "I have something from you", he said facing me.

He produced an envelope out of his pocket. "What is this?" I asked.

"Open it and see it for yourself".

I opened the envelope, there were a pair of tickets. Upon inspecting the ticket I screamed. "Are these... are these tickets to Panic! At the disco concert?" I asked with a shaky voice. I was too excited to even talk properly.

"Uh-huh I thought we could go together. You know for a date", he replied. Date? Did he just say we will be going on a date?

"I am sorry I can't take this. These tickets must have been expensive", I said. "You are already struggling to pay for your mother's treatment-".

"Emma, you don't have to worry about that. My dad has decided to pay for my mother's treatment".

"What? I thought you never talked to your dad...".

"I never did. He just started funding us again. I was struggling to pay my school and the hospital fees but few days ago I got a a call from hospital saying my mom's medical dues have been paid. I checked my school account and I saw the same too. But I wasn't taking my chances. I decided to take up another job at the mall and besides Carlo started paying me again. And he pays a lot since he gets a lot of customers these days. Also Derek and Josh has something to do with this. I overheard them telling Carlo to pay me for their work too. I tried protesting but they wouldn't listen. Honestly they are the best friends I could ever have".

So our plan was finally working. I was happy he was able to solve most of the problems with the money. My mother is related to Leo's mother as they were classmates and they always kept in touch. After I talked to mom about the problem Leo was facing, my mom immediately contacted Leo's father. They never met but it wasn't hard finding his number. She was able to convince him but he agreed to contribute a very small amount. So Josh and I came up with a plan. We started freelancing. I worked as an editor online. I wasn't the best at it but I tried my best. And Josh started selling his paintings. This will look good on both of our college application not to mention we were helping Leo too. We kept it a secret from everyone and mostly Leo. He would never accept our money if he finds out about this.

I took his hand in my mine, his hands blemished from working hard at the garage. "But you still work hard. On top of that, you took another job? I traced the faint scar on his hand,"Please return the tickets. You could use the money for yourself".

"You know I would never do that", he said shaking his head disapprovingly. "You have to accept it. I know I don't have any special talent like Josh to paint something magnificent this is the only thing I could do for you".

I gave up,"Okay I will. But you are going with me".

"Of course I am. I told you princess. It's a date", he winked at me. "Oh yes I got another thing for you", he produced another paper from his pocket and placed it on my hand.

"Seriously Leo what more-", I looked at the paper in my hand. "Is this the Carlo's Pizzeria menu?" I asked quirking an eyebrow at him.

"Uh huh. Just open it", confused, I unfolded the piece of paper and read it. I was shocked. I couldn't breathe. "Is that- is that.."

"Yup. We named a pizza after you", this was the new updated menu to Carlo' s Pizzeria. On top under the specials section there was a pizza called 'The Emma'.

The Emma

(Deep dish Pizza)

Special tomato sauce, Capsicum, Sausage, Pepperoni, Basil, Mushroom and 3 types of cheese- Mozzarella, Swiss cheese, Parmesan.

Deep dish Pizza was my favorite and best of all it also had all my favorite toppings on it.

"This was- Oh my god I could kiss you right now", I mused.

"Okay", he said giving me a knowing smile, with that he placed his lips on mine.

...............

Sorry for all the grammatical mistakes. Not edited.

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