Chapter 2

• Once Emerald retrieved her things, she shut her locker and turned to her friends, making sure to offer a small, albeit weary, smile.
• "I'm fine. Justin, could you drive me home today?"
• "Of course." His stylishly combed hair bounced as he moved to her side and gave her a hug. "I'll be your bodyguard today, too."
• "Look at you. You've always been our protector," Annie teased him before he excused himself for a moment. "Anyway, Emerald, you should give people like Robert a comeback to shut them up. It's not your fault you're your father's daughter."
• "That's just a waste of time and energy."
• "And putting up with the shouting and staring is healthy?" Annie fixed Emerald with a serious, almost motherly look. "I don't believe this is a situation where you should stay quiet. You could get hurt."
• "Come on..." Emerald rolled her eyes. "It's not like any of them would actually go as far as kidnapping me or something."
• Annie swiftly clamped her hands over Emerald's mouth, her eyes darting around attentively. Startled, Emerald frowned, attempting to speak but producing only a muffled hum. "Annie?" she tried to say.
• Even then, Annie didn't release the temporary hold she had on Emerald's mouth.
• "Eww." Annie pulled her hands away, hastily reaching for some wipes in her bag. "Why did you lick my palm? That's just gross."
• Readjusting the strap of her backpack, Emerald replied, "Next time, don't cover my mouth like that."
• "Well, next time, don't say things like kidnapping," Annie retorted.
• "Why?"
• "You ask why?" Annie was ever so dramatic. "What if someone overhears and decides to run with the idea? If your dad pays a ransom, that person hits a jackpot. Come to think of it..." She struck a thinking pose. "Maybe your dad should hire a bodyguard. Yesterday, I could've sworn I saw someone following us. He looked bald and—"
• "Okay, Annie, I get it. I'm not as safe as I used to be, but I'll manage." Emerald reassured her. "But please, don't bring up the idea of a bodyguard with my dad. He'd be all over it."
• "Your dad? No way. He intimidates me." Annie shivered slightly, as if recalling his stoic demeanor outside the home. "I'll talk to your mom. I'll make sure to present the idea with strong arguments."
• "I don't need a bodyguard following me around like a kid," Emerald said. Her eyes drifted to a group of girls watching them and whispering among themselves, prompting another sigh.
• "Are you guys ready?" Justin asked, smiling as he returned.
• "Yes, we are." They began walking toward his car. "Where did you disappear to, anyway?" Annie inquired.
• "Well..." A mischievous grin spread across his face as he draped his arms over their shoulders, pulling them closer. "It's a secret." Annie rolled her eyes and kicked his knee.
• "Ouch," he exclaimed, laughing through the mock pain.
• .....
• As Emerald was preparing to step out of the car, Annie's voice stopped her. "When's our next movie night?" she asked, her curiosity piqued by the prospect of another fun evening together. Although Emerald longed for the familiar comfort of her home's walls, she recognized that Annie's question was quite pressing.
• "Uh... How about this Friday?" Emerald replied after a brief moment of thought.
• "Your place or Justin's?" Annie continued. They never planned gatherings at her own house because her father believed strongly in self-reliance and had almost discouraged her from making friends, if not for a miraculous intervention.
• "Mine. My mom is making popcorn for us," Emerald confirmed, offering a comforting thought of home-cooked snacks.
• "Yes!" Justin cheered, meeting Emerald's gaze with enthusiasm. "I love it when your mom makes food."
• Emerald's smile grew even larger. "I appreciate the compliment, but..." Her expression turned serious for dramatic effect. "You'd better not say that around my dad, or he might decide to turn you into our new floor rug."
• The discomfort evident in Justin's dancing green eyes sent both Emerald and Annie into fits of playful laughter. "Bye, guys," she finally said, heading toward her house.
• Emerald's family used to live in a hotel, where she spent her formative years in a penthouse. However, shortly after they relocated to New Orleans, circumstances changed, and they all returned to New York. Unlike their departure, they came back with her younger brother, Zack Fajardo.
• Even before she entered the house, Emerald could already imagine Zack's enthusiastic greeting. Approaching his tenth birthday, he was the little ray of joy in her life, fulfilling her long-held wish for a sibling. The first time she saw his charming face and captivating ocean-blue eyes, her smile couldn't have been wider.
• Upon opening the door of the stylish bungalow, the first name she called out was, "Zack." Tossing her bag onto the nearest couch, she raced to the kitchen and flung open the refrigerator. "Zack!" she exclaimed, her eyes widened, "Where are you, and where's my ice cream?"
• "Lower your voice, young lady."
• "Hi, Mom," Emerald greeted, not taking her eyes off the refrigerator. "Zack!"
• "He's sleeping." Her mother's voice carried a gentle, yet firm tone as she shut the fridge door. Her gaze remained fixed on Emerald. "I took your ice cream."
• "What? Why?" Emerald asked, bewildered.
• Her mother shrugged and motioned toward the kitchen island. "Come have a seat. Your father and I need to speak with you."
• "But Mom..." Emerald groaned, her shoulders slumping. "My ice cream."
• "Sit down."
• Her father's voice announced his presence, instantly distracting Emerald from her lost treat. Despite their close relationship, she always felt the need to present herself properly in front of him. "Hey, Emerald," he greeted.
• "Hey, Dad." Emerald took a seat opposite her mother.
• "Hi, sweetness," he said, giving her mom a gentle kiss on the forehead.
• "School went well today. Thanks for asking," Emerald answered with a hint of irony, prompting a burst of laughter from her mom. Her dad settled into the seat beside her.
• "Emerald, we have something to share with you," her mother's voice softened in a way that piqued Emerald's suspicion.
• "What is it?" Emerald wondered if Annie's outlandish suggestion of a bodyguard might have somehow reached her father. She furrowed her brow at the thought.
• "Emerald..." Her mother's smile broadened. "I'm pregnant."