daydreaming ;

Something was going on and Eric needed to figure out what it was. The look in his sister’s eyes, she looked like she just wanted to talk but didn’t know how. He got that feeling, he hated that his sisters didn’t know the truth about Jack’s mother. They’d gotten the chance to judge him and didn’t even know the worst of it. But keeing them safe was everything, safe and happy. “There is nothing you could do that would make me look down on you. Look at what I’ve done, Em, and then tell me I can throw stones. What’s going on?”

Emily closed her eyes as she rubbed her temple, trying to find the words. She didn’t have to tell Eric everything. She couldn’t tell Eric everything. That would be too much and she didn’t want Eric to decide she couldn’t be around him - or around Jack. She was trying. Slipping once or twice didn’t mean she was doomed. Right? “You say that now,” Emily whispered before opening her eyes and looking at Eric. “Do you remember last year, around the beginning of summer I went off on that trip? I- uh, I told everyone I needed a break and just went on vacation.” Emily can already feel her eyes watering up. She didn’t want to do this but she needed to do it. Even if it was just Eric. “I didn’t actually go on vacation.”

Eric had been surprised to get the phone call from his sister but he had been quick to let her into his place, pulling out the ice cream and giving it to her. His place was becoming a safe place for most of the kids in his family and he was more than happy to provide that. he watched as she swirled around the ice cream and Eric leaned forward when it looked like Emily was about to say something. “Of course not. I’ll always be on your side. No matter what, you know that.”

Emily looked at her brother, desperate to believe him. She was always closer to him - had spent a lot of time as a young child hiding behind him and following him around like a lost puppy. She’d always looked up to him, wanted to make him proud. Their parents be damned. Emily could stand the idea of disappointing Eric. “You know I’ve always tried to make you proud... even after you left. I didn’t care if mom and dad got mad at me, I still don’t. But I don’t want you to be mad at me or disappointed in me.”

“and he’s actually one of the smarter ones,” she muses. “not only am i useless, but i’m also embarrassingly basic! as long as i have my starbucks app then i’m happy.” of course she’s laughing at herself, there’s no reason to take oneself so seriously. “honestly, thank you!”

they certainly were two different people despite coming from the same family. “you know you can’t survive off starbucks, right?” emily asked rhetorically as she messed around on evelyn’s phone so she couldn’t have to worry about annoying callers anymore. “also have you been to the city recently? there’s this new restaurant that’s all about cookies. heaven on earth, let me tell you.”

“Give it a decade or two, people will be completely jealous you look young.” She quipped, glad the other hadn’t taken it as some kind of insult. Maybe once you hit 21 you stopped being insulted when people guessed you were younger than you actually were, because Skylar was never a fan of people guessing she was younger than she was. “Sure.” She smiled, breaking off to go into her bag and pull out her phone, opening it before handing it to the other to put in their details. “Is there anything I’d need to bring? If there’s one thing I hate, it’s people showing up to class unprepared.”

“I think I accepted a long time ago that I’d just have that younger face and there wouldn’t be anything I could do about it. But you’re right, I’ll be the one looking young and beautiful and all those people will be jealous.” She’d definitely take that as a good thing. Emily took Skylar’s phone and made quick work to add her phone number in and send herself a quick text so she could have Skylar’s number. When her own phone vibrated, she took it out and saved the number, texting the address of the studio. “There you go, I texted you the address. And you don’t really need to bring anything, I have all the stuff for you but I would definitely wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.” She held Skylar’s phone back out to her.

rolling her eyes, she plays off emily’s last remark, “their calls make me feel less lonely. who else is going to call me at odd hours of the day and night?” setting her phone down, “i finally bit the bullet and bought my own phone, but i don’t really get any of this tech bs.” setting up apps and blocking numbers seems like such a hassle. her fiance always did that sort of stuff for her.

emily made a mark next to a set of pottery tools in the catalog before she set it down with the marker and leaned over to evelyn. “oh my gosh, you’re useless,” she teased with no heat in her voice. “this is why you never let boys do anything for you. besides, most of them are dumb. look at eric.”

“I swear scam likely gets more creative every day,” evelyn says, brows furrowed as she glances down at her phone, “almost had me fooled, but i can’t be taken down this easily.”

“why don’t you just block whoever it is,” emily said distractedly, flipping through the pages of the catalog in her hands. “or there’s that app you can install, it’ll block all of them for you.” with a shake of her head, she looked up from the catalog and over to her sister. “or you can keep letting them haunt you every day if that’s what you’re into.”

Giggling at the other’s answer, she gave a small shake of her head. “It’s funny, just seeing what happens is the antithesis of cathartic for me. I was always a ‘follow the plan’ kinda girl.” Something that had definitely not always worked in her favour. If she made a plan she stuck to it, even when she knew it was heading in a direction she didn’t like. “Oh.” She exhaled in relief, posture visibly becoming less hunched. “Then it sounds perfect! How long have you been teaching it? That sounded rude… All I meant is… Well you don’t look that old, I’d guess like… Twenty?”

Emily laughed as she ran a hand through her hair. “I totally get you. I’ve been teaching the class for a couple months now but I’ve been doing art since I was a kid. And I’m twenty three for the record so you weren’t too far off!” She knew she looked young for her age, something that often came up whenever she met knew people. At least whenever she was in her thirties, she’d still be looking fantastic. “If you want to exchange phone numbers, I can text you the address of the studio?”

Nodding at the answer, she had no reason to argue against it. “Pottery pieces?” Now that she assumed may be something the other would want to talk about, and something she wouldn’t mind hearing about. “How long have you been making things that way? It always look cathartic, and you end with something amazing - a win, win.” For someone with artistic skills at least, which she assumed the other did. “Really?” She piper up with a smile, before it faltered.” … Is it for beginners?” She may have no problem admitting she wasn’t the most artistic person in the world, but she had a problem being in a classroom when she felt she wasn’t as advanced as everyone else.

Emily’s smile is genuine now and far bigger than it had been moments ago. Talking about art always made her happier. It was what she loved, what she poured her heart into. It wasn’t often that she got the chance to talk about it with someone so she always took up the opportunity. “Making pieces is always cathartic, I feel so much better and less stressed. Honestly, there are times when I don’t even start with anything in mind and I just see what comes up.” Emily pushed her hair out from her face. “And yeah, the painting class is for beginners.” She reassured with a small laugh. “You’ll be fine, I promise!”

“Are you feeling okay?” Someone being ill was always the first thing that sprang to her mind when someone mentioned skipping class, but that was primarily because being sick was the only thing that would make her miss a lesson. Even then she normally tried to protest she was perfectly fine and could go to school. “Oh, what are you making? I’ve always found it endlessly impressive when people can make things from scratch, or up-cycle something to look nicer. It’s a skill that no matter how much I practice… I never seem to understand.”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Emily lied. It was all too easy of a lie now for her to tell. How many times had she said those words over and over again? Maybe one day she would believe it herself. “I just really don’t feel in the mood for class. But I’ve been working on a few pottery pieces. I’m trying a few new techniques to see which ones I like best. If you ever want to learn how to do something, just let me know. I actually teach a painting class on Saturday afternoons. You’re more than welcome to stop by. It’s fun and a lot of people seem to really enjoy it.”

╰   𝐁𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐓   ，𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘   ． ╮     @emilybisset· .

     after his scandal ,  he was sure it would be hard to see him out and about  ––  especially alone at that .  but ,  surprisingly ,  he couldn’t stay in the house forever  &  everyone else was off to their own duties .  so ,  he found himself at ashcroft park ,  in the middle of the day ,  hoping he wouldn’t see anyone .  of course ,  luck hadn’t been on his side .  after seeing a familiar face ,  his eyes piped up .       ❛   hey ,  what are you doing here ?   ❜

emily’s exhausted from lack of sleep - far too many days tossing and turning. she couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a full good night of rest. but fresh air had helped recently so she took the time to go for a walk. seeing aj was a surprise, especially considering everything. emily might have been hiding at home, but that didn’t mean she missed the latest news. emily had a lot of mixed feelings. “needed some fresh air. haven’t been feeling too well lately.”

“ could be, that’s why sometimes it’s better to make it fun. “ vera offers a gentle shrug of her shoulders, not that she particularly knew what the project was. “ would you like some help ? i wouldn’t mind, and perhaps i can be of some help. what’s your project on ? if you don’t mind my asking of course. “

emily wouldn’t mind the help. maybe vera could spark some sort of excitement from emily but she was almost sure that if it had nothing to do with art, she didn’t want to do anything with it. “i’m suppose to put together a pitch that would convince two companies to merge together.” emily juggled around her binder to pull out a piece of paper that had been sticking out slightly. “two leading industry companies who have been feuding for years. objective, convince them a merger would be beneficial to both companies.”

Eleanor was hard at work on her constitutional law paper. She questioned why she actually wanted to pursue a law degree, all this reading and writing hardly seemed worth it. The coffee shop wasn’t packed packed, just steady. While typing away furiously, she couldn’t help but feel eyes on her. After a few moments of the lingering feeling continuing, she looked up and at the table next to her the person was staring at her. “Are you trying to read what’s on my computer? Because I assure you, it’s nothing interesting. Unless you find the constitution interesting and would like to read fifteen pages on one part of it.” She shrugged and lowered the screen of her laptop. “So is the looking over my shoulder and at me going to stop or are you going to try to join me over here?”

Emily couldn’t hide anymore apparently. Not that she was intentionally hiding from her sister but she’d been procrastinating on her own work and the last thing she wanted was for Eleanor to say something about it. It didn’t help that she wasn’t feeling too well either - she hadn’t been for awhile. But Emily would try to fake it till she made it. “I’m just trying to be a good big sister and let you get your work done.” She was already moving to the other’s table, sliding into the seat across from her. “So the constitution, huh? That sounds riveting. Are you sure about this whole law thing?”

“Gotta love friends who stick up for each other, even if their logic isn’t always the best.” It was a lesson she’d learnt, friends should always be there for each other - even if their friend was technically in the wrong. Calling them on it in private was one thing, but everyone needed someone to stick up for them in public. Humming at the comment, she stepped to side to let the other go. “You can go first if you want, I have some time to kill - and if you have somewhere to be… She probably just made you late.”

“Just class but I was considering skipping anyway.” And now Emily had a perfect excuse. Not that it would have mattered, it was an online lecture so she would have just sat with her headphones in and ignored everything until the notes were posted. Emily moved up to the counter and asked for her typical drink order: vanilla bean frap. “If you have some time to kill would you want to come with me to the craft store? I need some new fabric and opinions always help.”

“  that’s what i tell my group of kindergartners. i just wasn’t that hungry, now on the other-hand ? a completely different story. “  vera offers a shrug as she then gives a laugh. “ okay good, and it depends. i’m guessing school work ? usually i’d suggest music as that’s always good motivator, or whatever gives you motivation usually. sometimes chatting helps too, kind of makes it more fun. but that’s just my experience. “

kindergartners. emily couldn’t imagine teaching little kids. the last time she had to babysit, emily felt uncomfortable and not at all prepared. granted, she spent very little time with kids that weren’t jack. now if it’s her nephew? she’s fine. emily would do anything for that little guy. “i think the problem is that i really don’t want to do it. nothing about it is fun and every time i think about sitting down to actually do the project, i just want to crawl into bed.”

“  no, no, go ahead. i’m sorry. “  vera gave that of a sympathetic smile, she had been looking through her purse for the zip-lock bag of ginger cookies. ( something that had been getting her through each day )  rather than paying attention. “  i missed breakfast, and well i’m surely regretting it. right about now. “  not exactly but what could she do ? 

“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” Emily parroted back. Those words would forever be ingrained in her mind thanks to school. “You’re fine, I just needed to grab a drink,” she said with a wave before she reached for a bottle of orange juice, having already paid for it. Her other arm was full, juggling a laptop and two books. “Do you know how to find motivation to do something you really don’t want to do?”