8 Helping Aiden

It was a cool Wednesday morning. Emily opened her eyes and stretched, yawning. What a lovely sleep, she thought. Looking at the time, she was quite pleased. Five minutes before her alarm rang. She stood up, stretched some more and went to washroom. Opening the tap, squeezing the tooth paste on her sky blue toothbrush and rubbing it sideways along her teeth.

She changed and looked herself in the mirror, smiling. But after some weird thoughts coming to her mind, her smile faded away. She looked at her hands, then her face, then her washroom cabinet. She did not have a single makeup material in it, not even one. She did put on nail paint when she went out to a party with Linda, but if she re-called it, it was not hers, but Linda's. Thinking about it, in fact, all her class fellows put on makeup, which provided a lovely natural look. These thoughts lowered Emily's self-confidence, not much, but to some extent.

Emily shook her head, throwing her thoughts away. I don't need makeup, she thought, I am perfect the way I am….. I think. She went downstairs and sat down at the breakfast table with a bowl of cereal in front and her mom drinking coffee beside her. "Mom" she spoke after a while. "Yes?" her mom replied, smiling. "Am I pretty?" She asked, sheepishly. Her mom replied proudly without wasting a second, "Obviously, my daughter is the prettiest!"

Emily was unsatisfied, "No doubt you will think that." Her mom smiled, "What is it? I know you are thinking about something." Emily looked at her watch, 07:20 a.m. "Well, mom. Uh… The thing is, that I feel I need some makeup." She said directly, as it was a long topic, and she had to go to college. Alicia was a bit shocked, "Honestly, you actually don't, but if you feel like it, why don't you buy some and try it out yourself. That is the best way you will find an answer to your thoughts." Emily was astonished. She thought she had to argue and reason with her mom about it, but in reality, it was the opposite.

She was happy, as it was something different for her, she smiled ear to ear to her mother, quickly finished her breakfast and started to walk to college. Shortly afterwards she heard someone say her name from behind. She turned around to see who it was. To her shock it was Aiden, waving and quickly walking so as to catch up with her. "Oh, hey. What a surprise." Emily smiled. Aiden answered, "I didn't know you lived quite near to my house, which is a few streets away. Today I saw you and thought I'd greet you." "Well that's very nice!" Emily said. Then the two started to walk together, silently.

Shortly afterwards, Aiden asked, "Emily, I was thinking… How about we walk together to college?" he gave a weak smile. Emily got another shock. Before she could reply, Aiden spoke again, "Well, I was thinking that it would be quite useful for us, I could help you with your routine at the gym and with sports as well. While, you could help me with…" he paused after this. Emily was very happy to get help from a popular person like Aiden, but also thought that he is good at everything, how would he need my help? However she asked sweetly, "With what?" Aiden blushed and continued, "With… arts." He let out a sigh as if he said something wrong.

Emily let out a little laugh, "I thought it was something big." Aiden smiled and said, "Well, for me it is kind of a big thing, I am so bad at it, in fact I suck at it. While you are so good and talented at it! Your paintings are almost magical, just like a professional." Emily turned crimson at all these compliments. "But arts isn't compulsory right?" She asked, still reddened. Aiden replied in a low voice, "I really like arts, I am really fascinated by it, even though I am awful." This lead to the third shock of the day for Emily. Wow, Aiden is interested in arts, Emily thought. Emily also loved arts, but just as a hobby. She said enthusiastically, "Of course I'll help!" Aiden beamed. Then the rest of the way, they talked about their routines.

They reached college quite early and entered the class. The few students who reach class early, including Linda, were quite shocked at the two. Since when did they become friends? Everyone thought.

Emily came and sat beside Linda. While Aiden greeted his friends and sat with them. Linda first stared at Emily, then she smirked. "Huh, I knew it!" She exclaimed. In the first instance, she didn't get it, and when she did, she started blabbering in a confused way to as to explain her and remove her impractical thoughts. "What!? No! It's not what you think it is! Please stop. Let me explain. We live…" Linda plugged her fingers into her ears and started humming. Emily stared at her in disbelief. "Come on!" She muttered.

She let out her fingers and let out a laugh, "Haha! Just teasing." Emily sighed. "But I don't need an explanation." She demanded, smiling warmly.