High School Drama
“It’s going great!” my stepmother Emma beams.
I watch Emma’s fingers dance across the piano keys, the final notes of Chopin’s Nocturne in E-flat major lingering in the air. She exhales, a satisfied smile playing on her lips as she closes the sheet music.
God…I wish I had her talent!
“That was beautiful, Brent,” she said, her eyes twinkling with pride. “You’ve made incredible progress.”
“Thanks, Emma,” Brent replied shyly. He was only eight years old, the same age as my brother Michael, but so talented. A total protege.
“Same time next week?” Emma asks him.
“Yes,” Brent nods, smiling. “See you then.”
After Brent left, Emma turned to me. “How was school?”
I shrug.
Emma winces. “What’s wrong, Honey? You look upset.”
Emma has always been like a mother to me ever since my dad married her. She never tried to replace my mother but instead, she made me feel loved and cared for. How did my father land this perfect woman is beyond me.
“I am fine,” I say.
“Sweetheart,” Emma tried again, her voice thick with concern. “What’s going on?”
She reaches out, gently placing her hand on my arm. The touch is light, meant to comfort.
She leans in slightly, searching my face for any clue to my distress. “You can talk to me about anything, you know that, right?”
I bite my lower lip as Emma waits patiently, her thumb tracing small circles on my arm, silently encouraging me to open up.
“I… I don’t know if I should say anything,” I whisper. “It’s probably not a big deal.”
Emma nods encouragingly. “Take your time, Scarlet. I’m here to listen, no matter what it is.”
“It’s Valentine. He won’t leave me alone at school. He’s always there, watching me, following me between classes,” I finally tell her.
Emma raises an eyebrow. “Who is Valentine? A boy in your class?”
I nod. “Yeah. He is…he is a moron!”
Emma laughs but then turns serious again. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have laughed. You are upset about this.”
I smile. “It’s fine. It’s just high school drama, I guess.”
“You know,” Emma says gently, as if an idea forming in her mind, “we should talk to your dad about this. River would want to know, and he could help put a stop to Valentine’s behavior.”
“Dad? No way,” I say and look at her with a horrified expression. That’s the worst idea I’ve ever heard.
“Your dad loves you so much, Scarlet,” Emma continues, her voice soft but firm. “He’d do anything to protect you.”
I shake my head vigorously, feeling a rush of panic surge through me. “No! We can’t tell Dad!” I gasp, the urgency in my voice rising.
Emma leans back, looking surprised by the intensity of my reaction. “Why not, sweetie?” she asks gently, trying to understand what’s going on.
I twist my fingers nervously in my lap, searching for the right words. “If Dad finds out, he’ll go ballistic. You know how he gets when he’s angry, Emma. He might… he might hurt Valentine.” I lower my voice to a whisper, glancing around as if the walls might have ears. “And that would only make everything worse.”
Emma’s brow furrows as she considers what I’ve said. She finally nods slowly. “You’re right,” she agrees softly. “We don’t want to escalate things.”
I feel my shoulders relax slightly at Emma’s understanding. Taking a deep breath, I look up, determination filling my blue eyes. “I want to handle this on my own,” I declare. “I know it won’t be easy, but I need to learn how to stand up for myself.”
Emma watches me, and I can see the concern in her eyes. “This boy isn’t dangerous, is he?” she asks gently.
I wince at the thought. “No, I don’t think so. Just a typical arrogant jerk.”
Emma nods slowly, a smile tugging at her lips. “Kind of like your dad?”
I groan, rolling my eyes. “You know what… yes. Kind of like him. They would’ve been best friends if they were the same age.”
She laughs, and it lightens the mood. “Well, if you can’t handle him alone, let me know. I will personally go to your school and beat him up.”
I can’t help but smile as I hug her tightly. “Thank you,” I whisper, my voice muffled against her shoulder. “You’re the best stepmom ever.”
As she returns the embrace, I can feel a lightness settling over the room, replacing the tension we had just moments ago.
“Hey,” she says playfully, leaning back to look at me with a grin. “How about we bake some of those double chocolate chip cookies you love? I think we both deserve a treat after this heavy conversation.”
My face lights up at the suggestion. “Can we add extra chocolate chips?” I ask eagerly.
Emma laughs, and I feel warmth spreading through me. “Extra chocolate chips it is,” she agrees, standing up and offering her hand. “Let’s go raid the pantry.”
“Where’s Sky?” I ask as we walk toward the kitchen.
Emma smiles at the mention of my little sister. “I put her down for a nap.”
“She should be up soon though,” Emma adds as we reach the kitchen.
My heart softens at the thought of Sky. “She’s so cute, I can’t get over it. I love how she always wants to follow me around.”
Emma grins as she reaches for the mixing bowl. “She adores you. You’re like her hero, you know?”
I blush at the compliment. “I don’t know about that. But I love her to bits. I remember how Michael used to be like that. Now, all he wants to do is play video games.”
Emma chuckles as she grabs the ingredients for the cookies. “That’s typical for his age. But you know what? He still looks up to you, even if he’s glued to that screen most of the time.”
I smile, feeling my mood brighten as I start measuring the flour. “I guess. It’s just nice to have Sky around now. It reminds me that I can still be important to someone.”
Emma pauses, watching me thoughtfully. “You’re important to all of us, Scarlet. Sky, Michael, your dad, and me—we all need you in our lives.”
I look up at her, gratitude filling my heart. “Thanks, Emma. I don’t say it often, but I’m really glad you’re here. You’ve made everything… better.”
Emma smiles back at me, and I feel a warm surge of affection. “I’m glad to be here too, sweetie,” she says softly. “Now, let’s focus on these cookies before we get too sappy. Extra chocolate chips, remember?”
I giggle and dump the chocolate chips into the bowl. “You got it!”
