Chapter 3

Emerald

It was a huge mistake. Entrepreneurship would have been much better than Mr. Raven’s wearisome class. To think I was so passionate about the course. People like Mr. Raven killed than lift people’s spirit.

“There’s a reason why it's called pear-fect.” he smiled at his words. “Cause a pear is the most perfect fruit.” he raised a finger, pointing out.

I looked over to watch people and really no one was laughing at his jokes but him. I sat back in my chair, stiffling a laugh. Not at his joke of course, but the fact he felt it was funny which was actually funny. 

Wait, what? 

                                  •••

I was elated my car’s warning light issues had been fixed and ready by the time I got to the mechanic. It was good news since they'd delayed my work for a week now.

Switching off the ignition, I hurried to the apartment to avoid peeing in my pant. Then decided to shower before lunch. Having cereals was tiring but I wasn't that much of a cook besides, Mimi had text me earlier that she had a late class and assignment of some sort. I knew I had to make her something before she got home.

Leaning on the couch in baggy T’s and shorts, scrolling through the photo album in my phone, my phone vibrated. Caller iD—Mom.

I picked the video call immediately.

"Aww, my sweet baby is now all grown up." She said with a wide smile on her face. She was sat on the living room's sofa that looked too tidy than usual.

"Where's Flora?" Flora was my twelve year-old- sister who thought she was Pablo Picasso. The living room had been her practice room, hence leaving paper cuts, crayon stains on there for me to clean up.

"Right here. Flora! Emerald's on the phone." Half a second, I saw her dish water blond hair pop up. I hadn't thought I'd miss her this much. 

"Hey." She laughed. "What's up?"

"Versace. You?"

"I'm alright. We miss you! Amy and Roxie asks about you every time."

"Well, I miss you and everyone too. How about we have a secret talk after this?" I winked.

"Sure." She passed the phone over to my mom.

"What's up, honey?"

"Why aren't you at work? How are you doing? How's dad?"

"Good. Everything's well. Came home to watch over Flora. Nancy couldn't make it." Oh, beautiful nana Nancy. She was such a beautiful soul that I trusted growing up, even now. Nancy was like my guardian angel/best friend even. I found a mom in her. She was always there to listen to my rants and problems about school, everything. She was pretty much there when things happened to me, like when I got my period, giving me the talk when she found condoms in my room. Yeah, she found out.

Not like my mom and I weren't close. We were close and understood each other. It was hard to get mad when she missed major things in my life, but after all, she was working towards bettering our lives.

I was disheartened when mom told me we had to let her go because of loads of bills we had to cover, but Nancy stayed. She didn't live full time with us anymore, however, she visited us and helped 'teen sit', in Flora's words.

Real people like her deserved a special seat in heaven.

"Your dad's alright. Had this trip."

"Nice." I nodded with a small smile. Tired of sitting, I got up to stretch my body, moving around the living room. "So, um, I'm kind of low on cash."

She heaved a sigh. "Have you been spending recklessly again? Emerald, I'm busting my ass out here putting this family together. There's a lot of bills, school fees and with that expensive school you chose again—" she paused for a moment, catching her breath. "Not that it's your fault for wanting the best, I should be able to give you the best. And that's what I want, but right now, we're going through this phase. Your dad's also looking for a new job."

Sometimes, I didn't like being called from home, because it made my heart skip multiple beats in a second—hearing all the drama and problem that happened from this day to the next...it was dispiriting.

My mom had been the bread winner of the family for the longest time now, even when she tried to make my father the star, the truth was right there in our faces. She earned more and struggled to pay bills as an accountant. My grandma had always advised that she cut her cloak according to the material, whatever that meant. 

Because she did earn a decent salary from the bank, but having children who wanted the world, she fought to get it for them. She had always told me how important education was. It was grandpas legacy to her and she passed it on to me—even when I chose Riverside college, knowing well I could've chosen others that I had applied to and chose me.

Sometimes I felt guilty for demanding so much of her.

It should be my dad helping out. But ever since he lost his job as a pilot about five years ago, he never had a serious job that actually paid the bills or maintained the life he had created for us.

"It's okay. I love you mom."

She smiled. And then wore a confused look.

"What's wrong?"

"Whose apartment is this?"

My eyes widened. Shiiittt!

I had forgotten to get the apartment ready for video call with my mom. Whenever she called, I always had it outdoors or in the room, setting it in such a way that it looked like a dorm, but I guess I couldn't fake it for long.

"I'm talking to you, miss."

I faltered. "It's my friend's. Her name's Mimi. Latino. She's amazing. In her second year."

"Hmm. Why didn't you tell me you you stayed with your friend?"

"I didn't think you'd like the idea," I confessed. "The dorm's not so great."

"And Mimi is cool with this?" I nodded. "You do know you'd have to be helping with the rents and bills too?"

"Yeah, mom. But she's really cool. If anything, I'd just get a job." I lied. Mimi was cool but we had gotten the house together with the money my grandma had given me the moment I turned eighteen. She was the sweetest.

"Awwn, look at you talking all mature. I love you. I have to go now. Kisses." she blew me a kiss.

"Love you too. Flora, don't you dare play in my room!" I yelled causing a laugh from my mom.

"Don't tell --" Flora was speaking when the line dropped. Lips in a thin line, I sighed.

Even though money was sometimes a bitch to us, I loved my family. I couldn't wait for the day I hit really big and spoiled them with their heart desires. They were my emeralds.

Like a life resuscitator, I was brought back to life. I yawned with my hands rubbing my forehead, hoping the headache I had gotten due to staying on the computer for too long, searching for jobs.

The banging sound of the door came again, causing me to close my ears with both hands. Whoever was there had intentions of breaking the door and causing me a brain tumor. 

I struggled myself out of the mini desk in the living room to the door.

Immediately I opened it, Mimi glided in.

“Dude. I've been here for hours. What have you been doing?” she dropped her bag on the floor.

“Sleeping. What about your keys?” I shut the door.

“I must have left it at home.” she stretched both arms, took off her jacket and headed to the kitchen . “And did you make something for me by the way? Starving." 

"Mac and Cheese?" I said, walking behind her.

"Hmm, " she said. "Cool. Hope it's not too saggy like the last." she started the tap in the kitchen to wash her hands.

"I wanted to order pizza, but then..."  

I was just too lazy and would've probably left the delivery person hanging while basking a nap.

She steadied herself on the tall stool infront of the counter, moving the dish I had packed for her. She dug in immediately. 

"Not so bad, ” she said after two spoons of Mac and Cheese.

I nodded my thanks, wearing a small smile and grabbed one of the stools joining her on the counter, watching her stuff her mouth with the food. Then I saw the thick, coloured paper that almost dropped from her jean pocket. 

"What's that?"

She brought the two tickets from her pocket, slamming it on our wooden counter. "Tickets."

Of course I knew that.

I shifted it closer to myself to read what the ticket was for. Great world club. A club? And how did she get VIP tickets?

"Some guys dropped by at our tutorial and one of them suggested I had two tickets. VIP. He said something about Travis Scot."

My eyes broadened. Travis Scot. Was to be there? 

What. The.

I looked down at the ticket again to check the date— April 4th, this Friday.

"That's—that's amazing." I threw my hands in the air.

"Right? But I'm not going; I'm selling it off to someone." She dropped her spoon. "VIP tickets and Travis Scot... we could earn some cool bucks off it."

"So, who's gonna want it? Your class full of dweebs?"

Her jaw dropped. "Wow! Just so you know, we are definition of cool and just because I don't party doesn't make me unfun. We have really cool students in my department. Actually, chemistry has the coolest of kids."

I nodded with an amused smile. "I don't think you should sell those tickets."

"What? Why?"

I stood up and placed a hand on my hip. 

“Prove to me there's more to you guys than studying all day long, after studying." 

She burst into laughter. "You're not going to bully me into going for something I don't want to."

"I thought so too."

She shot me daggers while I narrowed my eyes at her.

"Fine. I'll go." she half shrugged.

That was easy. Way too easy. But apart from it being easy, I knew a lot could come up before Friday to make her change mind. Until then.