*listens to Younger (by Nightly) on repeat casually while you suffer*
"Hi!" A girl with blonde hair greets and waves her hand. Emma waves back. Norman just smiles, then he looks at Emma.
"Do they know me?" He asks her.
"Well, kind of. They know you. You haven't really talked much to them," she answers.
"Oh, okay." He smiles at her, and she smiles back.
So damn cute.
A boy with black hair covering one eye looks up from the book he's reading. "Hey, Norman. How have you been?"
"I've been fine, I guess. Who are you?"
"Idiot, I'm Ray. You've only seen me that one time, you probably forgot."
"He forgot everything, idiot," Emma tells him.
"You fail your tests normally, and yet you're calling me an idiot," Ray says. Before Emma could say anything, he stares at his book again.
"I don't think she's that much of an idiot," Norman says.
"Yeah, you're just saying that because you're her boyfriend," A girl with green hair teases.
Emma and Norman exchange glances.
"Gilda, you're-" Emma starts.
"I'm right. Everyone else agrees, right?"
They nod their heads.
"Even Emma." The blonde girl points to Emma, who has looked to the ground, covering her face.
"Are you alright?" Norman asks her.
She lifts her head from her hands, blushing. "That is the worst thing you can do to a girl. Ship your friend with someone she's known for two months."
"Eh, there's worse." Ray says in a chill tone.
Everyone stares at him.
"Was I supposed to say something else? Like, what it actually is?"
"Oh Frick no." The blonde girl says.
"Alright, where are my matches and oil?" Ray finally looks up from whatever it is he's reading.
"Your mom probably took them away, so you don't light something or yourself on fire." The blonde girl taunts.
"Shut up, Anna!" He snaps.
They both start laughing.
"You know what, I ship them." Emma finally says.
"What?" Gilda turns to Emma.
"It's because they ship me and Norman."
"Fair point, I guess."
...
"Oh, I probably have to leave. Bye, you two!" Anna says, walking away.
"So, it's just us," Emma says. "Again."
"There's not that much to talk about," Emma complains.
"I mean, Jade says she pays for Spotify premium. I could play some music for you," Norman tells her. "I don't know if you'll like the things I listen to, but that's fine."
"Alright."
She sits by him under a tree, where they listen to music and talk a bit. After a while, Emma falls asleep.
"Hey, Emma- Oh, you're asleep..." Norman smiles and gives her a hug. They stay like that for a while, Norman holding onto Emma, until he falls asleep, too.
...
"I love doing my job," Jade comments to no one as she holds her phone. "I'm sending this in the group chat..." She giggles, very childishly. "Of course, after everyone wakes up." She takes a picture of the two sleeping teenagers and opens Discord on her phone...
She sends the picture she took to all of her Discord friends that didn't know Emma or Norman... (Ace being the one exception)
"wow imagine stalking people lol" Ace sends her. "How did that even happen"
"i donno i just came here bc my brother wasnt coming home but then i saw this wHoLeSoMe mment so-"
"oh okay uh its 2am why arent you at home"
"insomnia. you?"
"insomnia but also you should wake them up what if it rains."
"i would sleep under a tree in teh rain idiot"
"well i mean they wouldnt-"
Jade closes Discord and walks out of where she was hiding and over to the tree. "Hey, wake up," she says, poking Emma. Emma blinks awake and lifts her head.
"Hi, Jade..." She greets.
"How do you feel that you fell asleep under a tree with my brother?" Jade asks.
"W-what!?" She starts blushing.
"It's two in the morning. You should go home," Jade tells her. "I'm not sure it's safe in this open space, whether you have Norman or if you don't."
"Alright..." Emma responds, quietly and tired.
...
This part has mentions of... uh, sus things-
"Hey, what's your name?" A guy asks Emma as she's walking home. "You're pretty cute."
"Thanks." Emma responds.
He puts his hand on her shoulder. "If you're single or not doesn't matter to me." He whispers, leaning in close to her ear. Her eyes widen as he grabs her.
She tries to push him away, but he's stronger and his grip is firm. She feels tears well up in her eyes. Then he lets go. She opens her eyes.
"Frick off. She's my girlfriend," someone says, holding a knife to the guy's throat.
"W-wait, uh... She was crying, and I was trying to comfort her, I swear!"
"You idiot, I saw the whole thing. I would kill you, but I'm not ending up imprisoned for murder."
The guy runs away. The other person lifts his hood.
"Norman?"
She stares, wide eyed. "You had a knife with you!?"
"No, Jade always has some. She gave me one for some reason. She's odd," Norman responds. "I'm sorry I said you were my girlfriend. I didn't realize it would be that easy to get him to leave, or at least to stop." He puts his hand on her shoulder.
"It's fine..." Emma says, her voice shaking. "Thank you!" She hugs him tight, still confused by what was happening. He returns the hug.
"I'll stay with you the rest of the way; I doubt me or Jade will be there to see what happens."
"Thanks..."
...
"Hey, Emma. Who was that kid with you?" Yugo asks Emma. "And why were you out so late? Not trying to sound overprotective, just curious."
"My friend."
"And why were you out so late?" He repeats.
"I fell asleep under a tree." It wasn't exactly a lie; she wanted to leave out the fact that she fell asleep under a tree- with a guy- and also one that most likely had interest in her.
"How was your friend out this late?" He asks, emphasizing the word friend as if he didn't believe they were only friends.
"He doesn't sleep much," she lies.
"Oh, okay. You should probably sleep."
"You too."
...
Another boring day of school, Jade thinks, lazily getting up from the couch and rubbing her eyes. wait, no. It's a Saturday... She takes her switch out of its dock and starts playing Slime Rancher. (10/10 fun game would recommend -Spoon64)
"What's for breakfast?" Ace lazily asks, waking up.
"Make it yourself. I'm fine playing Slime Rancher without breakfast," Jade replies.
"I'm terrible at that, though."
"Cool. Oh, wait! I was going to send a picture in a group chat!" She takes her phone out and sends the picture of the two teenagers sleeping under a tree. "And now we wait..." She jokes.
She watches as the friend group sends confused and accusing messages as Norman and Emma stay silent. Or maybe leave them on read. Spoon64 doesn't know how a phone works. only discord and google chat.
1101 words
the guy who tried to hurt emma is going to show up again with a gun/knife i donno i havent decided
also i love kel from omori. never fricking forget that.
ns 15.158.61.20da2