04–Makeover, Shows, Night Teases

OLIVIA

I had just finished talking to my Dad and was about going to bed when Emma knocked on the door and opened it.

I glanced up from my bed as Emma walked in, her usual spark dimmed by a heavy emotion I couldn't place. "Emma, what's going on?" I asked, concern lining my voice.

She took a deep breath and then, after a moment's hesitation, spilled the weight on her shoulders. "My mum- she called me today."

Surprise registered on my face before morphing into understanding. "Your mum? That's- unexpected. How do you feel about it?"

Emma perched on the edge of my bed, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. 'Feelin' kinda confused, I guess? It's been years, Olly, and outta the blue, she hits me up. Talking 'bout she's in a better place now, tryna sort herself out. But it's just- it's tough, you know?'

I moved from my position to sit beside her, wrapping my arms around her. "I can't even imagine, Em. That's a lot to process. How did the call make you feel?"

She sighed, her voice catching slightly. "A mix of things. Anger, sadness, hope. I don't even know if I should hope, but hearing her voice after all these years- it just brought everything back."

Placing a supportive hand on her shoulder, I reassured her, "You're allowed to feel whatever you need to feel, Emma. It's okay. And you don't have to go through this alone. I'm here for you, no matter what."

I first encountered Emma when my dad brought me to work, as he was employed by Emma's father. She appeared timid and somewhat sad, and we were both just five years old at the time. It wasn't until we turned ten that I learned about the reality of her mother's struggles.

One day, while we were hanging around at her house, her mum stumbled in, voice slurred, eyes bloodshot, and steps unsteady. Witnessing her mother in that state made me feel the weight of Emma's pain. Despite having a mother, Emma grew up in a way that mirrored growing up without one.

As Emma's emotions settled, she curled up beside me, already drifting off. I reached over and turned off the light, the room now quiet and dim. Soon enough, I closed my eyes too, ready to embrace the tranquility of the night.

°°°°°°

The next morning, I woke up to find Emma's legs across my face, a familiar occurrence that never failed to surprise me. Groaning in annoyance and fatigue, I pushed her legs a bit too forcefully, causing her to thud onto the floor just as Izzy walked in.

"Em, Olly, go get ready so we could go to Aunt's Cafe; I need some coffee," she yawned and shook her head at Em, who was groaning on the floor. I rolled my eyes at her dramatic reaction and got up to prepare.

                                        ~

Currently, Em, Izzy, and I were seated in Aunt Stella's Cafe, sipping on latte macchiatos. My phone pinged with a notification. It was a text from Matteo, I laughed at his usual stupid morning pickup line and sent a swift text back.

Still laughing, I dropped my phone and looked up to see Em and Izzy staring at me suggestively.

"It was him, wasn't it?" Izzy asked, and I rolled my eyes.

"Anyways, my mom has invited you guys over for a barbecue, along with Matt's friends and probably Dante's. But we have to go there earlier because I have to help her out. So, will you guys come with me or come later on?" Izzy asked.

"We'll come with you," I said, and she nodded.

"It wasn't even a question; you would still have ended up coming with, even if you had said no. I can kidnap," she said.

"Or Adultnap because you know we're adults," Emma added.

"Seriously," Izzy deadpanned.

"Stop playin', You know you lowkey chuckled a bit. There's no shame in admitting it," Emma almost yelled.

Izzy and I shook our heads. Picking up our bags, we stood up to leave, still giving Em fake disappointed looks.

"I hate you guys," she muttered, rolling her eyes, picking up her bag as we prepared to head out.

"Hey, how about we spice things up and treat ourselves to a revamp? I'm feeling the need for some pampering, and I bet you guys could use a break too," As we strolled down the bustling street, Izzy's eyes lit up with a mischievous glint. "

Emma raised an eyebrow. "A revamp? Seriously, Izzy?"

Izzy nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely! Think of it as a pre-barbecue transformation. Plus, I'm not ready to go home and face the boredom just yet."

"Okay then, I guess you're right,"

Izzy grinned, pulling out her phone to search for nearby places. "Awesome! Let's start with a hair salon, then maybe a spa, and then a massage. We're not going home anytime soon!"

°°°°°°

Upon entering our apartment, the warm glow of the living room welcomed us. Izzy immediately headed to the kitchen, probably in search of a snack, while Emma collapsed on the couch, looking drained from the day's emotions.

"Olly, you want anything?" Izzy called out, as I made my way to join Emma on the couch.

"Just grab some chips or something," I shouted.

I turned to Emma, who was staring blankly at the TV. "You doing okay?"

She sighed, running her fingers through her hair. "Yeah, just need a moment to process everything. I spoke to my dad about it, she also called him too, It's a lot, you know?"

I nodded in understanding. "Take all the time you need. I'm here for you always."

Izzy returned with a bowl of chips, plopping down on the couch beside us. "So, what's the plan for tonight, ladies?"

"Haven't we done enough today?" Emma laughed.

"There's nothing like too much when you're having fun, so I ask again, what's the plan for tonight?"

Emma shrugged. "I don't know, maybe just chill? Watch a show or something?"

"Grey's Anatomy! Let's start from Season 5" I blurted out.

"Absolutely!" Izzy squealed.

"You've made me watch that show 200 times, Olly," Emma groaned.

"You act like you don't enjoy it too," I laughed, playfully shoving Emma's legs to settle more comfortably into the couch.

We settled on the couch, creating a makeshift movie night setup.

Izzy snickered, "Seriously, if I were Meredith, I'd probably be so caught up in my own thoughts, I wouldn't notice George scribbling '007' on my palms."

"But it was just too heartbreaking, I'd be genuinely traumatized," Emma shared, and both of them turned to me, expecting a response, while I was silently bawling.

"You've got to be kidding me; you've seen this show a gazillion times, and yet you still get emotional."

"Oh dio mio" Izzy laughed.

"Shut up and watch the damn show," I sniffled, wiping away the tears with my sleeves. They both laughed but turned to continue.

°°°°°°

Later into the night, as the credits rolled for Season 6, Episode 8, Izzy checked her phone. "Well, it's getting late. We should probably call it a night."

Emma yawned, stretching her arms. "Yeah, I'm pretty tired too."

Feeling the fatigue settling in, I stifled a yawn.

"Alright, guys, it's been a great night. Goodnight," I said, heading upstairs.

I plopped onto my bed, feeling the comforting embrace of exhaustion, and almost immediately, I succumbed to a night of deep and peaceful sleep.