emerson pov... idk about this text below Stacie comes inside Mom’s room to see her after we’re done talking, and Quinn and I go back out to the waiting room while our moms chat. “You’re really quiet…” Quinn hums, crossing their legs over one another as xe sit. “Everything okay, Em?” I shrug, fidgeting with the zipper of my jacket. It’s cold in here. “Did you know?” I ask. “Why my mom was working so much?” Quinn’s brow wrinkles a bit. “No. Why would I?” My voice falters when I start to speak again. “Did– did you know about the whole moving thing, then?” I try. Quinn twists a curl around their finger absent-mindedly. “I did… Well– Mom said you and Emilie might be moving with us soon– that’s all I heard.” My jaw tightens. “And how long have you known?” Quinn shrugs. “Maybe a few weeks? I don’t remember.” How come Quinn knew we were moving way before I did?? Why doesn’t Mom tell me stuff? First, the fact that she had a girlfriend in the first place, and now this? It feels like too much. Everything’s been too much, lately… “Why do you look so sad?” Quinn asks, gently nudging me. I just shrug again. I don’t know what I’m feeling right now. I stand up abruptly, tired of sitting around and doing nothing. “Wanna find a vending machine and get something?” I ask, glancing around. Quinn laughs. “Sure.” We head down a few random hallways– most of which we probably should /not/ have been down– before we run into that same familiar doctor from before. “You two can’t be in this hallway. Are you looking for something?” He asks. I smile nervously. “Do you know where a vending machine is?” The man gives us a friendly smile. “You just missed it,” he says. “It’s in the hall by the bathrooms– take two lefts and you’ll see it.” “Thank you,” Quinn says, grabbing my hand. “Of course,” the doctor says, smile widening. His badge reads “Dr. Benjamin Lieu” on it– isn’t that Kaden’s last name? I should be turning with Quinn to leave, but I can’t stop myself from awkwardly blurting out, “Are you Kaden’s dad?” Dr. Lieu grins warmly. “You know my son?” He asks. Quinn looks at me with wide eyes like they’ve just realized the similarity, too. “We all know each other from school” I explain. “We’re in the same friend group.” “It’s a small world, huh?” Kaden’s dad hums. “He’s actually here in my office right now, waiting for my husband to come pick him up. If you two aren’t busy, I think he’d love to see you two.” Quinn and I glance at each other, then nod. Sure, why not? We don’t have anywhere to be, really. Mom has to stay here overnight, anyway. Kaden’s sitting in his dad’s office chair, scrolling aimlessly on his phone when we walk in. Dr. Lieu knocks on the door. “Hey, I brought you some company,” He says cheerfully. Kaden looks up, eyes widening. “Woah– what are you guys doing here–? Is everything okay?” “My mom sort of collapsed earlier,” I tell him. “She’s fine– but that’s why we’re at the hospital in the first place. We ran into your dad, and… yeah, now we’re here.” Kaden sets down his phone, motioning us inside. “You guys can hang out for a bit, right? Please come in. I’m /so/ bored.” Quinn and I both laugh, heading over as Kaden consolidates the chairs in the room to form somewhat of a circle. “Yeah, they’re keeping my mom here overnight, so we’ll be here for a while,” I tell him, sitting down. “Have fun, alright? I should get back,” Dr. Lieu says from the doorway. “Okay. Love you!” Kaden says with a wave. “So,” Quinn says when Dr. Lieu closes the door behind him. “I have an important question for you…” Kaden gulps dramatically. “And what might be?” he asks. “Do you happen to have a romantic interest in anyone with blonde hair, hazel eyes, approximately 65 freckles, and a height under 5’3?” “It’s more like 42 freckles,” Kaden corrects coolly like it’s common knowledge. “Maybe 43 if you count the little beauty mark under his left eye. Quinn and I burst out laughing. “You actually counted!?” Quinn gasps through their laughter. Kaden shrugs. “Hey, it’s not my fault that he’s nice to look at! Anyway, why do you ask..? Is it obvious?” I shake my head in amusement. “I’m pretty sure it’s obvious to everyone /but/ Tristan.” I tell him– Kaden’s cheeks flush a deep pink. “Well, damn...” He mumbles, embarrassed. “Do you guys know if he… um… likes guys?” Quinn and I share a look for a moment. the text was too long so it's continued in the notes and credits, below the links vvv just scroll
previous: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1324598228/ next: working on it! first: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/790829923/ studio, all chapters located here: https://scratch.mit.edu/studios/34757183 characters: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1183386396/ continued text below “I would say so, yes.” Quinn delivers. Kaden looks suspicious, but he mumbles an “Okay…” “Hey, if you like him so much, why have you been ignoring him– and why didn’t you bring him lunch, either??” I ask. Kaden laughs sheepishly. “About that… I’m mad at him– er, I’m supposed to be…” He tells us. Quinn raises an eyebrow. I just stare. “I thought if I ignored him he might actually try to talk to me about… You know…” I sigh, thinking back to what Tristan told me at recess, and how weird the two of them have been acting lately. “Well, I thought he would talk to me about it today at recess, but he didn’t even say anything,” Kaden continued. “Wait– I’m missing something,” Quinn says, leaning forward inquisitively. “What happened? What’s Tristan supposed to talk to you about?” Kaden visibly flushes. “Oh you know…. He kissed me the other day… nothing crazy.” Quinn’s jaw drops. “Seriously?? Why would he do that and not say anything? And if that happened, why’d you ask us if he likes guys?” Kaden rubs the back of his neck. “Well, I mean, people do things they don’t mean sometimes… And it was kind of my fault for standing so close to him with my hands on his face… Who /wouldn’t/ be compelled to kiss me at that moment?” Quinn snorts, and I let out a breathy laugh. “Right, so, why exactly were you doing that in the first place..?” I ask. “It was after he’d started crying at lunch.. He’s splashed water on his face in the bathroom and I helped him wipe his face off with a paper towel..” Kaden had a dreamy look on his eyes for a moment, which was quickly replaced by a frown. “I just wish he would tell me why. I don’t want to get my hopes up thinking he likes me and wants to date me, you know?” Quinn and I share a look, then nod. “That makes sense,” I hum. “You should try to talk to him again next week.. He already looks so sad,” Quinn says. Kaden sighs. “I know… I’ll just see what happens on Monday, I guess…”
