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Post by meg_cahill21 on Nov 13, 2012 6:53:05 GMT -5
loved how keith and phoebe opened up to each other...and cant wait to see how the plan works out...update soon!
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Post by celticbear on Nov 13, 2012 23:47:58 GMT -5
Keith and Phoebe talking to each other was fun to read! And I agree with Emmet, this little scheme of Phoebe's involving her and Keith is going to backfire! Wonder whose house Emmet just entered!
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Post by GalwayGirl on Nov 14, 2012 1:27:00 GMT -5
Loved the last two updates!!! Phoebe's and Keith's plot is definitely going to be interesting!! But somehow I think that if it backfires that it will be in an unexpected direction. LOL Update again when you can!
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Post by HburgEagle44 on Nov 14, 2012 1:32:08 GMT -5
Hope you all enjoy this update! (I know, I say that every time, don't I?) Thank you all for reading this, I really love this story... lol. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Emmet?” he heard a startled voice say. “Is that Emmet?”
“Mum?” he asked. “Mum, it’s me, it’s Emmet.”
Emmet’s mom came out from another room. She was smiling incredulously. “Emmet! I didn’t expect you! What are you doing here?”
He smiled and shrugged. “I don’t know. I just decided to come home, I guess.” He smiled at his brother who had just appeared in the front hall. “Hey, Aaron, what’s up, man?”
Aaron looked startled. “Hey, what are you doing here?”
“Oh, just visiting the family, you know how it is,” Emmet smiled. “How are you guys?”
“We’re great,” said Mrs. Cahill. She smiled happily. “I’m so glad you decided to come by. Is everything going all right for you?”
“Of course, Mum. Why wouldn’t it?” Emmet asked in surprise.
“Oh, you know, just… you just got back from tour, and I know that it’s hard to go from such strenuous moving around to being stable and going nowhere.” She smiled. “Do you want anything to eat? Or some tea?”
“No,” he said before thinking better of it. “Tea would be lovely, actually. But really, all I wanted to do was come hang out with my family.”
“That’s sweet,” Mrs. Cahill said, smiling at the thought. “But you should have called. I don’t have anything ready or…”
“It’s all right, Mum,” Emmet said, smiling slightly. “You don’t have to have anything ready. So, Aaron.” He slapped his brother on the back. “What do you want for Christmas?”
Aaron glared at him a little bit. “It’s two weeks until Christmas.”
“That’s right. That’s why I’m asking now instead of in two weeks.” Emmet grinned. “I’ve been looking for presents, honestly. Everywhere we went in America, I looked. But I don’t know what to get you, really. You never want anything.”
Aaron shrugged. “That’s right. I never want anything. So…you could just get me… I don’t know.” He sighed. “I never know.”
“Exactly,” Emmet muttered. “I’ll think of something.”
Mrs. Cahill smiled ruefully and turned back around, towards the direction she came from.
“Wait, Mum,” Emmet interrupted her exit. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course,” she said in surprise.
Aaron turned to leave, but Emmet stopped him, touching his arm. “I want to ask you, too. You might have some ideas.”
Leading his family members into the sitting room, Emmet sat down. The two sat down, following his example, and waited. “So, I have a dilemma, and I thought you could help.”
“We’re always here to help.” Mrs. Cahill glanced at Aaron. “At least, I am.”
Aaron grinned and just shook his head in amusement.
“Okay, well, see, there’s this girl that Rebecca introduced me to. Her name’s Phoebe, and she and I hit it off. I thought we were becoming really good friends.” Emmet paused. “She showed me a really amazing piano shop and we hung out there.”
“Okay,” Aaron said. Mrs. Cahill waited.
“Well, then I found out that Becca really wants us to get together. Phoebe found out, too, and to avoid that, she asked Keith to pretend that they were going out.” Emmet ran a hand through his hair. “Now, I wouldn’t want to rush into a relationship so fast, you know that, but it kinda hit my self-esteem. And to make things worse, Keith agreed! And so now, I know that Phoebe and Keith are faking this relationship to get Phoebe out of being my girl, and I get let in on all of the secrets, and Rebecca’s going to go crazy. And I have no clue what to do.” He paused, flushed and embarrassed.
Mrs. Cahill sighed. “You will always be children to me, you know that?” Emmet and Aaron nodded ruefully. “And stories like this just prove that point.” She laughed suddenly. “I am reminded of the time when I was in my first year of secondary school and the boy I was crushing on found out that I liked him. And so, he started a fake relationship with a girl who I found out later was his cousin. Crazy.”
Emmet just sighed. “Mum, what I need is advice on what to do.”
“What you need to do,” Aaron interjected, “is sit Phoebe and Keith down together and just tell them what you really think about this. Who told you of these plans?”
“Well, Keith. Rather bluntly.” Emmet frowned at the memory.
“Well, get Keith and Phoebe together and tell them that they’re kind of hurting your feelings and they just need to be honest with Rebecca. That’s the way a truly honest person would do it.” Aaron paused. “And plus, even if you don’t like this girl, that doesn’t mean you can’t hang out with her. Just please Rebecca a little bit.”
Emmet nodded slowly, thinking that over. “Aaron… I do believe you got it down perfectly.” He smiled. “I’m kind of nervous to talk to them, though, to tell the truth. Phoebe is a rather feisty nerd who knows her own mind and sticks to it. And then, Keith just wants to feed his artistic talent. He’s excited to act the part of Phoebe’s boyfriend. But I will tell them.” He said the last sentence, lacking conviction.
Mrs. Cahill smiled reassuringly. “Good. Now that that’s settled, do either of you want something to eat?”
Both of her boys nodded and she laughed. “I thought so. Let’s go in the kitchen. I can make something really fast. Emmet, you look famished.”
“Keith keeps eating all my food,” Emmet complained.
“But you keep letting him,” Aaron pointed out. “So that’s partly your fault.”
Emmet lunged at him and soon there was a race throughout the whole house, with Emmet trailing just slightly, not able to keep up with the younger brother.
Mrs. Cahill just smiled in amusement and made her famous stroganoff. “They’ll never grow up,” she said to herself in a content tone.
By the time both of the boys had settled down, they were both sweating and breathing heavily. “By the way, Emmet,” Aaron said, talking in between breaths, “for Christmas, I want a plasma screen TV with Halo 4, when it comes out.”
Emmet just laughed. “You’re so very funny.”
“It was worth a shot,” Aaron shrugged, settling down to eat his food.
“Keith, can I see you at my house in about thirty minutes?” Emmet texted Keith nervously.
“K,” he received a few minutes later. Emmet just rolled his eyes and texted Phoebe, asking the same thing.
“No problem. I’ll see you then. Just one question. Where do you live?”
Emmet laughed and gave her directions before settling down to wait. When the bell rang, he jumped up and answered the door to find Phoebe standing there. “Hey,” he said, letting her in. “Thanks for coming.”
She walked in and made herself at home fairly easily. “So, what’s up, Emmet?”
“I’m going to wait until Keith gets here,” Emmet said.
Her eyebrows shot up. “Keith is coming?” She looked a little flustered.
“You can cut the act,” Emmet said, sounding a little more harsh than he meant to. “I already know about the fake relationship. Keith sucks at holding his tongue.”
“Well, that makes two of us,” Phoebe said dryly. “I’m glad I’m not the only one.”
Emmet grinned slightly. “Well, here he is,” he said, glancing out the window and seeing the familiar beetle parking out front.
Keith came in without knocking and stopped suddenly at seeing Phoebe. “Hey,” he said in confusion. “What’s up, guys?”
“I have to talk to you two,” Emmet said. “Sit down, Keith.”
Keith just plopped down on the floor and spread out until he was comfortable.
Emmet rolled his eyes. “So, guys…” he bit his lip. “I was talking with my mum and my brother yesterday.”
“Yeah?” Keith asked. He looked bored.
He gave a huge sigh and counted to ten, easing his nerves. “So, the whole fake relationship thing… I don’t think it is a good idea.” He paused.
“That’s what you insinuated yesterday,” Keith said.
Keith knows the word insinuated? Phoebe thought, amazed.
“Why do you think it’s bad?” Keith pushed.
“Well, you see, one: it will make Rebecca so mad you will die. Two: I don’t think it’s honest. And three…” Emmet hesitated. “Well, it hurts me, honestly.”
“It hurts you?” Phoebe asked. She looked shocked. “I didn’t…”
“Well.” Emmet cleared his throat. “It’s hard to think that because you didn’t want to go out with me so desperately, you settled for Keith.”
“Hey!” Keith exclaimed.
“Well, I was just… choosing the easy way out,” Phoebe said uncomfortably. “And it’s not that I don’t like you or anything. I enjoyed the time we spent at the piano shop together. But I’m not going to be pushed into a relationship I don’t need. That’s why I faked a relationship with Keith, because Rebecca would hate it and would leave me alone. She thinks Keith is a disgusting boy, anyway.”
“Excuse me?” Keith asked, glancing from one to another.
“But if you really don’t think that it’s a good idea…” Phoebe bit her lip. “Keith, we should break up, I guess. I didn't really want it, anyway,” she confided. "I just did it as a last-ditch effort."
“Wow. I didn’t think you would be convinced so easily.” Emmet looked impressed at himself. “I had a huge list of other reasons why you shouldn’t fake the relationship.”
Keith looked confused. “Wait, Phoebe, you’re breaking up with me?”
“Keith, I know you think you’re a world class actor with a chance at the Oscar, but you should cut it, okay?” Phoebe said, smirking a little. “Seriously.”
Keith laughed. “Okay.” He turned to Emmet. “So, Emmet, what exactly hurt you the most about the relationship?”
Emmet frowned at him to shut up. “Just the… whole general idea.”
“Liar,” Keith muttered. “Sure, just the whole general idea. I bet it was the fact that Phoebe didn’t like you.”
“Don’t act like an infant, please,” Emmet begged him.
Laughing, Keith threw his hands up in the air. “Okay, I promise, I will stop.”
“Thank you,” Phoebe and Emmet chorused.
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Post by GalwayGirl on Nov 14, 2012 1:48:59 GMT -5
Keith is such a HAM! hahaha Anyway, loved the update! So cute of Emmet going to ask and get advice from his family on what to do. Glad Emmet was honest about how he felt with Phoebe and Keith, and that they took it so well! Hopefully they will find a better way to smooth things over with Becca to make it not stressful for Em and Phoebe.
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Post by meg_cahill21 on Nov 14, 2012 6:29:18 GMT -5
that was funny and cute all in one...love aaron, he was funny! and when phoebe questioned if keith knew what insinuated was i laughed...that was funny...update soon!
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Nov 14, 2012 8:58:04 GMT -5
I'm glad that Emmet came clean and let them know how he felt. Poor lad...I hope everything works out well.
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Post by celticbear on Nov 14, 2012 14:31:05 GMT -5
Love Emmet's family! So glad both Keith and Phoebe listened to Emmet! And their whole Scheme of dating went down the drain!
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Post by HburgEagle44 on Nov 20, 2012 1:35:13 GMT -5
Sorry for not updating for a few days, I just had a little bit of editing and stuff to do... lol. :) Here y'all go! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- “So, heartbreaker,” Keith continued (whether he was talking to Phoebe or Emmet, nobody knows), “let’s go to this fabled piano shop of yours.” He smiled encouragingly. “I really want to see it. I want to know what’s so magical about it.”
Phoebe glanced at Emmet. “Um… okay, Keith. We’ll take you to the piano shop. But you have to promise me something first.” She leaned forward in her chair.
“Sure, Pheebs, anything.”
“Promise me that you’ll be respectful and that you will love the shop. You won’t just be in the shop, but you will be a part of it.”
“What?” Keith asked incredulously. “Emmet, does that sound crazy to you?”
Emmet shook his head. “I know exactly what she means. You’ll understand when you get there. Just promise it. I know you’ll do it.”
Keith nodded slowly. “Okay. I promise.”
Phoebe jumped up. “Great! Keith, we’re taking your car.”
They all headed out. “To the mall,” Keith exclaimed, putting the car in reverse and shooting backwards.
Phoebe squealed a little and touched her heart. “Keith!” she exclaimed.
“You thought that was bad?” Emmet asked, surprised. “I guess you’ll have a heart attack by the end of this ride.”
She didn’t look too pleased about the prospect, and buckled securely.
“Yee-haw!” Keith yelled, shooting the car forward at a reckless speed.
“Keith, you’re going, like, fifteen miles over the speed limit,” Phoebe exclaimed.
“Emmet’s street is quiet,” Keith said in surprise. “You can do that here.”
Phoebe didn’t reply. A few minutes later, she shrieked and Keith glanced behind him. “What?” he demanded.
“You just plowed your way through a speed bump, Keith!” she exclaimed. “We could have totally disarranged your car’s structure! And then where would you be? Without a working car!”
“I’d just fix it,” he said happily.
Emmet nodded and rolled his eyes. “He would.”
“Emmet, I want to thank you,” Phoebe said a few minutes later. Keith had just rolled, very quickly, through a stop sign.
“Thank me for what?” Emmet asked, surprised.
“For getting me out of this relationship,” Phoebe said, her heart stopping momentarily as they went whipping around a corner.
Emmet laughed softly. “No problem, Phoebe. No problem…”
Phoebe glanced at him and Emmet wondered what was going on in her head. Her eyes were reserved and she looked contemplative.
“So, lover boy,” Keith said.
“Lover boy?” Emmet demanded. “Who’s lover boy?”
“Obviously you,” Keith replied. “Obviously. So, lover boy, what part of the center is this piano shop at? So I can park next to it, you know. I hate walking,” he told Phoebe.
“Why am I… never mind,” Emmet said, shaking his head in disgust. “In the back.”
Keith pulled around back, rather quickly and without regard for the three bodies in the car, and parked with a sudden, screeching halt. He grinned at Phoebe in the back seat, her face very pale. “That’s the way to drive a bug. You should try it some time.”
“No, no… no thank you,” Phoebe said, smiling bravely.
Emmet let her out, popping the seat forward. Phoebe jumped out and he slammed the door so it would latch.
“Lock it!” Keith yelled, walking away towards the mall without looking back.
Emmet opened the door again and locked the door before looking at Phoebe and rolling his eyes. She laughed and followed Keith.
Smiling, Emmet watched her catch up to Keith. He trailed behind and just thought, remembering the time a few weeks before when he had been there. He was amazed that it had only been a few weeks. I wonder if Mr. Gregor will be there, he suddenly realized. Because if he’s not, the shop won’t be open.
But Mr. Gregor, Emmet soon found out as they walked into the shop, was there, and the shop was open.
“Mr. Cahill!” Mr. Gregor said, rushing forward to shake his hand. “It is so good to see you again! And Miss McCurdy, of course, how wonderful to have you back. And who are you?” Mr. Gregor smiled hospitably. “Any friend of these two is a friend of mine.”
“My name is Keith Harkin,” Keith responded, smiling at the friendly little man.
“Ah, Mr. Harkin. I will remember. And do you play the piano as well?”
Keith shook his head vehemently. “No, no, sir, I play the guitar and that is it.”
“It is a shame,” Mr. Gregor said and Keith looked disconcerted. “But that is fine. Mr. Cahill may play the piano for us. He has magic in his fingers.”
Emmet was struck by the thought and wondered if he did. He knew certain people who did. Neil does on the guitar, he thought. But me?
“Will you play?” Phoebe asked Emmet, her eyes begging him to. “Please.”
Not fair, Emmet grumbled to himself. How do I refuse those eyes? Those huge eyes, hidden by the glasses. He smiled at her. “Of course.” He sat down at a huge, black grand piano and thought.
“Play that one that you were freaking out about,” Keith said. “The one from a few days ago. The river one.”
“River Flows In You?” Emmet asked, biting his lip. “I haven’t perfected it yet.”
“You can play River Flows In You?” demanded someone in the shop who Emmet hadn’t met. “That’s a gorgeous song! That’s next on my list. Please play it.” He smiled encouragingly.
“Outnumbered,” Keith crowed. “And Phoebe wants it, too, she’s just took shy to say so.”
Emmet glanced at Phoebe quickly but her eyes were down. He sighed and said, “All right, but just for Phoebe.” Placing his hands over the keys, he shut his eyes and played the first strain flawlessly. This gave him new courage and soon he had played the whole song. With emotion. With eyes closed. New song is in order, he told himself, very pleased.
Keith touched his shoulder. “Emmet, mate, you know piano isn’t really my thing, but with that piano, and that song, you almost convince me to learn.”
Emmet grinned. “Well, you know, I could—”
“Almost. Look it up.” Keith laughed and Emmet soon joined in the laughter.
Mr. Gregor pushed himself forward amidst the laughter and reached down, grabbing Emmet’s hand and shaking it vehemently. “You are amazing!” he declared. “I love when you play. You must come more often.” He smiled and walked off to the back to find more coffee, presumably.
Emmet smiled and looked around. The people had started to filter away and he was glad. He glanced up at Phoebe, but she was talking to someone. The light in her eyes surprised Emmet. I wonder who that is, he thought, watching the way her eyes lit up when she answered a question that the guy put to her.
Phoebe glanced around and smiled at Emmet, waving him over. “Emmet, this is Daniel,” she said proudly.
“Hi,” Emmet said, shaking the offered hand. “I’m Emmet.”
“Daniel,” the guy responded. “So, you’re the guy who just played. That was River Flows In You, right?”
Emmet nodded eagerly. “Yes! I started working on it a couple of weeks ago and was nervous to play it, but Keith,” he motioned behind himself, “forced me into it.”
“I know the feeling,” Daniel said ruefully. “When I first started hanging out here a long time ago, I only knew The Entertainer, Heart and Soul, and Phantom of the Opera. I hid that fact for a long time, though, and played Phantom the first time I came here and then refused to play for a while. Slowly, I learned songs so I wouldn’t be embarrassed, and then one time I came here, and my sister, who showed me this place, pushed me into playing the song I had been learning. It was nerve wrecking, but I did it.” He grinned. “And I was invited back.”
“What did you play?” Emmet asked, genuinely interested.
“Sunrise, by Doug Hammer. Do you know it?”
Emmet shook his head. “I’ll have to look it up.” He made a note of it on his phone quickly and then looked up. “So, how long have you guys known each other?”
“Since Phoebe started coming here,” Daniel said. “A while ago. But then she stopped.”
Phoebe flushed. “Well, you know. Life happens.”
“It certainly does,” Daniel agreed. A sudden ringing from his pocket made him jump and Emmet had to stifle a laugh. Daniel chuckled softly before pulling out his phone and glancing at the caller ID. “Oh, I have to take this. Wish me luck! It’s about a job.” He nodded at Phoebe and smiled at Emmet before going to the other side of the toom.
Phoebe’s eyes followed him. “I hope he gets the job. I know he’s had a really hard time recently.” She paused before saying softly to Emmet, “It was hard for him when his mom passed away, and now that his brother is living in America, he really has nobody to go to. And he can’t go to school because he doesn’t have the money and they won’t loan him any. I’m not sure why…”
Emmet stared after the retreating young man. “That is so sad,” he said. And with a start, he realized he meant it.
“Yes. It is.” Phoebe and Emmet stood in silence for a bit before a hand clapped down on both of their shoulders.
“So, guys,” Keith drawled, “I’m going to head on back. There seems to be an odor coming from the back room, and it seems to be a familiar odor… so I am going to investigate.”
“Bye, Keith,” they chorused before laughing.
He gave them a look before walking away towards the coffee and cookie smell.
Phoebe smiled. “That really was beautiful, Emmet.”
“What was?” Emmet asked, lost in thought. “Oh! The song. Thank you.” He smiled. “I’ve been working on it for a while.”
“How long?” Phoebe asked, tilting her head to the side.
“Oh… since I met you, actually,” he said in surprise. “I had been meaning to learn it for a while but I just never got around to it until a little bit after I met you. The piano shop sparked my interest, I must admit.” Smiling, he added, “And also, it just reminded me of you.”
“What does that mean?” Phoebe asked suspiciously. “What is the song about?”
“It doesn’t have lyrics,” Emmet waved that aside. “So I have no idea what the song’s about.”
“Oh.” Phoebe was silent for a second. “What does that mean, then?”
“Just…” Emmet paused. “Just how small and quiet you look on the outside, but how there’s so much more to you.” He smiled a little. “Keith told me a little bit about your ‘honest’ conversation.”
“Can any of your friends keep a secret?” Phoebe demanded. “Including me!”
“No,” Emmet said decidedly. “Not even Rebecca, as much as she wants to pretend she can. She has spilled many a secret in her time, especially under the influence of alcohol.”
“Good to know,” Phoebe said, tucking that away. “Just for future reference, you know,” she added as Emmet grinned.
“Hey… I didn’t say anything!” he protested, throwing up his hands and laughing.
Phoebe started to say something but shut her mouth again and looked away quickly. Emmet caught the expression on her face just before she turned and asked, “What? What’s… Phoebe…”
Phoebe was laughing but shook her head. “Nothing. I swear. Nothing.”
“What—” Emmet jumped as he felt two hands fall on his shoulders, scaring him half to death. “Who on…” He whipped his head around and grinned. “Becca!” he exclaimed. “What are you doing here?” He looked over. “Hi, David!” he smiled. “Nice to see you again.”
David grinned and glanced around again. “This place is amazing. So homey. And Christmasy.”
Rebecca smiled and linked her arm through David’s. “I love this place. So much atmosphere, and just a spirit of communal pianist time.”
David looked slightly confused but smiled. “Yes, I know what you mean.”
“You do?” Rebecca asked, teasing him slightly. “I highly doubt that.”
“I do play an instrument,” he started.
“If it’s a guitar, it doesn’t count,” Phoebe interjected.
“Neil would die if he heard you say that,” Emmet put in quickly.
“So would my brother, I think,” Rebecca nodded. “Speaking of him, I haven’t seen Keith in a while. Do you guys know what he’s up to?”
“He’s in the back,” Emmet said, jerking his thumb backwards.
Rebecca looked scared all of a sudden. “What?! Emmet… I haven’t…” She stopped and bit her lip.
“He knows,” Emmet said, trying to soothe her. He should have known that it would only make things worse.
Rebecca grabbed Emmet’s arm and led him away, her face burning red and yet nervous. “Emmet Cahill. Who told Keith that I have a boyfriend?”
Emmet shrugged. “How should I know?” He tried to walk away, but Rebecca wouldn’t let him.
“Look, I know you have this thing with Phoebe, but seriously? You can’t shield her like that. It was her, wasn’t it?” She gave a huge sigh. “Oh well. How did he take it? Please say he isn’t mad.”
“I don’t think it was Phoebe, actually,” Emmet mused. “Keith’s actually smart. You just don’t give him credit. And, well, he was relieved that you didn’t have any chronic illnesses. He thought you did.” He paused. “And I do not have a thing with Phoebe.” That theme was really starting to irritate him.
“Oh, right,” Rebecca said dryly. “Because the fact that she and Keith were going to pretend to have a relationship didn’t bother you at all.” At Emmet’s surprised look, she drew herself up to her full height and said as haughtily as possible, “I know things, too. And besides, I didn’t want Keith to know until the proper time.”
“Which would be the day before your wedding,” Emmet supplied. “Got it. Sorry. Too bad those plans fell through for you.” He rolled his eyes. “Becca, you have to face reality.”
Phoebe came over and looked at them expectantly. “Guys, David and I are worried that you’re going to kill each other soon. Stop fighting like an old married couple.”
Rebecca stuck her tongue out and, glaring at Emmet for a moment, walked back over to join the other two. Emmet just rolled his eyes again and thought. Do I like Phoebe? He wondered. That would actually explain a little. And maybe, just maybe, Rebecca was right… maybe there were sparks. He blew out a deep breath and bit his lip. “Impossible,” he muttered before joining the other three.
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Post by meg_cahill21 on Nov 20, 2012 7:40:52 GMT -5
i love this! update soon!
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Nov 20, 2012 9:29:59 GMT -5
Hehehe....very cute!
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Post by celticbear on Nov 20, 2012 19:56:15 GMT -5
Love this update! Mr. Harkin's Wild ride to the mall! What happened in the piano shop was priceless! Can't wait to see what happens when Keith meets David!
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Post by HburgEagle44 on Dec 11, 2012 3:40:32 GMT -5
So, I guess there's a bit of a time jump. Christmas! Who doesn't love it? Please read and respond :) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Emmet woke up with a jerk, slamming his head into his headboard. He groaned and glanced at his clock. 6:19. “Why am I up?” he muttered to himself before noticing that his phone was lit. He looked at it and realized that he had gotten a text. From Colm.
“Happy Christmas, mate!” it said, and Emmet smiled. It was Christmas. What a beautiful feeling that always was.
He texted back, “Happy Christmas! Just going to sleep now?”
“No,” Colm said. “Just getting up. It’s Christmas morning!”
Emmet sat up in shock and stared at his phone before calling Colm. “You’re getting up right now?” he demanded.
“Sure,” Colm declared. “I always get up early on Christmas. Don’t you?”
“I just went to bed a few hours ago,” Emmet said. “I need to sleep just a little bit more.”
“I just went to bed about three hours ago,” Colm stated. “It’s no big deal. There’s so much energy on Christmas with my family. Are you going to your family’s?”
“Yeah, at about ten this morning,” Emmet grinned at the thought. “It’s way too early to go hang out with my family. Nobody will be up.”
“Why did you call me, then? Why did you even respond to my text?”
“It’s rude to not answer,” Emmet said in surprise. “I mean, I didn’t really think about it… I just couldn’t believe that you’re already up.”
“Oh.” Colm chuckled slightly. “Well, have a very happy Christmas, mate. You’re having Christmas with the Harkins tonight, right? After you spend time with your own family.”
“Yeah.” Emmet smiled. “That’s bound to be crazy. They’re inviting everyone and anyone.”
“Oh, goodness,” Colm laughed. “I’m glad I can’t go, then.” There was a shout for Colm and Emmet heard him say distantly, “I’m coming!” Then, more clearly, Colm said, “Look, Em, I have to go. It was nice to talk to you. It’s been weird, not talking to you for almost a month. But Mark is really pushing to open presents, and to tell the truth, I’m excited too.”
Emmet laughed. “Oh, go spend time with your family. I’m super tired. Happy Christmas.” He hung up and lay down, closing his eyes and sighing.
After a few minutes, Emmet’s eyes popped open and he frowned. He couldn’t sleep. So he let his mind wander, thinking about the upcoming day and how many parties he was invited to. He thought about all the presents he had bought and wrapped and counted in his head, making sure he had one for everyone. Aaron, check. Mum and Pops, check. Keith, check. Becca, of course… he had spent hours searching for her present. Phoebe, check. Phoebe. He frowned as he thought of her. He knew she would be there because, surprisingly, she and Rebecca hadn’t had a falling out. He wouldn’t have thought that those two, with their very different personalities, could have remained so close for so long. He shook his head and went back to Christmas presents.
Granny, of course. He smiled as he thought of his grandmother, her wise little sayings and sharp wit. And Aunt Danielle. He paused. I really hope she likes it… it’s rather hard to find a gift for her.
As he counted in his head, he found himself slowly drifting… off… to sleep… And then he was peaceful.
Emmet jerked awake again, hitting his head for the second time that day. He ruefully made a note to get a different headboard before looking at his phone. “Shut up,” he muttered, picking it up. It was Aaron. “Hello?” he asked groggily.
“Hey, Emmet! Guess what? You have to be here in ten minutes, and I bet you’re not up yet, are you?” Emmet heard Aaron’s deep voice berating him.
“Oh, is it that time already?” Emmet asked, jumping out of bed and whipping around his room, getting ready, gathering presents, running his hands through his hair quickly. “I’m sorry! I swear, I’m on my way!”
“If I have to wait to open my presents,” Aaron threatened him before laughing. “I didn’t think you were up. I’m glad I checked.”
Emmet rushed around like a hurricane, getting everything set and into his car before whipping out of his driveway. He roared along the highway which was surprisingly clear and got to his parents’ house in twelve minutes. Slowing down to a discreet speed as he got really close, he entered their driveway and unloaded the stuff quickly, rushing up to the door. He kicked the door with his foot, since he couldn’t free either of his hands.
The door opened quickly. His granny stood there, smiling. “Why, Emmet. So nice of you to show up.”
“Hi, Granny,” Emmet said warmly. “It’s nice to see you, too.”
He was admitted and everyone made fun of him for being late. Emmet took it all good-naturedly and just accepted it. “Sure, sure. Let’s have present time, yeah?” It’s so good to be home.
Emmet sat at home, staring at his new sheet music. He started fingering on his leg. “Dum daaaa,” he muttered. “Dum daaaa dit…” He paused and glanced up, not really looking at anything, just thinking. “No, that would be… Hmm.”
There was a knock at his door and Emmet went over to answer it. “Hey,” he said in surprise. He leaned against the door frame, trying to act cool, but then thought against it. “Long time no see.”
Phoebe grinned at him. “What are you doing?” she asked.
“Oh, just learning a new song. My Granny got me some sheet music for Christmas. She knows me too well,” he confided in her. “Why?”
“Well, I’m heading out to the Harkins’ house and I was wondering if you needed a lift.” Phoebe shrugged. “Honestly, though, it’s about two hours until the party, but I’m bored.”
“How can you be bored?” Emmet demanded. “It’s Christmas! Spend time with your family, it’s the best.”
“My mom and dad work on Christmas,” Phoebe said, her face clouding over a little. “So… I haven’t seen them at all today.”
Emmet tried to wrap that around his head. “They work on Christmas?”
“Yeah, my dad’s a bio engineer and my mom’s a nurse,” she explained. “And if they work today, they get double the salary they would any other day. They do this every year.”
“Wow,” Emmet said in surprise. “So, why haven’t you gone to the Harkins’ house yet?”
“Well, you know,” she said uncomfortably. “They… can I come in?”
Emmet laughed. “Sure.”
They went to sit down in Emmet’s sitting room. “So, my excuse… I haven’t seen you for two weeks, ever since we took that wild ride to the shop, and besides, the Harkins are doing actual family stuff right now. The party is later.”
“So you miss me?” Emmet asked, cocking an eyebrow.
She couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, Emmet. I miss you.”
“That’s nice,” Emmet said, trying to sound absentminded. His brain, on the other hand, was racing. What am I supposed to say? Should I be flattered? Is that… what does that mean? He thought for a moment before asking, “So, what do you want to do the most for Christmas?”
She frowned. “I guess I just want family atmosphere. I’ve never had that – not on Christmas or on Christmas Eve.”
“I can do family atmosphere!” Emmet exclaimed. “Never fear, Emmet’s here!”
“Okay,” she said.
“Okay,” Emmet answered.
They sat in an awkward silence for a while.
“Is this family atmosphere?” Phoebe asked.
“No. Most definitely not. Unless you are with Ryan’s family. Do they make everything awkward or what!” Emmet dramatized the moment and was rewarded with a giggle. “So, while you’re here, how about I give you the present I got for you?”
“You got me a present?” Phoebe asked in surprise.
“Of course I did! I knew I would see you at Keith’s so I just wanted to get you something,” Emmet said, getting up and walking into his room to get the present. He took a little bit of time to find it in all the wrapping from the morning and finally discovered the package with Phoebe’s name on it. He walked back out to find her standing at the walls, looking at the pictures.
“What’s up?” he asked.
She pointed. “Look at you.” Shaking her head, she commented, “You look so happy.”
Emmet glanced at the picture she was looking at. “Yeah,” he said softly. Pointing, he said, “That’s Aaron. My brother.”
“I figured,” she laughed. “I mean, you look exactly like each other.”
Emmet recoiled. “We do not!”
“You do, too! Is that my present?” she asked, spying the wrapped package in his hand.
“Yeah,” he said, handing it to her. “You might be mad. But I hope you like it.”
She turned it over in her hand. “Did you wrap this yourself?” At his nod, she shook her head in amazement. “It looks amazing. You are a man of many talents.” She slowly unwrapped it, taking her time.
Emmet frowned. “You’re one of those people, huh? Goodness. Just rip it, yeah? That’s the better way.” She didn’t respond, and Emmet was sure his face was showing his irritation. “You know, we’re not going to save the paper.”
She looked up in surprise. “How do you know I’m not one of those people who saves everything?”
“I guess I don’t,” he admitted. “But you don’t have to save this. It’s just, like, one dollar in the States.”
“You get your wrapping paper in the states?” she asked, curious. “Why would you do that? It’s not like anyone is going to notice.”
“Well, you see, there is this interesting little franchise called the Dollar Tree where every single thing in the store is a dollar. It’s pretty amazing.” Emmet paused. “And you’re easily distracted, aren’t you? Open your present!”
Phoebe laughed and ripped the rest of the present open. She smiled and looked down. “Oh, Emmet,” she said softly. “Thanks. But…”
“Just think about it, okay?” he asked, smiling down at her. “It’s kind of a joke.”
Phoebe touched the piano book. “Introductory Piano Book for the Older Beginner,” she whispered, reading the title. “You know, nobody has ever pushed so hard for me to play the piano.”
“Well, it’s a lovely instrument. You should try it sometime.” Emmet’s eyes crinkled as he smiled harder, thinking about how much he loved the piano.
“I don’t have a piano,” Phoebe argued, shrugging. “Otherwise, I might even consider it.”
“That’s not a problem,” Emmet said in surprise. “That’s what is holding you back? I have a piano. Becca has a piano. I mean, it would be fine for you to come to either of our places, I’m sure.”
“I couldn’t,” Phoebe interjected. “I mean…”
“Just think about it.” Emmet paused. “It would be great to have you sit down in Gregor’s shop and play and think that I introduced you to it.”
Phoebe smiled slightly. “All right. And I have a present for you.”
Emmet was taken aback. “Really? You do?”
“Yeah.” She reached inside her pocket and pulled out a smaller gift, wrapped in snowman paper. “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to give it to you now or later, but I guess now would be appropriate.”
Emmet took it and started unwrapping it as slowly as he possibly could. He glanced at Phoebe and couldn’t help grinning. “What? Just returning your favor.”
“Oh, just open it,” she said impatiently.
Emmet took no notice and just kept opening it at the same rate that he was doing so before. He couldn’t hide his smile as he sensed Phoebe’s irritation.
She finally grabbed the present for him and ripped off the top. “Here you go,” she said, handing it back.
“You must have been fun at present days,” Emmet commented before looking down. It was a book with a plain brown cover. “What is it?” he asked. Taking it from her, he opened the book to the first page. “Phoebe!” he exclaimed. “This is amazing!”
She smiled. “You really like it?”
“I love it!” he said. “I mean, come on. Who wouldn’t like the chords and lyrics to every single Disney song ever created?”
She blew out a sigh of relief. “Good. I was wondering if you’d like it. But I figured you probably liked Disney.”
“Who doesn’t?” Emmet asked, flipping through all the songs.
“Believe it or not, I know people who don’t like Disney.” Phoebe led her way back to the couch and sat down. “I can’t believe we both got something having to do with a piano,” she laughed.
“Oh, well, that makes sense,” Emmet said, following her and sitting on a chair. “I mean, that’s how we became friends, so…” He pointed at her present. “You really should consider that. I think you would really like it.”
“I will consider it, really.” Phoebe smiled. “You know what I’m really interested in?”
“Being a teacher,” Emmet hazarded a guess.
“No,” she said in distaste. “No way. What I really like learning about is experimental physics.”
It was Emmet’s turn to wrinkle his nose in distaste. “What? Why?”
“Have you ever wondered how this universe works?” she asked, her eyes lighting up. “I mean, we have a general idea, but I have always thought that if we could understand how a thought works… how we actually got her… why the sun attracted the earth in the first place… what causes electrons to revolve around themselves, to create magnets… Well, we could learn so much more about life than we know now.” She paused. “I could talk so much about this. Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Emmet said, waving it aside. “I think it’s interesting.”
“I would laugh in your face, but you actually look like you are interested.” Phoebe cocked her head to the side. “Why are you interested?”
“Well, honestly, I’m not,” he admitted. “But you look so… uh… alive when you’re talking about it.”
“Like when you play the piano,” she murmured.
Emmet was surprised but couldn’t help feeling a warm glow at those words. “Really? I didn’t know that.”
“Yeah. Nobody’s told you?” Phoebe looked surprised.
“Well… fans. But they don’t really count,” Emmet confided. “I mean, I love them and all, but they gush a little too much for me to really believe what they say.”
“So, do you actually think you’re a wonderful singer?” she asked innocently.
“Sure,” he said in surprise. “I mean, Sharon hired me, didn’t she?”
Phoebe laughed. “Yes. Yes, she did. And from what I’ve seen of Sharon—”
“You’ve seen things of Sharon?” Emmet asked. “I mean, what?”
“You think I’ve never seen Celtic Thunder, or whatever? I’m a fan.” She laughed again, probably at the look on Emmet’s face. “You really had no idea, did you? I really am. You guys are the best. Well, except for…” She paused. “Don’t tell anyone?”
Emmet nodded slowly.
“My favorite band is One Direction,” she whispered.
Laughing, Emmet started singing in a high falsetto, “You don’t know you’re beauuuuutifulllll!”
“Oh, hush,” Phoebe laughed. “That sounded awful.”
“So, on a more serious note,” Emmet said, quickly coming back to normal, “Who is your favorite lad in Celtic Thunder? I’ll try to be modest.”
“Not you,” she said bluntly. “Ryan is my favorite.”
“Oh, of course, of course it’s Ryan,” Emmet muttered. “He always gets to be the favorite. Or else, Keith.”
“Or Damian. Or you. Or perhaps even George.” Phoebe giggled. “And all the others.”
“Too true,” Emmet conceded. “But still! Just once I’d like to hear someone say that I was their favorite.”
“I’m sure people think that you have the best voice,” Phoebe said, comforting him sarcastically. “I’m positive, in fact.”
“Thanks,” Emmet said dryly. “I feel a lot better.”
She smiled and stood. “Anyway. I should probably go.”
“No, wait. We still have some time before the Christmas party. Come here.” Emmet turned and walked away, expecting Phoebe to follow. And when he glanced behind himself, she was walking behind him, so he kept walking. He turned a corner and opened a door. “Come in here,” he said.
She walked in and glanced around. “Is this place soundproofed?” she asked in awe.
“Of course,” Emmet said in false horror. “This place has to be soundproof. I rock out in here.”
“Yes, I imagine you do.”
“Sit down,” Emmet invited Phoebe, sitting on the piano bench.
Phoebe sat down tentatively. “So, what do you want me to do?”
Emmet glanced around. “Did you bring your present?”
“No,” Phoebe said adamantly. “And I didn’t plan on learning the piano today, thank you.”
“Fine.” Emmet played a key. “This is middle C.”
“How am I supposed to remember that?” Phoebe asked in exasperation.
“Easy. You see the word here?” He pointed at the Steinbeck. “This is where middle C will always be.” Emmet found himself lecturing on all the keys, showing the three black keys versus the four black keys, and about octaves, and bass clef and treble clef.
Phoebe touched his arm after a while. “Emmet,” she said, interrupting his lecture.
“Yeah?” he asked in surprise. Glancing at her, he suddenly realized how much time had passed. “Sorry…”
“No, it’s fine,” Phoebe said, smiling a little. “Really. It actually was interesting. Can I try playing a little bit?”
“Sure,” Emmet said, moving over so she had more room on the piano bench. He was a little surprised that she wanted to try without even touching the piano, ever, but he went with it.
Phoebe lay her hands over the piano. Emmet noted how curved her fingers were and started to get a little suspicious. She drew in a deep breath and started playing.
Emmet was immediately blown away. Whaaaaaaaat? he thought. Whaaaat? How is she… how did she hide that… what is going on…? His mind was a whirlwind of emotions but he just waited for her to stop.
When she did, she refused to look up. She just held the sustain pedal and waited for the sound to dissipate naturally.
“Phoebe McCurdy,” Emmet said, trying to sound as pompously arrogant and yet… hurt at the same time as he could. “You give me hope.”
“Why?” she asked, quickly looking up at him. Clearly, she wasn’t expecting that answer.
“Well, I must be a great teacher.” Emmet laughed as Phoebe smacked him on the arm. “How come you never said you could play?”
She shrugged. “I haven’t played for a while. Honestly, I was really nervous. I used to play, as a kid, and as a teenager, I was in recitals and stuff.”
“What was that song called?” Emmet was working out a few fingerings in his head.
“That was called Heaven’s Lullaby. You should look it up. It’s gorgeous.” She smiled slightly. “It was one of the last songs I ever learned to play.”
“What was the last?” Emmet asked. “And what made you stop playing? You’re amazing.”
“The pressure made me stop,” she said. “I was always pressured into playing another song, doing another recital, being perfect at the piano, being a piano teacher, being a professional pianist. And it just wore me down. So I stopped.” She thought. “The last song I ever learned to play was I’Giorni.”
“Oh, I know that song,” Emmet exclaimed. “And really, that’s horrible. I’m sorry that happened to you. But you shouldn’t have stopped playing altogether. I mean, you have wonderful talent, and you would have been good as a pianist, but you could have just kept going for fun… you know…”
“I got rid of my piano,” she said softly. “My parents would never have let me stop if I hadn’t done that. So then, I had no piano, I had no music, and I had no real desire to play.” She smiled suddenly, a shining smile. “But it felt good to play again.”
“Do you play any other instruments?” Emmet asked. He stood up and picked up one of Keith’s many guitars. “Like, could you play this if I handed it to you right now?”
She shook her head. “Not the guitar. I could play the flute. But I haven’t played it since sixth grade, so I’m not sure how good I would be at that.” She laughed a little. “I kind of hated how wimpy it sounded, so I quit.”
Emmet shook his head. “You never fail to surprise me.”
“Will you play one of the Disney songs?” Phoebe asked, switching gears rather quickly, Emmet thought. “Please?”
“Which one?” Emmet asked, picking up the book he had brought.
“What’s your favorite?”
He was floored by the thought. There are so many… “How do you pick a favorite?” he demanded. “Do you have a favorite?”
“Yes,” she said. “It’s not that hard. You just find the one you identify with the most, and that’s that.”
“What’s your favorite?” Emmet asked. “I mean, you can’t seriously have a favorite, can you?”
“Well…” she paused. “I guess I have to say that Part of Your World and Belle tie…”
“Do you really feel like you’re so different from everybody else?” Emmet asked. When she nodded slowly, he smiled. “Good. I like that.”
“So, now, you have to tell me what your favorite Disney song is,” she challenged him.
“Uh…” He was back to the original problem. “I guess, it would have to be… The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers?”
Phoebe paused before laughing. Hard. “Emmet!” she exclaimed. “I don’t even think that’s Disney!”
“Isn’t Winnie the Pooh Disney?” Emmet asked in surprise. “I mean, whatever. I guess I’ll just choose another one.” He flipped through the book. “Here, you should like this one.” He placed the book on the piano, and Phoebe looked forward, squinting.
“Oh, yeah, this is a good one,” she agreed calmly.
“Can you sing?” Emmet asked. “I play and you sing?”
“How hard is it for you to play some chords and sing at the same time?” she demanded.
“Can you sing?” he simply asked again.
“Yes…” she said slowly. “I had singing lessons in with the piano as well.”
“What made you give up all that art?” Emmet demanded, losing it a little. “I mean, I understand giving up the professional aspect, but never singing again, never playing the piano, just… sitting back and doing experimental physics. What made that happen?”
“Did I say I’ve never sung?” Phoebe retorted. “Sure, I stopped playing the piano, but you don’t even know how long ago that was. And I still sing. I sing everywhere. Who doesn’t?” She laughed. “Anyway, sorry for that.”
“Do you want to sing?” Emmet asked quietly. “I don’t mind, it’s just that I’d like to hear you.”
“Sure,” she said, shrugging. “I can’t promise that I’ll be as good as you, though.”
Emmet played the opening chords while pretending to not take any notice of that. Her comment did make him wonder if she was any good at singing. He embellished the chords and then waited for her to sing.
“Tale as old as time…” he heard and relaxed. She was good.
They played through the whole song and Emmet paused and stopped. “Phoebe, you’re magnificent,” he said, smiling at her.
“I know, I know, and why would I give it up? Believe me, I’ve heard it before.” She shook her head.
“So, when did you give all this up?”
“Oh, about… six months ago, I guess,” she said in amazement. “I can’t believe it’s only been six months. It feels like forever.”
Emmet was lost in thought. “I thought for sure that it had at least been, like, eight years.”
“You think that I performed and stuff at twelve years old?” she demanded, wrinkling her nose at the thought. “Who does that?”
“Uh…” Emmet paused. “Me.”
“Oh, Emmet, I’m sorry,” Phoebe said.
There was an awkward silence before Emmet said slowly, “It’s okay, you couldn’t have known. And you know what, I enjoyed it, so…”
“Yeah, but that wasn’t polite.” Phoebe shook her head. “I should go. I have to get ready for the party.”
“You have to get ready?” Emmet asked, cocking an eyebrow. “What do you have to do?”
“Well…” she paused and looked confused. “You don’t really expect me to show up to a semi-formal event dressed like this, do you?”
He glanced at her outfit and her hair and had to smile. “No, I suppose the jeans, sweatshirt, and ponytail wouldn’t go very well.”
“And you should change, too,” Phoebe said sternly. “I mean, the sweatpants probably won’t cut it with the Harkins.”
“Yeah, because they’re so strict,” Emmet laughed. “Fine, I will change. But just for you.”
Phoebe smiled and, standing up, walked over to the door. “Thanks for the book, Emmet. I’m sorry that you kinda wasted your money on me, since I already know all the basics.”
He opened the door for her and blinked at the sudden cold gust of air. “No problem; I’m just glad you finally played the piano.” Smiling, he added, “And thanks for my gift. It’s really great. I’ll have a lot of fun with those songs.”
“I’m sure you will,” Phoebe said dryly, walking outside and hugging her arms to herself. “See you tonight, Emmet!”
He waved and shut the door, musing about the visit. He sighed. I think too much. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PS the next update is the Harkin's Christmas party ;)
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Dec 11, 2012 11:44:36 GMT -5
I absolutely loved this update! I'm grinning like an idiot now!
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Post by celticbear on Dec 12, 2012 23:09:53 GMT -5
This update had me smiling from start to finish! Love the greeting Emmet got from his granny! The gifts for Emmet and Phoebe where spot on. Glad Emmet got Phoebe to open up some more and got her to sing and play!
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