Emily sat bored in Gabe’s dining room, playing with a crumb of bread she found on the table.
Gabe was sat in front of her, deeply lost in thought of how Emily was going to get home.
“He’s ought to come back-“.
Emily huffed, “He’s not gonna come back.
He’s a big scaredy-cat.
If I was the princess in a dragon tower and he was the prince, he’d never come save me” Gabe wanted to protest against her statement, but Emily spoke again interrupting him, “I’m just gonna stay here forever and ever”.
She sighed sadly, “I didn’t even get to tell my mom goodbye…” Gabe shook his head and stood up, “I won’t hear things like that from you, Emily.
What happened to all the trust?
Don’t you believe in him?” Emily lazily swung her arm on the edge of the table, “I did.
Now I don’t” Gabe marched right over to her and folded his arms, looking down at her, “Is that how to be a good best friend?” Emily frowned.
“It’s not my fault!
He could’ve come back by now but he didn’t!
He’s leaving me, because he’s scared?
He isn’t a good best friend to me!” She yelled, wiping stray tears from her eyes.
Gabe let out a sigh, “Emily, when you first met me, weren’t you scared?” Emily hesitated before answering his question, “I was, but I got to know you and-” “He’s more scared than you are, you have to support him and love him, even if he is scared” Gabe told her calmly.
Emily raised her voice, it sounded like she was on the verge of crying again, “Even if he was scared.
Couldn’t he stay?!
For me?!
I stayed when I was mad at him!
I would be with him even if I was scared”.
She started to throw a tantrum now, flaying her arms and legs and hitting the table.
Gabe groaned and muttered, “I did not sign up up for this” Meanwhile, Gavin was on the trail of something.
His tail wagged as he followed the familiar scent back to the gate.
He made a happy noise when he got to the end of his trail.
“It’s not fair!
He hates me!
He would come back if he didn’t!” Emily screamed.
“Don’t you think that’s a bit of an exaggeration?” Gabe asked his question in a low voice, unsure of whether he wanted her to hear him.
“I don’t hate you” someone spoke from the door.
The crying and screeching all came to a halt, like it was programmed.
Emily sniffled and turned her head to the door, where Jordan stood, his clothes and hair all dirty.
Jordan ran forward and engulfed her in a hug, “No matter what you do, no matter where you are…” He pulled away and squeezed her shoulders.
He smiled at her and his eyes radiated a soft emerald glow in the reflection of the sunlight, “I’ll always choose to be right here by your side” Emily’s lip quivered and she wiped her tears away, “You didn’t come back” “I needed time to think.
I was scared.
Scared you might get hurt, scared that…
you might get hurt because of me.
I was scared I was only going to slow you down, or cause more trouble for you.
Like-” Jordan started to ramble, “What if we’re running away from something and- and I get my leg caught in something and I trip and the monster’s getting closer, and you try to help me but it keeps getting closer.
Or what if you trip and I have to come back and help you but I’m too late and the monster gets us both?
I’m scared, Emily.
You didn’t even think of all this” Emily’s mouth perked up as she let out a small laugh, “If you get yourself stuck, I’ll still come get you, because I can’t have my amazing adventures without you.
And if I get stuck, you’ll come get me right?
Even if we both get caught?” Jordan smiled and nodded his head frantically.
Emily giggled again, “Then, we’ll make it out somehow.
I’ve got your back, Jordan.
If…” She looked down, looking sad, “If you want to be in my adventures or not” Jordan pulled her in for a long hug, “I will have your back too, Emily.
And if you’re going on adventures, I will too.
You’re my best friend, and I want to be with you wherever you are, even if I am scared” Emily sniffed again, and smiled into her best friends shoulder, “You’re the best friend ever, Jordie.
I’m sorry I called you a scaredy-cat” “You called me a scaredy-cat?” Gabe got between them and pulled them apart, “Since that’s over.
I think it’s time you two to head home” Jordan looked up at Gabe and placed his hands in a pleading position, “Mr.
Gabe, please let us stay a few minutes.
I want to see more of the Elven city” Gabe sighed and grumbled, “So now you want to explore…” Emily begged him with her eyes wide, and puffing out her chubby cheeks, “Please, Gabe?” Gabe let out a deep breath, “There isn’t much to see, anyways” Emily grumped, “That’s not true!
What about the festivy?” Gabe scratched the back of his neck, “That is once, Emily.
Every new moon.
We don’t hold festivals every year” “Why not?” She whined.
“Because there’s nothing to celebrate” Emily placed her hands on her hips, “There’s gotta be something to be happy about other than the moon!” Gabe pinched the skin between his furrowed eyebrows, “Believe me, there’s none.
The fairies took all that was worth celebrating away from this place”