Color Me Pretty

waste to have someone like him back there. He should be out in the world, making a difference, stirring up the status quo. My heart swells for him as I stare, as I watch him tip the bill of his beanie at his customers, as his eyes swing through the thick crowd of people and fix on my face.
    Marlena made a mistake firing Emmett. As soon as he graduates, he's going places. He might not know where, but that's alright. Someone with a heart as big as his can't fail. I bring Kylie over for an introduction.
    “So you're the one,” she says by way of greeting, before I even get a chance to tell him her name.
    “Emmett,” he says as he hands us a pair of samples. I stare down at the styrofoam cup and the orange liquid within, and I have no clue how many calories are in there. I drink it anyway. It clogs in my throat for a minute, but when I glance up, Emmett is grinning and that makes it worth it. “Emmett Sinclair.”
    “Kylie North. And I don't know what this girl's told you, but she's in love, too.” I roll my eyes and give Kylie a look. Emmett just laughs and glances over his shoulder. His manager's looking this way and he doesn't seem too happy about us cutting the line. “We're heading up the stairs to this place, The Winged Ones. I guess it's supposed to be in a garden or something?”
    “Oh yeah,” Emmett says, giving me a half-lidded look that the crowd of girls behind me don't fail to miss. I hear noises, some disappointed, some gossipy, but that's okay. I think they're just jealous anyway. “The rooftop garden. It's amazing. You'll love it.” Another glance over his shoulder. Emmett's manager isn't paying attention, so he moves over to the counter where the register is and he hops it while the customers look on, wraps me in his arms, kisses me.
    A thief of breath, that Emmett Sinclair, a man who steals hearts and doesn't care that he's doing it. And he's mine. I wasn't sure at first, but I am now. Who wouldn't be, after a kiss like this?
    My hands find his hair, his find my waist, and I taste strawberry banana smoothie and heat. My tongue slides over his and he flicks his against mine, and then it's all over and he's pulling away. I try not to groan.
    “Well, have fun,” he says as he jumps the counter again and manages to steady himself and fix his apron before his manager sees. “I'll come visit you on my lunch if you're still there.” Emmett tosses me a wink and starts in on his next order.
    My heart does a series of ridiculously dangerous acrobatics in my chest, moves worthy of the Olympics and finally settles, warm and full beneath my ribs.
    When Kylie gives me an I told you so look, I roll my eyes and start to walk away, towards the escalators.
    “Have you told him yet?” she asks, and I really, truly forget that I don't know this chick at all. That instant attraction we had to each other at the clinic resurfaces, and I feel like we've been best friends since third grade. Which, of course, makes me think of Jennifer and Leanne. I really should call them. If I'm honest with myself, I'm sort of afraid to. Jennifer looked at me with such contempt before … And I'm terrified to find out what they think of me after the whole misunderstanding. Do they really believe I'd try to kill myself? I guess the only way is to call them up and ask them.
    “Told him what?” I ask as we step onto the metal stairs and pause, letting the escalators do the work. People rush past between us, but we ignore them.
    “That you love him.”
    “I told him that I thought I loved him.” I look up and my gaze catches on the designer dresses that line the windows. I don't think I'll ever stop loving fashion, but I can't become consumed by it either. I have to figure out a way to make it work for me and stop trying so hard to fit in with it.
    “Not the same thing,” Kylie tells me, following my gaze, smiling up at the store fronts. “Tell him and see what happens. I have a good feeling about this.” She sighs and her eyes get cloudy, like she's lost in memories. When she looks back over at me, they're a bit shiny. “Dex never looked at me the way Emmett looks at you.” I try to apologize but Kylie won't let me. “Save it,” she says. “For something that matters.” And that's the end of that.
    When we get to the second floor and step off the escalator, a familiar voice catches my attention. It's as if the world slows around me, pauses so I can spin and find my mother and sister walking straight towards us.