Since Emma was driving alone, she pulled up in front of the Necropolis, but farther up so that it almost looked like she was going to Lex's. Lex was working in her garage, and she paused when she noticed, watching the car and the two teens with interest. Alec and Emma shared a peck, and then Emma drove off, heading for the mall.
The pair walked hand in hand through the nearly empty mall, wandering past the shops without looking much. Alec was too busy talking to look. Emma nodded quietly as she listened to Alec semi-rant about the issues he’d been having with Dark. She didn’t say anything for the longest time, letting him talk until he started repeating himself.
“I think,” she said slowly, “that you are paranoid.”
Alec glanced at her askance. “Okay, of all the responses you could have had, that is not one I considered.”
“Well, paranoid might be a bit strong of a word, but think about it,” she said reasonably. “I’m your first girlfriend, right?”
Alec considered Crystal for a moment and then dismissed her. She didn’t count. “Yes.”
“And your folk are…” she mulled over her choices, “alternative. No one would ever label them as normal. You are probably the most ‘normal’ person in your family, and even you are a bit extra special. Me, on the other hand, I’m pretty sure no one would ever describe me or my family as anything but normal. As normal as a washing machine cycle. Normal people and exotic people don’t normally mix well, and you know my parents have expressed some worries about your family. Which they aren’t that worried about, I should tell you, it’s just parents being parents. So, in my opinion, you are so certain that your family won’t like my family and be maybe even more critical, you are reacting proactively. Striking out before they can strike you, metaphorically speaking. Maybe your parents don’t like me or my parents, or maybe they are fine with it. Who knows? But you don’t have to worry about it. Not really. Loads of people have trouble with their parents getting along, and it doesn’t ultimately matter, does it? If the two people who count are the ones making things work.”
Alec didn’t say anything for a bit as they walked past a shoe store. “That makes sense,” he said slowly. “Paranoid. You know, I think that might be some of the best advice you’ve ever given me.”
Emma gave him a smug look. “When I’m right, I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Yes,” Alec admitted. “You are right. You can be kind of mean about the way you phrase things sometimes, but when you’re right.”
Emma looked at him blankly. “I am?”
Alec shrugged. “Sometimes. I know you mean well, but sometimes the way you describe things and talk about people… I don’t think you like my family very much.”
“Well, I don’t think my opinion matters very much there. I mean, I think they’re fine. They don’t dress or act like particularly respectable or responsible people on the surface, more like teenagers or something.”
“Like that, Emma, that’s harsh,” Alec muttered.
Emma ignored him. “Once you get past the surface, though, you see that they are both respectable and responsible. Your mother holds down a prestigious job that is difficult for anyone to reach, let alone a woman in a man’s world or a handicapped one. That’s incredible. Your father only taught high school, but he was a highly respected teacher in his field, and I heard a lot of the students talk well of him. When they weren’t talking about the potential mafia links and other stupid nonsense. Anyway. Their style and such might be very much not my thing, but it seems to make them happy and doesn’t impede them in any way, and it’s not the most important thing. The important thing is, however childish I might think they look, they act like adult parents who love their kids more than anything and are properly taking care of said kids. It’s not just words with them. They actually do stuff to take care of you and show you they love you, don’t they? My mother always said a person could wear literal garbage, and as long as they are doing their best to look after the ones they love, then they are the most beautiful people on the planet. My dad is more succinct. He just says, ‘actions loud, words quiet.’”
Alec didn’t say anything in response. He watched the tiles pass underfoot as they walk, lightly squeezing Emma’s hand.
Emma smiled and squeezed his hand. “Let’s go get a pretzel, okay? And talk about something other than families.”
“Deal,” Alec agreed with a smile.
Afterward, Emma and Alec visited one of the shops, and Emma picked out a new shirt for him and he picked out (with her help) a scarf for her. It was over a couple of hours before Emma dropped Alec off in front of his house once more.
