"Tell me what this is," Richard Paige said calmly, while sliding his disk across the kitchen counter, causing both of his children to stop eating and lift their heads up.

Emerson and Ethan gave each other a nervous glance, before Emerson tentatively grabbed the disk, pressing play.

"Tonight their seems to be new gossip that's just unfolding. There's a possibility that Billionaire Richard Paige's son, Ethan Paige, is caught up in quite the scandal. Not only is he the father of a Stain, he's also the father of a possible drug dealer and user. What are your thoughts on the subject, Phillip?" The female reporter spoke, turning her attention to what Phillip's response would be.

Richard grabbed the disk out of Emerson's hands, pausing the clip. 

"Well?" He demanded, his hands in the air while awaiting their response.

Ethan's blue eyes met hers, and she shook her head no slightly.

He looked up at his father with an even face, "It's a news report clip."

"Don't smart Alec me! Now, I'm going to ask you once, what was that?" He demanded, his eyes turning an icy cold blue.

"A possible theory," Ethan continued.

"Make sure it stays that way," Richard spat through gritted teeth.

"Yes Sir," the young boy nodded, but there was no emotion behind his words and in his eyes. They were empty jail cells of a scoundrel long gone.

Richard Paige was already out of the room before he could fully comprehend what his son was trying to tell him.

The girl's violet eyes analyzed her brother, "You okay?"

"Does it look like I'm okay?" He asked with a humorless chuckle as he stared at his empty coffee cup.

"I just thought--" She started.

"I've got to get ready for school," he said abruptly, ending the conversation.

"I just want to help you!" Emerson called after him in a frustrated plea.

Ethan ignored her and scampered up the stairs, causing her to let out a frustrated sigh. Emerson's disk let up and a tune was playing from it.

"What is it?" She snapped curtly when she answered the call.

"Emerson, we need to talk," the male voice spoke.

"Charlie?" She asked, sitting down.

"This is Charlie," he said awkwardly.

Emerson drummed her fingers on the counter, not knowing what she should do. Charlie ran away from her, leaving her in potential danger with some strange man, and hadn't called her in weeks. That is, until now.

"Emerson? Are you still there?" His voice called out, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm still here," she sighed.

"Well, we seriously need to talk, and soon," he stated.

"Okay," she said nervously, drawing out the word. Emerson couldn't help but feel awkward and nervous as she racked her brain for something to say. A joke, yes, a joke always lightened them mood! "Are we breaking up? Cause I don't ever remember us being together in the first place."

"No," he said, causing the tension in the air to rise.

"I've got to go," Emerson blurted out, hanging up before he could say bye.

~~~

"Pass the greens," Richard's gravelly voice spoke.

Emerson handed it over, glancing over at Ethan who was staring out the window. His fingers were drumming along the kitchen table like the energizer bunny. She kicked him under the table, and when his glare met her gaze, she nodded her hand towards his fingers. He immediately sat on the one while he used the other to eat.

Emerson couldn't help but notice his hand shake as he tried to stab the asparagus. She wasn't the only one to take note of this, much to Ethan's dismay, as for the rest of the Paige family's attention was on his shaking hand as he struggled to stab the fork into the cooked asparagus without if falling off his fork.

"Ethan? What's wrong? Are you feeling well?" Maisey pressed, her fork a standstill in midair.

"I'm fine mother. Just not hungry!" He flung his fork down on his plate, causing the rest of the family to flinch at the sudden sound, as he rashly pushed himself out of his chair.

He fled out of the room, his feet like thunder up the stairs, leaving the rest of the family in an eerie silence. Maisey and Richard shrugged the outburst off and went back to eating their meal. Emerson looked at them in astonishment, her jaw hung open.

"Emerson, close your mouth, your going to attract flies," her father said blatantly.

She closed it, not in the mood to spite him. 

"Why do you keep staring at me like that? This is why people say you're a freak, you creepily stare at people. You need to stop that if you ever consider anyone falling in love with you. And what did we say about the contacts? Only take them out before bed, your eyes make everyone uncomfortable," Maisey Paige shivered, and she hugged her arms.

"Sorry," Emerson mumbled as she went back to her meal.

As soon as she was finished, Emerson excused herself from the table, claiming she had some project to do.

She came across her brother's door, and hesitated before tentatively knocking.

"Who is it?" His voice called out.

"Emmey."

"What do you possibly want? Your money back? Well, I'm sorry, I don't have it," he sighed. 

"No, I'm not here for that. Will you let me in? I'm tired of talking to splinters," Emerson complained.

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Come on Ethan," she begged.

She heard a loud dramatic sigh and then the squeak of a bed. Then the door swung open to reveal her brother's messy dirty blonde hair and blue eyes.

"You're experiencing symptoms of withdrawal, you know that right?" She asked.

"Yes, is that all you came to tell me know-it-all?" He teased.

"No, I came to give you something," she admitted with a shrug.

"What?" He barked.

"Here," she said, handing him a box of drug patches and a smoothie.

He eyed both of them cautiously before taking them.

"Why do you do this?" He asked, staring into her eyes.

"Do what?" Emerson asked.

"Do all of this. I've treated you like crap all of my life, and yet here you are helping me," he elaborated.

"Here I am," She gestured with a smile.

Out of nowhere, Ethan hugged her. It was awkward and sudden, but before Emerson could hug him back, he let her go.

"Thank you," he whispered to her.

Emerson was shocked, and didn't say anything.

"I love you Emmey," he said as she went to leave.

That night Emerson felt a warmness in her chest she hadn't felt in a long time, maybe her house wouldn't feel so empty and soulless after all.

A/N: Hope you all liked the update!!! ;)

Thoughts on Ethan? Anyone?

Richard?

Maisey?

Charlie?

Should Emerson trust him? Who should she trust?

What do you think he wants to talk about?

Predictions anyone?

Also, we are getting closer to a chapter that'll develop Tamara's disappearance.

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COMMENT

AND STAY BEAUTIFUL!!! ;)

~Tapqueen101