Chapter 7

The day began with a radiant sunrise casting a warm golden glow through the windows of John's home. It was early morning, and the peaceful atmosphere in the living room was broken only by the quiet chatter between John and his mother, who were sitting on the plush sofa, sipping on cups of steaming coffee.

Their smiles were a testament to the good news they held close to their hearts. Emily, or as they knew her, was about to join them, unaware of the unexpected joy that awaited her.

Emily, with her characteristic infectious smile, emerged from her room to the sounds of animated conversation. "Good morning," she greeted cheerfully, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Good morning, Emily," John replied, his eyes bright with excitement. "You're up early. Something exciting is happening today."

Emily couldn't help but catch John's enthusiasm. "Oh, really? Do tell! I love a good morning surprise."

John's mother joined in the conversation, her eyes filled with delight. "We've had some wonderful news, dear."

The anticipation was palpable, and Emily couldn't wait to hear what had put that gleam in their eyes. "Okay, spill it. What's going on?"

John, with an ear-to-ear grin, leaned in closer to Emily. "You won't believe it. I got a very special call today."

Curiosity brimming over, Emily leaned in closer, hanging onto John's every word. "Special call? From whom?"

"It was Taylor's manager," John revealed, a triumphant tone in his voice. "They want me to be the photographer for her upcoming album!"

Emily's eyes widened with astonishment. "Wow! That's incredible, John. Congratulations!"

The happiness in John's eyes was infectious. Emily could tell this meant the world to him. "Thank you, Emily. I'm thrilled about it."

John continued to share the fantastic news. "But that's not all. This photoshoot is going to be in France, and Mom and I are going there for it."

Emily's eyes lit up with wonder. "France? That sounds like a dream!"

John nodded, his excitement bubbling over. "I thought so too. And guess what? I'm planning to ask Mabel to join us. It would be so much fun!"

The surprise continued for Emily, and she was touched by John's thoughtfulness. "That's incredibly sweet of you, John. I'm sure she'll love it."

Then John turned to Emily with a hopeful smile. "And, um, I was thinking... would you like to come too?"

Emily's eyes widened, and for a moment, she was rendered speechless. She hadn't expected him to extend the invitation to her. Her voice quivered slightly as she stammered, "I... I'm not sure. I'll have to talk to my manager."

John's mother chimed in, her warmth evident in her words. "Emily, we really want you to join us. And don't worry about expenses; John will take care of everything."

John nodded in agreement, his eyes reflecting his sincerity. "Absolutely. We'd love to have you with us, Emily."

She reached for her official phone, which was usually on silent mode, and as she unlocked it, she noticed a barrage of missed calls and messages. One of the messages stood out, from Chloe. She opened it, and her eyes widened with pride.

"Job done. John's hired for Tay's next album photoshoot." Said the message from Chloe. Emily's smile grew wider.

Emily was touched by their kindness, feeling a deep connection forming. "I'll talk to my manager and let you know. Thank you so much for this offer. It means a lot to me," she said, her gratitude evident.

With a gentle smile, John's mother added, "Take your time, dear. We just thought it would be wonderful to have you with us."

As Emily excused herself to leave for work, John couldn't help but admire her genuine, caring nature. He felt a warmth growing in his heart, one that had been missing for a long time.

In the serene ambiance of John's living room, the conversation between John and his mother took a more intimate turn. His mother, her eyes reflecting years of wisdom, addressed her son with earnestness.

"John, you should go and talk to Emily's manager. It's the right thing to do," she advised gently.

John sighed, hesitating at the thought of intruding on Emily's professional life. "Mom, I don't want to be invasive. She'll tell us if she's comfortable with it."

His mother, always the voice of reason, shook her head. "Sometimes people need a little nudge, dear. Besides, I have a feeling Emily might be hesitant to ask herself."

John considered her words, acknowledging the truth in them. "You're probably right," he admitted, relenting.

Encouraged by her son's agreement, his mother continued, "There's something special about her, John. People like her, people like Mabel, they're very rare to find. You've got to keep them close."

John nodded, his heart warming at the thought of the special bond he was forming with Emily. "I know, Mom. I'll go talk to her manager," he promised.

With a loving smile, his mother placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "That's my boy. Sometimes, taking that extra step can lead to beautiful things," she said, her eyes filled with maternal pride.

~~~~~~~

Charlene swiftly made her way to her house to meet with Chloe, excitement bubbling within her like an overflowing spring. As she entered, she hastily removed her coat and dashed over to her friend, wrapping her in a tight hug.

"Thank you so much, Chloe. You are the best," Charlene exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with gratitude.

Chloe, with an amused smirk, couldn't help but tease her friend. "Woah, woah! What made YOU so excited?" she asked playfully.

Charlene couldn't contain her enthusiasm as she animatedly explained. "You should have seen him. He was so happy, genuinely more than happy. And thanks to Taylor, she accepted my request and hired John."

Chloe chuckled at Charlene's enthusiasm. "You should probably call and thank her," she suggested.

"You're right," Charlene agreed, reaching for her phone to dial Taylor's number. However, just as she was about to make the call, her new phone, the one she used when she was Emily, began to ring. It was John.

Chloe watched with curiosity as Charlene's excitement turned into nervousness. She wondered what was happening on the other end of the call.

Charlene took a deep breath and answered John's call. "Hey, Em!" John's voice greeted her warmly.

Charlene, now Emily, was taken aback when he used "Em" instead of her full name. She felt her cheeks flush, and for a moment, she was at a loss for words. "Uh, yeah... hey, how are you doing?" she replied, her voice slightly shaky.

"I'm fine," John replied. "So, are you busy?"

Charlene cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. "Uhm, no, I'm free. What's up?" she asked.

"Well, I want to talk about something. Where are you? Can we meet?" John inquired.

Charlene stumbled over her words, feeling her heart race. "I, uh, I am at work. You know, the mini-mall, at this gas station I told you about... yeah, I'm there," she replied, chuckling nervously.

"So, if you're free, can I meet you there?" John asked.

Charlene hesitated for a moment, her mind racing. "Yeah, sure," she finally said, her voice laced with uncertainty.

"Alright, I'll be there," John confirmed before ending the call.

Charlene's mind was now in a whirlwind of worry. "Who got you all blushy?" Chloe teased with a sly smirk.

"Ha ha, very funny," Charlene retorted sarcastically. "Get your bag; we're leaving."

Chloe raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Where are we going?"

Charlene flashed a mischievous smile. "I'll explain on the way."

They hurried to Chloe's car, and as they drove towards their destination, Chloe couldn't help but voice her concerns. "I'm telling you, Hails, this is a bad, bad idea."

Charlene shook her head confidently. "Shut up, Chloe! Just give me my bag."

Chloe handed over the bag as they arrived at their destination: a gas station mini-mall. It was close to John's house and the same place Emily had mentioned working.

Charlene quickly stepped out of the car and made her way to the mini-mall. The shopkeeper recognized her instantly. "Oh my god, Charlene Watson! How can I help you?" he asked, clearly starstruck.

Charlene glanced around the shop, her mind focused on her plan. "I'm buying this place," she declared and handed the shopkeeper a blank cheque.

He looked at the cheque and then back at Charlene, his confusion evident. Before he could ask any questions, Charlene spoke with authority, "No questions asked."

The shopkeeper nodded in agreement and swiftly collected his belongings, leaving the premises. Charlene was now in control, her plan taking shape.

She turned to Chloe and instructed, "Get your bag; we're leaving for the backroom."

Chloe, perplexed by the sudden turn of events, followed Charlene to the backroom.

"How do i look Chl-John?" As Charlene emerged, she was transformed into Emily. She smiled nervously as she faced John, who was waiting for her instead of Chloe.

"Hey, John?" she greeted, a hint of nervousness in her voice.

"Hi," John replied with a warm smile. "You look pretty as always."

Emily blushed at the compliment, her hand subconsciously pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Oh, really? Thanks," she responded, her voice slightly shaky.

John's genuine smile widened, making Emily's heart flutter. "Uhm, did you talk to your manager?" he asked.

Emily hesitated for a moment, her nerves getting the best of her. "I... if not, I will talk to them unless you don't want to come with us." John continued.

Emily's heart raced as she realized that John was genuinely thrilled about her joining the trip. "Actually, John," she began, her voice slightly trembling, "I did talk to my manager, and he said yes."

A bright smile spread across John's face, and his eyes lit up with joy. "That's amazing news!" he replied, his excitement evident.

Chloe watched them from a distance. She couldn't help but feel a warm sense of happiness for her friend.

Seeing Emily so genuinely happy, especially with someone she seemed to connect with on a deeper level, filled Chloe's heart with joy. It had been a long time since she had seen Emily so carefree and content in the presence of another person.

Sneaking peeks at them, Chloe couldn't contain her smile. She knew that something special was blossoming between Emily and John.