Chapter 17

‘We have to find Emma,’ Eric said for the hundredth time in the cabin’s lodge. He checked his phone for reception, once again there was none. As Eric was jittering with worry, the rest of the students were lounging by the fireplace.

‘Dude, take a chill pill. She and Tom probably went somewhere to make out,’ said Jeremy

‘Or do…other things.’ His friend added. They laughed.

Eric gave them a look which made them stop laughing instantly.

 ‘Since they’re not sending out a search team until dawn I’m going to find her-them,’ said Eric. He draped on a scarf and left with his backpack and torch.

‘What’s up with him?’ Jeremy asked his friend after Eric had left into the wilderness.

‘That’s Eric being Eric. The kind of hero that would respond to a distress call of a cat in the middle of the night.’

‘I bet he just wants his cabin mate with him tonight so Miss Cam doesn’t sneak into his bed and ‘have her way’ with him.’

*

‘Itch,’ said Emma

‘Another one?’

‘Yeah, my arm.’ Tom and Emma had been waiting under the same tree for hours, rationing food and water from their backpacks between them. As Emma’s left arm was holding pressure onto her leg Tom was helping her with every itch and task she couldn’t reach or do one armed. It was dark in the bush now and the sound of crickets and unexplained noises were playing in the background.

‘Um, Tom? That’s not my arm you’re scratching.’

‘Oh right…sorry.’ Realising what he was actually touching, Tom shied away glad that it was too dark to see him blush.

‘They’re not going to find us tonight are they?’

‘Well if it comes to cannibalism, that leg’s ready to go,’ said Tom. Emma punched him with her available arm. Tom laughed and blanketed his jacket on her after feeling her shiver from the cold. He inched in closer to share some of his body heat knowing how easily Emma got cold.

‘I think I’m losing a lot of blood,’ she said to Tom. She could feel herself getting dizzy and her stomach making annoying somersaults. She looked up at Tom, to see him looking at her. A look that they had never in all their years of knowing each other had never shared before.

‘I found you! I was sure I heard talking. Oh God, Emma are you okay?’ Eric shone his flashlight into their faces. Emma and Tom broke their gaze and squinted their eyes at Eric who was still beaming his bright light into their eyes. Tom stood up and brushed the dirt off his shorts.

‘She’s getting weak. We better hurry.’

Eric pulled out his walkie talkie, okay more like the walkie talkie he ‘borrowed’ from the ranger’s office.

‘Get into my backpack for the first aid kit, I’ll take care of the help.’ Eric backed away to communicate with the ranger while Tom was sterilising Emma’s wound.

‘They’re sending out a helicopter,’ he said. Eric leaned over Emma who was halfway to passing out. Eric brushed her fringe away from her face.

‘Everything’s going to be okay now Emma, I’m here now.’

Tom turned away feeling an uneasiness at the pit of his stomach. 

Chapter 16

‘Along this four kilometre trek you will have to classify and record all the plants you see on the way. Now if you open your booklets on page…’

As the camp leaders were going on about the tasks and safety issues Tom tuned out and into his own train of thought. This blows. He thought. The only reason why he took biology was because he thought the curriculum loosely included sex and for the time it wasted watching documentaries in class…and also because Emma was taking the subject. Not that it mattered anymore since they were ignoring each other for a reason he couldn’t even remember. The weather had become much hotter when the students of Oaklea High stepped off the bus and left all the extra clothing for warmth on the bus.

‘Okay venturers, are you ready to classify some native plants?’ called out the enthusiastic camp leader.

The group mumbled. The camp leader cupped his ear.

‘I can’t hear you!’

The group mumbled again.

‘Alright! Grab your partner and let’s go!’ he yelled, beckoning the group to follow him. The group moved in two straight lines along the narrow pathway that led into the mountains. Eric was shoved all the way towards the front of the line with Miss Cameron whilst naturally Emma and Tom were loitering about at the back. Tom was practicing his soccer techniques by dribbling a stone along the way. Emma was having trouble keeping up, mostly because the person in front of her found it funny to pull back the branches and let go.

‘I swear Jeremy if you flick another branch at me I will happily open a can of whoop ass and offer you a generous helping of it,’ she said. I think I’ve been hanging around Shah too much. She thought. Emma turned to her left only to see Tom taking a detour from the trail and into the forest. She had no choice but to break the long silence.

‘Tom! Where are you going?’

Tom was too far away to hear Emma’s call. Reluctantly, she followed him. ‘What are doing? Where are you going?’

Tom answered her casually, as if they had not had been ignoring each other for weeks. He opened his map pointing on it for Emma ‘According to this map there’s a waterfall up this way but the path’s been blocked by some valley that I reckon we can easily climb. What do you think?’

‘I think we should go back before Miss Cameron realises we’re missing.’

‘Afraid of a little adventure are we Em?’

Emma grabbed the map from Tom’s hands. ‘North is this way doofus,’ she said, leading them into the correct direction of the waterfall marked on the map. Unbeknownst to her a big black hairy spider was crawling into her hair.

After what felt like hours had past they had reached the waterfall. At least, that’s what the map told them.

‘Tom, where’s the waterfall?’

Tom turned around in a circle like a dog chasing its tail. He smiled and shook his head.

‘Well, we had fun along the way didn’t we?’ He said and scuffed Emma’s hair. Emma was ready to give him a punch on the arm but a sound had stopped her.

‘Tom, do you hear that?’ she asked. They both paused listening to the gentle sound of trickling water. Tom followed the sound and moved aside a few branches. There behind the bushes and trees was a river. He turned to Emma ‘I guess we follow the river now.’

‘So how’re things with Cali girl?’ She asked in conversation as they were walking.

‘Oh. Alright I guess. Hey look!’ Tom pointed into the distance. From where they were standing the river seemed to have ended not too far away.

It was like they were looking at the front of a postcard. They peered down at the edge of the cliff, watching the fast-moving river crashing down to the white foam.

‘That. Is. So. Awesome.’ Said Tom in complete awe. Emma couldn’t hear him over roar of the waterfall.

‘You jumping?’ he yelled. Emma looked at him like he had just announced that he was joining the priesthood. She shook her head and pointed to the stiches on her leg. Tom shrugged.  He took off his shirt and stripped down to his board shorts. ‘Hold onto these,’ he said.

‘Er, um what er-’ she spluttered

He turned his head. ‘I’ll come back up. Don’t miss me too much,’ he said. He ran hands down his face and dived, disappearing into the white mist. Since when did Tom start working out? Not that I noticed- okay yeah I noticed I’m only human, she thought and jostled her head around to rid herself of such thoughts. As she searched for Tom from the edge of the waterfall, she felt an itch at the top of her scalp. Tom eventually returned to the top cheering like a mad man.

‘Woo! Did you see that Emma? Man what a rush! I was-’

Emma turned around to see dripping wet Tom’s fixated on something above her, his eyes widening in complete fear.

‘What?’ she asked. Even though his mouth was gaping, Tom was unable to speak and merely pointed to the top of Emma’s head. Now that he pointed it out, she could feel something crawling on her head…something with several legs. Emma shrieked. She shook her hair in every direction whilst running around in circles determined to get it off or get as far away from the thing on her head as possible. She was unable to see with the head of hair in her face and fell over, skidding onto the rocks in front of her.

Emma shrieked in pain as the stiches on her leg came undone. Blood rushed towards the opening and travelled down her leg. Tom ran to her aid.

‘Oh God! Ok, um put pressure on it. The blood flow will slow down, I think,’ he said. Emma dragged herself to the closest tree to lean on.

‘Go get help,’ she said.

‘What? No, I’m not leaving you here by yourself.’

‘I guess we’re going to be here until they find us,’

He shrugged and sat next to her against the tree.

‘Could take all night,’ she said

‘That’s fine with me.’

‘Fine,’ she huffed

‘Fine,’ he replied in an equally disgruntled tone and sat against the tree next to her.  They sat in silence for a moment.

‘Is the spider out of my hair at least?’

‘Actually it flew out of your hair a while ago. I was going to say something but watching you have a spaz attack was just too funny that I didn’t have it in me to tell you.’

Chapter 15

A week or two had passed and still Emma and Tom had not said a word to one another. Tom stopped waiting for Emma in the morning; it didn’t matter anyway because Eric picked her up in his silver Audi. Funny how as Emma and Tom’s friendship was facing rocky ground Emma and Eric’s whatever-it-was was progressing. Maybe Eric’s initial theory about the sort-of kiss relieving them of their awkward tension had merit after all. The only thing preventing Emma from getting any closer was the nagging voice at the back of her head yelling ‘GEMMA GEMMA GEMMA.’ Speaking of which Eric still had not mentioned at all.

It was now five am in the morning and the senior biology students of Oaklea High were waiting in the car park to be seated into the bus that would take them to their three-day camp in the ranges. Everyone was dressed appropriately for the cold weather. Emma was wearing her grey beanie and three thick jackets that made arm movement difficult.

Eric laughed ‘Emma what are these?’ He asked, lifting Emma’s hand.

‘Gloves,’ Emma replied

‘I can see that but some of it appears to be missing,’

‘They’re fingerless gloves…they’re cool,’ she said defensively. Although she frowned when she saw her fingers beginning to turn a shade of purple.

‘As ‘cool’ as they may be, they’re not exactly practical. I’ve got an extra pair in the car. I’ll go and get them.’

‘No Eric it’s not-’

But she could already see his back, making his way to the student car park on the other side of the school.

‘-necessary.’ She continued weakly, knowing no one was listening to her.

‘Alright everyone grab a partner and get on the bus,’

The students flocked frantically towards the bus determined not to become the last ones left to get the second row seat behind the teacher.

‘Eric hurry up!’ Emma called out to Eric who was running back to the bus with the pair of gloves in his hand.  The teacher, Miss Cameron, who was watching behind her said ‘Sorry Emma, due to safety regulations we can’t have you sitting next to Eric.’

‘Miss Cameron are you serious? Why not?’

‘It’s a security risk to call out your partner’s name.’

‘That makes no sense!’

‘Emma, I don’t make the rules okay? Now I know you and Tom are practically joined at the hip so I’ll just seat you two together.’

‘But er miss-’

‘See? It’s not so bad.’

Oh God, four more hours of this? Thought Emma. The ‘this’ she was referring to was the bus ride where she was sitting next to Tom who was playing tetris whilst listening to music on his ipod. Emma looked out the window. It was pouring outside and the rain pounding on the window was blocking the view. The phone in her pocket vibrated which startled Emma. She yelped.

Eric

30-Mar-09 5:35am

I have nothing against Miss C

But why did she have to move me next to her? She

won’t stop talking about her porcelain cat

collection. How’re things doing back there?

Emma smiled as she read Eric’s text grateful for any form of human communication. At the corner of his eye Tom was watching Emma. He was aching to talk to his best friend. The last time they had gone this long without talking to one another was after the famous Cornstarch Incident of ’05. Oh shit she’s looking at me staring at her with the corner of my eye with the corner of her eye. As soon as they had made eye contact Tom turned back to his game of Tetris and Emma went back to the raindrops.

Emma

30-Mar-09 5:36am

I left my ipod in your car. GREAT.

She planned this.  Everyone

knows Miss Cam has a crush on you

Less than a second later after pressing OK Emma heard Eric’s phone beep from the front of the bus.

Emma was getting restless waiting for a reply text. Moments passed when Jeremy, who was sitting in the seat in front of Tom, turned around in his seat ‘Hey Emma?’

‘What?’

Jeremy handed over a piece of paper over to Emma through the gap between the chairs. Emma opened the piece of paper.

It was either I had to turn my phone off or show her the text message. She was really determined to find out who it was from. Sorry Emma I’ll see you at the camp.

-Eric

After Emma read the note from Eric she folded it up and placed it in her jeans pocket. She sighed. It was going to be a long ride.

Chapter 14

 ‘What did I do wrong?’ he asked. His dark brown eyes looked at her with worry.

‘Er, what?’

‘You didn’t call me all weekend. And you’re avoiding me. I just need to know what I did to upset you. And then I’ll leave you alone.’

Emma unconvincingly laughed. ‘Avoiding? Ha ha What? Ha ha What are you talking about?’

‘Well, for one, this morning when you saw me in the hall you turned the other way and ran into the girls’ bathroom.’ More like ran into the door, thought Emma.

 ‘I had to really go. I had a bad breakfast burrito-’ she stopped herself as soon as she realised what she was saying.

‘There I go again’, she mumbled.

Now it was Eric’s turn to say ‘What?’

Emma closed her eyes to collect herself. ‘Okay, here goes...you have this…affect on people.’

Eric lifted his left eyebrow. Emma could feel herself rise a few degrees.

‘See? You’re doing it right now! You have this aura of perfectness that intimidates everyone and makes me say stupid things. Like, like when you drove me home last week,’ she accused. Emma took a deep breath.

‘Wait is this what all this avoiding me stuff is about?’

‘Yeah. Wait…no yeah I’m pretty sure that’s it.’

Eric placed his hands on Emma’s shoulders gently moving them towards her to corner of the room.

His voice deepened ‘Can you do me a favour?’

Emma didn’t reply, finding it very hard to find her voice. And breath.

‘Tell everyone I’m kind of far from perfect.’

He leaned down to brushed his lips lightly against hers. He lifted his head up and paused for a moment.

 ‘Sorry, I thought if I did that it’d get the awkwardness between us out of the way,’

He timidly scratched his head. ‘I guess it didn’t work. I’m gonna…I’m gonna go now,’ he stammered and stumbled over a chair as he made his way out of the classroom. 

Chapter 13

‘What is the probability that I will use Mr Reynolds’ ugly ass tie to hang myself right now given that I’ve taken methods as a subject?’ complained Shah

‘Shah pay attention! This is some pretty tricky stuff,’

‘You know all that I’ve achieved today?’ She showed Emma the piece of loose-leaf paper she was working on, which was a bell shaped curve transformed into a detailed sketch of a phallus.

Emma dropped the paper as if it was infected with herpes. ‘Ewww, Shah!’

‘I’m sorry girls am I interrupting your chit chat?’ said Mr Reynolds in an annoyed tone.

‘No sir,’ they said in unison.

‘No, no do carry on. I’m sure your petty little lives is much more important than mathematics, which will take you so far in life. I’m sure boys and Brittany Spears and the pathetic rate of which your test scores have been plummeting is going well for you. Please do share it to the class.’

The two girls did not say a word. Emma sunk lower into her chair and her face was profusely heating up.

‘Well, I guess it didn’t work out for you Mr Reynolds,’ said Eric, who was sitting a row behind Emma.

‘Math I mean. All it did was take you here. Teaching math. At this school,’

The entire class ooo-ed. Mr Reynolds opened his mouth and then closed it. He then proceeded to teach the class probability as if the last thirty seconds never happened.

The bell that concluded the last period rang.

‘I am so freaking out of here before Eric’s alpha male freaky voodoo shit powers wear off on Reynolds and he decides to whoop my ass, ’ quivered Shah

‘Me too,’ agreed Emma. Just as she was saying those words her books and things had slid off the table and onto the floor. He books and papers her tin pencil case had burst open letting pencils, pens and rubbers fall out.

‘Sorry sister you’re on your own,’ said Shah and bolted.

Emma rolled her eyes and bent over to pick up her books. Eric walked over to help. By the time they were done, the class was empty. They were alone.

‘Hey um, thanks for saving my butt back there.’

‘No problem, Reynolds just needs to get a reality check from time to time,’ he shrugged and gave her a half smile.

‘Yeah well I’ve got to go. That English essay due tomorrow isn’t going to write itself. I mean gosh Romulus my Father, what a bore. See you around.’

Emma swivelled around to leave but a hand held onto her forearm preventing her from leaving.

Chapter 12

‘Why is White Boy sitting over at the Hotties table?’ asked Shah, nodding over to Tom on the soccer team’s table. She dumped her food tray next to Emma’s and slid into her seat. Emma tiredly continued to spoon through her sloppy pudding cup.

‘We sort of had a fight,’ she sighed

‘Was he all moody for you getting some booty? ‘Cause dayum you know he had his chance I mean you hit puberty at like what? Thirte-. Uh Eric! Hi. Hello.’

Emma jerked her head up, the impact knocking over her chocolate pudding. If Eric Carter wasn’t standing across her table she would have probably noticed it all over her hands.

‘Hi Shamiqua,’ he said and smiled. He turned his attention to Emma. ‘Emma, do you have the homework Miss Jones set for us?’

‘Um. No, sorry,’ she replied and went back to her pudding…which she just realised was spilled over the table.

Eric stared at her as if he was waiting for her to say something more and when she didn’t, he turned around and went back to his usual table by the window with Tom and the other soccer players.  Shah shook her head in disappointment once he left.

‘Sister, that was cold,’

‘What are you talking about? I said sorry didn’t I?’

 ‘I don’t know how you could brush him over your shoulder like that.’ Shah fanned herself. ‘He’s the only white boy that can make me talk funny like I forget what I’m saying.’

‘What are you talking about? He was just asking me a simple question.’

‘Everyone knows you don’t give a damn about environmental science. He obviously wanted you to make a move. Real talk, what’s wrong with chu girl?’

She’d been avoiding Eric ever since the party incident where she probably drooled onto his car seat. One look at him was a reminder of the humiliation she experienced that night where he must have thought she was the biggest drunken loser in the history of drunken losers. She wiped off the chocolate pudding with a serviette and flicked it onto her tray.

‘Hey Shah I gotta go and er, set up early for class. See you at later in math.’

‘Don’t you go changing the subject. Tell me what happened at the party! Hey no don’t you walk away from me girl!’ She called after Emma.

*

‘Wilkinson, what are you doing here?’ asked Damon, sitting with Tom on the table. Tom whose arm was draped around his new found beau, Lacey, shrugged.

‘Geez Damo can’t a guy hang out with his mates every once in a while with his chick?’ Tom winced at how that sentence had sounded. He wasn't very good at this guy-talk thing. 

Damon turned around to look at Emma spooning her pudding at the other table. ‘What’d you do this time?’

‘Who says it has to be my fault?’

 ‘I never realised until now but Emma ain’t that bad. Did you see her at my party last night? Mmm. I’d do her.’

‘You’d do anything that moves and doesn’t have chest hair,’ joked Russell. 

 ‘Lay off it Damon. Don’t talk about Emma like that,’ the voice behind him snapped. It was Eric, who had just come from Emma’s table where he figured she was still avoiding him for some mysterious reason.

Tom laughed. ‘As if she’d even let you come within 2 feet of her,’ he said. Damon frowned.

Eric looked at his watch ‘Yeah I have a biology experiment to set up. Just came to tell you guys that practice is cancelled tonight. Coach is sick and they just planted some grass seeds on our oval or something. Catch you guys later,’ he said and left.

Lacey yawned and rested her head on Tom’s shoulder. ‘Tom-Tom, can we go? I’m bored.’ She whispered something into his ear, inaudible to everyone else sitting on the table.

Tom’s eyes lit up and a grin spread across his face. ‘Alright fellers, see you later,’ he said and left the cafeteria with Lacey.

As soon as he left one of the boys leaned in closer.

‘So, is the bet still on?’ he said discretely

Damon smirked. ‘Please, you guys will be handing over the cash me by the end of the month.’

‘I’m not so sure man, Carter’s a pretty smooth operator,’

‘Write this in ink if you have to: Emma Matthews will be mine before Carter gets his hands on her.’

Chapter 11

When Emma woke up, it was the late afternoon. Every sound, every beam of light made her head throb. She covered a pillow over her head.

‘So this is what a hangover feels like,’ she said into her pillow

Memories of the night before were hazy and she hoped that the parts that she did remember were just a dream. Her phone buzzed. She reached over to her bedside table and grabbed it.

‘Oh crap, twenty missed calls!’ She went through the unopened text messages in her inbox.

Tom

22-Mar-09 11:30pm

You bloody legend, you.

 CG She said yes :)

…and she has a good way of showing it ;)

Tom

23-Mar-09 12:40am

This has got to be the greatest

 night of my life. Hey where are you?

Tom

23-Mar-09 12:42am

Remind to thank you for being the

best friend a man could have.

Why is my jacket on the couch? Where are you?

Tom

23-Mar-09 12:45am

I can’t find you. PICK UP YOUR PHONE.

 Call me when you get this message.

Tom

23-Mar-09 12:48am

Emma, I had to break up my date

just so I could search Damon’s house

looking for you. You owe it to me to

CALL ME BACK.

Tom

23-Mar-09 12:50am

CALL ME BACK TO WIN $1 MILLION

Shah

23-Mar-09 1:01am

White boy walked in on me. EW.

He told me to txt u 2 call him. I told him

Ur probz gettn sum. He went all syko.

Wut did he expect?

U lookd hawt!

Tom

23-Mar-09 3:04am

Ok, so I woke up your dad and he checked

that you were in your room. I might not be over

your place for a while, I think he wanted to kill me.

Emma dialled Tom’s number. Tom picked up after one ring.

‘WHY DIDN’T YOU CALL ME.’

Emma moved the phone away from her ear, Tom’s voice vibrated unpleasantly through her ear and to the very core of her brain.

‘Please don’t yell, it hurts. I’m calling you now aren’t I?’ she said into the phone.

‘DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT I WENT THROUGH LAST NIGHT.’

 ‘I-’

Tom lowered his voice, but still kept his enraged tone.

‘First, everything was going great you know with the Californian girl on the couch. And then what do you know, I’m sitting on my jacket. The one that I told YOU TO HANG ONTO. Then I go and look for you everywhere and ring you two dozen times. So I’m thinking no, Emma wouldn’t be stupid enough to be upstairs would she? By the way, I know who Carlos is now and whose image of his ass will forever be embedded IN MY BRAIN.’

‘Please don’t raise your voice,’ Emma pleaded. Tom ignored her, continuing with his rant.

‘So then it’s the last room in the house I haven’t checked and it’s bloody Damon’s bedroom. I felt dirty even touching the doorknob. I end up pulling some guy off this girl thinking it was you. Then he gets all pissed and wants a fight, which by the way I won but it still doesn’t get rid of my black eye. Then some guy who is in the crowd watching the fight says that some girl in boots left with SOME GUY. ’

‘Tom-’

‘You’d think my night would end there but oh no. Eric, our only sober driver is missing so I get a ride with Carlos and Shah which was awkward, considering I saw them going at it soon before. Oh and then halfway there our car runs out of gas so we call a cab. Then we get kicked out because Carlos’ credit card is declined and I left my wallet in your bag. So I had to walk the rest of the way to your house so that I could wake up your dad to call the police at three in THE MORNING.

‘Tom-’

‘But it turns out you’re in bed and I am now on your dad’s hit list.’

‘TOM!’

‘What?’ Tom, being so determined to tell his story, for a moment had forgotten that Emma was on the other end on the line.

‘Are you done?’

‘Yes, I believe so.’

‘Good,’ she said and hung up.

Chapter 10

It was half past midnight now and the roads were almost deserted. Eric helped Emma into his car. He did up her seatbelt and went into the driver’s seat.
‘Hey Eric! Eric. Eric. Eric. Eric. Eric,’ said Emma.
‘Yes Emma?’
‘Can I touch your purdy hair? It’s so dark and purdy,’ she said. Without waiting for a reply she brushed though Eric’s hair with her fingers. Eric laughed and turned on the engine.
She fell asleep with her mouth gaped open on the whole ride home. When they had reached their destination, Eric gently nudged her.
‘Five more minutes, dad,’ she mumbled into the seat and flipped on her other side. Eric got out of his car and scooped Emma out of the passenger’s seat.
‘Can you walk?’ He let her slowly down on her feet. Emma wobbled like a calf taking its first steps.
‘Here, lean on me.’ He helped her to the front door.
‘No no no Dad would kill me if he sees me like this.’
‘Did you want to stay over my place tonight then?’
Emma snorted. ‘Oh yeah, that’ll put him at ease.’
‘Is there any other way of getting in?’ he asked and scanned the area
‘The ladder. It’s behind the bush.’
Eric piggybacked a drowsy Emma up the ladder and into her room. She aimed to fall onto the bed but only managed to get halfway there. She was sprawled on the carpet like an animal rug. Eric carried her the rest of the way, laid her on the bed and pulled her bed sheets over her halfway.
‘I am so drunk right now,’ she said dreamily
‘I know,’ said Eric who was sitting by her.
‘Why do you have to be around when I make a nut of myself? You must think I’m some crazy loser,’ she mumbled.
‘It’s not too bad…I like crazy girls,’ he said. He looked at his watch and remembered that he had to go back to the party to drive everyone home.
‘Goodnight Emma,’ he said. He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the forehead. But by then Emma was already sound asleep to notice.

Chapter 9

Now Emma was alone with Tom on the other side eagerly waiting for results. She did ‘get’ what Carlos meant but that didn’t mean she was going to do it. Her friendship could only go so far. Emma signalled Tom. She shrugged. Tom’s face became crestfallen. She had never seen him so keen on a girl before and it broke her heart to see the one girl that he had ever expressed interest in turn him down.
Emma took a deep breath, skulled the rest of her punch, wiped her mouth and walked over to Tom. She made sure that Lacey was definitely watching.
‘Now before I do this, I just wanted to say that this was Carlos’ idea. So make sure you thank him as well.’
‘Do what? And who’s Carlos?’
Emma placed a hand on each of Tom’s shoulders.
‘Emma…’
Let’s get this over and done with. Rip it off, like a bandaid.
She dragged him closer until her lips were pressed firmly against his. Emma closed her eyes and counted to three Mississippis whilst trying very hard to think happy thoughts. When it was over she pushed him away just as roughly as she had dragged him in.
‘There you go. You can open your eyes now,’ she said and walked off before he could say anything, passing Lacey who was already on her way to Tom.
Now what? Thought Emma. Her ride was busy and she was in a party with people who were either too drunk to hold a conversation, occupied with their dates or total strangers to Emma.
‘Em-ma-ma-ma,’ said a voice behind her. She turned around.
‘Oh, hi Damon.’
‘Wowzers d-you get hotter or some-fing’ he slurred. Damon was swaying from side to side, struggling to stand. Emma took a step back, knowing what was about to come. Damon’s vomit had just missed Emma’s shoes. She sighed in relief.
‘Do you need help or something?’
‘I won the drinking game Woo for Damo. D-you wanna seee mah woom? I show you mah woom.’
‘Yeah, no thanks.’
‘Ca monn I can show you a good time. Didn’t you hear? I won the drinking game,’ he said. His eyes rolled back and he was on the floor. A few people crowded around. Emma saw this as an opportunity to slip away.
She decided to head to the kitchen away from the deafening music. She ignored all the wolf whistles as she passed a group of guys with cups of beer in their hands in the hallway. Okay yeah, maybe Tom was right. Damn it where did I leave his jacket?
In the kitchen she could see someone looking through the fridge. The figure began to turn around.
Oh crud muffins, it’s him. Run, Run, run.
‘Emma?’
She quietly groaned to herself. The last time she had seen him her blood was all over his tshirt and she was screaming swear words so explicit that it would put an MTV rap song to shame. The last thing she wanted was to see Eric ever again, he was a constant reminder of how much of a dickhead she could be. She swivelled around and greeted Eric with a smile.
‘Oh hey Eric, fancy seeing you around here,’
‘I could say the same for you. I usually don’t see you at parties. How are you? I tried visiting you a few times but your little sister kept telling me that you were busy. Cute kid by the way.’
‘Oh, yeah lots of homework and stuff,’ and avoiding you. Eric put down the ingredients he had taken out of the fridge onto the kitchen bench. ‘Sorry about your jacket. The doctor said you showed great initiative when you used it for my injury if it makes you feel any better’
‘That’s fine just keep it,’ he looked at her, ‘You know I was just about to make a…a,’ he stammered. Eric had finally noticed Emma’s attire. He looked bashfully away and distracted himself with the food on the table.
‘A sub?’ Emma guessed.
‘Do you want one?’
‘Thank God I am starving!’ she exclaimed and sat on the kitchen counter. Eric placed the two baguettes on the chopping board and began filling them.
‘So why aren’t you out there getting smashed with everyone else?’ she asked, curious.
‘Designated driver,’ he said ‘As always. Honey mustard or mayo?’
‘Mayo. Well that sucks.’
Eric shrugged. ‘I’m okay with it. These sort of parties aren’t my thing anyway. I don’t think alcohol could make it any better.’
‘Then why do you go?’
‘I’m sort of obligated to, as Soccer Captain. You know, to be part of the team.’
Emma nodded, as if he had said something profound.
‘What’s your excuse?’ he asked, then handed over the sub to Emma.
‘Helping best friend get with the school’s biggest boobs while I’m stuck here because my ride is some Latino guy doing God knows what with my other friend upstairs. Wow! This is so good,’ she said pointing to her sub then giving Eric a thumbs up. She took another big bite.
Eric raised an eyebrow. ‘Emma, how much have you had to drink?’
‘None. I had punch!’ she said then laughed hysterically. Eric palmed his forehead.
‘Emma, you should never drink anything here that you didn’t see come straight from a can. The punch bowl is probably spiked.’
‘OOooh so that explains why I can talk to you so easily and not have images of you making out with Gemma in the bathroom mirror.’
‘How do you even know about Gemm- you know, I think we should get you home.’

Chapter 8

‘So then Reynolds’ face was running like hell to the toilets. And I swear if he wasn’t about to blow in his pants he would’ve strangled me,’ said Tom and took a swig of beer. A whole group of people were surrounding him listening to his story. He struggled to be heard above the loud music that was playing behind him. Tom continued ‘I told him that I had locked all the toilet cubicles in the school but one and he had to find it,’ he grinned. ‘But of course, I was lying. They were all locked.’ Everyone laughed and clapped.
‘Who’s that,’ said a guy and pointed behind Tom. Tom turned around and his smile dropped.
‘Excuse me,’ said Tom and left the group. He pushed through many people and in-between couples to make his way to the girl that had just came through the door and was accompanied by Shah who was tied around the waist of some dodgy looking guy with a goatee. Tom grabbed her wrist and pulled her aside.
‘Emma, what are you wearing? Wait, no, let me rephrase. Why are you wearing that?’
‘Shah,’ she sighed and knew that that was all she needed to say. Tom looked around nervously, feeling the need to protect Emma from other gazing eyes. He unzipped his jacket and draped it over Emma’s shoulders. ‘You shouldn’t be wearing this sort of stuff when you come alone to a party, Emma,’
‘Tom, quit it you’re embarrassing me,’ she complained and took the jacket off.
‘Fine then just hold onto it at least and don’t leave my side.’
Emma rolled her eyes.
‘Let’s just get this over and done with so I can go home already. Where is she?’
He smiled and pointed past the crowd to the direction of the outdoor pool.
‘Swimming in the pool in her bikini. She’s getting out now! Come on guys or we’ll miss the show.’

Shah, Carlos Emma and Tom headed to the pool and there was the new girl from California, she didn’t bother to dry herself off with a towel as she got out of the pool. Tom nudged Emma towards her. Emma almost fell over from the impact.
‘Okay, I’ll wait over there on the other side of the pool pretending to do my own business,’ said Tom
‘You go girl!’ yelled Shah supportively.
‘Hi, I’m Emma. So, Lacey right? You know the boy over there who keeps asking you to the prom…’
‘…’
‘Tom…Wilkinson?’ said Emma
‘Right. Did you want something or what?’ she said, seeming uninterested while looking at her nails. She wore her heels and headed over towards the punch. Emma followed, taking some punch for herself as well.
‘Well, I just think you should give him a chance. I mean I’ve known him since I can remember and he’s really a great guy. He plays for the soccer team and plays the guitar and um, is really really good.’
Lacey looked over to Emma with her fierce eyes, she was intrigued by Emma’s interest in helping this boy.
‘If he’s so great, then why aren’t you into him?’
‘Er…because-because,’
‘Unless,’ she took a step closer to Emma, towering over her in her seven inch heels ‘Unless you are.’
Emma didn’t know what to say. This was totally not going to plan and so she turned around and retreated back to Shah and her date.
Emma explained to them what happened.
‘She’s one of those girls,’ said Carlos, whose arms were wrapped around Shah.
‘Expand.’
‘She likes men who are wanted by other ladies.’
‘She’s a home wrecker. Is that what you mean baby?’ said Shah. Carlos nodded. Happy that they were on the same wavelength they started kissing. Emma shifted her weight, finding this incredibly awkward.
‘Wait Emily,’ said Carlos breaking from the kiss.
‘It’s Emma.’
‘If you really want to help your friend, you’d make her believe that he was wanted…you get me?’ he said. ‘Me and Shah will be upstairs. It might be a while.’ And they were gone.

Chapter 7

‘Stop moving or I’ll slap yo’ ass,’ Shah snapped.

‘Well, maybe if you were a little gentler with the eyelash curler I wouldn’t have to,’ said Emma. It was the night of the party and Emma was at Shah’s getting ready. Shah was already dressed in a red revealing dress and ready to go. She was helping out with Emma’s makeup, and as always was a little aggressive in doing so.

‘Done. Now what are you going to wear?’

‘Er, this?’ said Emma, gesturing to her denim jeans and grey cardigan. Shah took a step back.

‘I mean what are you wearing to the party, not to sleep,’

‘I know.’

Shah sighing went to her massive closet and rummaged through it.

‘Here, put this on,’ she said and handed her a black dress. Emma undressed and slipped on the dress and zipped it up. She stood in front of the mirror and for a moment did not recognise the girl staring before her.

‘Shah, this is way too short!’

‘Dang girl, now that’s what I’m talking bout! It’s about time your legs made its debut don’t you think?’

‘But I still have this bandaid thing covering my stiches. It looks ridiculous!’

‘Girl, are you thick? Go get my knee high boots,’

‘There is no way I’m leaving this house with this on,’

‘That’s too bad, because you either go to Damon’s with me wearing that or,’ Shah grabbed Emma’s clothes that were lying on the bed, making sure they were out of reach. ‘You go naked.’

A car beeped from outside. Emma peered over the window. An old blue Ford was parked outside the house

‘Oh look there’s our ride,’ said Shah

‘I thought your mum was taking us there,’ said Emma. Shah grabbed her clutch and checked her makeup with the mirror.

‘That was before I met Carlos. I said move it girl!’

‘Who is Carlos? Oh Shah, not another high school drop out.’

‘Let’s go! Let’s go! Before mama realises I’m gone.’

Chapter 6

‘I have homework for you,’ he said. He started to unzip his backpack to get out Emma’s homework. Emma put her hand over his to stop him.

‘What are you really doing here?’ He looked up with an innocent expression as if he did not know what she was talking about. Emma stared at him more sternly. Knowing that he would never win the fight against her deathly stare he dropped his façade and sat on her bed.

‘Okay okay you got me. It’s about the Californian chi-I mean Lacey. I need…help,’

‘Well, well, well. I never thought I’d ever see the day that Tom Wilkinson admits that he needs help with the ladies,’ she said triumphantly. ‘What happened to ‘I like the game’,’ she mocked.

‘Screw the game. Yesterday the whole school saw Lacey’s name mowed into the football field, signed by William. And then today he snuck into Principal Wallis’ office and sang ‘Love Me Tender’ over the PA with the school’s freaking barbershop quartet and dedicated the song to her. How do you even compete with that?’

‘So what do you want me to do?’

‘Be my wingman when we see her at the Damon’s party next week. Please?’

‘You know I hate going to those sort of parties. And someone always ends up throwing up on my shoes-Tom, stop looking at me like that!’

Tom’s eyes were looking up at Emma, glistening against the moonlight coming from the window. They were wide with tears welling up at the bottom, determined to release and fall down against his cheek. Emma rolled her eyes.

‘Fine. I’ll do it,’ she said, surrendering to his puppy dog eyes. Tom’s face instantly lightened up. He jumped up onto the bed and did a little cheer dance.

‘Shh! You’ll wake up my dad,’ she hissed. Tom apologized and stepped off the bed and to his backpack. He pulled out a slip of paper from the middle pocket and handed it over to Emma.

‘For you milady, a permission slip for our biology camp in two week’s time,’ he turned to leave.

 ‘Oh, I almost forgot,’ he said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out red gummy bears that were sealed in a sandwich bag.  He handed them over to Emma. ‘Get well soon, Em,’ he turned to leave.

‘Wait Tom, how did you know that I only eat the red gummy bears?’

He shrugged. ‘Remember that time you left your handbag at my place when you slept over at grade 3?’

‘No, but go on,’

‘Being the curious young lad I was I looked in to see what you actually have in there. Anyway, there was a packet of gummy bears and before I ate them I noticed all the red ones were missing.’

Tom had never mentioned this before and it surprised Emma that he would remember something like this. Heck, he had sometimes had trouble remembering his little brother’s birthday. Touched by his thoughtful gift Emma opened her arms and walked in for a hug.

‘Oh God, no please don’t go all gooey on me. Please. It took ages for me to pick them out of each gummy bear mix. You owe it to me not to-’

But it was too late. Tom patted her awkwardly.

‘You’re a great friend Tom,’ she said into his chest

Chapter 5

Emma slowly opened her eyes. The room was immaculately white. A woman’s face was stared back at her.

‘Hello Emma Matthews. It’s good to see that you’re awake,’ the woman in white said pleasently

‘Where am I?’

‘Heaven,’ said a voice behind the woman. Well, that sucked. Did she really die from falling over a gnome?

Hey wait a second, why does that voice sound so-

‘Tom! Not funny,’

He took a seat and dragged it over to her bedside.

‘You’re in hospital. You lost a lot of blood from the accident but good thing that young man from before was there with his quick thinking. You could have lost a lot more,’ said the doctor.

‘Eric? Where’s Eric?’

‘His mum called for him to go home,’ said Tom

‘And dad?’

‘Down in the cafeteria with your little sister,’ he said.

‘Now Emma, I‘ve just given you a few stitches and I gave you some morphine to help with the pain. Lucky for you the shards of porcelain had just missed the bone so nothing’s broken. Okay I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone,’ she winked

‘Oh! We’re not-’ called Emma but the doctor was already gone before she could finish her sentence. She turned her attention to Tom.

‘When can I leave?’

‘When your dad’s done with the buffet I guess,’ he said

‘We might be here all night then,’ she joked. Tom pulled his chair in closer.

‘How much does it hurt?’ he asked

‘Thank God for painkillers. Still hurts like hell though. Distract me from my pain,’ she said

‘I got hit in the head by a volleyball. And she said no.’

‘Bummer. Her loss I guess.’

A smile crept up from the corner of his mouth. ‘This is just the beginning. Mark my words Emma, Californian girl will go to the prom with me. She’s making the game more fun. I like that,’ he sighed

 ‘You still don’t know her name do you?’

‘Nope.’

Emma rolled her eyes.

‘Okay so I did some snooping around,’ Shah said. Shah was paying a visit to Emma afterschool. The doctor had recommended she take off a week from school. Shah lay next to Emma on the bed.

‘Shah, what are you talking about?’

‘Uhh girl don’t you remember? You got some Gemma ho’ standing in the way between you and your man,’ she said and waggled her head.

‘Eric is not ‘my man’,’ she imitated ‘He sat next to me at math once, that’s all.’

‘Girl he is so warm for your form and he’s been worrying about you all day,’ she said

Emma sat up a little ‘…Really?’

‘Mhmm. He told me he wanted to come by and check you out but his coach said he’d be kicked off the soccer team if he missed another practice.’

‘Oh…But if he has a girlfriend I don’t want to get involved,’ said Emma.

‘It’s a dawg eat dawg world honey,’

‘Er-’            

‘Okay,’ Shah ignored Emma and continued. ‘There aren’t any Gemmas in our senior class. There’s one in year nine but I checked her out and she is definitely not the one we heard on the phone. So I went on Facebook and looked up Eric’s friend list and what do you know, there’s a Gemma. My sources from other schools have told me that there’s a Gemma Lovett in their senior class around them rich city areas. Everyone knows her. I’m sure this is our girl. Here, I printed a photo,’ Shah handed over a picture of a pretty blond girl in a tight black singlet who had taken a photo of a reflection of herself from her bathroom mirror.

‘Shah! This is so creepy. Put it away,’

‘You’ll thank me for this someday.’ She said as she folded it back into her bag.

‘Now you know what you’re competing with,’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘No offense sweetie you’re hot. But when I look at this girl, it makes me wish I was playing for the same team mhmm. It wouldn’t hurt to show some boot-tay once in a while. Maybe let your hair out. Ya feelin’ me?

‘Not happening,’            

‘Fine I gotta go, mama’s making gumbo for dinner. Bye honey,’ she said and left.

For the rest of the night Emma lay in bed, reading her English novel by her study lamp. Suddenly her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and picked it up.

‘Hello?’

‘Open the window for me will you?’

‘Are you serious? It’s almost ten and you have school tomorrow.’

‘So?’

Emma hung up and hopped out of bed and to the window.

‘Thanks,’ he said and jumped inside her room. Ever since she had watched her first episode of Dawson’s Creek when she was seven Emma thought it would be coolest thing to have a ladder leading to her room. Now that she was a little older she knew that it probably wasn’t such a great idea having a ladder leading to her bedroom. Only few people knew about the ladder hidden in the bushes and Tom rarely used it unless it was important.

‘Tom, what are you doing here?’

Chapter 4

‘Hey you hungry? I’m hungry. You got anything to eat in here? Or can we go to a McDiddy’s drive through and get some fries or somethin’?’ said Shah from the front.

‘I have a box of muesli bars in the glove compartment. Help yourself,’ said Eric as he was driving.

‘I was talking about some real food,’ she said but it didn’t stop her from opening the glove compartment and reaching for the muesli bars.

‘You want some, honey?’ asked Shah, handing the box to Emma behind her. Emma declined. Shah shrugged ‘More for me then,’

A muffled sound came from Eric’s backpack. Shah opened his backpack and handed him his phone. He switched it to loudspeaker, one hand on the wheel the other holding his phone.

‘Hello?’ he answered.

‘Hey baby. You haven’t called me all week. I thought something was wrong with your phone. Eric I’m really really-’

‘Hey Gemma, you’re on loud speaker,’ he interrupted.

‘I don’t mind if people listen,’ the voice said

‘Look I’ll call you back. Goodbye,’ he said and hung up.

‘Sorry about that’, he apologised. The car was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop.           

‘Shamiqua your house was number thirteen right?’

‘…over there,’ Shah said and pointed. Eric pulled into the driveway.

‘Hey sis call me later about the … homework,’ she said to Emma behind her. Emma got the message and received a kiss on the cheek as they said their goodbyes to each other.

As soon as Shah had shut the car door behind her Eric turned round to Emma and smiled his famous smile ‘How would you like to be promoted to front seat Emma?’ he proposed.

‘I don’t know Eric, do you think I’m ready?’ she joked back.

‘Just jump over.’

Soon enough Emma found herself settled into the front seat next to Eric. Eric reversed out of Shah’s driveway and resumed to normal driving. Next stop was Emma’s place. Eric could see Emma out of the corner of his eye. Eric found this arrangement much easier. His neck was getting a little cramped from sneaking glances via the rear view mirror.

Emma’s phone buzzed. She pulled it out from the pocket of her jeans and flipped it open. It was a text message from Shah.

Shah

12-Mar-09 6:05pm

Hu is Gemma? SHAH IS ON IT

‘On what?’ Emma accidentally said out loud to her phone

‘Sorry what was that?’

‘Um, nothing.’

There was an awkward silence that followed. Emma looked out the window whilst tapping a rhythm on her leg with her fingers. They were at a traffic light now. Eric broke the silence.

‘Do you want to know something? Out of my five years at this school that was my first detention today,’ he confessed. Emma laughed.

‘Why am I not surprised Saint Eric of Oaklea High?’

He shrugged. ‘It wasn’t so bad. It was actually quite exhilarating. Do you reckon we’ll get in trouble for leaving detention early?’

‘Ha! Yeah right. Reynolds is probably too busy cooking up the worst punishment in the history of punishments for Tom.’

‘Oh Really? What do you reckon Tom did when he ran after him?’

‘Well, the last time Reynolds fell for the same ‘runs in a cup’ trick he mistook the janitor’s closet as the bathroom and well, Tom jammed the door with a chair. But knowing Tom, he would have tried something different to challenge himself.’

For the rest of the car ride Emma told Eric of many of Tom’s pranks he had pulled over the years and before they knew it, they were parked outside Emma’s house.

Eric wiped a tear, trying to control himself from bursting into even more laughter.

‘Do you want me to walk you to your door? It’s quite dark right now,’

Emma undid her seatbelt and clicked the door open.

‘Oh no it’s cool. I mean, my house is only a few feet away.’

‘Well, ok. Goodnight Emma.’

‘Thanks Eric for the ride and um…yeah,’

Emma was halfway to the door. She didn’t see the garden gnome in her pathway. She stumbled and fell on top of it. The weight of her leg over the gnome had caused the gnome to collapse inwards. She screamed in pain as its broken sharp edges penetrated into her leg. Lucky for Emma, in her given circumstances, Eric was waiting idly in his car making sure she made it safely to the front door. He ran out of the car and to Emma’s rescue.

‘Oh my God, Emma. Are you okay?’ he said. He knelt by her side.

‘Holy crap on a cracker, what do you think?’ she said through her clenched teeth.

‘Which leg is it?’

‘The left! The left!’

‘I can’t see anything. I have to bring you inside.’

‘I can’t walk! I-’ Eric lifted her gently up from the ground. Emma was up in the air cradled in his arms.

‘Put my arms around my neck,’ he said. Wow, this is just like a Disney movie thought Emma. And then remembered the piercing pain in her leg.

‘Ow. Ow. Ow owoww’

Eric kicked open the door and lay her on the couch.

‘What the hell is going on?’ called Emma’s dad as he was coming down the stairs. His eyes dilated as he saw his daughter writhing in agony on the couch and a boy he had never seen before ripping open the leg of her blood drenched jeans. Eric looked up.

‘Your daughter had a bit of an accident Mr Matthews.’

‘What the hell Emma,’ he said

‘There’s a piece of the gnome’s nose lodged into her calf. I don’t want to move it because it’ll just cause more bleeding,’ said Eric.

‘What? I’m bleeding?’ she looked at her leg for the first time. She couldn’t even see her leg because there was blood everywhere. Emma could feel her head spinning. The room, Eric’s face and her dad became blurry and then everything went black.

Chapter 3

‘I’m sorry Emma it’s my fault,’ Eric apologized for about the tenth time since math had ended. ‘I tried talking to Reynolds to let you off but well, he’s Reynolds,’

She still couldn’t believe it; Eric Carter was walking with her to detention. Not behind or in front but side by side! Okay, that sounded less sad in her head. If she were game enough she could brush her hand against his, that’s how close she was.

‘Tom?’ she called out to the guy with a coffee in one hand, the other turning the knob to the detention room.

‘Emma? What are you doing here?’ said Tom

‘I could say the same for you.’

‘Detention as always. Are you here for me?’

‘Yes Tom. My world revolves around you.’

‘Ha. Ha.’

‘We got a detention from Reynolds for passing notes,’ she said

We? He looked behind her, finally Tom noticed Eric. He grinned, his plan was working.

‘What’s the coffee for? You don’t drink coffee,’ said Emma

Tom smirked ‘You’ll see.’ He opened the door and held it open ‘Ladies first’ he said. Emma walked through into the detention room. Eric followed, they both nodded to each other.

‘Hey Shah,’ greeted Emma and took a seat next to her friend. Shamiqua (‘Shah’) was writing on the tables in white out, she looked up. ‘Girl, what are you doing here? Did you get lost on the way to the toilet?’

‘Is it so hard to believe that I could get a detention?’

‘Uh uh I was there remember? You were meant to save me a seat and you know I don’t like Reynolds that old man looks down my shirt all googly eyed. He gives me the shivers,’

‘Oh yeah, sorry about that.’

‘Mmhmm. Now honey, you gotta give me the goss. What were you doing sitting with Eric Carter?’

‘I don’t know, he just sat next to me. It was so random.’

Eric took the seat in front of Emma.

Shah leant closer to Emma and lowered her voice ‘Girl, he is so fine,’ she said.

 Emma shushed and nudged her. She realised that it was just herself, Shah, Eric and Tom in the room waiting for whatever sorry teacher was taking them to detention. Tom was at the door, waiting. After ten minutes the teacher turned out to be Eric, Shah and Emma’s math teacher, Mr Reynolds.

‘Good afternoon Mr Reynolds,’ greeted Tom as he entered the room. Mr Reynolds hesitated for a moment, suspicious by Tom’s polite tone.

‘Mr Wilkinson,’ he nodded to Tom with a frown. Tom handed him the coffee he had been holding over to Mr Reynolds. He took it and proceeded to the teacher’s desk. Tom took a seat next to Eric.

‘You know in my day,’ he said before taking his sip of the coffee. ‘Students gave their teachers apples,’

Tom turned around in his seat and gave Emma a wink. She gave him a confused look. She knew he was up to something but what? The room was quiet except for the ticking of the clock. They watched attentively at Mr Reynolds who was doing a crossword and drinking his coffee at the front, waiting for something to happen.

‘Tom, you know you’re not going to get away with it,’ said Emma

‘Yeah I know, but I’ve got to get to volleyball practice before it ends.’

‘You don’t play volleyball.’

‘No, but she does. I heard William talking about asking her tonight. I gotta get in before he does.’

‘Quiet down. You’re in detention, not the disco,’ said Mr Reynolds from his crossword.

Everyone quietly giggled at the use of the word ‘disco’. Mr Reynold’s stood from his chair, his face red with fury.

‘I SAID QUIIEE-’ he came to a sudden halt. A loud uncomfortable wet rumble from his stomach echoed throughout the room. Mr Reynolds moaned, hugged his stomach and ran out of the room.

‘I’ll be right back,’ said Tom and ran after him.

‘Am I high? I’m high aren’t I?’ said Shah rubbing her eyes. Emma laughed. She was used to Tom’s antics and forgot that some people weren’t.

Eric turned around.

‘Hi,’ he said.

‘Hey,’ replied Emma and sunk lower into her seat.

Tom peeped his head around the door.

‘Hey guys you can leave now if you want,’ he said and disappeared. Emma, Eric and Shah gathered their things and quickly left the room.

‘That guy is a legend,’ said Eric

Emma hardly listened, a million thoughts rushed through her mind.

Oh crap, it’s going to be dark by the time I get home. And Tom’s not going to be there…what if I get mugged? Wasn’t it the other day a girl was murdered about twenty minutes away? I’m going to die. Tomorrow I, Emma Matthews will be found in pieces in a dumpster. If I’d known I would’ve left the house with better underwear. Oh God that’s going to be so embarrassing. Emma thought as they were running down the hall.

‘Do you ladies need a ride home?’ Eric offered.

‘I er no thanks I don’t want to be a-’

‘Shotgun!’ yelled Shah and already started running towards Eric’s famous silver Audi parked in the parking lot.

‘You sure Emma? Because that wasn’t an offer, you don’t really have a choice.’ Emma thanked him. 

Chapter 2

During that school day word had spread across the school of Eric Carter’s heroic deed that happened that morning. It was only after an extensive work out after PE in the locker rooms that Tom was able to talk one on one with Eric Carter, since every person who walked by wanted to hear his story over and over.
‘Carter,’ said Tom
‘Yeah?’ Eric answered, wrapping a white towel around his waist, ready to head to the showers.
‘Asked anyone to prom yet?’
‘Not yet,’
‘Heard Emma Matthews’ still available. Think about it,’
He hesitated. ‘Did you guys break up or something?’
Tom looked at him, confused ‘What?’
‘Are things over between you and Emma? You don’t have to pretend, even though you guys deny it, the whole school knows you two are pretty much more than ‘just friends,’
‘What? No, really. She’s like my sister.’
‘That’s…kind of sick.’
‘No, seriously it’s never been like that between Emma and me.’
‘Really,’ said Eric, a little bewildered
‘Look I know she’s a pretty girl and all but I just know too much about her to want to, you know…’
‘Not really,’ said Eric. ‘So Emma Matthews…’ he uttered to himself. ‘I’ll think about it. Thanks Tom,’ he smiled, patted Tom on the back and left to hit the showers. Little did Tom know that the other guys in the change room were eavesdropping on their conversation.
Wow, thought Emma. It hadn’t really occurred to her that Tom would think about asking someone to the prom. Not that she was jealous or anything, just…surprised. She had to admit, Tom was a good catch. It was about time he had an actual steady girlfriend. He was tall and dressed reasonably well. You know, if you’re into that sort of thing she told herself. It wasn’t uncommon for a girl to every now and then ask her if she and Tom were an item before they had decided to make a move. But Tom hadn’t expressed any interest in any of the girls in the school…until now. God, why did it have to be her though; Miss ‘these are like, totally real’.
Emma was walking down the hall to math class when someone was calling for her from behind. She rolled her eyes and turned around to meet him.
‘Emma!’ said Damon, one of the guys on the soccer team with Tom.
‘Er…hi Damon. What’s…what’s up?’
He gave her the once-over ‘Looking good today,’ he said ‘See you around, babe,’ he winked and walked away. Emma didn’t know what to do but stare dumbfounded as he walked away. Damon was usually a bit weird, the guy thought he was God’s gift to women for example. But today he was acting a little weirder than usual towards her. Actually, a few guys today were giving her more attention than usual and she had an inkling who was behind it.
Emma was drawing on the cover of her math note book when a shadow peered over her work. Emma looked up.
‘Hello Emma, is this seat taken?’ said Eric, standing in front of her desk, looking down on her. It was Eric. As in Eric ‘I have a school soccer goals record yet still find time to help out the special needs kids’ Carter.
Say something that’s witty and provocative and funny at the same time. Think Emma, think.
‘Er…’ Genius.
Emma shook her head.
He grinned and placed his books next to the spot next to hers and took a seat. Shit, I was saving this seat for Shah.
‘So Emma, what chapter are you up to in math?’
He seems to be speaking with words. Just nod. Yeah just nod along Emma.
Emma nodded. Eric raised an eyebrow and chuckled. At that moment Shah entered the room and started heading towards Emma until she realised that her seat was occupied.
‘What the hell girl?’ she mouthed across the room.
‘Sorry,’ Emma mouthed back and so Shah was forced to take the only vacant seat, which was at the middle front next to Po, the Chinese exchange student. The math teacher, Mr Reynolds entered the room with a natural grimace on his face. Class began. Emma’s hands started shaking uncontrollably. It was a little hard to concentrate when she had Eric Carter sitting so close to her. She was even afraid to look sideways to meet the gaze she may have been imagining was on her the whole time.
He leaned over and whispered in her ear ‘May I borrow your pen?’ Emma jolted. She handed over her pen. To her surprise he started drawing on her blank notepad. He proceeded to write:


Why is this page blank? Got something against Logarithms?

Emma took her pen out of Eric’s grasp. The pen was warm. She then wrote underneath his message.


You bet. They’re so pointless it should be a crime. Did you really save a guy’s life this morning?

Emma handed the pen back to him.
No. He handed the pen back to her.


…?
It was a woman. She was pregnant. She and the baby are going to be fine though.


Thanks to you


Shhh you’re embarrassing me Emma. I was just at the right place at the right time. It was lucky I took that first aid course on the summer holidays.


Wow.


Really it was nothing!


This morning I made myself a sandwich for lunch. Now that’s nothing. What did you do this morning again?

Eric laughed out loud at Emma’s message. The sound of a stick of chalk breaking in half resonated across the room, followed by stomping of Mr Reynolds’ shoes which were storming towards Emma and Eric at the back. Knowing this, Eric quickly jotted down:
Got plans after school?
Before Emma could write back Mr Reynolds ripped the piece of paper out of Emma’s book and scrunched it into a ball.
‘Detention after school Carter and Matthews,’ he said and resumed teaching the class.
‘I do now,’ she whispered to Eric.

Chapter 1

‘Ew,’ Emma groaned while she was brushing her teeth. She was staring face to face with her reflection and she didn’t like what she saw. Her hair was messy, bags were drooping under her eyes and she looked like she had just woken up, which she had. Emma was not the morning person.

 ‘Emma! Tom’s here,’ yelled her father from downstairs, and then left for work. It was part of their daily routine for Tom and Emma to walk to school together.

Emma spat out the toothpaste foaming up in her mouth into the basin and quickly rinsed. She then scurried downstairs with her school bag over her shoulder. Tom was waiting for her at the bottom. As always, he was early and clean-shaved.

His green eyes stared up at her blankly. ‘Wow Em, you look like crap,’ said her best friend. A cheeky smile crept upon his face.

‘Thanks, you really know women don’t you?’ she replied sarcastically

‘Did you even brush your hair?’ he joked. Emma kicked Tom in the shin and left out the front door and commenced walking down the street. Eventually Tom recovered and caught up, limping.

‘Hey Em?’ he gasped, a little out of breath trying to catch up.

‘What?’ she replied gruffly

‘First of all, shit that hurt. And since I’m the greatest friend in the world I’ll forgive you for that one. Second, got a date for the prom yet?’

‘Prom’s not for months, geez you’re more hyped up for this than the prep girls,’

‘Yeah I know but you know that new hot Californian girl who just moved here-’

‘Ask her, that is if she even gives you a chance,’

‘I just thought I’d get your permission first. ‘Cause you know, since we went to the junior prom together and I thought maybe you thought-’

‘We’ve always agreed to go together as a last resort anyway,’

‘I need to make sure before I start asking that you’re not going alone,’

‘Tom, shut up and just ask her okay?’

He swung his arm around her, pulled her in a headlock and playfully ruffled Emma’s hair and continued to do so for the rest of the way to school.

So during English class, Tom thought about possible candidates that could take Emma to the prom. He knew it wouldn’t feel right asking Miss California to the prom for himself until he was certain Emma had someone to go with. He looked around the room. Andrew? No, too short. He went to the next guy. Russell? Too much of a meat head. Damon? No, he rubs with his balls when he thinks no one’s looking. Jay? Too...flamboyant. And the rest of the class didn’t do that well either. They were either known for a certain reputation or just not Emma’s type. Hang on, what is Emma’s type?

Then right on cue, Eric Carter opened the door and walked into the room. The jaws of every member of the class dropped. Eric had that sort of effect on people.

‘Sorry I’m late miss, there was this road accident and I had to stop and resuscitate the injured person on my way to school,’ he said to the stunned Miss Pewter. He ran his fingers through his dishevelled dark hair and then wiped his hands on his jeans that were decorated with freckles of blood.

Perfect, Tom thought to himself, wondering what ever did he do to deserve such luck.