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.