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.