Hey guys.

I should have put this up like a week ago but I've been lazy ^^'

Well, now it is here and I may even write a second chapter. Let me know what you think!

"Do I have to come?"

"Yes Elliot, now hush."

"You're mean Emma, and Zane's mean too! I don't want to come!" Elliot stumped his foot one more time to make his point.

"You're being a baby! This is an affair thing for dad, you should take it seriously and stop whining!"

"Emma, Elliot, come on, we don't want to be late."

"Yes mom." Emma gave Elliot one last glare and tucked her bangs behind her ear.

It was not like she would enjoy the party, but they were both going to have to endure this and be on their best behavior, it'd be better if Elliot understood this before they were surrounded by dad's colleagues and clients.

Zane was being bothersome like usual.

She did all she had to to appear like a young, fine lady. She wanted to make her parents proud so she looked demure and always said "Pleasure", "Thank you" and "Please". And let's not forget she had to look out for Elliot. He seemed fine enough, distracted by a pretty girl making good natured fun of him.

While Zane, the host's son, was having a blast at her expense. He kept blowing on her hair and harrumphing her dress every time his father looked the other way.

"Would you please stop?" She whispered hurriedly.

"Why, so you can keep making nice with the old men?"

"I am trying to be polite, what you should be doing!"

"Right, I'll be polite with you." He grabbed her wrist.

"What do you-"

"Come." He didn't let her finish and just dragged her along while she (politely) cursed her ballerinas.

Zane dragged her all the way around the pool and got her nearly inside the house before stopping.

"There, privacy and silence."

"Zane, you-"

"Don't you have anything better to do than pretend you're having fun?"

"Zane, if you interrupt me one more time-"

"Isn't today the birthday of one of your swimmer friend or something?" Emma snarled in pure frustration and it took everything she had not to stomp her foot down like her little brother did mere hours before.

"I hate you! You are so-" Zane kissed her.

Even if 'kiss' was a bit of an exaggeration. He tightened his hold on Emma's forearm and pressed his barely open lips to hers.

While his eyes closed tightly in what seemed concentration, Emma's widened in surprise. A sharp exhale left her in a rush.

The girl was frozen on the spot for an instant, knowing what was happening but not understanding it. The moment Zane took a step forward and seemed ready to take more, though, Emma pushed him away and slapped him on the chest.

She couldn't even talk with the anger and embarrassment bubbling inside her. She glared at the smug-looking boy some more, and nearly hissed, trying to express her anger without starting to stutter like a fool.

"Argh!" And there went her self-respect as she grit her teeth, stomped her foot and fought with herself to keep from screaming.

"What do you think was that?!"

"…Aren't you a little old not to know what kissing-"

"That wasn't kissing! That was you being a jerk like usual! Maybe I wanted my first kiss to be with someone-"

Zane grinned, totally ignoring what she just said like he did all night. "That was your first kiss?"

Emma took deep breaths to calm herself and not react hastily and foolishly. It worked only in part.

"I hate you."

She turned around and stomped off, ready to keep mingling like nothing happened, ready to put this behind her until the right time to analyze it. If not for the hand that once more curled around her wrist.

Zane pulled her towards himself and tried to remedy, poorly.

"Come on, it was my first kiss too." Had it been anyone else, Emma would have thought the awkward look that sprouted on the boy's face was embarrassment. But Zane didn't do 'embarrassed', he did cocky and presumptuous and infuriating. So she just looked at him with fire in her eyes and sneered before trying again to leave.

"Oooh – we shared this! So we can go to school this year and not be the only losers who haven't!"

"I will not be spreading this around and if I hear any such claims on your part I will negate until I have no more breath!"

Zane threw his arms in the hair and gave up having a conversation with the girl.

"At least admit it was nice!"

Emma had already twirled around and was, again, ready to leave. She didn't even look at him.

"You taste like fish." And she tapped her ballerinas on the floor with a little more force that was necessary, straightened her hair and readied herself to pretend that whole… thing didn't happen. In the many years Zane and her had know each other, this was just another day she would forget.

She did ignore it for the rest of the party and the compulsory dinner after; it was easier than she would have thought. So she ignored it the following days too.

And, really, that was it for her.