CHAPTER 1
Emily POV
The first day of college I was a little nervous to be honest. It's not that I'm antisocial or anything, but you know, it was new territory for me. I live in an apartment near college, so that day I got in my car and went to my first class. I met a lot of people there. Some of them were from the same town as me, yet others were from the other side of the country. On my break I headed with a bunch of people to the cafeteria and we sat on a table with other students. Most of them seemed familiar so they had to be in my classes. And then…
"Hey! We are on the same class. Emily right?" It was really strange for me. Someone knowing my name without me knowing theirs. "Um yeah! And you are…?" She smiled at me and sat beside me. "Paige! Nice to meet you! Sorry for the way I came to you earlier but I couldn't fight the feeling that I know you from somewhere." Well, I was seriously confused. How could I not remember meeting her? "Sorry I don't seem to remember." I said. She looked down as if I made her uncomfortable and said. "Oh! We haven't introduced properly, but I think I've seen you at my high school." Well that made a little more sense although it's still strange that she remembered my face after all this time. We found out that we have friends in common actually.
Nothing really happened that day. I was glad for that. I needed a smooth beginning. I got a text later that day from Liam telling me to meet him and the others. It's an everyday thing for us. Hanging out, doing nothing. It's strangely calming.
"Hello guys! What's up?" I asked as I walked in. Alex and Jerry were fighting about the TV remote and Liam was smoking trying to contain his laughter. "Hey sis! Everything's good as you can see!" he winked and look at our friends. "What's wrong with them?" I dared to ask. "He is stupid! That's what's wrong!" Alex shouted and gave up on the remote. Liam smiled and turned his attention to me again "anything good today?" I shrugged "I met someone interesting!" I said and then I got their attention.
Jerry turned off the TV and looked at me with wide eyes. "Ok spill!" he said. I laughed at their impatience. "Her name is Paige. She's tall like me, maybe a little taller. She's thin with long legs and the cutest nose you've ever seen. Brown eyes, long brown hair and great smile. And the thing is that she talked to me first and we found out that we have seen each other before."
Everyone looked at me waiting to hear something more dramatic. "That's it guys! What did you expect to happen in one day?" Alex looked at me like I was stupid or something "Tell me that you asked for her number at least!" Truth is that I could have! But I didn't! So I just looked down like a puppy. "For the love of God! What are you waiting for? Girls won't throw themselves at you! You have to do something you know!" she was pissed now. I knew she was right. After what happened with Mandy I was really scared to try anything. I was scared to even talk about myself sometimes. But I think that this time I'll have to try harder and act on my feelings. I mean I like this girl. What do I have to lose?
Paige POV
"I'm back" I yelled as I walked in the living room. My roommate Kat was cuddling with her boyfriend on the couch. "Get a room guys!" I always tease her. She is so needy sometimes. "Hello to you too P! How was your first day? Everything ok?" she is always worried about me. She knows I'm hard to get by but after all these years she's used to me. "Yeap! Everything's good! I met some nice people too for your information!" she looked shocked! "You? Making friends? No way!" it's true though! I tried to be more relaxed this time and it seemed to work. "Anyone hot?" she looked really amused now. She is trying to get me in a relationship with someone for a year now. I just looked at her without saying a word. "Oh come on! There has to be some really nice guy for you. Don't shut them down."
I turned to go to the kitchen really tired to fight with her about something like that. I don't know how to make her understand. I don't know what's actually wrong with me. I've never really felt in love even though I was in a relationship for more than a year in high school. It's like something's not right. I made some pasta and then went to my room. I had no sleep so I sat on my bed with my laptop and tried to kill my time on facebook. Without even realizing it, I searched for her profile. Emily Fields. What was it about her that made me so confused?
I woke up having the weirdest dream. I was running on a field. I was running till I passed out and then I remember a shadow lifting me up and carrying me somewhere. I had no idea what it means. I got up and started getting ready for my class. Today was the first day of swimming practice too. That was it! My whole life, I was trying to get a scholarship. My father made it pretty clear that this was the only thing I should focus on. He made my life a living hell but now that I'm living on my own I can finally find peace.
I took the bus with Kat and we arrived in about 20 minutes. We said goodbye and I headed for the swimming pool. There I met coach Susan. She was nice. She showed me my locker and then waited for us to gather around her. "Everyone, I'm so glad for having you here again. Our team will be great this year. We have two new members that I want you to welcome. Meet Paige McCullers and Emily Fields!" I was frozen. I turned on my left and saw her. Flawless like always. She looked at me with her perfect eyes and smiled. I couldn't move for a while. Then I just smiled back and waved. What is wrong with me? I mean, I'm straight. Why I feel so out of control when I see her?
Swim practice was good actually. The smell of chlorine helped me clear my mind. Once I went for a shower I knew that my calmness won't last for long. There she was. Standing in front of her locker, looking for something. I tried to move like a ninja but with no success. She lifted her head and looked straight at me. I had no choice now.
"Hey! Nice moves. You are really great on your freestyle." I tried playing it cool but I could feel my voice shaking. "Well thank you! You are not bad yourself" she said and we stared at each other for a minute. Then she broke the silence "So, what do you have next? I have Chemistry lab." Lucky me! "Really? Me too. Shall we go?" We walked for some time making jokes and stuff. It was nice being with her like this. It was the strangest thing. She made me feel calm and out of control at the same time.
Emily POV
I couldn't contain my smile when I realized she is a swimmer too. Now we have something in common and I have a very good reason to be near her. "Miss Fields and Miss McCullers on table 3." Ok maybe more than one. We are also on the same team for our chemistry assignment. I was really struggling with what we had to do but she seemed to have everything under control. "Hey can you give me this book over there?" I bent down to take the book from the self and I swear I caught her checking me out when I turned around to give it to her. She had that red color on her cheeks. So I decided to play that game with her. But first I had to test the waters.
"So, you live alone?" I asked hoping not to hear the word "boyfriend". She kept looking forward "Actually no! I live with my friend Kat. We know each other for many years so it was really easy getting a place together. She is great! You should meet her sometime." That was a good sign, wasn't it? "That would be great. Do you have a ride for later?" That was something I've never done before, offering someone a ride. "Well not really! Kat will be with her boyfriend so I was going to take the bus." That was my chance! "I can be your ride! I mean, I have a car so it's not a big deal, if you want!" She looked at me and smiled "Yeah, thanks!"
The whole ride we were singing and laughing. It was so easy being around her. I had a feeling that we'll become great friends. I mean at least! So as I parked in front of her apartment there was a little tension between us. It was like we both wanted to say something but we didn't know what. So when I was about to say something she did it first. "Thank you so much for the ride. It was great. And I was really tired to wait for the bus!" She seemed a little nervous. "Well, I got to go." And just as she was about to open the door I stopped her. "Let me give you my number, in case you want another ride!" I smiled and wrote my number on her phone. She looked at me again. "See you tomorrow!" And just like that I was left alone in my car really confused.
I went home and sat on my bed. I put on some music and stared at the ceiling. I still don't know if she is interested in boys or girls. I just know that I'm interested in her. I closed my eyes trying to empty my head but a buzz filled the silence in my room. It was my phone. I had a text message from an unknown number. I opened it and then I smiled like a dork. "Hey, it's Paige. I thought it wouldn't be fair for you not having my number so… anyway thanks again for today. I owe you a coffee or something. Or maybe lunch tomorrow on our break? Let me know about it! See you! Goodnight!"
I read it like 10 times without even realizing it. I had to say something though. "Lunch sounds great! I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight Paige!" How could I possibly sleep after that?