"Well you know how easily that relationship happened anyway…" I glanced up slowly turning my head to the right to look in at my kitchen. My mom was standing with James's mom and they were both in front of the sink sipping from wine glasses. I tried to hear the rest of their conversation but the tapping of the keyboard next to me was too distracting. As promised I was helping James with his history paper. We've been at it for about two hours while everyone else, both of our families, got everything ready for tonight. If James was actually typing as fast as it sounded he was, he should almost be done.

"Done." I looked over at James who pulled one ear phone out of his ear sitting back. "I fear you made it sound too smart. Mr. Baker will never believe I wrote this."

"But you did." I smirked pulling his laptop over to me pushing my math book and notebook away. "I'll spell check and grammar check for you and then we'll send it to him." He only picked up his phone sitting back, letting me know, he was done with all his homework, so he didn't care what I did with his paper. I sneakily glanced up at our mothers now laughing quietly, leaning into each other. "What do you think their talking about?" I said it quietly as I started to read his paper about the second world war.

"Me and Mandy. My mom was livid about it all. I'm sure their plotting her death." I sighed out hard pulling my legs up to my chest and lazily scrolled down the word document. "I think my mom even convinced yours to not invite Mandy and her parents. Pretty harsh but I don't really give a shit." I nodded quickly typing in a few filler words to make it sound better and let the soft hum of my house pull me into the paper. I didn't realize how into his paper I had gotten until I felt a hand on my back. I turned quick and frowned up at my dad who was glaring down at James. I went back to his paper quickly finishing up the last of my corrections.

"I thought you were writing this paper James. You'll never learn this way." I waved back at my dad as I corrected one last thing and quickly saved the document.

"I did. She's being a grammar Nazi." I shook my head and quickly sent the paper to his history teacher. When I know it had sent I shut his laptop and looked across the dining room table at James's dad who was setting down his beer and looking down at both James and I. I blushed turning to James who was slowly standing, and yawning. I followed quick but felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to my dad who gently grabbed my upper arm and started to pull me to the backyard. As soon as we stepped outside I yanked out of his grasp and gave him a mean look. He laughed walking to the grill and looked in it, checking the coals.

"His dad is worried. About him, and about you. James told his dad, who told me, about Kendall." I groaned walking slowly towards the huge, long wooden table and took a seat at the head of it. I pulled my legs up to my chest and put my head back closing my eyes. "He said he smokes, has tattoo's and piercings and…"

"Treats me nice? Or did that not get said?" I turned my head to my dad who was walking towards the table, beer in hand. "You haven't even met him yet and you already know enough about him. I've only been with him for a day dad. But I like him." My dad sat down, groaning as he did and we locked eyes.

"You felt the same way about Logan." I looked at my knees covered in a dark blue denim jean and picked at the little bit of fringe showing my skin. "Matt said he's nice. He also said he seems really into you but I will not watch my little girl get hurt again. I will not come home to you crying your heart out. Because if I have to go through that again, I will go to prison for killing a 17 year old boy." I put my head back and squinted up at the bright sky. "I know his dad. He owns that car shop down Main…nice man, and good guy. And I will give Kendall the benefit of the doubt. But if he messes up once…just one time," My dad got cut off by Matt and James and now Carlos walking out tossing a football. Matt stopped by me putting a hand on my shoulder and smiled down at me.

"Dad said I get to have the first hit." I groaned stomping my feet on the ground and flipped off my friends as they walked out into the huge green backyard.

"I'm going to need your boys help here in a few minutes. Anne wants all the extra chairs out here, and I know they are buried somewhere in the garage." All three of them said okay, but went on with their stupid game of catch. As I stood up and walked out onto the grass putting up my hands to catch the ball it dawned on me. I had no other close girlfriends, beside Mandy. They were all dudes. And after last night, I might not be Mandy's friend for a while. Only because of how hurt James is.

I tossed the ball around with the three of them for a few minutes while Carlos's parents came out and said hello to me. I said hello back abut turned back to the other three. A few more minutes passed, and with every throw and catch I made, I was starting to get bored. When I heard a new set of laughter my stomach turned thinking, hoping it was Kendall and his sister and dad. However, Logan walked out and I heard a low groan behind me knowing James still wasn't okay with seeing him. Logan smirked walking towards us, but his smile fell seeing James or I assumed. I walked towards him and patted his chest as I walked by. "Take my place will ya?" I didn't wait for a response. I walked into my house saying hi to Logan's parents who barely looked at me. They've probably called me every name in the book for breaking up with their son. I ignored it walking through the loud house and up the stairs. As soon as I got to my room I shut the door and leaned against it. I just wanted the night to be over.

Honestly, as I looked through my closet looking for a different shirt, since the one I was wearing was an old sleep shirt, all I really wanted to do, was kiss Kendall again. I wanted to just stare in his eyes and lay on his chest, and listen to his heart beat. I know what love was. I felt it with Logan. And even though it was less than a day, I wanted to hear him say he loved me. Because yes…in my head I had already said it. I pulled down a soft white t-shirt from my closet and quickly pulled on the red and black plaid shirt Kendall never asked for back today. He would be lucky if he ever wore it again.

I wanted to stay in my room the rest of the night, but when I heard knocks form the front door, I jumped up quick pulling my hair out of the bun on top of my head. My hair fell down around my shoulders and face as I flew down the stairs. I stopped short at the third to last step as I watched my dad pull open the door and step out of the way quick. "Donald Knight! In the flesh!" I swallowed hard watching a man who was honestly, just a taller version of Kendall. He had a few wrinkles and had some facial hair. But he had the same bright green eyes, dirty blonde hair and a smile that could melt even my dad's heart. In his hand was a bottle of wine that he handed to my dad while looking around the house.

"Thanks for having us over Steve. I heard you are the grill master." I rolled my eyes stepping off the last step and crossed my arms over my chest. Just as I was about to walk around my dad to look at the still open door, a young, short girl come up behind her dad phone to her face. "This is my daughter Katie. Katie this is Mr. Matthews."

"Hey…" I smirked down at the girl who wasn't interested and that made me laugh.

"And this is my son Kendall." I perked up seeing Kendall walk in the house hands in his pockets looking at the back of his dads head. "Sorry about the attitude. He's the typical moody teenager." Both of our dads laugh and I frowned. I cleared my throat getting both their attentions and my dad moved forward putting a hand on my shoulder. He pulled me forward and I locked eyes with Kendall. He seemed to brighten up seeing me. He smiled down at me and I blushed. "This beautiful girl must be Emma. I've heard a lot about you." I blushed even harder and looked over to his dad who was smiling down at me. He extended his hand and I took it, shaking it softly. "Donald."

"Nice to meet you." Our hands released from each other and I looked back to Kendall, who was looking at me.

"Well come on in guys. There is beer and wine outside, and some soda and juice for the kids. I'm just about to start grilling the steak and chicken." I saw quickly, Katie raised her head and turned to her dad. "Is everything okay?" Katie looked back down and tucked hair behind her ear.

"Katie is a vegetarian." I chuckled looking up to my dad and he also laughed.

"Don't worry. So is Emma." Katie looked to me and I nodded smiling at her. "So let's go meet everyone else." My dad set a hand on Donald's shoulder and walked him towards the kitchen, Katie not far behind. When they disappeared, before I turned to him, Kendall's lips were on my lips. I turned in his arms and put my hand son his neck, kissing him back just as greedily. He tried to deepen the kiss but I heard laughter from behind me and pulled away quick, leaning back in his arms. His eyes were still closed and I let him set his forehead on mine.

"I've been waiting to do that all day." I smiled wiping at his bottom lip that had some of my lip gloss on it. "Also…that shirt looks so much better on you than me." I laughed leaning in again and kissed him softly. When I pulled back away I straightened up and put my hands on his shoulders.

"I was worried you would see it and want it back."

"Not anymore." We laughed to ourselves as he put his hand sunder my shirt, on my back. "I have to say…my dad is a grade A asshole so if he says or does anything embarrassing, I'm sorry." I frowned looking down at his chest where a necklace was hanging.

"You have an attitude tonight?" He laughed quickly kissing my head letting me go. I watched him as he led me through the house and squeezed his hand hard. He squeezed it back a couple times as we walked past a few adults, and went out onto the deck. I saw Logan and Carlos laughing drinking from soda cans and then saw James and Matt both helping my mom put plates out on the table. I sighed out hard. It would be a long night.

It was a long night, but pretty uneventful. Between sitting with Kendall and watching my family and friends, laugh and reminisce, it was actually a really nice night. The only highlight was texting with Mandy who was completely destroyed James wasn't talking to her and that she wasn't with us so it was a rough conversation. But that was about the only drama. My dad and brother behaved, and everyone got along nicely. When everyone started to leave, I grabbed Kendall and kissed him hard not caring about the people around us. And then I took a shower, finished up a little bit of math homework due Wednesday and went to bed.

My morning went by quick. I woke up too late and didn't bother with my contacts. I wore a stupid skirt because none of my school pants were washed and couldn't straighten my hair. I left in a huff taking a twenty dollar bill from my dad to get a school lunch and peeled out of my driveway. I pulled into the school parking lot that was already full. I was usually one of the first people here, so my day was definitely going to be crap. As I looked through my bag making sure I had everything, I needed, which I did I heard my name get called loudly. "Emma!" I spun fast and smiled as Kendall ran towards me looking just as good as ever. He was wearing a white button up shirt tucked into black slacks with a black studded belt. He had a backpack on his shoulders and a huge grin plastered to his face. "You look adorable today." I gave him an irritated look as I looked down at my bare legs thanking God I didn't forget to shave. "So…can I ask you a favor?" I shrugged letting him wrap one arm around my shoulders pulling em into him. I wrapped one around his waist and let him walk me towards the school. "You have 6th period free right?"

"Yupp. I usually sit in the library and study. Don't judge." He laughed and dropped his hand to my hip holding it gently.

"Well, how about instead of studying, you go somewhere with me." I cocked my head up and to the side and he laughed glancing over our parking lot, nodding his head to some kids walking by. "Just…trust me and I promise we'll have fun." I rolled my eyes putting my head on his chest.

"Okay…I'll ditch with you."

"How is it ditching if you don't have class?" I turned quick and got in front of him putting my hands on his hips. He grinned down at me and I pouted.

"Do you have class?" He laughed nodding and put a hand on my cheek leaning in. I let him kiss me, passionately but very shortly. I wasn't one for PDA. I pulled away holding his hand and started to turn. But as I did I caught eyes with Mandy who was walking towards us, slowly. She looked…so different. Her hair was in a messy bun on top of her head. No makeup on and she was wearing black pants and a shirt not tucked into her pants. I looked up to Kendall and softly kissed his cheek squeezing his hand. "I'll see you at lunch. I'm going to go talk to Mandy." He simply nodded and kissed my lips one last time before letting me go and walking away. I heard him shout at someone but didn't turn to see. I walked to Mandy and stopped in front of her. Her eyes were beat red and her lips were chapped. "How you feeling?" She laughed looking down and shrugged. "Anything I can do?"

"Unless you can force James to take me back…no." I gave a weak smile and she looked up shaking her head. "I don't expect you to hang out with me. I know James will want you to not hang around me. He already made Logan say he wouldn't." I reached out quick and pulled her into a hug. She gasped out and immediately started crying. I closed my eyes and let her sob openly on my chest not caring people were walking past us. "I don't want to lose him." I patted her back and opened my eyes looking at a few kids passing. "I can't be here. I have to go home." She pulled away fast and ran back out into the parking lot. I bit my bottom lip watching her run away and felt helpless. She was my only really close girlfriend. But James was my number one friend. Since day one, kind of guy.

"Emms…" I spun fast and swallowed hard facing James. "Where is she going?" I opened my mouth but he shook his head. "Never mind. I don't care. Look…if you're still her friend, awesome, but I won't be around you, so come to terms with that." He turned and walked off with Carlos who gave me a sad smile patting James back. "Oh and tell her next time you see her, I'm not buying her fake ass tears. And you shouldn't either, Emma. You're smarter than that."