Author's Note- So I know this chapter is long but I really didn't want to break it down. Please review and tell me how you feel about this chapter.

Ch 14

The rest of the week flew by for Emily. Her classes were all fine except for her swimming. She had been placed in beginners where they used kickboards to do laps. She didn't bother Provo Higgins about because she knew if she did he would probably put her on the team. Coach had told the class that two girls had got kicked off the team for academic reasons and they were holding tryouts on Wednesday for any girl who wanted to join the team. The guys told her she should but she didn't know if she was ready to swim for another team.

Saturday night she got ready in her dorm room to go out with the guys. She had been dodging their pleads to go out with them the entire week but she couldn't think of a single reason why she shouldn't tonight. She wore a low v-cut black and gray strip shirt with a dark olive tank underneath, matching olive pants and her black boots. She braided her hair and only put on tinted lip gloss.

Who do I really need to impress? she asked herself. There was a knock on her door at eight o' five.

"You ready?" Tyler asked without even waiting for her to open the door.

"You're late… and I could have been changing Mr. Simms!"

"Nah your always ready early." Emily put on her denim black jacket and grabbed her black bag. They left her room and Emily paused to lock it before they made their way to the parking lot. "You look nice. Are you meeting someone I don't know about." Emily laughed. She usually would have worn a spaghetti strap shirt or something sleeveless for a Saturday night outing, but she didn't want her brother to find out about her tattoo just yet.

"No I just like to look pretty in public," she told him fluttering her eye lashes playfully. He laughed as he unlocked the doors to the Hummer and they got in. "Where's Reid?"

"He went there early to shoot some pool."

"And you weren't with him. I think my heart just stopped."

"We can only wish." Emily playfully smacked him and he pulled out of the parking lot. "I had a date."

"With who?" Emily demanded.

"This girl in our lit. class. She said she needed help with some of the themes we're reading in A Tale of Two Cities which was a load of BS. She wanted to just talk about herself on and on and on. How she got into AP English is beyond me. Just once I'd like to meet a girl who is actually descent." Emily kept her mouth shut. She and Tyler were a lot alike. Quiet but not shy and actually wanted a long term relationship and not just play around. As kids they had more similarities that may have changed over the years but the friendship never did. They were best friends and she was as close to him as Reid was.

"I really don't know what to tell you baby boy."

"Well I'm going to have to talk to her on Tuesday when we have practice before tryouts." He looked over at her. "Speaking of did you decide whether you're going to swim or not?" Emily let out a sigh and went to pull her hand through her hair but realized she couldn't."

"I don't know. I may get the form from coach on Monday and sleep on it." Tyler looked like he wanted to say something but didn't. "Tyler don't make me guess."

"Maybe you should swim. I don't want to force you but you loved your team and it may help you move on. If not at least join something else. What about choir? Your voice is beautiful."

"I'm in the choir class moron which means I'm in it," she reminded him not so pleasantly. "Where they, yet again, have me in beginners even though I should be in choral…the advance class. You should hear this one girl in our class. She makes crows sound pleasant." She thought of her dislike for the girl in her class. Her name was kira and somehow she easily recognized Emily when Emily barely knew the girl. She had laughed while Emily had learned the Spanish song they were singing now. Emily had learned Latin with the guys when they were kids, and had been taking French since eighth grade. Spanish confused her and it took her a while to learn. They pulled up to Nicky's.

"Just think about what I said," Tyler pleaded as they got out.

"I will," Emily promised. She took his hand and said, "But not tonight. This week has been a bitch and I want to celebrate the fact that it's over." Tyler smiled and held the door open for her. Inside she was greeted by the loud music and the smell of burgers. She looked around and didn't see Caleb or Pogue anywhere.

"I think Caleb and Pogue took Sarah and Kate to the movies. Reid over at the pool table." They walked over towards Reid who held a pool stick in one hand.

"Finally. I thought I'd have to wait here all night, baby boy.

"Why?" Tyler asked.

"Aaron and the newest member of his passé Keith want to play a little two on two…" he stopped when he noticed Emily. "Well look who decided to come out of the cave."

"Hello is just as nice," Emily teased. "I had a lot of makeup work and you know it."

"So why aren't you in your little room now."

"It's Saturday."

"That's my girl." Emily allowed him to hug her.

"Well Garwin if I knew she was yours I would have been more persistent on Monday," said a voice behind her. Emily turned to see Aaron and Reid protectively keep one arm around her waist.

"Has he been bothering you Emi?" Tyler asked going into what she called big brother mode.

"Not as much as I should be," Aaron replied with a smirk. Emily grabbed Tyler's wrist to keep him from going after Aaron.

"It was nothing," Emily promised, "Let it go."

"Yea let it go," repeated the guy who stood next to Aaron. If he wasn't such a jerk Emily might have thought him cute. He had dirty blond hair and brown eyes and had a swimmer's body.

"Just because you and kira are over don't be coming after Emily," Reid warned.

"How much do you charge an hour for her Garwin?" Aaron asked. Emily had push Reid backwards to keep him from punching Aaron.

"Reid please," Emily begged afraid he would use any minute.

"We'll play you for her," Aaron suggested. "Two on two match. If you win we'll pay two hundred bucks since we normally play for a hundred. We win and her ass is in that chair for an hour." He pointed to a little table for two. "I'll even leave her alone if you win."

"We'll take it," Emily said.

"Emi, what are you doing?" Tyler questioned. "I refuse to play."

"That's fine you weren't going to anyway," she told him picking up a stick. "Reid and I will take care of it."

"Well this could be interesting," the guy next to Aaron said. "What do you think Aaron?"

"I never said it had to be Garwin and Simms playing so I guess it's fine. Keith breaks." Emily nodded and the guy next to Aaron went to the front of the table.

"Wait," Reid called and the guy stood up. "You sure about this, Emi?"

"I'll be fine, Garwin," Emily promised using his last name. She only did it when she needed to look and sound tough. "You shoot first." Reid nodded and Keith broke the balls apart, but didn't get any in. Reid shot next.

"Why didn't you want me to play?" Tyler asked after Reid got the first ball in. They were solids.

"Because I'm not going to watch you guys play for me like they did way back when." Reid laughed and shot at another ball. Emily added in a whisper, "And because you would be petrified if you had to tell Caleb you played Aaron and risked me having a date with him for a hour so you can make two hundred bucks." Tyler gave her a smile as Reid missed his shot.

"Better luck, Garwin," Aaron mocked.

"It's fine," Emily assured him when he came to stand with her and Tyler.

"Please tell me you haven't lost your game? That pig headed Keith is better than he looks."

"Carter has a table and we were always together."

"So you and Carter are…"

"Just friends," Emily finished as Aaron missed his second shot. He had gotten one ball in which tied them up. "Time to clear the table." She looked at the table and decided to go for the combo shot that would scare her opponents. "One on eleven on three, three in the bottom left corner pocket."

"No way is she making that combo," Aaron predicted. Emily looked up at Reid before she shot. She completed the combo and got the red ball in.

"Damn," Keith swore. "I've never met a girl who could shot like that."

"Congratulations," Emily replied. She aimed her ball and shot just as she heard someone yell her name. Luckily she got the ball in but turned to see her brother walking towards hers.

"Busted," Tyler whispered in her ear. She controlled herself so she would not laugh.

"How was the movie?" Emily asked.

"Danvers if you want a piece of her you better lay off," Aaron told him. "After I win this game she's mine."

"You're playing for my sister?" Caleb asked Tyler.

"Ty has nothing to do with this," Emily snapped to get his attention back on her. "Aaron suggested it and I accepted. Reid had to play because Aaron wanted a two on two."

"Game over and the bet is off," Caleb told Aaron.

"In that case I'll be sure to see you around school," Aaron promised Emily.

"We win he leaves her alone," Reid told Caleb coming back from the bar. He handed Emily a Pepsi with a lemon and Tyler a coke that was probably spiked. Caleb took a sip of Emily's to check that it was regular.

"I don't drink asshole," she reminded her brother. Unlike him, she had never drank because of her mother addiction. "Go back and keep Sarah company before she dumps your ass." She knew she was being mean, but thought he deserved it. He was trying to control her even though he knew she hated it.

"When your with him don't blame me," he told her equally pissed off. "Touch my little sister Abbot and I'll kill you." He walked away and Emily handed her drink to Tyler so she could shoot.

"Looks like Danvers doesn't have much confidence for you two," he said making her miss her shot.

"How are you in our classes if your younger?" Keith asked as he aimed his shot. It was a difficult one, but he made it in anyway.

"She skipped freshman year when she transferred to B.E.," Tyler told him proudly. Emily took her drink and took a sip. She made a face and took the other one that was hers.

"Reid what is that vodka?" She took a sip of hers thankful that he didn't add anything. Keith took another shot and made it in.

"You would appreciate it if you drank," he told her kindly. Keith got another ball in which made Emily drop her mouth. She never saw someone who played like him. Reid and Carter were good but this guy was amazing. He saw that she was starring and she quickly closed her mouth. Reid noticed and said, "I've never seen someone this good." Keith missed his shot.

"I never expected you of all people to admit that, Garwin," Keith replied coldly. Reid aimed and got their ball in. He aimed for another but missed it when he heard:

"Hi Reid!" The cue ball hit a stripe ball and Aaron cheered.

"I never thought that would happen," he yelled as he laughed. Emily looked up to see kira leaning on the pool table across from Reid. She pushed her chest out as if she tried to impress him with her stuffed bra.

"Hey kira," Reid replied awkwardly.

"She's been flirting with him since she and Aaron broke up at the dance last week," Tyler whispered in her ear. "Reid and Aaron hate each other."

"That explains why she's been a total bitch to me," Emily whispered back pissed. "She must have seen Aaron hitting on me and then saw us Reid and I walking to math together."

"Thanks kira," Aaron thanked as he got a ball in. "Two more balls in baby and you're all mine."

"You could have least had better taste," kira commented as she gave Emily a dirty look. Emily stared at the girl. She wore a tight blue halter top that cut low enough to see her blue lace bra and a mini skirt that showed her flat stomach. "I'm mean really what a tramp."

"You know what bi…" Tyler put a hand over her mouth.

"Let it go," Tyler commanded repeating the words she had told them earlier. Aaron missed his shot because he was laughing so hard. Emily pushed Tyler off her and aimed for her ball which she got in.

"You know I wouldn't be talking," Emily told kira aiming for another ball and got it in. "I mean really do you shop at the costume store or something so you can be a whore each and everyday?" The guys roared in laughter. She shot another ball and sunk it in the pocket. She looked up to see that Caleb, Pogue, Sarah, and Kate had joined them. The look on Pogue's face told her they had heard her. She looked around the table trying to figure out the best shot.

"Count your cash Abbot," Reid cheered. Emily bent down looking at all the angles she could shot from.

"Excuse me gorgeous," she said as she slid between Keith and the pool table. She would have brushed against him but he stepped back like a gentleman.

"No problem," he told her. The cue ball and the eight ball were at opposite sides of the table so Emily had to aim at an angle on the opposite end so it would roll back up.

"Left corner pocket," Emily called as she touched it. Both of her opponents nodded to show they understood.

"Tough shot," Keith warned.

"She can make it," Reid snapped. Emily pulled back the stick and shot just as kira spilt her drink on Emily. Emily hit the cue ball and it almost scratched.

"Oh I'm so sorry," kira purred. Emily grabbed kira and shoved the girl to one of Aaron's friends.

"Keep her the hell away from this table!" Emily screamed.

"Language," Tyler reminded her.

"Why?" Sarah asked. "She's clearly a bitch to any new girl who talks with you guys even if the girl is one of your sisters."

"Do you want to fight?" kira asked as she shoved the guy who was holding her away.

"Why not," Sarah answered. "Let's take it outside." kira pushed past them and walked towards the door.

"I get first shot," Emily told Sarah as the two of them followed. kira realizing she was out numbered let out an annoyed sound and walked over to the bar.

"Thanks for the back up," Sarah said.

"Anytime," Emily responded with a smile as they headed back towards the pool table. She weaved her way through the crowd that had formed around the table. She heard a few guys whistle at her. Aaron smiled when he saw her.

"I thought you'd want to be here to witness your defeat."

"Let's just play shall we?" She noticed that everyone had gathered even Nicky the owner. Keith got their last ball in which gathered a cheer from the crowd.

"Only one left," Aaron announced.

"Damn it," Emily swore looking away. Reid put a arm around her waist and saw he was just as nervous as she was. They looked at each other and then at Keith who was making his shot. He missed it by a miracle and Emily threw her arms around Reid's neck in relief. He dropped his stick and put both his arms around her waist and laughed. He stopped and swore.

"Not too lucky are we, Garwin?" Emily looked at Aaron and then the table. The shot would be difficult but she knew Reid could make it. "Shall we add on our wager. Another three hundred if you two win here. If we win because I get it next turn we play next week with the same stakes."

"Deal."

" No way Emi! No thanks Aaron."

"Hold on a sec," Emily told Aaron and pulled Reid to the side. She stood on her tippy toes so she could whisper in his ear. "All you have to do is shoot it on an angle and we win." Reid looked at her and then at Aaron.

"I'm not going to let him have you for a play-date next week," he told her.

"That won't happen because I've seen you make this shot a million times." She kissed his cheek. "Don't think about it or whatever else pops in your mind. Just shoot the ball." They walked back to the table hands entwined.

"We'll take that bet," Reid told Aaron. "Bottom left corner." He aimed the ball and looked up to see Emily was smiling at him. She had every confidence in him. I can't miss this, he thought to himself.

Just shoot, came her voice in his head. He shot the ball and it went into the called pocket.