Emma kneeled on her bed and lifted the window open. Chester crawled in and landed beside her. She had fantasized him being in her bed many times. Now that he was here, she was speechless.
"Emma," he said, hugging her. His voice was hushed. "We've all been worried about you."
"Me? Why?"
"None of us has heard from you since yesterday. Or seen you outside. Are you sick?"
"No... just grounded." She felt too ashamed to tell him the reason.
"Oh... well wanna go for a walk?"
"Umm... sure."
"It's kind of chilly," he said, with a genuine concern in his voice.
"Oh... right." She found a pair of jeans, stripped off her shorts, and changed. They slipped out the window and into the moonlight. It was then Chester noticed her puffy eyes.
"Em, have you been crying?"
"No," she lied, quickly. Too quickly, apparently.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." More lies.
The walked in silence. He stopped when they reached the street. Emma stopped too, and turned to face him.
Chester suddenly wrapped his arms around her. It felt warm, safe, like all of Emma's troubles were being absorbed by him. She looked up, her eyes glistening. They met with Chester's. He smiled. She realized she would never get over him. No matter how hard she tried. Having him as a friend just wasn't enough. If she couldn't have him, completely... she wouldn't allow herself to partially have him. It was all the way, or nothing. She looked down. He tilted her head back up. It was at this moment he kissed her.
It was more perfect than Chad. It was more perfect than anything. As their tongues swirled in synchronization, causes tingling sensations that made Emma dizzy in a good way, she thought of the past week. How could this happen? she thought. Images of them yelling at each other, her and Chad making out, Darcy and her smiling and talking- Darcy. She was betraying her friend. No. She pulled away.
"We can't," she whispered, a tear running down her cheek. She ran down the street to her house, and snuck back in through the window. She quickly shut it, pulled the covers over her head, and tried in vain to fall asleep. Her mind was racing, and so was her heart.
A huge crash woke Emma up. She heard the pitter-patter of rain and the rolling of thunder. Another crash and a flash of light. She pulled the covers over her head. The events of last night made her feel like a child again- she couldn't control anything, not her thoughts, feelings actions... and all of those things were bad right now. Punishable. If Darcy found out about last night... she closed her eyes in regret. It was just a kiss, Emma told herself. It didn't mean anything... But she knew she was lying. It meant everything, to Emma, to Chester... even to Darcy, though she didn't know. It meant the end of her first serious relationship. Unless they acted like everything was normal, like the kiss never happened. The rain died down and Emma fell back asleep.
Two hours later she was awake again. It was still storming, harder than ever. The doorbell rang. She could hear voices whispering in urgency, and Spike say "Of course." Twenty minutes passed and she still didn't hear the visitor leave. She slowly got out of her bed and walked up the stairs, curious. She opened the door and poked her head into the living room. Everyone turned to look at her. Everyone included Chester and his family. Chad waved to her. It was cute, really. She could do nothing but stare. She felt so guilty- Chad genuinely liked her, and she had kissed his brother.
Emma glanced at Chester. He refused to look at her. Her heart sank. She closed the door just as Snake began to explain, and sat on the basement steps, head buried into her hands.
It was another hour or so before Emma dared to go upstairs again. This time everyone was sitting in the family room, watching a movie. Some Godzilla-ish horror flick. Meaning it was cheaply made and not at all scary. Chester, Chad, and Chuck looked unbelievably bored, but they perked up as soon as Spike spotted Emma.
"Emma Nelson, explain yourself," she paused the movie and stood up, hands on her hips. Emma froze.
"Nothing, mom, it's just-"
"Just what? We have guests and you slam the door in their face?"
"I was just surprised. And confused. Why are they...?"
"Because their power is out. Their whole block."
"Then... why do we have power?"
"We run on a different power line, Em," Snake was remaining calm. Why Spike was in such a pissy mood was beyond Emma.
"They'll be here until tomorrow, at the very least."
"Wait," Emma said, this new fact registering in her brain. "So they'll be... spending the night there?"
"Yes, Emma! Why are you being so rude!"
"I'm not! I just was wondering!"
"Be more polite to our guests! Make them feel welcome, don't just stand there and act like you don't want them here!"
Emma glanced at Chester's parents. They looked more uncomfortable at Spike's outbursts than at Emma's questions, however "rude" they may be. She looked back at her mother. She quickly scanned her from head to toe. She looked different. It suddenly dawned on her.
"Mom, are you pregnant again?"
Snake got up and tried to play peacemaker. "Emma, now is not the time to discuss this."
"Whatever." Emma rolled her eyes and went to sit down. There was a space between Chester and Chad. Perfect.
Spike sat down in shock. She'd never answered Emma's question. That didn't matter right now. The movie played on. Chad looked over at Emma and kissed her forehead and put his arm around her. She glanced at Chester. He looked sulky. He got up and went to the bathroom. When he came back, he found a spot on the floor next to Chuck, not looking at Chad and Emma for the rest of the movie.
