A/N: Thanks to my wondorful reviewers! There is going to be more chapters because i really like how this story is unfolding. R&R.
Inner Struggles
Chapter 9
The next day, Tyler left the dorm quietly for his first class. He met up with Caleb and Pogue outside.
"Is Reid sleeping?" Pogue asked, when he saw only Tyler exit the building. Tyler nodded. "I knew he would be."
"He probably hasn't even woken up since last night," Caleb said, smiling.
"Yeah. He's been asleep since we got back last night. I tried to get him to go have the nurse check out all his cuts and scrapes, but he just crashed," Tyler said. They were just arriving at class.
After class, they saw Reid standing outside, waiting for them. "Hey guys, how was class?" he asked.
"Same as it usually is, boring. You missed a lot of note though," Pogue said.
"Tyler will let me borrow his, won't you Tyler?" he asked. Tyler nodded and smiled. 'The old Reid was back,' he thought. "Was Emma there today?" Reid asked. "I haven't talked to her since last night when she left.
"She was talking to the Prof. about a problem with her paper," Caleb said. Reid went into the class room.
"Garwin, we missed you in class today," the Prof. said. "Where were you?" he asked.
"I slept in accidently. I'm getting the notes from a friend though," he said. Emma looked over and smiled.
"That would be a good idea," the Prof said. "Maybe Tory will catch you up next class." Reid looked over at the only other student in the room except for him and Emma. Tory was gathering up her books.
"Great," she said, rolling her eyes. Reid noticed a hint of a smile on her face. He thought that she might have a little crush on him, by the way she'd been acting.
"I would appreciate that, Tory," Reid said, flashing his most charming smile. She turned red and walked out of the class room. Emma saw what Reid did and smiled.
"Thank you Professor," she said. She and Reid left the room together. "I think Tory has a crush on you," she said, smiling. Reid grinned. "Don't get any ideas. I know it's tempting, but you're my guy, not hers," she said grinning back.
"I'll try to stay true to you," Reid said. When they reached the rest of the guys standing outside, they started to head to their next class, which Reid realized that he'd skipped last time. "Hey Tyler," he said suspiciously.
"What?" Tyler asked reluctantly.
"So, I wasn't here for the last day in Algebra two, so, could I look over you're notes, and maybe copy your homework?" Reid asked, his voice getting low on this last part. Tyler sighed and handed him his folder. Reid went to sit down on a bench, and started fervently copying what Tyler had written on his paper.
"Don't we have a test today?" Caleb asked Pogue.
"Yeah," he said. "It's supposed to be a big one too." Reid looked up at them quickly.
"Are you lying?" Reid asked hopefully.
"No," Pogue answered, with out cracking a smile. "You'll do fine though. You've aced all the homework," he said.
"No, I have a confession. Tyler aced the homework," Reid said, starting to get worried. Pogue laughed at his friend's hopelessness.
They arrived at the class just in time for class to start. The hour passed, with no mention of a test. By the time there was fifteen minutes left in class, Reid glared up at Pogue, who smiled back. After class, Reid walked up to Pogue.
"That was funny," Reid said sarcastically. "I spent the entire hour studying for a nonexistent test! I never study!" Reid said. Pogue laughed and they headed out side.
After classes, they all headed to Nicky's. When they got there, they ordered their food and sat down at a table. "So, you're feeling better, Reid?" Emma asked him. Reid nodded, and motioned her to go play pool with him.
They left the table and walked over to the pool table. "They're cute, aren't they," Kate said to Sarah. "I didn't think Reid could stay with one girl for this long."
"Yeah. I agree, but they've only been together for a few days," Sarah answered.
"Exactly," Kate said. They both laughed. Pogue, Tyler, and Caleb brought back all the food, and set it down on the table. They all dug in. "Sarah and I were just discussing how cute Reid and Emma are."
"I think they're pretty adorable!" Pogue said, mocking them. Kate slapped him, and smiled. "No, I'm surprised they lasted this long," he said.
"That's exactly what I said!" Kate exclaimed.
"Well, I'm going to go see who's winning," Tyler got up and walked over to where Reid and Emma were playing pool. By the look on Reid's face, he was losing. "Hey, she's beating you Reid," he stated. Reid glared up at him. He aligned his shot, and completed it perfectly. Tyler reached over and turned Reid's face towards his.
"What are you doing?" Reid asked, jerking away.
"I'm just checking to see if you're playing fair," Tyler said. Reid gave an annoyed look and took his next shot, which he missed. Emma took her next and final shot, and won the game.
"Well, I suppose I won," she said thoughtfully. "And that must mean, that you lost!" she said, skipping back to where the food was sitting on the table. Reid and Tyler followed her back.
Emma leaned back against Reid, who was sitting next to her. Reid looked down at her, and smiled inwardly. He grabbed another fry, and ate it, thinking. He wasn't necessarily thinking about anything in particular, just thinking.
Just then, Amanda walked in. Tyler got up and went to greet her. When she got to the table, everyone offered her some food, and she sat down next to Tyler. She got up and pulled Tyler over to the foosball table, challenging him. They played that for a while, and everyone else talked.
"They're a pretty cute couple too," Kate said. Sarah nodded, and Pogue and Caleb rolled their eyes.
"Yeah, they're pretty much perfect for each other," Sarah added. Reid wasn't listening. He was staring intently at the table in front of him.
"Reid, are you there?" Pogue asked, snapping his fingers in front of his friend's face. Reid snapped out of it and looked up.
"Sorry, I was just thinking," he said.
"About her?" Kate asked, pointing to Emma who looked up. Reid nodded and Emma smiled.
"Hey, Kate. I've decided something," Pogue said. "I think that we're a pretty darn cute couple too." Kate laughed.
"Yes we are Pogue. And so are Caleb and Sarah are too. We're just a bunch of cute couples!" Kate said, smiling.
"Reid, I'm tired, will you drive me back to the school?" Emma asked, sitting up. Reid nodded and stood up. They walked out to his car, and Reid put his arm around her shoulders.
Reid drove back to the school, and walked Emma up to her room. They had a goodnight kiss, before she opened her door and stepped in. "See you tomorrow," she said, closing the door. Reid walked back his dorm, smiling.