Ok this might beat Chapter 4 as my favorite. I think you guys will love it. (I love it too! I'm squealing my head off. -Jordan)

"Emster!" Chad called to her. Emily tried to ignore him and keep walking. She sped up her pace a bit, but Chad was a basketball player and caught up to her easily. "Emster? Didn't you hear me calling you?"

"Oh, no. I guess not." She avoided his eyes. 'There so brown, and so handsome!' She thought. Then she scolded herself for thinking that.

"What's wrong?" He kept walking beside her.

"Nothing. I'm fine." She kept staring at the pavement in front of her. 'Just ten more yards until Troy's car.'

"Emster," Chad caught her arm and turned her to face him, "talk to me."

Emily caught her breath. 'Oh he's so good looking. Emily STOP THIS! He's Troy's best friend!' She tried her best to stare at the ground, or the binder in her hand, or the two kids fighting across campus, anything but look at Chad.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I told you."

"Something's wrong."

"No, it's not. I'm fine."

"Emster, please. You know you can talk to me." He put his finger under her chin and lifted it up, forcing her to look at him. Chad's face was filled with concern.

'A little too much concern for a so-called brother.' Emily scolded herself again.

"I'm fine. Now can I get in the car now?"

"Emster-"

"I'm fine, Chad. Really." First she lied to Troy, now Chad? What's happening?

"Ok, but Emster?"

"Yeah?"

"EMILY! CAR! NOW!" Troy called out.

"Nothing." Chad sighed.

"Troy has horrible timing." She laughed.

"Yeah," He smiled, "I'll just see you tonight?"

"Tonight?"

"Troy invited me for dinner."

Emily walked to Troy's car. She threw her books in the back and slammed the door shut.

"Since when do you invite Chad over for dinner without telling me?"

"What? Ems, it's Chad. You've never minded before." Troy got so confused.

"Well, um, my rooms just a, um, total mess." Emily made up a horrible lie. 'I can lie when I shouldn't and when I NEED to lie, I can't? What's wrong with that picture?'

"Oh my gosh, Ems!"

"What?"

"YOU LIKE CHAD!"

Emily's face paled.

"No, I don't! Don't be ridiculous!"

"I'm not! You totally like him."

"No, I DON'T! I just hate people coming over with a messy room."

"You didn't care before."

"Boarding school changed me, Troy."

'I know that.' Troy thought, but he decided to leave it alone. Besides, Emily couldn't like Chad. Could she?

"This is excellent pasta, Mrs. Bolton." Chad stuffed another forkful in his mouth.

"I guess so. You're stuffing it in your mouth like there's no tomorrow." Troy laughed.

Chad caught Emily's eye. She was laughing, too. He blushed slightly and swallowed.

"What? I'm hungry!"

"We realize that, Chadinater." Emily's eye had that twinkle. It was absolutely perfect. She was absolutely perfect.

Chad tried to think back to when he first decided Emily Bolton was the girl for him. One memory stuck out in his mind.

"Come on, Emster!" Chad pulled her the rest of the way up. The old tree house was creaky and worn, but very sturdy.

"I love you and all, Chadinater, but you really gotta pick better activites." She dusted herself off.

"You should really get into better shape then." He teased, "Anyways, here." He handed her a package, plainly wrapped.

"What is this?"

"You're birthday present."

"But you gave me one back at the house!"

"You mean that lame present? No, that was from my mom."

"Chadinater, you're oh so confusing."

"I know, but that's why you love me!" The two laughed. "Now, hurry and open it."

Emily opened the package to find her favorite story, The Little Mermaid. She smiled to herself.

"Thanks, Chadinater." She smiled and hugged him.

"Chad? You coming or what?" Troy called out to him.

"Coming where?"

"Troy has decided to play two on one." Emily laughed.

"Which two against which one?"

"Me and Em against you." Troy said dribbling the basketball.

"Are you kidding me? Two Boltons against me? I'll never win!" Chad laughed.

"Fine, Em, help Chad."

Emily paled slightly. Chad did, too. Neither noticed the other paling, but Troy noticed.

"Will you two be able to focus on the game working that close?" Troy teased.

Chad gave Troy a look that said 'Shut up'. Troy dropped it and opened the back door, leading them out to the basketball court.

They played two on one for a while, and Chad tried to be 'normal'. Every shot Emily made, he wanted to compliment her, but he knew he shouldn't. 'Chad you gotta snap out of this. This is TROY'S SISTER!'

Emily made a nice shot.

"Good shot, Emster."

"Yeah, for a three-year-old." Troy said.

"Oh, shut up. Let's see how well Gabriella shoots." Emily teased him.

"Leave Gabriella out of this!" Troy retaliated.

"Troy, chill. She was just joking." Chad responded. Troy shook his head.

"Sorry, Em. Hey, I'm thirsty. You guys want something?"

"Water." Chad and Emily said at the same time. Chad swore he saw Emily blush.

"Okay, two waters. Right AFTER I take a shower!" Troy said getting a wiff of himself. Troy entered the house, leaving the two alone.

The two sat on the grass in silence for a while. Emily stared at the sky and Chad picking at some grass.

"Chadinater?"

"Yes?" Chad loved the sound of her voice. The tone could calm him in an instant and after basketball practice, it made him feel energized even if he had been wiped out just a second before.

"You've been trying to tell me something all day. So I think if your going to tell me, now would be a good time. Troy's got a good thirty minute time range in the shower." She laughed.

Chad turned to Emily. He took a deep breath. She was right, it was now or never. "Emster, I just, um.."

"You just um? Well that's interesting." Emily was trying best to keep her cool.

"Ha. Ha. Ha. Well, I was wondering..." Chad stared into her eyes. Their gleam captivated him. They were mesmorizing, like a campfire you can't stop staring at.

"Oh they're so gorgeous." She mumbled. 'Oh no...Why didn't that happen in my thoughts like they always do?!' Emily panicked inside her head. She paled and her eyes widened.

"What did you say?" Chad asked. 'Did she just say...? No, she couldn't have. Why would she like me?'

"Um, that, well," she took a deep breath. 'Come on, Em. Now or never.' "I was just saying...that sunset is gorgeous!" Emily lied.

'Crap, Emily. Just say it!'

'Crap, Chad. Just say it!'

"Emster?"

"Ye-" The answer was cut off by Chad lips pressing against hers. Chad pulled back, looking nervous.

"I don't want to be just your friend anymore." Chad whispered, pulling her close.

"Good, because neither do I." She whispered back.

"Finally! Goodness, I wondered how long it would take you two." Troy stood at the backdoor, leaning against the frame and his arms crossed.

"You're dead!" Emily chased Troy around the house, laughing all the way, until finally he locked himself in the room to surrender.

Now do you know why I love this chapter so much? Hope you enjoyed it!

Please Review!

I think Jordan stashed some cookie cake somewhere. :-) (Oh my God, Allyn! You're such a dirty little hypocrite! And I finished my cookie cake, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! -Jordan, who is completely and totally loving this chapter with every fiber in her body)