"Hey loner." Emma teased Jay, standing behind as he watched Spinner and some of his other friends playing basketball as he sat for a smoke.

How did someone who smoked as much as Jay, even play any sport without dying?

Jay smirked inhaling, "Hey geek." He greeted back.

Emma smiled shaking her head as she sat down until he nudged her.

"Happy Birthday geek." He added, watching the basketball game still.

She smirked seeing her remembered and snuck a glance at him, he was trying not to look at her, hiding a smirk.

"Where's your sidekick?" Emma asked, talking about Sean.

Jay snickered and said, "He's actually busy moving Ellie into his apartment. Those two make me sick."

"Manny's busy too... the cheerleading squad is all hers right now. I guess Paige is sick this week." Emma said, feeling a bit left out since her best friend barely even had time for her on her birthday.

"We should go have fun then." Jay said, finally looking at her and she glanced at him.

"Like what?" she asked and looked toward school. She couldn't go. That was wrong! She had class.

"Like, skipping." Jay said with wide eyes, taunting her playfully and flicked his cigarette infront of them.

That's when they saw Rick coming over.

"I feel bad." Emma admitted to Jay, Rick counted on her to be his friend or... whatever they were. She couldn't leave him alone, with what the school wanted to do to him and all.

"Who cares." Jay bittered, glaring up from his spot as Rick came infront.

Rick smiled and asked, "Emma, would you like me to wait for you after class so we can go get some lunch or something? Toby is in too." Rick said with a smile.

"No." Jay said to Rick, standing up and grabbing Emma's hand and pulling her," She wouldn't."

"Let go Romeo." Emma said after a few steps, and looked around, "People are going to talk, think your my boyfriend or something." She told him.

Jay swallowed hard and ran a hand through his hair... which made Emma notice finally he wasn't even wearing his hat. Actually, nor baggy pants. He still had a dark edge to him but geez, he really cleaned up. She actually LIKED his hair, alot. All shaggy and brown.

"I-I'm not a boyfriend." Jay stuttered and quickly said, "I'm not your boy friend."

Jesus, look at him. Any obvious Hogart? How could she not tell he was head over heels for her though? Has she made him make piggy jokes lately? Being mean to others besides Rick?

...Maybe she didn't care.

God he was an idiot. Almost 18, puppy loving a girl at 16 who is, like everyone says, too good for him.

"I said looks like." Emma stated, eyeing him.

What was his deal?

"Lets go." Jay said, changing the subject and opening his orange civic's door for her. She got in.

THE DOT.

"So...was it worth it?" Jay asked her, biting into his burger, sitting across from her in the booth.

Emma laughed softly, "I don't find cheeseburgers as exciting as you seem to." She laughed some more as some pickles fell.

Jay glared and then picked up those pickles, flinging them at her, "How about now?"

"JAY!" she squeled but still laughed. They calmed down and gave another playful glares as she spoke, "Now's it exciting."

Jay smiled at her then down at the table, Emma then noticed a shiny bag beside him.

"What's that?" she asked, tilting her head so curiously Jay wanted to laugh.

He replied, "You tell me."

Emma answered with a smirk, she was trying to hide her big smile, "More hiding lap tops in there?" she joked and he narrowed his eyes at her.

"Thought we were over that?" he asked.

"That's what you get for making me guess." She said happily with a shrug.

"Happy 16th." Jay said, flinging the bag at her but cracked a grin as she went digging into it like a little baby on Christmas.

She then quickly pulled out what was inside, and then stared. A velvet small box.

"For real?" Emma asked him, he nodded. She opened it and it was the most beautiful emerald earrings she's ever seen. She stopped breathing and looked around her.

Was this real?

She looked at Jay and insisted, "Some people would say we're friends Hogart. Better watch it."

"It's why I asked you to skip, so no one saw us." He said with a grin and she smiled back and went back to admiring the earrings.

"This... is really pretty." Breathed Emma and paused. "You didn't..."

"No I didn't steal them." Jay said, rolling his eyes at her and then gave her a look.

Emma questioned, "Were they expensive?"

"Not real, who do you think I am?" Jay asked after a long pause and raised an eyebrow up at her.

Later that night, Emma ended up home and was on her couch, staring out the front window and thinking... thinking alot, about Jay. She played gently with her earrings as her mother came in and wasn't even noticed since in such deep thought about him.

Emma's stomach had butterfly's.

"Those are gorgeous Emma!" she exclaimed.

Emma jumped, finally noticing her as Spike came up and checked her new jewellery out.

"Who gave you that?" Spike asked.

"Just a friend." Emma said with a shrug.

"Boy friend?" Spike teased.

"No." Emma noticed the depression in her voice and then coughed, shrugging it off.

"Good, cause the last one was a hurricane." Spike laughed, she loved Sean but she'd love her daughter not to have drama right now, but she had to admit, "Though they do look boyfriend material."

Emma giggled, Jay a boyfriend? . . . HER boyfriend?

"Their not real." Emma informed, remembering what he said.

"Yes it is. It's your gem stone, silly." Spike left with that and Emma blinked.

"Oh."

She stayed in shock that night. They were real... oh my god.