Emmie POV -

I caught myself glancing up at the clock every couple seconds. By this time of the day, it was almost an automatic reaction. The traitorous clock knew this, of course, and seemed to drag each hand slowly to the next number.

Needless to say, I was always the first one out of the door once the bell rang. I raced down the halls, eager to see my friend and tell him of my great idea I had brewed in the six periods I had been away from him (and what a long six periods that was).

I stood on my toes, looking over the shadows of the students making their way outside, before I caught sight of the honey-tinted hair bobbing down the hall toward me. I quickly closed the distance between us and smiled hugely.

We both opened and closed our mouths several times, seeing who would voice their thoughts first. He went for it.

"My dear Emily! How are you on this fine day?" he smirked and bowed, taking my hand. I laughed and started walking (ignoring those damn butterflies in my stomach), pulling him along by his wrist.

"I'm as great as I could be, locked up in small, overly crowded rooms for six hours a day." - I smiled- "How 'bout you?"

"Just dandy." He paused, rolling his dark green eyes. "Actually, Advanced Placement classes really suck…" he trailed off, looking at the ceiling. "I have at least five hours of homework ahead of me tonight. Allow me to exaggerate the 'at least' part."

"It's what you get for being a genius." I stated, glancing at his olive toned face.

"What can I say? I try." He replied smugly, squeezing my hand (do I honestly even have to mention the butterflies again?).

We were approaching the busses by now, and although he lived just down the street from me, he rode a different bus. I racked my brain for my first topic (nearly forgotten in my traitorous blast of hormones), turning the words around in my head to make sure they were flawless.

"Hey well, Jake, I was wondering if you were busy this weekend? My parents are leaving for a few days to go to Chicago to see my grandparents-" I paused to take in his expression, "- so I thought we could have a movie night?" I shrugged, feeling my face burning.

"That'd be great, Em!" he exclaimed, grinning widely at me. I couldn't control the smile that spread across my face. He was almost never allowed to come over anymore, though he never told me why, he simply mentioned it was just his "parents being parents".

I glanced toward the bus, which engine had just begun to hum loudly, and back at Jake. He was staring at me, into my eyes. Looking through me, to be sure. He was too good at reading me. Annoyingly so. His eyes softened and he smiled slightly, hugging me goodbye and whispering in my ear:

"Gotta run."

I shivered as I watched him run to his bus, hopping on with effortless grace, as the last of his cool breath tingled it way down my spine. I loved when he did that.

I stopped, mentally slapping myself.

Just a friend. Just a friend.

I repeated the mantra to myself as I climbed into my bus and dropped into my seat.

Oh, who am I kidding?

I smiled, closing my eyes as the bus began to edge it's way down the street.

- - - - - - - - - - -

chapter two! the girl's name is Emily, but Jake calls her Em or Emmie. :)

R&R please! :)

more coming very soon!