Rocky got me a book of coupons for my birthday.

Emily blinked while reading that line for the third time. There was no way that was correct. A book of coupons. She tried to recall what was amongst the coupons, but of course her mind drew a blank. She read on.

A luxury lunch.

Amusement park all day passes.

A free slice of cake.

Rock climbing, and a trapeze lesson.

Laser tag.

She intoned thoughtfully when reading that one of the coupons was an expenses paid spa day.

"I notice.." She read out loud. "That they were all for two. I wonder if he wanted to do them with me?"

Now she really was confused. Did Rocky like her, or does she like him? It was impossible to read her emotions when she'd written in her diary. Emily, present, is simply reading about two friends who may or may not have romantic feelings for each other. Her diaries weren't completely filled with passages of Rocky and herself. A lot of it was about the school day, some were about time with her female friends.

She'd had a falling out with one of them. This girl apparently was talking about her behind her back. She called her all sorts of inappropriate names. Her reason for doing it was because she'd wanted to date Rocky. And she, Emily, was having none of it.

Which again, caused a wonder over whether she liked Rocky or if Rocky liked her.

'I should just ask him. Or maybe one of his brothers...' She thought. But, would they know? If they do know, would they say anything? What if Rocky's feelings are a secret?

Two more books to go after this one. The purple one held more recent dates, it might know the conclusion of the wondered about cat and mouse between her best male friend and herself. She set the current diary aside then got up from her desk. She walked over to an oval mirror and began studying her face. There are better things to mull over than the unknown, such as, what is she going to wear on her date tomorrow? How should she do her hair? The new sunshine highlights need to pop.

Her brow furrowed as an image of Rocky flashed right then. They were talking outside of her home, right after she had her hair dyed. But what about. "Come on... come back to me..." It's so frustrating! Like having a hair on your tongue that you just can not remove.

"Emily, what do you want for dinner?" Called Mrs. Farmer up the stairs to her daughter.

"Uhh," she replied to low to be heard.

"Emily?"

"Eggplant lasagna," she shrugged to her reflection. Hearing footsteps outside of her room, she turned just as her mom stepped into the room. "Did you hear me?" She wondered.

"Are you sure?" Her mother walked over and fixed her daughter's bangs. "You hate eggplant."

"I do? Oh... Guess something else then."

"No. It's my pleasure to make it. I love the stuff, but I don't get to make it as often as I want." She gave a cheeky smirk.

"Should I apologize for my true-self starving you of your favorite?" She joked back.

"Nonsense, you'll spoil my rebel side that sneaks it when you're not looking."

Emily laughed. She shook her head to right her bangs. "I have a date tomorrow night."

"Oh, nice."

"It's this guy named Darren. Do you know him?"

Her mother's nose scrunched. "Oh, wasn't he the one who kept going past the Douglas's shouting obscenities at Jeffrey?"

"I don't know anything about that. But," she walked over to her bed. "He's cute, tall, and said "yes" when I asked him. So I'm going." Having a seat, she picked up her diary. "Mom, did Rocky and I ever date?"

Her mother's chuckle said it all. A resounding "NO".

"Do you know why?"

Mrs. Farmer nodded. "Because you're friends." She was headed for the door, missing her daughter's posture deflate from the answer.

Emily had wanted something more grounded then that. Because, in all honesty, Rocky is at least an 8. He's nice, funny - from what he's shown over the weeks since the accident - to what she's read in her diaries. He's loyal. OK, so he seems a bit like a stalker, but he's just over helping because of the accident. No harm.

"Emily? You there?" A tiny voice came over the can.

She leaned over the width of the bed and removed the cover. "I'm here. What's up?"

"Wanna do homework together? I don't mean to meet up, I mean over the can?"

"Sure." She straightened up to grab her bag. "Let's start with the boring stuff."

"Math it is,"

"I meant science."

Rocky scoffed. "That offends me on so many levels, Emily Farmer."

"Math is better, science sucks."

"Bye."

They chuckled. Emily felt her heart flutter. The same way it fluttered over Darren, or maybe.. just a bit more. Naah. She must be imagining things.

"We'll start with science." Rocky said, kidding aside.

After they finished their homework, they talked about little things. Having their history erased, it was hard to talk about anything that wasn't current.

"Oh, that reminds me," Emily said before Rocky could break their connection. It was time for both families to have dinner. "Do you if know any good movies playing?"

"Yeah, Wonka's really good. And umm, wait, what genre do you wanna see?"

Emily panicked. She hopes he didn't think she's asking so they will go together. "Umm, comedy or romantic comedy." She pleaded that he just pick a random title then leave it at that.

"Everyone says Lisa Frankenstein is great."

"Perfect. Thanks."

"No problem. See ya,"

"Later," she placed the cap over the opening of the can. She expelled a breath of relief.

If Darren and Rocky really are enemies, it's best not to say anything before there's anything to say. After all, it's just one date. It may not even progress from there. One thing was for sure, this date tomorrow has turned into a double-edged sword of excitement and just wanting to be done with it without incident.

Emily straightened up as something suddenly hit her! What is she going to wear?! This is her first date - as far as she knows - what would be good for the situation? Pants? Culottes? She's not sure if she wants to wear a skirt. The date isn't serious, it's a movie. It'll be dark in the viewing room. Unless they go somewhere afterwards it'll be a wasted wardrobe.

"Dinner, hon'." Her father called into her room from the hall. He's in his office working.

"Ok." After a brief rummage, she found a nice loose shirt and found a pair of jean shorts underneath it. Must be a set. Perfect.

"Emily?" Her mother called up the stairs.

"I'm coming." She called back before exiting the bedroom.

At the Douglas home.

The brothers are running through a Kata. They felt the need to do so every other night as a way to keep their bodies honed over the long months before the summer. Tum Tum was leading tonight; however, his growling stomach interrupted the serene concentration.

"Did we not just have dinner?" Colt wondered. He broke the pose and straightened to a lax position.

"What can I say, my stomach wants to remind me of dessert." Tum Tum shrugged his shoulders and hands.

Rocky quietly agreed that he'd like a couple oatmeal cookies. But, ninja comes first.

Colt waved his hands for his younger brother to step aside. If he was going to get distracted then he would lead the practice, but Rocky shook his head.

"We should stop. I wanna finish my homework, anyway." He said before going to the desk.

Colt sucked a breath in through his teeth. "Homework. Right." Try as he might, he is not picking up Japanese as easily as his brothers. He's better suited for his grandmother's side. Spanish. Spanish he can do in his sleep. School helps. But Japanese? With all the particles and groups. Woo.

But his grandfather goes out of his way to teach them the language. He makes up worksheets and assigns homework - as if he doesn't have enough from school. And they mail them back to him. Colt once caught himself from saying the internet was faster, but why rush the due date? Nothing says 'eventually' like good ol' snail-mail.

"Umm watashi ga.. Umm me unirè a èl para el postre." He waved then rushed out of the room.

Rocky sighed. Colt should really do his lessons. "It's watashi MO kare ni dezaato wo tabe ni ikimasu."

"He was there, too." Colt said from beyond the room.

Rocky shook his head then picked up where he'd left off. His mind began to wander. Emily said she was going to the movies. 'I wonder if I could join her?' He blinked when suddenly the sound of a car horn played in his memory. 'Great. I've got acute PTSD from the accident. Best not to go. Besides, it's probably family night and she wants to pick something she'll enjoy.' He completely understands.

He loves having their dad home, except on pizza night, if he's picking… He always picks Domino's, his worst enemy in the food realm. It's just garlic bread with cheese. Why does he only taste garlic? Are they adding it to the oil that they use to make the dough? Their mom likes the local place. Perfectly delicious. His brother, and himself, love Little Caesars.

All that thought about food made him hungry. He finished a few more translations then stood from his seat to head downstairs and get his dessert.

'I can't let the accident haunt me like this. Maybe I should go to the movies, I've been kinda curious about that one. I'm sure the Farmers won't mind.' He picked a golden raisin free and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Rocky, did you write on my homework?" Colt shoved his papers in his brother's face.

"Yeah. They're wrong, do them over."

Colt imitated his older brother through a mumble then returned to the desk. "Wanna go with me to the movies tomorrow?"

"Nope. I'm going to Luke's house for street hockey." Tum Tum replied. He's also doing his grandfather's assignments.

"Rocky?"

"Umm.. Naah, Emily's going. I don't want her to think I'm being-"

"A stalker?" Colt chuckled.

"I was going to say overly protective," he left out the "smartass".

"You sure? My treat?"

"Where'd you get money?"

"Some kids from school paid me to break some things."

Rocky cocked a brow to that. But, he supposed if he wasn't a ninja it would be interesting to watch. Especially if the person I asked to do it could actually do it.

"And before you tell me that I shouldn't be doing ninja for showing off, I was using it to defend their boredom. And you've used it to show off to Emily from time to time, so spare me the lecture."

Rocky wasn't going to say anything like that. Colt had a point, not to the defense of boredom, but that he has used it to show off to Emily. He wanted to impress her and let her see how far he's gotten in training. She can feel a sense of reliability from him. Of course, she did slug a guy with a gun. His crush is no lilting flower. He smiled at an image of Emily playing around with his heart.

She really is amazing. And he hoped that whatever was in those diaries, if any of it was about him, left the same feeling in her about him.