Can I Have That in Writing?

Riley: How to Reach You

For the first week, my school days continued as normal. I had established my routine. Go to homeroom, say hi to Emily, think about inviting her to writing club, chicken out, go to biology, then gym, English, lunch, history, and French.

In my defense, I had wanted to wait a week anyway before asking Emily the big question. Our club wasn't meeting until the second or third week anyway. Was I supposed to be like, "Please join our cult- I mean club" when we barely knew each other? What if she didn't want to hang out with her sister and her dorky friends any more than necessary?

So on the Monday of the week our club was set to start, I steeled my nerves. Today was the day I would finally ask her.

Emily and I didn't really speak much since the first day. We would ask each other the occasional question about our geometry lesson. There were a few times when I dropped my pencil, she picked it up, and I thanked her. And she would smile if I said or did something that she found amusing. But that was it.

The morning started like any other. I took out my binder, a pencil, and my pencil sharpener. Emily sat down next to me and did the same a few moments later. I started out with some small talk. "Hey, Emily... you think you did okay on the homework?"

She nodded. I grinned in response. "Well, that makes one of us. I'm definitely more of an English and history person than a math and science person."

I waited for a reply, to no avail. I went on, "How about you? Do you like writing or geometry better?"

Emily pursed her lips together. I could tell she made sure to think before she replied, "Probably writing."

"Nice! High five!"

I held out an open palm for a high five. Emily stared at my hand as if it were about to catch fire. Realizing my enthusiasm may have been too much for her, I smiled sheepishly.

"Or not. Sorry. Reeling it back."

I withdrew my hand and softly imitated the sound a truck makes when it drives backward. At the very least, it made Emily smile. She had never laughed in front of me before, and something told me that might take awhile. But that was fine. There were more pressing matters here.

I dialed back my volume and enthusiasm from a 10 to a 6. "You know, I'm sure you heard from your sister, but... we are starting a writing club. Well, not just me and her. Our friends Vera and Sebastian too! And we were wondering... if you'd like to come to our meeting?"

Emily silently stared down at her desk. There was a look in her eyes that I couldn't quite pinpoint. Was it just pensiveness, or was it fear?

I threw my hands up and rambled on, trying to assuage her concerns. "Look, it's totally optional! And you wouldn't have to share anything out loud if you don't want! Allison and I, we... we're just excited about it, and we'd love to have you there."

Emily still didn't respond. Her eyes squeezed shut for a moment. Finally, she turned to me. "When do you all...?" she asked softly.

"Every other Thursday, right after last period. And it's in Mr. Sage's classroom, so you know how to get there!"

She bit the bottom of her lip. "I'll think about it."

Just when I was about to say more, Mrs. Hathaway walked in. There was nothing more I could say at the moment, so I left it alone. I turned away from Emily and towards the front of the room.

After that, my routine continued as normal for the rest of the day.

***

Tuesday's schedule: Go to homeroom, say hi to Emily, anxiously wait for a reply, not get one, be too scared or awkward or whatever to follow up, bang my head into my binder on my way to biology, and... well, you know the rest.