If Not For Her

Chapter 5. "Is that our spot now?"

"Don't stress about it" Chris said. "Sure, don't stress it is just your regular, arch-nemesis," Adam said, with a smile. Chris gave him a little shove. "She is not my nemesis, we are nonexistent in each other's life and why is she taking art? Oh My God do you think she could win. Madame looked quite pleased. I feel nauseous, what if she is better than me? What if I lose?" "Annabeth" Chris held her by the shoulder and shook her, her purple and green streaks shaking as well. "Stop thinking about her, focus on you, got it?" Chris asked. "Yes," Anne said looking at Adam who just agreed. "Why are you quiet, all of a sudden?" Anne asked.

He smiled, "Don't you like the peace?" Chris said. "Love you, Chris," Adam said, "Love you too, A" Chris said, pinning her colorful streaks to her side. Anne remembered the day Chris came to their house, her blonde hair mixed with different colored streaks, it looked good on her and even if it didn't she carried herself with confidence and that made all the difference. "Just thinking about art class and Emmalyn's portrait," Adam said. "She is good isn't she?" Anne said. "You are painfully dumb, you know that?" he said.

Before she could say anything, Emmalyn's voice came, "hey, Reed". "Chris, do you mind showing me the solution to the question," Adam said, pulling her away. "What question?" Chris asked. "Let me show...." his voice became inaudible but she noticed the smirk he gave to Emmalyn and the slight red creeping on her face. What was happening?. "What do you want?" Anne asked. "Can I talk to you?" Emmalyn said. Anne saw the students looking at them, most of the attention was on them, on Emmalyn.

"No," she said and started walking away, Emmalyn followed. "Rude, by the way, hey listen" she continued. Anne wondered why did she even think Emmalyn would stop. "Can you stop walking away, it's exhausting to try to have a normal conversation while the other person just walks away." she said. Anne turned, "what do you want Cole,?" she asked. "A bit of your time" her eyes caught a group of people, looking at them. They immediately looked away, it was not every day they talked and their rivalry was known to everyone.

"Unless you would have to prefer to have a conversation right in the middle of the hallway, I can continue". The bell rang, she had history now. "Meet me at the back of the cafeteria after class," Anne said. "Is that our spot, now?" Emmalyn asked. Anne groaned turned around. "There is no such thing as our spot, Cole," Anne said. "Why are you even talking to me all of a sudden? Don't you hate me?" her words came out bitter.

Emmalyn looked her at for a long time, "Reed, Cole unless you two want detention, get to your classes" one of the teachers said. "I never hated you. See you later, Reed," with that Emmalyn Cole walked away, why could Anne not say no to her? why did she agree? and what did Emmalyn mean by that she never hated her? That was the effect Emmalyn Cole had on people.

"What did she want?" Chris asked, smiling. Adam had the same expression. " Why in the world are you two so happy?" Anne asked. "No reason," Adam said and repeated Chris's question. "A bit of my time," Anne said. "Romantic, Enemies to Lovers," Adam said. "There is nothing romantic about it and we will never be lovers," Anne said. "Then, why are you two meeting behind the cafeteria?" Chris asked, Adam shook his head while Anne's eyes widened, "You two heard our conversation?" she asked. "Well, it is not every day the Ice Queen talks to you" Adam said looking down at his history textbook, their teacher was busy writing notes on the board to even notice their conversation.

"Adam, give it a rest. See Anne, you need the place in the that school and a boyfriend" Chris said. "Or a girlfriend" Adam added. "Or a girlfriend, "Chris echoed. "A boyfriend," Anne said, she has been always attracted to boys but thought some girls were pretty cute, but she wasn't into girls she would know if she was, wouldn't she?

"But if you are going to wait for that perfect someone, he or she isn't going to walk right through that door" Adam started pointing at the door when it opened. Annabeth felt her heart flutter. Butterflies, some might say. "oh hell no" she heard Adam say. "Class, this is our new student, Nicolas Parker" their teacher introduced. Nicolas Parker, the name was familiar, did she know him? The boy smiled, as two dimples appeared on his cheeks.

"Nicolas, why don't you introduce yourself to the class?". He shifted on his feet and looked up, he had the most beautiful grey eyes, Anne had ever seen. "Hello, I am Nicolas Parker, I am new to the town, and Uhm, I am looking forward to making new friends and memories," he said. "Do you play basketball?" someone from the team asked from the back. "Yes," he said, he was tall enough maybe 6'0 or 6'1. "Take a seat," he nodded and sat in the second row, she had the perfect view of his side. "Stop staring," Adam said.

He was the one, she looked around her most of the girls and some of the boys seemed to have the same thought. "I think I found the perfect boy" she whispered. Chris beamed, "I am so happy for you." "I am still team Emmalyn, but he is hot," Adam said. He was.

He turned around when their eyes met, grey and brown. If she thought she felt some butterflies then, they were multiplied now. She felt an excitement she never felt, her first love. He smiled and she was gone. He turned around, and she looked back at her book, she was in for a hell of a ride.