If Not For Her

Chapter 15. "Crushes?"

"Do you think she would look like Lily-Rose Depp?" Chris asked. "I think she has more of an Emma Watson and Anne Hathaway thing going on," Adam said. "Okay, those people look vastly different," Annabeth said sitting on her seat as her friends carried on. "Okay Adam look at those cheekbones and tell me otherwise," Chris said. "Dude, what the look at her properly," Adam said.

"Who are we talking about?" Annabeth asked. "Emmalyn Cole," Chris said as Emmalyn sat at the front talking with Vanessa. She looks like neither, to be honest" Annabeth said. "But still" Adam trailed off winking at the group of girls next to them, "weren't you obsessed with Thomas till yesterday?" Annabeth asked. "I go both ways," he said. Chris laughed, " I pity those girls if they think they have a chance," Chris said. "Well heart belongs to him," Adam said. "Your body?" Chris asked. "Debatable," he said. "The pinnacle of romance," Annabeth said.

"Hey what did she want today?" Adam asked. "Oh, nothing much, just a few questions about art," she said. "Sure," Adam said. "Are we going to get ice cream today?" Chris asked. "Yes," Annabeth and Adam answered in unison. "Jinx," they said again, "jinx again" " kids," Christina said. " Besides," Christina started, " What about your hot neighbor?" She asked. "Maybe we should invite him to ice cream?" Adam suggested. "Absolutely," Chris said. " Annabeth you ask him"

"It was supposed to be the three of us," Annabeth said. "Well..." Christina started. "Tell her, Chrissy," Adam said. "Tell me what?" Annabeth asked. "Your brother will be joining us," Adam said. "Why?" she asked, " we don't get enough time with my classes and his practice," Chris said. "Maybe it could be a double date, me and Alex, you and Nicolas," Chris said.

"Excuse me?" Adam asked, " of course, you can be our fifth wheel or bring someone and it could be like a triple date," Chris said. She seemed excited, and Adam and Anne shared a look. "I will bring someone," Adam said. "Who?" Chris asked. "Someone cool," he said. "Thomas?" Chris asked. "Does not seem likely" Anne said, as Madame Andrea entered. "Everyone get to your seats," she said. Annabeth turned on her chair and Emmalyn walked to her seat next to Annabeth and smiled at her, Annabeth was sure her friends noticed it by the feeling of sudden water hitting her hair and the sound of Chris's rapid choking. "It's fine " she heard Adam say, she turned around to see a smile on his face, as he tapped her back.

She turned back around, "Is she okay?" Emmalyn asked. "She will be," she said, through a forced smile. It was just a smile. "Are you ok back there Silvers?" Madame Andrea asked. "She is great" Adam answered as she stopped. "Now," Madame said looking at Christina once again "I am pleased to announce that we are growing and have yet another member joining the art class. Class please welcome Nicolas Parker," she said. The Fuck!

He smiled at her or was it, Emmalyn. Who was he smiling at she glanced at the blonde smiling at him. "Nicolas take the empty seat next to Reed," she said. Annabeth looked at the only empty seat in the class and took a notice of all the daggers being shot in her direction. "Hi," he said as he sat next to her. "Hi," she replied, "since when do you draw?" she asked, "it's not a bad time to learn is it?" he asked. "No it is not" she said.

She looked to her right, Emmalyn was looking at them, their eyes met for a brief moment and Annabeth felt her heart skip a beat. Wait? did it just skip a beat for Emmalyn Cole out of everyone. No, it did not, she was mistaken. Annabeth turned to her face, Chris was busy on her moving her brush on her canvas while, Adam seemed to see everything, he shrugged his shoulder and she turned back to her canvas.

She breathed in and focused her attention on her painting, she had better things to worry about, her paintings, the summer programme, not crushes. Crushes? she had only on crush and that was on Nicolas. Emmalyn Cole was her friend? and a completely different story. She had hated her all her life or did she? for hate and love felt extremely similar, and Annabeth never understood it until that moment.

No, Nicolas was perfect for her, and he was the one she was going to go after not Emmalyn no matter how perfect she looked, how her face lit up when she was happy, how she had a golden shine in the sun, no matter how beautiful she looked while painting, how elegant, graceful. No, she did not have a crush on Emmalyn.

The class ended and Adam walked out, she looked at Chris "Is he okay?" she asked. "He is Adam, go on ask Nicolas out," she gave her a little push. Anne's heart picked up rapid speed. "I am going to' she said. "Good luck" Chris said. "Thank you, I need it" and she turned around and called, "Nick".

He stopped and smiled at her "hi," she said. "Hey," he said, "growing quite popular" she said looking at the girls passing him. He let out a small laugh, "you look quite pretty today" he said. "Thank you" she said, her confidence growing with every passing second. "Nick, I was wondering if you would like to come and get ice cream?" she looked at his expression "with everyone, Alex, Chris, Adam and his date" she added. "Yeah, sure, I would love too" he said. "Cool" she said, "I will see you there then," He nodded and waved her bye.

Annabeth turned and gave Chris a high five, "this is the start" Chris said. "It is" Anne answered looking at the boy.