If Not For Her

Chapter 18. "A spark"

"Hey, Emmalyn," Annabeth said as Emmalyn watched her face. "What are you doing here?" Annabeth asked. Emmalyn looked up at Adam, he had his arms around her waist, " she is my date" Adam said. "Great" Alexander said. "Let's order," he said walking towards the counter, Nicolas joined him. Chris and Annabeth stayed a few steps behind them." do they even like each other?" Chris asked. "I don't know, maybe," Annabeth said looking back at them and talking. Emmalyn saw Annabeth looking at them, "she is looking" she whispered, "Let her" Adam said and Emmalyn got on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "Now even Christina is looking," Adam said. Emmalyn smiled.

Adam and Emmalyn secretly high-fived before joining the others. They all sat at a round table, Adam, Emmalyn, Annabeth, Nicolas, Alexander, and Christina with their ice cream bowls. Amidst the conversation Annabeth kept looking at them, she forgot the fact that Nicolas was right beside her, sometimes her mind and eyes would find their way back to Emmalyn."Hey, let's go roller skating next," Adam said. Everyone agreed and went to the arcade.

Emmalyn looked around, it had been quite some time. She laced her fingers with Adam and started talking to Nicolas before giving a wink in Annabeth's direction, she saw her turn around. Then she heard her phone buzz, "excuse me" she said moving away from them. It was a text from Sofia's

Are you at the arcade?

Emmalyn looked around and saw her waving at Emmalyn, she waved back and soon Sofia joined her. "What are you doing here?" she asked. "I cam with Adam," she said, " how are you here?" Emmalyn asked. "It is not just me all of us are here" Emmalyn looked at her friends, Ashton, Matilda, Harry, Isabel, Dean, and Dexter. "Where is she?" Emmalyn asked, "don't you know?" Sofia asked. "Know what?" Emmalyn asked. A smile spread on her lips, "Evelyn dumped him" "when?" Emmalyn squealed. "Today evening for some college dude"

"Hey, Emma," Dean said, walking towards them, "would you like to join us?" He asked Emmalyn looked at their smiling faces, "no thanks" she turned to Sofia "I will see you later Sof, bye Dean" and Emmalyn walked away, she didn't want them anymore. She tugged onto Adam's shirt "they broke up" she whispered as Christina and Alexander were already in the rink, Annabeth was eating fries and talking to Nick, while Adam waited for her. "Congratulations," he said, "and now they want me to join them" she continued, "No, they don't?" He said, "yes, they do and I said no," she said, beaming. "Good job and now we should join them before they give us any more weird looks," he said.

"What is the matter Annabeth?" Emmalyn asked, "oh, she doesn't know how to skate," Adam said. "I can teach you," Nicolas said, "No use, she won't learn," Adam said as Annabeth glared at him. You guys go" Annabeth said, as Nicolas turned to her, " you sure," she nodded as the three of them went inside. Emmalyn watched Annabeth looking at them and she spotted Dexter's gaze she moved closer to Nicolas.

Annabeth saw them skating together, why was she even there, Annabeth did not get it? She put on the spare skates, Alex brought if she ever tries, she put them on and went into the rink, it was now or never. As she had predicted she wobbled and was about to fall badly when she felt a pair of hands catch her, "Do you want to die? Because if you are planning on I can push you off a cliff" Emmalyn said.

She stood up as Emmalyn held her hand, their hands touched and eyes met, Annabeth pulled her hand away as Nicolas neared, "you came" he said, "yes, can you teach me?" Emmalyn watched Annabeth ask, "sure" he pulled her away, his hand on her waist as he guided her. Emmalyn skated next to Adam. After about an hour or so, they decided to go home, Emmalyn got in Adam's car as she watched Annabeth and Nicolas go away. "You okay?" Adam asked as he started the car, "I felt a spark" she said leaning against the seat. " you are over Dexter?" He asked. "Way over, I think I like someone else," she said. "Girl or boy?" Adam asked, with a knowing look. Emmalyn sighed, "I think I have a crush on a girl," she said.

Adam smiled as he drove "it is going to be difficult but you are going to love it" he said. "I am not even sure," she said. "You don't need to know everything at the moment give it time and let the spark grow into a flame" he stopped in front of her house, "I had fun today," she said. "Me too, and try to make sense of your crush on my best friend," he said. "She is extremely difficult to make sense of," she said. "Tell me about it," he said. "Goodnight Adam" she closed the car door. "Good night Emmalyn"