If Not For Her

Chapter 20. "In love?"

Emmalyn walked through the halls, Dexter looked horrible, their basketball game was in two weeks and the whole basketball team was practicing day and night, the first game of the season determined a lot. She first saw the bouncy curls of Meg, "hey Emmalyn, " meg her lab partner said. "Hey," she said sitting next to her. Today was their lab experiment. She was prepared and was going through her notes when Meg asked, "hey have you seen Alex?" She asked.

"Reed? Alexander Reed? Your ex?" She asked. She nodded, "yes have you seen him," she asked. "No not today, why?" She asked. She saw the dull face of Christina. She took a seat at the far end, "no particular reason" she said turning back to the liquid in one of the tubes. "You two back together?" She asked. A blush covered her face, "not quite no" she said. "Isn't he dating Christina?" she said. "Well not anymore," she said.

Emmalyn saw them together last evening, what happened. The bell rang and the students walked out, she saw Annabeth hugging Christina, what exactly happened? she did not ponder much about it.

The days passed away, without a little to any interaction between Emmalyn and Annabeth. Emmalyn was lying flat on her bed when the doorbell rang. She jumped out and walked down the stairs. Outside the door was Annabeth in her cream sweater and blue jeans Evelyn held the door, "she is here for me" Emmalyn said. "I didn't know that you two were friends," she asked. "We are now, leave. Annabeth come up" she said as Annabeth followed her.

"What are you doing here?" She asked. Annabeth looked down at her, "it is Friday remember, I even texted you" she said. "No you didn't" she pulled out her phone and there was a text from her. "Never mind," she said. "Of course," Annabeth said. "Don't just stand up sit down." She patted the side of her bed. Annabeth sat down and pulled her books out, "how is it going with Nicolas?" Emmalyn asked.

Annabeth looked at her, "don't you like him?" She finally asked. "Well not anymore I think, I just like someone else." Annabeth smiled, "good for you, Em" "aren't you going to ask me who it is?" She asked. Annabeth tucked the loose strands behind her ears, " well it is your life and I don't want to intrude you could tell me if you want?" Annabeth said. Emmalyn leaned in a bit, "but don't you want to know a bit" she said. Annabeth looked at her, "there is a bit of curiosity but go ahead and tell me,"

"The person has brown hair, brown eyes, and a smile that lights up the room," Emmalyn smiled " that person is smart, smarter than anyone I know, and beautiful," she said. "Seems like you like someone a lot to talk about them like that" Annabeth said. "Like what?" She asked. "Like you are well in love," she said and started talking about art once again, but Emmalyn could not focus, was she in love with her?

Around 7 they were done. "Emmalyn" her mother's voice came and Annabeth turned around. "I believe I did not get to meet your friend," she said walking toward them. "Mom, this is Annabeth Reed" "nice to meet you, Mrs. Cole," she said. Her mother nodded. Emmalyn could see her mother judging her, she wanted to take her away. "Stay for a bit, it is rare that I get to meet the friends of my girls," she said.

"Sure," Annabeth said, Emmalyn held her arm as her mother walked away, "you really do not have to" "it is extremely rude to refuse an elderly, I don't know about you, but I have manners" she walked towards the sofa. Emmalyn stood there for a moment, her mother was going to eat her alive. She joined them "well Annabeth it is great to finally meet you I have heard a lot of good things about you from Evelyn you two share an art class I believe"

"Yes, she is talented" Emmalyn watched Annabeth glance at her, "they both are"
Her mother laughed, "Emmalyn needs to improve a lot" she said. Emmalyn smiled as she dug her nails in her palms, "well she does beat me in nearly every class and on the recent test she got a hundred" Annabeth said, as Emmalyn's eyes widened. "There is always a scope for perfection is there not?" She asked, "absolutely, but I believe you there is no such thing as absolute perfection you should not run after perfection, if you try to be perfect, I am saying for instance in art, you might never draw something and would have to sit there for perfection," she said. "Maam" Annabeth added

Emmalyn watched her mother being put to her place by Annabeth it sure was satisfying, but her mother seemed interested, "so Annabeth,..." she began and started conversing with the young girl, Annabeth countered her views and she strangely seemed impressed, but the end of the conversation Emmalyn was sure Annabeth had managed to impress her mother. "It was good meeting you Annabeth, I hope we meet again," she said. Annabeth smiled at the lady, "let's go" Emmalyn led her out of the house