Jason and Justin

Chapter 21 Justin at the soda machine

Justin's POV

After talking with Billy I walked over to the soda machine to get myself a coke. Technically I wasn't suppose to. Jason did not allow me to drink soda after eight because it would keep me up all night. But he was not here right now and I was about to go through severe caffeine withdrawl at any moment.

I'll drink it quickly and he will be none the wiser I thought as I dropped two quarters into the machine and then made my selection.

I felt a twinge of nervousness as I grabbed the soda and found myself eyeing the door as I pulled the pop top back.

Fortunately Jason had not walked through the door and hopefully would not be appearing anytime soon or I will be in the corner for sure.

I felt a nervous flutter in the pit of my stomach as I brought the can to my lips. Please walk in while I'm drinking this I silently begged my brother. Just stay away I'm finished. My nervousness increased as I downed the soda.

I was almost finished when I heard a voice say hello startling me. I jumped almost spitting out the soda I had in my mouth.

"Sorry." The brown eyed, raven haired girl said apologetically. "I didn't mean to scare you." She then smiled at me and I could feel my ears begin to burn red

I quickly swallowed. "Its okay." I said as my could feel my ears burn.

"My name is Emma.." She said.

"Hi Emma." I said with a clumsy smile as his palms began to sweat. I could not get over how pretty she was. And not only was one of the most beautiful girls I ever had seen she was talking to me.

"And what's your name."

"My name." I asked confused as I desperately tried to remember my name. Did I have one I questioned. Then I told myself don't be stupid of course I had one. But for today life of me I could not remember. Come on I inwardly screamed. Think. She smiled at me in amusement and I could feel myself melting into the floor.

I swallowed.

J it starts with a J I know that. The name Justin then fell into my mind much to my relief. "Justin." I then said. "My name is Justin."

"Nice to meet you Justin." She said as she continued to smile.

"Nice to meet you Emma." I said as a lump began to form in my throat. I suddenly felt hot and then cold. I tried to calm myself before. "Are you a college student?"

"No." Emma said. "I go to the high school."

"Same here." He said.

"I thought so." Emma said.

I went to take a drink but found the soda can empty.

"Would you like a soda?" I could really use one myself forgetting about that Jason could arrive at anymoment and the trouble I would be in if he caught me. But that did not matter right now. All that mattered was Emma and not making a fool out of myself.

I tossed the now empty can into the trash and then fumbled for change in my pocket hoping that I had enough.

"So what grade are you in." I asked happy to find that I had enough.

"Eleventh." Emma said. "You?"

"Same." I said as I deposited a dollar into the slot. "What would you like?"

"A diet coke." She said.

I nodded and made the selection. The can rolled down to the tray as two quarters dropped into the coin return.

I handed her the soda.

"Thank you." She said still smiling at me.

"You're welcome." I grabbed the fifty cents, slid them into the slot, and made my selection. "So how long have you been going here."

"I've been going to the school since kindergarten." Emma said as we walked to one of the small white tables and sat down. "But I moved into the dorms last year when my parents went back to Brazil."

"Brazil." I said with interest in my voice.

"Yes they are missionaries." She told me.

"That's cool." I said.

"Yes it is."

"You didn't go with them?" I asked.

"They thought it best if I stay here." She said in a somber tone, her smile quickly fading telling me that she did not agree with her parent's decision

"How about you?" She coughed and forced herself to smile again. "Are your parents missionaries."

"No." I then laughed at the thought. "Far from it." They could never be so self sacrificing. "My dad is the CFO of real estate company and my mom is the assistant of an art gallery." I then took a sip of the soda. "My brother is a Freshman here and they decided to send me here with him." I said leaving out the part where I got in trouble at my old school almost getting myself expelled. She did not need to know about that.

"Oh." Emma said giving me a pitying look.

It was my turn to be somber as I said "Yeah."

"Do you want to play ping pong?" Emma then asked.

"Yes." I said feeling my spirits improved. We stood up and walked over to the now free table. As I picked up a paddle I thought maybe being here is not going to be so bad.

Jason's POV

I stood on the lower level at the table where Billy was sitting at watching as Justin and the girl walked to the ping table. I could not help smile as I saw the look of joy on his face.

"I see Justin has met a new friend." Billy said.

"Her name is Emma." Tommy said. "Emma Summers. She is a junior at the Academy and she is one of the most popular girls in school." I saw a look envy flicker in Tommy's eyes. Evidently my brother was not the only one who liked her.

"Good for him." I said. I was going to take him back to the dorm but I decided to give him some time with his new friend. I just want credit for this if anything comes out of this friendship.

I was about to sit down when I saw someone walk into the commons. "Excuse me." I said as I went to talk to this person who I had been hoping to cross paths with the entire evening.