The skinny girl

Chapter 5

 A Moment to Remember

Monday morning arrived with a crispness in the air, signaling the start of a new week. Emma awoke with a mix of excitement and nervousness. After her last hangout with Ethan, she couldn't shake the feeling that something significant was brewing between them. She spent extra time getting ready, wanting to look her best for school.

As she walked to Maplewood High, her mind buzzed with thoughts of Ethan. Would he mention their last conversation? Would he finally find the courage to confess? The anticipation was almost overwhelming.

When Emma arrived at school, she spotted Ethan leaning against his locker, chatting with a few friends. He looked up as she approached, and a smile broke across his face that made her heart flutter.

"Hey, you!" he called out, his eyes lighting up.

"Hey! How was your weekend?" Emma asked, trying to sound casual but feeling the butterflies in her stomach.

"It was good! I ended up hanging out with my friends after family movie night. We had a blast," he replied, his smile still bright.

"Sounds fun! I'm glad you had a good time," Emma said, feeling a pang of jealousy but pushing it aside.

As the day went on, Emma found it hard to concentrate in class. Every time she caught a glimpse of Ethan, her heart raced. During lunch, she sat with Lily, who was animatedly discussing the latest gossip.

"Did you hear? There's a big football game this Friday! Everyone's going to be there," Lily said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Yeah, I heard," Emma replied, her mind drifting back to Ethan. "Are you going?"

"Of course! It's going to be so much fun. You should ask Ethan to go with you!" Lily suggested, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

Emma felt her cheeks flush. "I don't know... what if he doesn't want to?"

"Just ask! You guys have been hanging out a lot. It's time to make it official," Lily encouraged, nudging her playfully.

"Okay, okay! I'll think about it," Emma said, her heart racing at the thought.

After lunch, Emma found Ethan by the bleachers, tossing a football with some friends. She took a deep breath and approached him, her heart pounding.

"Hey, Ethan!" she called out, trying to sound casual.

"Emma! Come join us!" he said, waving her over.

She joined the group, feeling a rush of warmth as Ethan tossed her the ball. They played for a while, laughing and joking, and Emma felt herself relax. The chemistry between them was undeniable, and she could sense that Ethan was more comfortable around her than ever.

As the game wound down, Ethan pulled her aside. "Hey, can we talk for a minute?" he asked, his expression serious.

"Sure! What's up?" Emma replied, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness.

"I've been thinking a lot about what we talked about the other night," he began, rubbing the back of his neck, a familiar nervous habit. "I really like spending time with you, and I want to take things further."

Emma's heart raced. "I like spending time with you too, Ethan. I've felt a connection," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan took a deep breath, his eyes searching hers. "I just don't want to mess this up. I really like you, Emma. Like, more than just friends," he confessed, his cheeks tinged with color.