Where My Heart Is

Chapter 5

"You guys are totally going to fall in love!" Katie gushed as I told her about Luke and I's conversation. We were sitting on my bed, working on our after school homework.

I rolled my eyes. "Maybe I'll fall in love, Katie. But he won't fall in love me. I can't compete with Jessica."

"I already know it's happening. He acted like he liked you! I mean 'parting is such sweet sorrow'? That is from a love story!"

"He is just flirting. That is what players do," I stated.

"Well, Em, Luke isn't the flirty type of guy. He is usually shy around girls! Even Jessica sometimes. That's why you know he must like you!"

I pondered this. My heart fluttered at the thought. "He did say I intrigued him.." I noted.

She smirked at me. "My point exactly. I am always right!"

"We'll see," I replied as I began to refocus on my chemistry homework.

"You should text him," she offered. 

"Isn't there some kind of rule about waiting for a certain amount of time? I mean we did just talk today at school, Katie," I objected. "I don't want to seem too eager or something."

"You're not in a relationship, Em, you are just friends. I'm pretty sure friends can text each other whenever they want to."

So I did. I texted, "Hey Luke!". My finger hovered over the send button as I started to doubt my decision. I pushed down before my thoughts could overcome me. 

His reply was almost instant. "Emma hey! Are you going to the game tomorrow?"

"There's a game tomorrow night? What is it?" I asked Katie. 

Katie sighed loudly. "You don't get out much do you?" she joked. "It's the first football game of the season. Everyone is going to be there. Major hangout zone, and Luke must want you to go!"

"Katie, you know I'm not that social. I hardly know anyone!"

"Well, you know me. And Luke! Trust me, it will be fun," she assured me.

"Alright, alright, I will go with you. But I am allowed to leave as soon as I want." Having made my decision, I texted Luke back with my answer.

"Great, maybe I'll see you there" his text read.

"Possibly :)" I replied. I didn't text too many people. Besides my family and Katie, Luke was one of the only people I had ever texted like this. I finally understood the anticipation shown by other girls as they eagerly awaited their crush to text them back. Even though Luke wasn't my sure crush, I was still avidly waiting for his reply. 

Finally, my suspension was put to ease. His text displayed "Can I call you?"

I showed my phone to Katie and interrupted her English homework. She squealed and bounced up and down, which made the bed shake. My chemistry homework tumbled to the floor. We both looked at each other and burst into laughter. I loved to laugh with Katie like this. It was the kind of laughter that made your belly hurt and let tears leak out of your eyes. Suddenly, our laughing spree was interrupted by the ringtone of my phone. Katie scrambled to find it in the jumble of my bed. She finally found it under a pillow and showed it to me.

"It's Luke!" she screamed, showing me the caller ID and shoving it in my face.

"I haven't even answered his text yet," I laughed and playfully pushed it away.

"Just answer it, you idiot!" She tossed it to me across the bed. 

I grabbed it and answered. "Hello?"