4Ever & a Day : The Next Generation of R5

The First Girl In Embry's Truck

Aimee

Once Harper and Ryan walked away, Embry hit the button on his key to unlock the truck and came around to open my door for me. I hopped up into the truck and he came around getting in the driver's seat. My heart was beating so fast I thought I was going to have a panic attack. I had never in a million years thought I would be sitting in Embry Lynch's truck. I wanted to move over and sit I the middle where I could touch him but I hesitated. Instead I reached up, grabbed my seatbelt and buckled it before I could make a fool of myself.

"So listen about what Ryan said after I asked you if you wanted a ride. I wasn't trying to encourage you. I just want to be friends," Embry spoke.

"I know because of the fact that you're gay," I said.

It came out of my mouth before I could think about it. I wondered if he had ever been with a girl. I wanted to ask but I held back the question. I had liked him ever since I moved here at the beginning of the school year. Everyone told me I didn't have a chance but it didn't stop me from crushing on him. I glanced over at him and sighed. I had never met his boyfriend Cameron because well let's face it until today I wasn't very popular at school.

"Yeah look I've never really been attracted to girls," Embry admitted.

"Me either," I said.

He laughed. "Just gay guys?"

I turned to look at him with my mouth open. I couldn't believe he said that. He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye while keeping his eyes on the road and smiled. I smiled back. I wasn't expecting him to have a snappy comeback to what I said.

"So are you gonna tell me your address or am I just gonna drive around?" Embry asked.

"Oh sorry," I said as I gave him my address.

A few minutes later we pulled up in front of my house. My dad was home sitting on the porch. I looked at him through the window of the truck. I could tell he was confused why I wasn't walking up the street from the bus stop. I put my hand on the handle to get out.

"Hey, do you want me to pick you up for school in the morning?" Embry asked.

I left my hand on the door handle and looked at him. Was he serious? I didn't know what to say. I knew he just wanted to be friends and until today Harper had been my only friend.

"Sure," I agreed.

"Okay what's your number so I can call you when I'm on my way?" he said as he pulled his phone from his pocket.

I rattled off my number and he put it in his phone. Then he sent me a text so I would have his number. We said bye and I got out of the truck. I was so confused as I made my way up the sidewalk to the porch. I wasn't sure what was going on. I thought he was sending me mixed messages. He said he just wanted to be friends but then he was offering me a ride to school and asking for my phone number.

"Who was that?" my dad asked.

"Embry Lynch," I answered.

"Ross' boy? Isn't he gay?"

"We are just friends and yes he is gay," I said as I walked past him into the house.

I went to my room and threw my backpack in the corner of the room by my desk. I sat on my bed and sighed. It had felt weird to say the words he's gay to my dad. I had never thought of him as truly gay. I had always thought I could change that if he only got to know me. I mean I wanted to be his friend but I wanted him to see me as so much more. I was afraid though he never would.

Embry

What was I doing? I thought to myself as I drove home. I kind of felt like I was playing with her emotions. Cameron was so far away and it felt good to have someone like me, even if I wasn't attracted to her. I wasn't right? Of course I wasn't she was a girl. The only other girl I had ever been close to who wasn't related to me was Becky Monroe. I mean there were girls I thought were pretty but I'd never date anyone except Cameron right?

I pulled into my driveway and sat there in my truck. I looked over at Cameron's house. God I missed him. I wanted to run over to his house and know he was there to pull me into a big hug. I needed him to kiss all my doubts away, but he wasn't here. He was three hundred and seventy five miles away from me. I screamed and pounded my fist on the steering wheel accidently setting off the horn.

At this moment I hated Berkley. I hated being a year younger than Cameron, but most of all I hated myself for the things I was thinking about Aimee Malik. I opened the door and got out of the car. Once I was in my room alone with my thoughts I wanted to text Cameron and I had every intention of doing it.

Embry: hi

Aimee: hi what's up?

Embry: nothing just got home

Aimee: yeah I got home a few minutes ago. This cute boy brought me home.

I smiled. I was still unsure of what I was doing.

Embry: should I be jealous?

Aimee: no but maybe his boyfriend should

Embry: why should he be jealous?

Aimee: I think as much as he hates to admit it he likes me a little

Embry: you think so?

Aimee: idk you tell me Embry. Does he?

I stared at my phone. I was in dangerous territory with this conversation. I didn't know what to say. I wasn't sure what I was feeling. I wanted to say yes but I didn't want to think about the consequences that could have in my relationship with Cameron. I love Cameron with all my heart. I stared down at the ring on my finger and I knew I couldn't answer her in the way she wanted me to.

Cameron: Hey baby how was school?

Shit it was Cameron. I felt so guilty all of a sudden like I was cheating on him. I knew I couldn't continue this conversation with Aimee.

Embry (to Aimee): I gotta go

Aimee: okay see you in the morning? I'm gonna take your advice and ask Miles to the winter formal tomorrow.

I sighed in relief. Maybe that would get her off my back and we could just be friends.

Embry: yeah see you tomorrow

Just as I sent that text to Aimee my phone rang.

"Hello," I said.

"Hey baby it's good to hear your voice. I feel like I haven't heard it in months," Cameron said.

"Aw but we literally talked last night."

"Well we did talk last night but phone sex doesn't count," Cameron laughed.

"Do you know how much I love you?"

"I'm counting down the days till our anniversary. Don't get in trouble between now and then," Cameron warned me.

"I won't. I promise."

I had been being extra good since Christmas. Between working at the record label and school I hadn't had much time to go to Berkley and Cameron was always so busy he came home maybe once a month. It had been two weeks since we had seen each other over Christmas break but it seemed like two years.

We talked some more and I forgot all about everything that was going on with Aimee. I knew Miles would say yes to her and soon I wouldn't have to worry about her liking me anymore.

"I gotta go baby. I have a study group in ten minutes," Cameron said.

I looked over at the clock on my nightstand and realized we'd been talking for thirty minutes. I loved how time flew when we talked.

"Okay, I love you," I said.

"I love you too," Cameronsaid as he hung up