The Distance Between Two Hearts

Chapter 1

   "Use your words, royal shyness!" Yelled Lily, my best friend. She's been trying to get me to enter some bizarre art competition in school. But I'd rather not compete with a bunch of rude, hot-headed people who get too serious about winning, and not as serious about their actual artwork.
    "Like i said Lily," I started, tugging on my sleeve, "I dont paint for people, i paint for me." She was pushing this harder then my mom pushed my older, oh-so-perfect brother, Luke into medical school. Which ended up to be a complete waste of time and money.
    "Emma come on!" She yelled, "You're so talented! Its such a shame that you wont let anyone see that except your mom and dad."She explained, putting her french textbook in her locker and grabbing her latin history book.
   
     Lily had all the smart classes while me on the other hand, i just had..well...classes. Normal, boring, what my school calls "boom-boom" classes. Which means classes for unsmart people.
   
     "He is not my dad Lily," i said, filling my waterbottle at the water fountain next to her locker. "He's just some loser my mom chose to marry."
     "Yeah, whatever." She giggled, nudging me. "Well i should probably get to latin history." I waved and continued down the hallway. I looked down for a second until i crashed into this guy I'd never seen before.
    "Woah! I am so sorry!" I yelled, as my notebook flew into the air and slid across the hall. My hands shook with embarrassment.
   The boy shrugged, "It happens when you're the new kid. Im Jeremiah." He smiled, "you are?"
     "Emma." I helped him up. He handed me my notebook that had just did gymnastics in the air. "Where you from?" I asked.
    "Small town in Ohio." He brushed his brown shaggy hair out of his face. "My dad decided to move me here in North Carolina because my bitchy stepmom got a new job opportunity." He rolled his eyes at the thought.
     "Sounds interesting." I said. What else should i say? "Im sorry." I said, blankly.
     "Its no problem." He smiled. I guess I'll see you around. He then disappeared into the long empty hallway.
     When i got to class i sketched on my work as usual. But i couldn't stop thinking about Jeremiah for some reason.
   Although i had just met him, something about him was different. He also dealt with a bitchy step parent. However my thoughts were interupted when Ms. Baker stopped and called me out to read.
    My throat grew a huge lump for which i could no longer speak. My nervousness got to me, i felt lightheaded. Everyone turned to look at me.
I sat there quiet.

    "Its Senior year, Emma." She started, "I hoped you broke out of your shell by now." I swallowed. "Minus participation." Finished Ms.Baker.

                  *At lunch*
    "Minus in participation!" I yelled at Lily, "Shes such a heinous bitch!" I was pissed, as i munched on my salad at lunch.

     "Hey Lil, lookin' good today." Lily smiled at the overly cockey jock named Tyler, but everyone called him T. He didn't talk to quiet girls. Lily was the exact opposite of me, yet still my best friend. A beautiful blonde with blue eyes, a slim perfect body, perky boobs, and one hell of a wardrobe.
    
     I noticed Jeremiah eating alone from a distance. Part of me wondered if he wanted to be alone, while another part of me wanted to go see if he wanted a friend to sit with. Something inside me just told me to go up to him, so i did.
"Emma!" Whined Lily, "Where you going!?"

    Setting my lunch down i asked, "Hey, is this seat taken?"

    "Goodness no!" He said covering his mouth, hiding the chewed up turkey and lettuce sandwich he was eating.
He took a sip of his water bottle, "Emma, im glad you decided to accompany me."

   "You looked like you needed a friend." I smiled.
   "I did." He said softly, smiling back at me.
I felt warmth in my heart from his smile. I felt so close yet so far away at the same time. My heart raced yet slowed down. My mind wondered yet filled with joy. I didn't know what i was feeling.

     "So i couldnt help but notice your amazing drawings on your notebook you dropped earlier." He said, topping his bottle of water. 
"Oh," i shook with embarrassment, "thats nothin'" i muttered. Playing it cool.

     "Hey, you're lookin' hot today Em." Said T walking by and purposely interrupting our conversation. He never talked to me, except for ruining this moment.
"Hey dick!" I said.
"A fiesty little Emma, love it!" He snapped back winking at me.
 
     "Sorry about that." I didnt want him to think that i talked that way to people.
"Im glad you didn't entertain his stupidity." He smiled.
His smile lit up the room. I didnt know what i felt, but i loved every second of it.