Made to Shine

Made to Shine Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Friday morning, Ben rose early. He could not wait to see Emily again, plus maybe he would hear the angel if he got there early enough. A few blocks away, the lack of sleep did not help Emily wake-up in time. She was running late. Luckily, last night when she could not sleep, she put a little thought into what she would wear which is more than usual. Normally, she would grab something that did not need to be ironed, but last night she laid out a dark purple sweater that was more form fitting than she normally wore and a nicer pair of jeans. She pulled her hair back in a loose braid and put on her tennis shoes. She grabbed her backpack and lunch. Went downstairs and gave her grandparents a kiss and grabbed two to go cups of coffee and two still warm blueberry muffins.

"I am sorry I am running late this morning." Emily said as she met Ben out front handing him his coffee and a muffin.

"No problem, we are not late yet, we have plenty of time." Ben said as he took a bite of the warm muffin. "WOW! I don't know what I like better, that sweater on you or your Grandpa's baking!"

"Well, just don't tell him you like his baking, it will go to his head." Emily said with a laugh and a blush tugging on her sweater to make it a little more loose.

"I wish..." Ben started and then thought maybe he shouldn't say that. She might take it as an insult. "Never mind."

"What? What do you wish?" Emily asked.

Ben stopped, and grabbed her arm to turn her to face him. "If I tell you, I don't want you to think it is an insult and let me explain."

"OK." Emily said as she steadied herself for what Ben was about to say. "Go on, I am ready."

"I wish... I wish you would act like you do with me all the time. You are a wonderful person and no one at school knows you like I do and I wish they could. I wonder why you don't have any friends, why you put this shield up and shut people out?"

"If you are playing with me, I will... I will... I don't know what I will do... but..." Emily began. "I have loved and been left and it hurts. It is easier for me not to let anyone close and be alone rather than feel the pain of loving someone and them leaving me." Emily's eyes started to well up and she looked down to the ground. She turned wiped her eyes with her napkin and continued walking to school.

Ben caught up with her and turned her towards him. "I am not playing with you. I really do care about you and I will tell you that a hundred times a day if I need to." He reached up and gently wiped a tear off of her cheek.

About that time, Mark and Tim drove by, they stopped and Mark yelled, "Hey Ben, want a ride?" When they saw that it was Emily he was with, she looked down and started walking to school. "What are you doing with the Ragamuffin?"

"No thanks guys, I will catch up to you later." Ben said. He had to run to catch up with Emily who was now half a block away. "Hey Em, wait up."

Emily looked over her shoulder and slowed down. "I thought you would go the rest of your way with your friends."

"I am going the rest of the way with a friend," he said as he took hold of her empty hand and began walking the rest of the way to school.

When they got to school and walked across the parking lot to the building, Tim and Mark were standing by the car watching. "What does he see in her?" Mark said shaking his head.

"He is going to ruin his reputation." Tim agreed crossing his arms and leaning against the car.

"We need to put a stop to this before it goes any further." Mark said as they began to walk inside.

"I guess I will see you later," Ben said as he let go of her hand.