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12:35 pm

(Emma's pov)

I returned a few minutes later with a bowl of icecream and sat down on the couch next to Ethan.

"Everything Okay?" I ask him.

He seems to be lost, even though he's sitting in my living room.

He glanced up at me, tucking his phone into his pocket.

"Yeah, Grayson was just worried when I wasn't there this morning." He explains to me.

I feel guilty that I made him stay here all night with me.

A deep part of me likes to think that he enjoys spending time with me.

But we are just friends.

"Im sorry, Ethan." I say, with a sigh.

Pressing my soft lips together.

"No, no, Emma its okay. I'm always going to be here for you." He says. He reaches out and takes my hand in his.

It's suddenly hard to breathe.

I love the feeling of his hands in mine, I smile at him softly and he squeezes my hand three times.

I blush more.

"Thanks. Same with me." I tell him, barley talking at a whisper.

He smiles.

Just as we speak, Ethans phone buzzes.

He flips open the text message app, reading over it quickly before speaking.

"Grayson says he thinks we should take a road trip. It might be fun and a good chance to film."

I nod, agreeing with him.

"That sounds fun."

"Your okay about going to Vegas, your not 18 yet" He says with a smirk, nudging my stomach.

"I'm fine" I say to him, with a laugh and an eyeroll.

He takes my hand, pulling me off the couch.

"Come on. Let's get you some actual food." He says as we walk out my door and to my car.

On the short walk there, our hands grip eachother tightly and they swing slowly back and forth.

This is good.

Right?

I smile to him, and he smiles back.

I twirl my car keys and we get into my car before heading out to get coffee and breakfast.

••••

Ethan drops me off at my house with a wave and speeds off in his car.

I can't help but eyeroll.

I can't tell how I feel about him.

I like holding hands.

But it's nothing new.

Just friends.

I shake myself to stop myself from getting lost in my thoughts and focus on packing my things for vegas.

I show up to their house 15 minutes late and I step out of the car.

I'm strangely nervous for this trip.

Ahhhhh

Ethan greets me with a smile and a "long time no see" joke which I laughed at.

Even though I wasn't particually impressed, he was still extremely cute.

He takes my bags from my hands, brushing across my knuckles and causing me to blush slightly.

I awkwardly tighten my ponytail as I walk inside.

"Your late by the way." He says, with a smirk.

"By 15 minutes"

I roll my eyes.

"Hey Emma"

I look over to see Grayson, carring a bag over his shoulder.

"Hey Grayson." I reply.

I couldn't tell if he had winked at Ethan or not, I just brushed it off.

"Anyways." Ethan says, with a laugh.

I smile at him, taking a step closer.

Secretly hoping he would take my hand in his.

He does, and yet again it's harder remember to breathe.

"Hey Emma... Um... I just..." He starts talking to me.

I giggle.

"Hey guys we are already late!" We hear Grayson yell down the hall.

"Come on." I smile. "Lets go to Vegas."

••••

Shortly we pick up James and switch seats so I can sit with Ethan.

I place my hand in my lap.

I swear Grayson keeps teasing him about me but I don't worry about it.

The road trip is going really wellx we listened to throwback songs and got food, I film but tuck my camera away after I get enough footage.

On the second hour, James falls asleep, resting his head on the window.

Grayson mentions that he hasn't slept in a while before putting in a pair of headphones on.

In another 10 minutes, Ethan finally places his hand on my thigh.

I smile up at him.

"Did you just make a move on me?" I say laughing.

He turns the darkest shade of red.

"Maybe.."

"I'm just kidding.... I uh like it." I say to him, taking his hand into mine and squeezing it.

He smiles. "I'm glad, I like it too."