The Time Between Night And Dawn

Prologue

EMMA

I'm waiting for him. He's already half an hour late or maybe I heard the time wrong... he must have had said 8:00 p.m. instead of 7:00 p.m. I should wait half an hour more.

It is going to be 8:15 and he's still not here. Should I call him? Or should I wait more? Did he forget about today?
I called him but all I heard was ' this number is currently switched off'

I waited till 9:00 that New Year's eve, sitting on a bench in the park where we had promised to meet, staring at the beautiful night wishing he was by my side.

I woke up suddenly from the dream I've seen way too many times in the past three years. Awesome start for an awful day Emma! Why can't you dream about something good for once!!?

I get up from my bed and look at the time, its 20 minutes to 8:00.
Wait!
Did I just say 20 freakin minutes!!!

Oh no....I'm going to be late! Again!

This stupid alarm clock is just useless. Never wakes me on time (it is not useless, you are the one who shuts it off and goes back to sleep thinking u will be able to get up after 5 minutes but get up after half an hour. And the best part is you do this every freakin time and still don't change!!) And here goes my smartass brain...

I quickly get up and run towards the bathroom but as clumsy as I am I slam my knee and my little toe to the bed corner. I seriously have no idea when I would stop doing that, I dance for a while jumping on one leg like a lunatic but then quickly realize that I don't really have time for all this. Wincing once more I run towards the bathroom or more like jump towards it. I don't have time to take a bath so I just wash my face, make a loose bun and wear black skinny jeans and a blue sweater with some embroidery; grab my muffler and make a run towards school. I don't live far from school....15 minutes walk....if I run I might make it on time. I would have had taken a ride from mum but today she had an early shift and had left early morning and as you guys can see I'm not at all a morning person.

I have a feeling that today is not really my day but then it never really is....

***

"Are you really going to eat all that Emma? I have no idea how you are still managing that figure of yours!" I laugh at Asmi's question while she just shakes her head.
"You know you would have had attracted many boys if you would've behaved more like a woman" Martha tells me. Well it's not like I care...I actually don't want any boy crap in my life, I've got more important things to do like be the captain of the basketball team next year and maintain my grades than try to impress some idiot!
I just give her a shrug and start eating my hamburger.

I've known Asmi and Martha for two whole years now... we met through basketball itself though god knows they both just joined to stalk and drool at the perfect six abs of boys, little did they know how much we have to work out and it so happened the school had a policy that no one can change their club activity for that particular year and thus we became best friends or at least I think so.

They both start talking about the new makeup products in the market while I notice people in the cafeteria. I honestly don't understand girls at times, what is with their constant need to gossip or back bitch or even worse discuss new makeup products.

"You know I saw a very hot guy in my mother's office today! He is going to join our school next session, he came today to look around the school, I wish he takes same subjects as mine" I roll my eyes at Asmi. Asmi's mom is the principal of our school and has saved Asmi's ass way too many times, if Asmi wants something she makes sure she gets it... I already feel pity for that guy.

***

Finally the school's over. I dash to the changing room and wear my Jersey, over here we have a mix team of boys and girls. Our team captain is rose my senior I know I know the name is a bit cliché but don't go on her name...she is one of the strongest person in our team and the person I aspire to be like. She has a thing about herself...dedicated, smart, strict yet fun...the way she manages us, makes strategies, boosts our confidence when we doubt ourselves, She is the best captain there is and I would be proud of myself if I can be even 50 percent like her.

I exit the changing room humming Rock bottom by Hailee Steinfeld when an idiot decides to bang his head with me or more like his chin... I rub my forehead in pain but before I can even glare at him or even see his face, he just walks past cursing under his breath! Seriously!?
Jerk!

I enter our basketball court still rubbing my forehead and start warming up. Seniors are preparing for their exams so the captain is not here, that means today I'm the incharge for getting warm up done properly.

We start with taking 20 rounds of basketball court. While I am on my 12th round coach calls me "Emma come over here for a second" I run towards him and notice that there is someone standing with him. It's the same guy from before! I know because of his leather jacket and his smooth brown hair that is a bit curled from the nape of his neck.
Yeah well don't judge me...I just have the tendency to notice small things....it's the small things that matter after all.

Getting back to the topic what is he doing here? I reach them and that's when I freeze.

"Emma this is Nick Watson, he is my nephew. He is going to enter our school next year...he is a very good basketball player. Today in the practice match you will play against him...I will divide the teams after 20 mins...till then go and warm up and introduce him to everyone."

I stand still not able to move while he gives me a smirk.
"Hi Emma Wells, I see you have changed a lot."

Heis the guy who has been ruining my dreams for the past three years.