The Time Between Night And Dawn

Chapter 1

EMMA

1st April 2019

First day of my last year. I breathed in the fresh air carrying the fragrance of cherry blossoms, smiling and walking with confidence that this year is going to be a great year.

Bullshit!

I almost reached in time like always and then was cramped up in a small hall which was used for assemblies, all sweaty cause Mother Nature decided to unleash all its fury today making it so damn hot! It was stinky, sweaty and so damn irritating! Plus I was not able to find Asmi or Martha. So basically I was standing alone with a creepy expression that said 'you don't want to mess with me right now'.

"Nice expression there."

I turn around to put this jerk right where he belongs but go stiff on seeing Nick's face. Over the weeks I saw him only twice and both times we did not speak at all.

That day I barely spoke to Nick, I needed time to process his sudden appearance, had to sort out my feelings. I didn't know whether I was angry, sad or happy to see him again. After the tough match in which his team won by 2 baskets (which was quite infuriating) I quickly went home. During the exams and the break I got to know that I wasn't really mad at him. It's not like he had promised me that he would come that day, it was simply just a line '7:00 at new years eve in the main park'. Plus we were just 13. Maybe it was just a prank, it doesn't really matter now cause I don't really care anymore.

"Yeah, well you see I just had a feeling that something was wrong and now I know what was." the moment I said that I face palmed myself. That line sounded stupid even to me; sometimes I end up thinking how all those characters in movies and novels have all the sassy comments and comebacks in the world on the tip of their tongue whereas I'm always out of words at that particular moment and then go home and think on what I should've said instead of what I really said! It makes no sense!!

"You realize that you really suck at comebacks right?" I roll my eyes...I've only talked to him two times and he is already getting on my nerves.

"Whatever... What are you even doing over here? Why have you come back? Why did you even leave in the first place?"

His expression changed for a mere second before he went back to normal. "aww..Did you miss me that much Emma, I didn't know you liked me that much. Well too bad it's none of your business." And then he just walked off. What the hell! What is his problem! Why is he being such a jerk!!? It's not like I said something wrong. Calm down Emma.. Deep breaths... imagine him as a tomato...and now squeeze the hell out of him ...1 2 3 4...fewww much better.

"Were you just talking to the hot guy!?" oh shit! Now she's going to eat my head all day long!!! Arghhh! "It's not what you are thinking. He just made fun of me and went" Asmi gave me a knowing look "and out of so many girls he just so wanted to make fun of you! What are you not telling me Emma! Spit it out"

Shoot!

"Ok ok we both were in the same middle school but he left without a word and well now as you can see he's back" Asmi's eyes lit up "introduce me to him" I knew this was coming "no way in hell" "oh come on...don't act like that Bella... seriously! She is so annoying don't you think so! She is always acting all girly and cute. Trying her best to attract boys, no wonder she has no girlfriends!" Bella Peterson... you can't really call her pretty but she really is very cute, Asmi and Martha really hate her. She also has almost same classes as me and is on the track club...the only classes we don't have together are physics and maths. I don't really hate her, in fact sometimes I feel like talking to her but I also don't want to get secluded. I don't want to be left alone again...so I keep shut and ignore her.

Luckily Asmi's mom and our principal started the opening ceremony followed by the long speech to which hardly anyone was paying attention. Asmi's mom is a nice person but she is also very...inaudible. Even with a mike her voice barely reaches us and the biggest drawback is that she is not taken seriously even though she tries her best.

After the one hour assembly we all started moving towards our classes. Luckily Asmi and Martha have same classes but I only have English and economics common with them...which means no more questions till lunch. I entered my first class which was chemistry and the first lucky face I saw was of none other than Nick Watson, annoyed by a girl who was trying really hard to introduce herself to him. A giggle (which was actually a snort with an exclamation of victory because payback is a bitch) escaped my mouth before I could stop myself and instead of glaring or passing an annoyed look at me he surprisingly retorted back with his tongue sticking out in my direction.

WHAT! Did that just happen!? Unconsciously I also came back with an even horrifying face with my mouth stretched by my fingers and tongue out. And then I realized that everyone was looking at me and I looked back at Nick, he was also looking at me with a shocked face, a moment passed and then we both burst out laughing...while people looked at us with confused expression and then went back to what they were doing. Finally Nick managed to say in between his laughter "what kind of face was that and how can someone laugh like that? It's as if you are having hiccups while you are trying to act like a donkey" and then he again burst out in another fit of laughter "you have a laugh that is a mixture of hiccups and donkey...hahahah..." and then he started trying to laugh like me and it became so funny that I was literally clutching my stomach. "Oh god! I can't breathe...stop it! My laugh is not that bad, it's just different...you are just jealous that I can laugh better than you!" "As if I'd want to laugh like that idiot!"

"Mr. Watson and Ms. Wells if you both have calmed down can I start my class?" Mrs. Jones passed a stern look at the both of us. I blushed and quickly rush to the last bench while nick was still trying to control his laugh. I smile at how stupid the turn of events were...just a while ago I was so annoyed with him and it was as if we were strangers and now it felt as if we were the best of friends. I guess he has changed but he is not really a bad guy at heart...just a bit cold sometimes.

"Ok...so before we start our first class I have some conditions.

1st I have a no tolerance policy, if I've said something you obey me or get a detention and if you still don't learn suspension would be next.

2nd I don't entertain any arguments so keep your entire ego outside of the class.

3rd Till now you guys were sitting as per your interests, but now I'll plan the sitting arrangement of the class."

Everybody in the class started to groan. "Uh – uh, don't test my patience. Here's the new sitting arrangement."

I got the second last corner window seat with Bella on my right and Nick just behind me.

As alwaysthat's how my life has been – 'complicated.'