All it Takes is You and Me

Chapter 2

Seven years later,  sixth grade

           "Duuuude! That's so gay!" Kevin yelled at Nick after he bumped into Michael. Alyssa sighed and looked back down at her morning worksheet. She wasn't quite sure what 'gay' meant, but it didn't sound particularly good. She looked back up when the teacher walked over to scold them, not for calling each other names, but for beginning to shove each other. As she did, she made eye contact with Emma. After kindergarten, the two hadn't been put in class together again, causing them to drift apart. They were still friendly with each other, just not "bffs" as they pinky-promised they'd be. They smiled at each other like they always would, both trying to eavesdrop on the punishments being dealt. "Ugh," Kaylee scowled from next to her. "The boys are so immature!" Alyssa nodded in agreement. Their teacher sent the boys back to their seats, and announced that the rest of the students had five more minutes to finish up their papers.

~♥︎~

           "Okay class!" Ms. Johnson announced, stepping up from her desk to the front of the room. "Today we're going to be starting our Greek gods and goddesses project. I will be allowing you to choose your partners, partners meaning two people in a group. Don't make me regret this!" Alyssa looked excitedly to Kaylee, who was looking right past her. Her and Shelby, who was sitting further down the row, on Alyssa's opposite side, grinned at each other. Great, Alyssa thought. She wasn't even sure when Kaylee and Shelby became friends, but it seemed as if she was left in the dust. She looked around the room to some of her other friends, all having already silently chosen their partners. While doing this, she missed half of the directions, and quickly tried to tune herself back in to what her teacher was saying. When Ms. Johnson was done giving directions, all of the other kids set off to work. Alyssa quickly stood up with the rest of them, trying to look like she already had a partner. This was the first time she was in a situation like this. She frantically scanned the room, her eyes landing on Emma, arms crossed across her chest, seeming as if she was trying to make herself shrink. Alyssa took a deep breath in, and began to walk over to her. Emma was nice and all, she just wasn't very... cool, which could ruin Alyssa's reputation on the cheerleading squad. But if anyone asked, she'd say she was being a good person. And, if she was being honest, deep down, she really did want to become closer with her. "Hey, Emma?" Alyssa started, tapping the girl on the shoulder. Emma turned around, startled. "Do you wanna be partners with me?" Emma paused for a second. "Oh, um, okay." she mumbled softly with a shy smile, the same way she had when they first met. "What about Kaylee? Aren't you normally partners with her?"

"Um, yeah, but she wanted to be with Shelby this time I guess."

Emma just nodded in response. "So, do you have any ideas for the story?"

Alyssa paused, realizing she had basically no idea what they were supposed to do. "Um, I actually wasn't really paying attention so..." she giggled nervously.

"Oh, okay," Emma chuckled. "All we have to do is choose three different gods and goddesses, and write a new story about them, kinda like what Disney did with Hercules," she explained.

"Oh, that's easy," Alyssa scoffed. She seriously questioned some of the stuff Ms. Johnson made them partner up for.

"Right?" Emma agreed. She looked around quickly, before whispering, "She probably just wants less to grade," causing Alyssa to laugh. The two sat down at Emma's desk, starting their first short story.

~♥︎~

Emma and Alyssa waved as they parted ways, Alyssa heading to her bus, Emma to her mom's car. "Was that Ally?" her mother asked, using the nickname Emma had given her back when they were closer. "Haven't seen her in a long time. How's she doing?"