Most of the Time

Chapter 2

Justin Cooper was one of the first people I talked to freshman year of High School. Due to close alphabetical proximity and luck we had many classes together, shared assigned seat tables, and had mutual acquaintances. Justin was a nerd and a jock, so it only made sense that through my entire High School career I thought of him. Though Lily may argue that "thought" is an understatement.

I watched Lily play with them as I sat on the side lines as close to the action as I could get without actually playing. I simultaneously made a sandcastle while watching Justin and keeping an eye out for Lily. After volleyball Lily and I and a few others including Justin migrated to the ocean where some surfed and others swam. Lily was exhausted and I was reluctant to get the few holes in my body wet, so I decided we should just sit on the water line and play with the sand. We hung out with them until we couldn't find the afternoon. We sat watching the sunset when Justin came and sat next to me. Inside I was freaking out, but my chill nature prevented me from showing it, thankfully.

"Hey Emily, I feel like I barely saw you the last few months of school."

Surprised that he noticed, I turned my head to Lily in a plea for words

"She was occupied" She said, gesturing toward my connected tube. Justin shook his head in understanding and looked back at the sky. Lily quickly took her finger, removed blood from under my nose and ran off into the water with the rest of the group. I turned over to Justin, "I'm surprised you noticed" I said

"What do you mean?" he replied, "you were my alphabetical neighbor" he said nudging my shoulder

"Well you were occupied with many things Mr. Football captain. I heard you're going to Princeton in the fall, congrats!" I say nudging him back.

"Yea" he says with a half-smile.

"You know it's unlucky to watch the sunset alone, so you're welcome" I say

"Yea?" he says laughing

"Yea" I say laughing too

"Well then thank you" he says with a full grin

"No problem" I reply

When the sun was out of sight, one of Justin's friends call him into the water. He turns his head over to me and says, "Don't be a stranger this summer Em, we need to make up for lost time", smiling his perfect smile. Dazed, Lily runs over and takes Justin spot.

"This summer thing is going well I would say" Lily says laughing with her head on my shoulder

"Yea" I grin

"We should hang out with these guys this summer" Lily says, and I glare. "Trust me" she says glaring back into my eyes as she lays her head back on my shoulder.