Her first

Chapter 2

After getting her book we start to walk back home, there's an awkward silence around us.

"So what do you like to do for fun around this neighborhood?"

I ask her wondering I'm so nervous

"I don't do much, it's just me and my dad, he leaves for work at night, comes back in the morning and I spend the day with him".

I don't feel right about asking this next question but I do it anyway hoping she'll answer.

"Sorry to ask this but what about your mom"

She looks like she won't respond, but she answers.

"My mom died in a accident when I was nine"

She holds her side.

"I'm so sorry" i respond feeling a sudden regret about asking.

"You don't have to be, I was with her when it happened and every day I carry a reminder that watched my mom die right before my eyes"

She says wiping a small tear at the corner of her eye. I need to make her smile fast, so I slightly open the milk container, rip a side in the plastic bag and drop it, the milk spills like a volcano explosion but I make sure to shield Emily making sure only little droplets of milk spills on her.

Emily: woah, are you okay?
Elijah: yeah, are you?
Emily: I'm more worried about you and your clothes.

I wiped milk from my face.

Elijah: well, not that much got on my clothes so.

I wipe milk from my face with my shirt, she looks at me smiling. Yes, Success.

"Let me get a new container, I'll be right back"

I get a new container and soon we're on our way home, as we get closer to her house I stop her.

"Hey, uhh I was hoping we'd hang out sometime like when I'm not covered in milk"
"What did you have in mind?"

I'm feeling much comfortable now talking to her.

"Maybe a movie later tonight, say seven"
"Alright, see you then"

I suddenly feel an excitement after hearing her accept. With a wide smile I walk back to my house finding Richard clearly waiting for me.

"You really exaggerated my take your time phrase"

"I walked, that's why I've taken this long"
"Ahh, but you didn't walk alone now did you. You were with a certain cute neighbor"

Smiling I head to my room.

"Leave the milk"!! He shouts.

I place it on the floor.

"Seriously"

A few minutes later i take a shower to wash out the stickiness of the milk from my hair and clothes. I'm sitting with Richard in the living room anxiously waiting for the clock to hit 7pm. 

"Bro, relax or you'll faint"
"I am relaxed"

Not, at seven pm I get dressed and head outside to find her waiting by my drive way, and wow she looks beautiful.

"Hey"
"Hey" i respond.

"You look really beautiful"
"Thank you" she responds, hiding a small blush.

"Richard took my car so I uh hope you don't mind us taking a cab"
"Not at all"

I call a cab which later arrives and drives us to the cinema, after the movie we decide to walk home.

"So how did you like the movie?"
"It was nice" I respond.

"Only nice"
"You got me, I loved it"

Hiding the fact that I thought it was amazing. She smiles at me as we continue to walk back home, moments later we arrive home. I feel like don't want this night to end just yet.

"Hey, I'm all alone. Would you like to come and maybe have some dinner with me and talk a little"

I can see the curious face she makes at me.

"I.. I shouldn't" she responds

I can only guess what she's thinking. Maybe it's good not to push her.

"It's okay, maybe next time"
"Of course" she responds, "I had fun tonight"

"Me too, goodnight"

And just like that, she's on her way. I can't help but feel happy and sad about the whole thing but I just brush it off and head inside, a few days later its Richards birthday. I throw him a surprise party.

"Thank you so much for this Eli"
"You're welcome, you would have done the same thing"

I pull him in for a tight embrace.

"Yeah, but I wouldn't have thought of an ice sculpture is that a dolphin?".
"Yeah, your favorite animal"

"You know it" he responds giving me another hug.

I tap him in the shoulder and turn around nearly bumping into Emily.

"Woah, hey you made it"
"Yeah, sorry I'm late my dad just left for work"

"It's okay can I get you a drink?"

Lilly joins us.

"Hey Eli, great party"

She stares at Emily.

"I don't think we've met, I'm Lilly Eli's sister"
"Emily"

"She's cute".

She whispers in my ear. Emily looks at me curiously eyeing the both of us

"Get out of here" I tell her.

She winks at Emily and leaves us.

My friends keep coming to me each one louder than the last telling me what a great job I've done with the party.

"You Eli are one hell of a party thrower"
"Thanks George, ease up on the drinking alright"

I face Emily

"Hey can I talk to you maybe somewhere quiet"
"Of course"

When she accepts I hold her hand and usher her outside.

"Sorry about that, my friends can be a bit noisy"
"I don't mind"

She responds sipping her drink.

"I just hope you're enjoying yourself"
"I am, this isn't the noise I'm used to but it's fun"
"I'm glad"

A few hours later the party winds down and people leave my house. I begin to clean up see Emily entering the house.

"I thought you'd be gone by now"
"I live ring across remember"
"Yeah"

She walks in and looks around

"Are you cleaning all this by yourself?"
"Yeah, but you don't have to-"

To late she's already putting things in order and picking up trash. I look at her working, when she catches me staring I look away hiding a small blush. We spend the next few hours cleaning up.

"It's after midnight but we're done"
"Yeah, thank you for your help"

I respond looking at how clean the house is

"You're welcome, I'll be heading home now"
"I'll walk you out"