Seven Minutes

Chapter 6

*Reader's POV*

Spencer did have a point. You felt so much for Emily that it was starting to cloud your judgment and if you didn't get a hold of yourself soon then your friendships would suffer. While having this inner struggle for a week, debating how to divide your time between all of them, you think you finally came up with a good plan. That is if Emily would agree to it.

"Hey Em," you call out as you walk up to her in the halls after school. She turns around at her locker and shoots you a smile.

"Hey, (Y/N). You don't usually talk to me in school," she says matter of factly.

"Yeah I know," you say as you run a hand through your hair, "I wanted to talk to you about that."

"Ok, shoot," she says as she leans her back against her locker.

"Do you think your friends would mind if Spence, Tara, and I sat with you at lunch? It's just I want to spend more time with you, but also with them and it is hard to find time in the day to hang out with both of you so I figured we could all hang out together at lunch..." you are rambling uncontrollably but you hear a light laugh that makes your heart flutter.

"(Y/N), you're kind of rambling," Emily says with a laugh, "and of course they wouldn't mind you sitting with us."

"Are you sure?" you ask nervously.

"Yes, I am positive," she says as she reaches over and links her pinky with yours for a second before letting go. Considering the two of you were taking it slow, and neither one of you really wanted to flaunt your sexuality yet, this was something small you decided to do instead of hugging or holding hands.

You look down the hallway and notice that your two friends are walking your way.

"Speak of the devil," you say to Emily, causing her to look down the hall and see them coming as well.

"Hey guys," she says as they approach.

"Hey Emily," Tara says but of course Spencer just awkwardly waves.

"I hate to interrupt," Tara says turning to you, "but you promised you would stand in line with me to get that new video game."

"And why can't Spencer do it?" you ask as you motion toward him. He gives you a look of betrayal.

"Oh he is coming too, he just didn't know it until now," Tara says as Spencer pouts. She reaches over to him and pats him in the back a little too hard, causing you and Emily to laugh.

"Ok, I'll meet you at the car, just give me a second," you say.

"Fine," Tara says before waving as she drags Spencer with her.

"I guess that's my cue to leave," you say as you turn back to Emily.

"Well, if you have any time afterward, I would love for you to come over," Emily says, "And I promise not to keep you up past your bedtime this time." You laugh at her.

"I'll be there."

*Emily's POV*

I spent the whole afternoon getting ready for (Y/N). We haven't talked a lot this past week and I want to make up for it. Just as I put the finishing touches on the backyard I hear the doorbell ring and rush towards it. I open the door and smile at (Y/N).

"Come in," I say as I motion into the house. She walks in while I close the door and she turns around to me.

"You hungry?" I ask her.

"Yeah maybe a little," she says with a shrug.

"Good," I say with a smile, "because I made snacks." I walk over to the fridge and pull out two drinks.

"Beer?" I ask her as I hold them up. But she shakes her head.

"Em, I don't drink," she says and I nod my head.

"I didn't think so, but I figured I would ask," I put both of the beers back and instead grab two sodas. I walk over to her and hand her one of them.

"So are we watching another movie?" she asks.

"Nope, we are doing something much better," I say.

"Better?" She asks suspiciously.

"If I recall correctly, last time you doubted me, I came through," she laughs a bit.

"That was only once, It could have been luck."

"Luck my ass, you just don't want to admit I have cool ideas," she rolls her eyes at me.

"Just show me what it is."

I walk out towards the back door and she follows me. I'm going to be honest, I'm not sure if she thinks it's better than a movie, but I sure hope so. I didn't spend all of this time just for her to be disappointed. I nervously open the back door and prepare for the worst. But it doesn't come.

"This is amazing Em," she says as she looks at the backyard. I had laid out a large blanket and pillows and planned a little picnic. 

"It is?" I ask with a sigh of relief, "I was a little scared you weren't going to like it." She turns and looks at me before throwing her arms around me in a hug. I wrap my arms around her too, and we stand like that for a moment.

"It's beautiful," (Y/N) says as she pulls back from the hug.

"You're beautiful," I blurt out before I can stop myself. She blushes and I clear my throat before we let go of each other and move to sit down on the blanket.

"So tell me a little more about your friends," She says as we get settled and get out the food.

"Well," I start to say, "Pen is a sweetheart, as you could probably tell. That girl doesn't have a bad bone in her body. And JJ may seem like she would be mean, but she's not at all."

"What about the guys?" she asks.

"Well, I don't really know Matt that well, we haven't been friends for that long. And Luke is a goofball all of the time. He is a total clown. And don't tell him I told you this but he has the biggest crush on Penelope. I honestly don't know how she hasn't seen it." I say with a small laugh.

"What about Mr. Popular?" she asks while mimicking Derek's voice.

"Oh well, Derek is as much of an asshole as you could guess," I say, and she joins in on my laughter, "But he has been my rock for a while now. I don't know what I would do without that guy." We sit there for a second in comfortable silence, eating the snacks, until I nudge her.

"What about your friends?" I ask.

"Well Spencer is quiet but the smartest guy you'll ever meet. He used to get bullied a lot so he kind of retreated into himself because of it. Now Tara is the opposite. She hasn't opened up to me as much as Spencer, she is really reserved. But it was like an instant friendship between us," she says.

"They sound like really good friends," I say as I look at her.

"They are," she says glancing over at me, "they have been the only ones there for me during high school. That's why I didn't want to lose them now that I am hanging out with you." I reach over and lace my fingers with hers.

"You won't lose them or me, promise," I say and she smiles at me. "Oh, and another thing you should know about Derek, he will never let us live it down that he is the reason we are a cou..." I catch myself before I finish my sentence but I can tell (Y/N) knew what I was about to say.

"The reason we are hanging out," I say trying to cover, and luckily she goes along with it.

We continue just talking until the sun starts to go down. I lay back in the blanket to watch the sunset, and (Y/N) does the same. I prop my hands behind my head and (Y/N) leans into my side. We stay like that until it gets dark, and we have to say goodbye.

I think I'm falling for her, and frankly, I'm a little scared.