"Please tell me you did Mrs. Torino's homework," Emmett said, taking a seat next to me at the kitchen counter. "Please tell me you have something to offer me in return," I teased. "I will give you the fucking moon if you actually did it." I laughed, reaching in my backpack and handing him the math worksheet. "I love you." "You better." Parker came into the kitchen, grabbing an apple out of the basket and tossing it in the air a couple of times before taking a bite out of it. "Are you coming to the game tonight?" Emmett asked me, as he copied my worksheet. "Of course," I agreed, finishing off my yogurt. "Michelle and I are driving over together." "It's a 90-minute drive," Parker pointed out. "Well it's a good thing I enjoy watching one of you play." He rolled his eyes, taking another bite of his apple. "Good to know you enjoy my body." "Don't think she was talking about you," Emmett said, with a laugh. "And your body is nothing compared to mine." "Please," Parker said, sitting up on the counter. "You have nothing on me." "And I wouldn't want to either. Let's recount who got Rydel Kingston first." "Gross," I said, holding up my hand. "Argue over who has the hottest bod later, kay?" "You're just upset because yours doesn't begin to compare," Parker said, with a wink. Emmett shot him a look. "Oh please," I said, rolling my eyes. "Any girl that's attracted to you is just looking for a one-night stand." "And your point is?" "That's why you're just as immature as you were as a Freshman. You can't seem to understand that one day girls aren't going to want the one-night stand anymore. And you'll be too washed up for a second glance." "Calm it down," Emmett ordered, handing me back my worksheet. "Let's try and make it to school in one piece?" "I sense some jealousy," Parker whispered, as Emmett headed back to his room to grab his stuff. "I'm not the one that was stood up last night," I whispered back, with a smirk. His eyes darkened, and he stalked out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him. "Five seconds," Emmett said, reemerging into the kitchen. "I was gone five seconds and you guys can't keep it together?" I shrugged innocently, unable to bite back my smile. ~*~ "If he tries to talk to you again today, just knee him where the sun doesn't shine," Michelle informed me, as we left the lunchroom. "I can handle Daniel," I said, laughing. "You better sprint to class." She blew me a kiss before she headed off. I stopped by my locker, looking over my shoulder to be sure that the coast was clear of Daniel. And then I saw something I didn't expect to see. Emmett and Daniel were leaning by the opposite lockers, talking and laughing. No. Just no. I can't even right now. Why would Emmett be talking, let alone be having what looked like a good conversation, with Daniel Hawthorne? The warning bell rang, and they said their goodbyes, Emmett heading off towards his next class. I practically sprinted him down, pinning him up against the wall. "Excuse me Usain Bolt," Emmett said, raising his eyebrows at me. "What was that?" "What was what?" "Why were you talking to Daniel Hawthorne?" "Why were stalking me?" I placed my hands on my hips, unamused. "Okay," Emmett caved, with a sigh. "I know I should hate him, because he cheated on you and as older brother policy, I should kick his ass." "That would be preferred," I agreed. "But on the other hand he saved my baby sister's life." My heart practically stopped. "So I'm a little confused on how I'm supposed to deal with that whole situation." "He was just in the right place at the right time." "Regardless, he did save your life," Emmett pointed out. "And I can't hate him because without him, I wouldn't have you." I felt the tears pricking at my eyes. "Don't do that," Emmett warned. "Because if you start crying, I'm going to get upset, and that's not cool." I couldn't help but let out a little laugh. "I'm not, like, buddy-buddy with him or anything," he defended. "But I can't ignore him either. We just exist, you know? We acknowledge each other's presence and have a laugh or two together. That's it." I didn't answer; I couldn't. What am I supposed to say to that? Emmett gave me a hug, right smack dab in the middle of the hallway. "Now get to class before-" And then the tardy bell rang. "Well I guess I'll see you in lunch detention tomorrow," Emmett said, with a smirk. And then he jogged off towards his class. I couldn't help but stay rooted in my spot, my emotions running rampant. How was I supposed to react to that? ~*~ "And we're still on time," I said to Michelle, as we reached the bleachers. She sipped on her to-go drink from Panera Bread. "You're the master." "That I am," I agreed. We took our seats and I scanned the field, finding Emmett by his Captain band. Parker was wearing one as well, but I tried to tune him out. The game started less than two minutes later, the other team having kick-off. I don't find soccer that enjoyable, I really only watch for Emmett. So I found myself tuning out, pretty bored. "Look at number 6 on the other team," Michelle said to me. "He's like an 8." I surveyed him, clicking my tongue. "Agreed." "I'd take that boy to bed." I rolled my eyes. "And there it is." She laughed, finishing off her Panera drink. "Oh come on, don't tell me you don't think he's pretty." "Oh definitely," I agreed, with a nod. "But not bed-worthy." "You don't think?" "No way." We began to rate the boys on the opposing team, arguing over whether they were one-night stand worthy. Until Emmett had a breakaway. I jumped to my feet, cheering at the top of my lungs as he sprinted down the field. And slid the ball into the back of the net. Point for the Mustangs. I celebrated with Michelle, getting some odd looks from the opposing team's fans. They just didn't share my team spirit. Eventually the game was over, Mustangs winning 1-0, and Michelle and I met the boys down by the gate. "Great game," I said to Emmett, with a smile. He wrapped me up in a sweaty hug and I wriggled to get away, unwilling to be covered in his grime. "Which girl do you think I can score?" Emmett asked me. I surveyed the girls still lingering around. "The brown haired one with the blue tank top," I said, turning back to face him. "You think?" "That's my best guess." He winked at me before jogging over to her and her friend group. Disgusting. "Ready to get out of here?" Michelle asked me. "More than ready," I agreed. "Can I stay at your place?" "Most definitely." We both looked over our shoulders at Emmett, who seemed to be doing well with the brunette. "I've got to run to the little girl's room," Michelle said, pointing to the one-stall bathroom. "I'll be here." I leaned against the fence, checking my phone and answering a text from Hannah. "You didn't congratulate me," Parker's voice said. "I can't imagine why," I said, without looking up from my phone. "I had the assist to your brother's goal," he pointed out. "But nobody ever remembers the assists," I said, this time looking up him with a smile. "Guess I'll just have to beat him out for the ball next time," Parker mused. I rolled my eyes. "What do you even want?" "Waiting for your brother to finish hitting on the brunette he has no chance with so I can snatch up her blonde friend." "Disgusting." He smirked at me. "And what are you still doing here?" he asked me. "Waiting on Michelle." "Oh, I figured it was because you were trying to make some kind of point." I decided to humor him. "What kind of point?" "Since Emmett isn't giving you all of his attention, I figured you were going to stand here and wait for him, cock-blocking him in the process." "Why in the world would I want to watch Emmett make his moves on some girl before taking her to bed?" "Because she's getting more attention than you Ms. Princess." "I don't know why you have this image of me," I said, raising my eyebrows at him. "But I am not a princess." "Should we recall the events of last weekend?" Parker asked, with a smirk. "When you ran out on your parents?" I let out a laugh. "You're clueless." "Oh I'm sorry, did they offer you the wrong color iPhone?" I shook my head, looking over at the bathroom. But Michelle still hadn't come out. "Or was it London? Did they put you up in a 4-star hotel?" I turned to face him, fed up with his attitude. "You shouldn't talk about things you know nothing about." "I know enough about you to know that you always get your way. Everything always has to be perfect for you." "Really?" I asked, my temper flaring. "Well yeah, that's why I just said it." "Then why couldn't I be perfect?" He stared at me, stunned by my response. "Because I tried," I continued, words pouring out of my mouth before I could filter them. "I tried my very damn best to be perfect. I mean, that's why people starve themselves isn't it? To achieve ultimate perfection." Parker was at a complete loss for words at this point. "So no dumbass, I didn't spend a year travelling London and having tea with the fucking Queen. I spent it in rehab for Anorexia, learning how to eat again. So talk to me when you know what it's like to be ripped away from your family and friends for a year, only to return to be judged every step you take." And with that I turned and walked away.