22
It’s the first day of school, and if I had any real choice, I’d skip it in a heartbeat.
Sleep had barely touched me over the last few nights.
My body ached for rest, but my mind… my mind was consumed by the girl next door. Emma.
That kiss.
The way her voice cracked when she said my name.
The way she looked at me—confused, torn, beautiful.
I missed her so much it physically hurt.
But I knew better than to push. She needed space. Time. A moment to breathe. To figure things out without me clouding her head.
Still, God, I wanted to see her.
“Jennifer!!! You're gonna be late!”
I cringed. That name again.
Why does my mom insist on calling me that? It feels like a courtroom name, not mine. Too proper. Too heavy.
I gave myself one last glance in the mirror before heading down. I wore a simple grey dress—knee-length, slits on the sides, just enough to feel the breeze against my skin. The wind outside was soft today, gentle almost. Not cold, just enough to make my dress dance slightly around my knees.
"J-E-N-N-I-F-E-R!!!!"
“My gawddd, Mom! Can you not shout like that at 6:30 in the morning? You probably woke the entire building!”
I nearly slipped on the last step as her voice echoed through the hallway. Ugh.
“And seriously, stop calling me Jennifer!”
“You're gonna be late, Jennifer,” she said again with that maddening smile.
God, I love her, but I really hate her sometimes.
I glared at her as I passed by, and she just chuckled to herself like the little gremlin she is.
I headed to the dining table and started scarfing down breakfast. “Mom, I know it’s my first day back, but the school is only four blocks away. I’m not gonna be late. I could practically roll there.”
Which was true. Living near school was a blessing. Every extra minute in bed was sacred. I speak for every student on the planet when I say: sleep is king.
I was just getting into the rhythm of chewing my bacon—pure bliss—when she snatched my plate away like a villain from a Saturday cartoon.
“What the...?!”
“You're walking today,” she said casually, like she wasn’t just committing a crime against breakfast. “Your dad borrowed your car.”
“What?! Why?! Where’s his car?! Can’t you drive me? I don’t want to—”
She burst out laughing. Full-on, belly-holding, tear-wiping laughter.
What. The. Actual. Hell.
She had to lean on the counter for support. “Oh my God, Jen, you should’ve seen your face!”
I scowled. “What’s so funny? I am gonna be late!”
“I’ve been telling you that for ten minutes. I can’t drive you. Your aunt’s coming. So go. Walk. Or jog. Or teleport if you must.”
She snorted again, and I stomped off toward the door.
I hated school days. I hated walking. I hated that she found it funny.
I slammed the door behind me, grumbling to myself.
“Grumpy much?”
I froze.
“Holy. Sh—”
“It's too early for the waord, Jen.”
I jumped at the sound of her voice.
Emma.
Standing there. Smiling. Glowing.
Dressed in soft office attire, looking way too good for seven in the morning. Her scent drifted toward me on the breeze, sweet and clean and painfully familiar.
“H-hi, Em. Good morning.”
To my surprise, she reached up and smoothed my furrowed brow with her fingers. My instinct kicked in—I grabbed her hand, unsure why, but I couldn’t let go.
Our eyes locked.
My breath hitched.
The warmth of her skin against mine—God, it was like electricity. My stomach twisted into anxious knots. My fingers trembled. Does she feel it too?
She pulled her hand back gently, steady and composed as always. “You’re frowning. And it’s too early to start your day like that.”
It made me smile—like, really smile. I hadn’t even realized I was frowning. Leave it to her to read me like an open book.
I followed her eyes as they dropped to her wristwatch, and my heart plummeted. Crap!
“Damn, I’m gonna be late!”
“Relax,” she said calmly, “it’s like, what, a three-minute drive?”
I was already halfway out the door, speed-walking like my GPA depended on it. “My car’s gone today, so I’ve got to hoof it—see you, Emma!”
I barely made it two steps before she reached out and caught my arm.
“Come on. I’ll take you.”
I blinked. “Wait… seriously?”
She nodded and pulled me along like I weighed nothing.
My brain short-circuited. I just let her lead me, my feet barely keeping up with hers.
I climbed into her car silently, trying not to freak out.
This was so not how I expected the morning to go.
I was still high on adrenaline from the surprise of seeing her—now I was in her car and had no idea what to say.
It wasn’t like before—not after the kiss. There was this heavy silence between us now, full of unspoken feelings and unanswered questions.
I wanted to say something. Anything. But all the words stuck in my throat.
Before I knew it, we were in front of the school.
“Thanks, Em,” I said softly, hand already on the door handle when her voice stopped me.
“Jen… can you come over later for dinner? I want to talk and… I miss your cooking.”
That smile.
That sweet, hesitant smile that knocked the wind out of my chest.
She missed me. Or at least, she missed something about me. It was enough to make my heart bloom.
I nodded, unable to hide the grin forming on my lips. “Of course, Emma.”
I shut the door gently and stood there for a moment, watching her drive away.
Maybe today wasn’t going to suck after all.
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