Nathan's P.O.V

There we stood.  Emily, Zeke, and I. It was our first day of school as juniors, we had a lot of mixed feelings as we stared at the front door of the school. 

It was our tradition, we always walked into the school together, ever since we were twelve Emily and I have been best friends and as of three years ago we let Zeke Into our group and so far it has been good having him with us, even though he's more of my friend than Emily's.

"Nathan look, it's Emma" Zeke says referring to the pretty blonde girl about to walk into school. I've had a crush on her since freshman year but I've never seen her alone. Last year she was dating a senior so I had no chance but now that he's gone I have a chance.

"I'm going to talk to her, don't wait up" I announce and start walking towards her.

"Nathan, you're ruining the tradition. Get back here" Emily shouts but I ignore her and follow behind the girl of my dreams.

"Hey, Emma" I casually say as I match her strides. She stops walking and turns to me, an indication of surprise finds its way to her face but she quickly covers it up with a smile, the most stunning smile I've ever seen.

"Hi," she replies, still wearing the angelic smile.  

"Umm," I scratch the back of my head as I think of what to say. I didn't think this far. I shouldn't have walked up to her without a plan. Shit! Now she's staring at me. I look up and smile awkwardly, I open my mouth to speak but the words get stuck.

Luckily she begins to speak

"Do you happen to have more than one pen with you? I forgot to bring one" 

I quickly open my bag and search for a pen since my mouth has ceased to function. I finally find a pen,  it's the only one I have but I hand it over to her.

"Thanks see you around," she says and walks away

"Later skater" I immediately smack my mouth as soon as I utter these extremely lame words. I know I may have made a fool of myself In front of her but right now I'm just glad we got to talk and she's going to be writing with my pen, Emma Hunter is going to be writing with my pen. Oh dear, I'm such a simp. 

"So how'd it go," someone says from behind me, I flinch a little and turn to find out who it is. 

"Oh,  Zeke. It went well, that reminds me I need a pen"

He shakes his head at me

"I only have one, why'd you come to school without one"

I smile as I recall what just happened

"It's a long story"

"I hope that Mr. Wilberforce isn't going to be teaching us this year, you know he always gives a test on the first day" Zeke declares

"I don't think he teaches juniors we're safe"

"That's a relief," Zeke says sighing loudly and resting his back on the wall

"Where's Emily?" I ask, remembering the tradition I just broke.

"She left to meet up with someone, she's mad at you, you shouldn't have left like that, you guys have a tradition, it might be stupid but it means a lot to her frankly I don't know why but it is important to her"

I facepalm myself and lean on the wall

"I know, I know but I didn't want to lose the chance to talk to Emma"

"Now you've missed the chance to talk to Emily, she had something to tell you and I don't think she's going to tell you anymore"

"Don't worry I'll talk to her later"

"Alright"

We walk into the classroom and my eyes instantly start searching for Emma, I find her and there's an empty seat at her side but it's also beside Emily. After minutes of thinking I decide to risk it and take the seat.

I flash Emma a smile as I take the seat in the middle of her and Emily 

"What do you think you're doing?" Emily immediately asks as I take the seat. I smile at her but she gives me a frown in reply. 

I cower at her frown.

"Okay, you win. I'm sorry I walked into the school without you"

She rolls her eye at me and scoffs

"You don't mean that, you're just apologizing because you think that's what I want you to do"

I place my hand on hers

"I really am sorry. I know keeping our traditions means a lot to you"

She looks at our hands and then at me

"It should mean a lot to you too but I'll take the half-hearted apology," she says

"So we're cool?" I ask raising an eyebrow

"We're cool, at least you came all the way here to apologize" her eyes move around the room and land right by the side of my seat, her eyes go wide and the frown from before returns but this time it's deeper. She yanks her hand from underneath mine.

"You came to sit here because of her not to apologize, I can't believe this, Nathan it's the first day and another girl is already being placed before me," she says angrily but in a low voice, that's one of the reasons we're still good friends, even though she's angry she's always reasonable.

"Okay I did come here because of her but I also came here because of you"

She starts to say something but we get distracted by the entry of a teacher, everyone starts groaning as soon as we notice it's Mr. Wilberforce

"Settle down, we're having a test now," He says as he drops the question papers and orders them to be passed to the back. I get mine and look around nervously, I open my bag and search profusely for a second pen but I can't seem to find any, I turn to Emily but she wouldn't even glance at me for me to ask her if she has an extra pen.

"Hey" Emma whispers from beside me, I turn and give her a little smile, something must be wrong with me, why do I keep on smiling like a fool whenever I look at her. 

"Here you go" she hands me back my pen and stands up to submit her paper. That must be record time, it hasn't been up to ten minutes and she's done. I pick up the pen and start answering the questions on the test.

After that period we have three other subjects and finally, it's time for lunch.

Zeke and I go to the cafeteria together, Emily left the class before us, she's probably still mad at me.  We sit at a table and start eating but someone catches my eye, it's Emma, she's walking with her food tray, coming straight towards me with a smile on her face but then, she misses a step and drops flat on the floor, the whole cafeteria erupts in a peal of loud laughter, she stands up and runs out of the cafeteria, I get up and go after her, she finally stops in front of an empty classroom.

"Are you okay?" I inquire about her

She fakes a smile

"Yeah"

"You don't look okay, let's go in and sit down" she nods her head and we walk into the empty classroom, we sit facing each other and I swear I can see her trying to hide the blush on her face. After seconds of silence, we start talking and sharing a couple of things about ourselves but the bell interrupts us and we have to go to class.