CHAPTER 5 - OFFICIAL
1436 Words
The following afternoon, Emily stood in front of her bedroom mirror, trying to decide what to wear.
She had changed twice already.
Not because Joshua had asked her to dress up, but because she wanted to feel confident.
She brushed her hair carefully and looked at herself.
“It's just coffee,” she whispered.
But her heart didn't seem to believe that.
Joshua had been on her mind since he asked her out the previous day. She kept remembering the way he had looked at her when he told her she was beautiful.
It was a strange feeling.
For so long, Emily had been the girl who stood beside Ethan Bennett.
She was his best friend, his study partner, his lunch companion and the person he called whenever he needed help.
But Ethan had never asked her out.
He had never looked at her the way Joshua did.
Maybe this was her chance to finally stop waiting for someone who might never notice her.
Her phone vibrated.
Joshua: I'm already on my way. See you soon.
Emily smiled.
Emily: Okay. See you.
She grabbed her bag and left.
The café was only a short distance from Westbridge High School. It was a small, peaceful place with glass windows, wooden tables and soft music playing in the background.
When Emily arrived, Joshua was already waiting.
He stood as soon as he saw her.
“Emily.”
She smiled.
“Hi.”
“You look beautiful.”
She blushed.
“Thank you.”
Joshua pulled out a chair for her.
“Please.”
Emily sat down.
Joshua took the seat opposite her.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Joshua laughed.
“Why are we both so quiet?”
Emily laughed too.
“I don't know.”
“We're supposed to be having fun.”
“We are.”
“Good.”
A waiter came over and gave them the menu.
They ordered drinks and something to eat.
As they waited, Joshua leaned forward.
“So, tell me something about yourself that nobody at school knows.”
Emily thought for a moment.
“I love drawing.”
Joshua looked surprised.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“I've never seen you draw.”
“I don't show people.”
“Why?”
“Because I'm not very good.”
“I don't believe that.”
Emily smiled.
“Your turn.”
Joshua thought.
“I want to become a professional footballer.”
Emily's eyes widened.
“You?”
“Why are you surprised?”
“Because you're always talking about business.”
“That's because my father wants me to study business.”
“And what do you want?”
Joshua looked at her.
“Football.”
Emily smiled.
“Then you should follow your dream.”
“You really think so?”
“Yes.”
Joshua smiled.
“That is one thing I like about you.”
Emily lowered her eyes.
“What?”
“You encourage people.”
She didn't know how to respond.
Joshua continued.
“Most people don't listen when you talk. You actually listen.”
Emily smiled.
“Maybe because I know what it's like to feel invisible.”
Joshua's expression softened.
“Do you feel invisible?”
She hesitated.
“Sometimes.”
He looked at her carefully.
“I don't think you should.”
Emily looked up.
“Why?”
“Because you're not invisible to me.”
Those words touched something inside her.
For years, she had secretly wished Ethan would say something like that.
Now Joshua was saying it.
Their food arrived, and they continued talking.
They talked about school, their families, their favorite subjects and the things they wanted to achieve after graduation.
Emily found herself laughing more than she expected.
Joshua was easy to talk to.
He made her feel comfortable.
Most importantly, he made her feel noticed.
When they finished eating, Joshua leaned back in his chair.
“I had a really good time.”
“So did I.”
“I was nervous before you came.”
Emily laughed.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn't know if you'd come.”
“You asked me to.”
“That doesn't mean you had to say yes.”
Emily smiled.
“I wanted to.”
Joshua became quiet.
He looked at her for a moment.
“Emily, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Do you like me?”
Emily's heart began beating faster.
She looked down at her hands.
“I like spending time with you.”
Joshua smiled.
“That wasn't exactly my question.”
Emily laughed nervously.
“I think I like you.”
“Really?”
She nodded.
Joshua smiled.
“I like you too.”
There was something different about the way he said it.
He wasn't joking.
He wasn't teasing.
He meant it.
Then Joshua reached across the table.
“Emily, I've wanted to ask you something since yesterday.”
She looked at him.
“What?”
“Will you be my girlfriend?”
Emily froze.
The question was simple, but it felt much bigger than she expected.
She thought about Ethan.
She thought about all the years she had spent secretly loving him.
She remembered every time she had hoped he would notice her.
Every time she had watched him talk to other girls.
Every time she had gone home wondering whether he would ever feel the same way.
Maybe this was the moment she needed to let go.
Maybe she couldn't keep waiting forever.
She looked at Joshua.
“You're serious?”
“Very serious.”
Emily smiled.
“Yes.”
Joshua's face immediately brightened.
“Yes?”
“Yes. I'll be your girlfriend.”
Joshua reached across the table and gently held her hand.
“Thank you.”
Emily smiled.
She felt nervous.
She also felt happy.
For the first time, she had someone who openly wanted to be with her.
As they left the café, Joshua walked beside her.
“I'll walk you home.”
“You don't have to.”
“I want to.”
They walked slowly along the street.
Joshua talked about his plans for the next football season while Emily listened.
When they reached the road near her house, he stopped.
“I'll see you tomorrow.”
Emily smiled.
“Tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, girlfriend.”
Emily laughed.
“Goodnight.”
She walked away smiling.
But neither Emily nor Joshua noticed the boy standing across the street.
Ethan had been on his way home after football practice when he saw them.
He had seen Joshua holding Emily's hand.
He had heard Joshua call her girlfriend.
His stomach tightened.
He stood completely still.
Ryan, who was walking beside him, followed his gaze.
“Oh.”
Ethan said nothing.
Ryan looked at him.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.”
“You don't look okay.”
Ethan forced a smile.
“She's happy.”
Ryan nodded.
“She is.”
Ethan looked at Emily disappearing around the corner.
He suddenly remembered how she had told him the previous day that Joshua had asked her out.
He had pretended everything was fine.
Now he wasn't so sure.
“She didn't tell me,” Ethan said quietly.
Ryan looked at him.
“Maybe she didn't think she had to.”
Ethan frowned.
“But she tells me everything.”
Ryan remained silent.
Ethan looked toward the road again.
For the first time, he felt something he couldn't explain.
It wasn't anger.
It wasn't sadness.
It was something deeper.
Something frightening.
Something that made him realize he didn't like seeing another boy hold Emily's hand.
Ryan broke the silence.
“Ethan.”
“What?”
“Are you sure she's only your best friend?”
Ethan didn't answer.
He couldn't.
Because somewhere inside his heart, a question had already begun growing.
And he was afraid of the answer.
That night, Emily lay on her bed staring at her phone.
A message from Joshua appeared.
Joshua: Goodnight, beautiful. I'm happy you're mine.
Emily smiled.
She replied:
Emily: Goodnight, Joshua.
Then she placed her phone beside her.
For a moment, she thought about Ethan.
She wondered what he would say when he found out.
She quickly pushed the thought away.
She had made her decision.
She was going to move on.
But she didn't know that while she was trying to forget Ethan, Ethan was beginning to realize that he might never be able to forget her.
And the jealousy he felt that evening was only the beginning. ❤
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