CHAPTER 4 - THE FIRST DATE
1723 Words
The final bell had just rung at Westbridge High School, sending a wave of excitement through the classrooms and along the crowded corridors.
Students poured out of their classrooms, some rushing toward the school gate, others stopping to chat with friends before heading home. The sound of laughter, footsteps, closing lockers, and excited conversations filled the air.
Emily Carter carefully packed her books into her backpack.
She had just finished arranging her English notebook when Mia Williams appeared beside her desk.
“Are you coming with me?” Mia asked.
“Coming where?”
“To the gate, obviously.”
Emily smiled. “Give me a minute. I need to finish this.”
Mia looked at her suspiciously.
“You're always finishing something.”
Emily laughed. “Because unlike you, I actually care about my notes.”
“Please. You only care because Ethan keeps borrowing them.”
At the mention of his name, Emily's expression softened without her permission.
“Ethan needs them.”
Mia rolled her eyes.
“Of course he does.”
Emily looked at her.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.”
“Mia.”
Mia smiled innocently.
“I said nothing.”
Before Emily could respond, someone called her name from the classroom doorway.
“Emily!”
She turned.
Joshua Reed stood there.
He was one of the most popular boys in their year. He was confident, friendly, and seemed to know almost everyone in the school. He had been talking to Emily more frequently over the past few days, and although she had noticed, she had tried not to think too much about it.
“Yes?” Emily asked.
Joshua walked toward her.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?”
Mia immediately looked at Emily.
“I'll wait outside.”
Emily frowned.
“Mia.”
“What?”
“You know what.”
Mia smiled.
“Good luck.”
She walked away before Emily could stop her.
Joshua stood beside Emily's desk.
“I hope I'm not disturbing you.”
“You're not.”
He smiled.
“I wanted to ask you something.”
Emily closed her bag.
“What?”
Joshua hesitated for a moment.
“Would you like to go out with me?”
Emily blinked.
She wasn't expecting that.
“Go out?”
“Yeah.”
He rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
“Like, after school tomorrow. There's a small café not far from here. We could get something to eat and talk.”
Emily stared at him.
For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
Joshua smiled.
“You don't have to answer immediately.”
“No, it's okay.”
Emily looked down at her bag.
“I just wasn't expecting it.”
“I know.”
He laughed softly.
“I've wanted to ask for a while.”
That made Emily look up.
“Really?”
“Really.”
Something warm spread through her chest.
She was used to being the girl standing beside Ethan.
The girl he called when he needed homework.
The girl who listened to his problems.
The girl who was always there.
But Ethan had never looked at her like this.
He had never made her feel like she was someone he was interested in.
Joshua was doing exactly that.
He was noticing her.
And Emily couldn't deny that she liked the feeling.
She smiled.
“Okay.”
Joshua's face brightened.
“Okay?”
“Yes.”
“So you'll go with me?”
Emily nodded.
“I will.”
“Great.”
He smiled.
“Tomorrow after school?”
“Tomorrow.”
“I'll wait for you at the front gate.”
“Okay.”
Joshua turned to leave, then stopped.
“Emily?”
“Yes?”
“You look really nice today.”
She blushed.
“Thank you.”
Joshua smiled before walking out of the classroom.
Emily remained standing beside her desk.
She touched her hair self-consciously and smiled.
For once, someone had made her feel special.
Someone had looked at her and actually noticed her.
She picked up her bag and walked toward the door.
She didn't see the boy standing several metres away in the corridor.
Ethan Bennett had just stepped out of his classroom.
He had been looking for Emily.
He usually walked home with her after school, and he wanted to ask if she had remembered to bring the notes he needed for the next day's history test.
Then he saw Joshua.
He saw him standing close to Emily.
He saw Emily smiling.
And then he saw Joshua walk away.
Ethan stopped.
His eyes remained on Emily.
She looked happier than usual.
He couldn't understand why that bothered him.
“Emily!”
She looked up.
Her smile became even brighter when she saw him.
“Ethan!”
She hurried toward him.
“There you are.”
“I was looking for you.”
“Why?”
“I need your history notes.”
Emily laughed.
“You only came looking for me because of my notes?”
Ethan smiled.
“Maybe.”
She playfully hit his arm.
“You're impossible.”
He looked at her.
Then he noticed something.
“You seem happy.”
Emily hesitated.
“I am.”
“Why?”
She adjusted the strap of her bag.
“Nothing.”
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
“Nothing?”
“Nothing important.”
He stared at her.
There was something different about her.
He couldn't explain it.
“You're hiding something.”
“I'm not.”
“You are.”
Emily laughed.
“Why do you always think you know everything about me?”
“Because I do.”
She looked at him.
For a brief moment, neither spoke.
Emily wondered if he would ever realize how much she wanted those words to mean something more.
Then Ethan broke the silence.
“Are you going home now?”
“Actually...”
She hesitated.
“What?”
“I have plans tomorrow.”
“With who?”
Emily smiled.
“Joshua.”
Ethan's expression changed slightly.
“Joshua?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Emily laughed.
“He asked me out.”
Ethan stared at her.
“He did?”
“Yes.”
“And you said yes?”
Emily nodded.
“I did.”
For reasons he couldn't explain, Ethan suddenly felt uncomfortable.
He tried to smile.
“That's... good.”
Emily watched him carefully.
“You don't sound happy.”
“I am happy.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
He forced a smile.
“Joshua's a good guy.”
Emily nodded.
“Thank you.”
Ethan looked away.
Something inside him felt strange.
He had always known Emily was beautiful.
Of course he had.
But he had never really thought about it.
She was Emily.
His best friend.
The girl who sat beside him during lunch.
The girl who laughed at his stupid jokes.
The girl who knew exactly when something was wrong.
The girl who was always there.
But now another boy had asked her out.
And for the first time, Ethan wondered what it would be like if Emily wasn't always there for him.
What if Joshua became the person she called first?
What if she stopped sitting beside him at lunch?
What if she started sharing all her secrets with Joshua instead?
The thought made his chest tighten.
He immediately pushed it away.
She's my best friend.
That was all.
At least, that was what he told himself.
“Ethan?”
He looked at her.
“Yes?”
“Are you okay?”
“I'm fine.”
“You've gone quiet.”
“I was just thinking.”
“About what?”
He smiled.
“Nothing.”
Emily studied him.
She knew Ethan well enough to know when he wasn't telling the truth.
But she didn't push him.
Instead, she smiled.
“I'll see you tomorrow.”
“Wait.”
She stopped.
“Yeah?”
“You're really going on a date with Joshua?”
Emily laughed.
“It's not exactly a date.”
“What is it?”
“Just two people getting something to eat.”
Ethan nodded.
“Right.”
Emily smiled.
“See you.”
“See you.”
She walked away.
Ethan stood there watching her.
He didn't know why he couldn't look away.
At the end of the corridor, Emily turned around.
Their eyes met.
She smiled.
Ethan smiled back.
Then she disappeared through the school gate.
Ethan remained where he was.
Ryan Collins approached him from behind.
“You look like someone just stole your favorite thing.”
Ethan frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
Ryan looked toward the gate.
“I saw Emily leave.”
“So?”
“With Joshua.”
Ethan became quiet.
Ryan smiled knowingly.
“Interesting.”
“What's interesting?”
“You.”
“Me?”
“Yeah.”
Ethan shook his head.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
Ryan laughed.
“You're jealous.”
“I'm not jealous.”
“You are.”
“She's my best friend.”
Ryan nodded.
“Exactly.”
Ethan frowned.
“What does that even mean?”
Ryan shrugged.
“You'll figure it out.”
Ethan watched the empty gate.
He didn't believe Ryan.
He couldn't be jealous.
Emily was his best friend.
Nothing more.
At least, that was what Ethan believed.
Meanwhile, Emily walked home with a smile on her face.
For the first time in a long while, she felt noticed.
Joshua had asked her out.
He had complimented her.
He had looked at her differently.
And although a small part of her still wished Ethan would one day look at her the same way, Emily decided she was tired of waiting.
Maybe Joshua could help her move on.
Maybe she deserved someone who actually saw her.
She didn't know that her decision would soon change the way Ethan looked at her.
And she certainly didn't know that the boy who had spent years taking her presence for granted was about to discover just how much he hated the idea of losing her.
For the first time, Ethan was beginning to notice the girl he had never truly noticed.
And it was only the beginning.
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