SPIN THE BOTTLE

Love is like playing a game of ‘Spin the Bottle’. You’re sitting in a circle, with a bunch of people you either knew your whole life, or hardly know at all. It's a really simple game. You can spend it any way you wish, but the only catch is, you can only spend it once. And regardless of the nervous, shaky, unstable, feeling you have deep in the pit of your stomach, and the awaiting reckless danger. You spin the bottle, hoping and praying that it would land on that one person that you want it too, for whatever the reason, so that you can feel something with that one person, if only just for a second, that's all you want, and really, if you think about it... it's not a lot. But it doesn't. It lands on the unexpected person, and there is nothing you can do about it. But go along with it, because those are the rules. My name is Emmalee Richardson. My dad is John Richardson; he's the CEO of a major corporate business. In English that just means we have a lot of money. My mom is Dianna Richardson, she does... Well I'm not really sure what she does, but whatever it is it doesn't keep her very busy. I was born and raised in a small town near West Virginia. You know the kind of town where, everybody knows everybody, and nobody kidnaps you. My friend list is really close to none. Well except my best friend, Noah. Our relationship sort of reminds me of that song by Taylor Swift, 'You belong with me' except the crazy girl isn't his girlfriend... yet. And the fact that she will be someday makes me want to shoot myself. Or maybe runaway. I wonder what would happen if I run away. Will they miss me? Will they even care? Will I end up like one of those creepy, milk carton girls sitting on your breakfast table, smiling at you happily, when in reality she's probably being tortured, and way closer to death with every spoon full of cereal. I sighed and rested my chin on the counter. Usually I'd be happy at this time (Which is dinner time) but today I'm anything but! Noah promised me that we were going to have our usual movie/spaghetti night, and then he bailed at the last minute. Big deal he has a couple of new friends! But he can't just forget about me. We've been doing spaghetti movie night since we were ten. We even made a name for it... smoovie night. I frowned at that thought sighing even harder than before, making my mom smile at me in amusement. I sat up straight on our bar stool and glared at her. "What could possibly be so funny?" I asked. "Sweet heart, you do know that it's not the end of the world, right?" I rolled my eyes. "I never said that it was. I just WISH Noah wouldn't cancel on me so much." I reverted back to my old position. My mom gave a sad smile and sighed. "Honey, Noah's sixteen now. I mean, that stuff was fun when you two were little but..." "But what? It doesn't matter that we're sixteen. Or that were in high school. Were best friends! That was our thing. The one thing that we shared together is now being invaded by king of the jerks." I sighed and my mom looked at me with that stupid pity look. "Oh... I'm sure he won't do it again." She smiled at me reassuringly and I stood up. "Do you want to help me make the meatballs?" I gave her a sad smile and then shook my head. "No thanks mom. I'm not really in the mood. I think I'm just going to go do my homework." She nodded and I headed to my room. I closed the door behind me and sat down on my bed. This is like the third time this week he's cancelled a day that we planned together. He said something about a last minute outing with his new friends. And then threw in a sorry right before he hung up. I don't even care about smoovie night. I just want my friend back. When we were younger, we were inseparable. Now I have to practically get on all fours just to make him sit with me at lunch. I pulled out my history homework and Noah's. He's not all that bright so I occasionally do his homework for him. This is really soggy of me I know. But he pays me. Don't give me that look! I finished our homework a little later then I thought and by the time I was finish. It was already time for dinner. I headed down stairs where my mom was already seated and eating. I sat down next to her and looked around. "Where's dad?" I asked nervously. "He's working late tonight. So it's just you and me." She emphasized the words 'you and me' and I felt sick. Whenever I and my mom were alone, we always had these awkward conversations... Like now. ~*~ I was walking down the hallway slightly late for my class when Mr. Popularity bumped into me. He smiled and I glared. I was not even just a tiny bit happy with him. "Where were you last night? I had to eat dinner with my mom and she just kept going on and on about how she came across this rude cashier and how they argued, and she even told me what they said WORD for WORD." He shook his head and gave me the sympathetic look. "I'm sorry babe. It's just that Ian invited me to go bowling with the guys and-" I cut him off and threw my hands up. "Hey! You owe me no explanation." I said, trying to be a good sport. "Besides... You deserve a little male bonding." He gave me a small, sad smile. "Look that doesn't mean that I don't want to hang out with you, okay?" I nodded and kept walking. I couldn't stand him looking at me like that; with beautiful deep blue eyes. It took everything inside of me not to smile and just throw myself at him. "You're not mad at me are you? I really hate it when you're mad at me." I shook my head and stopped. "Noah, I'm not mad at you." Maybe a little hurt, disappointed, and broken, I thought to myself, but not mad. "So you have nothing to worry about. Look, I got to get to class, okay?" He nodded and kissed me on the forehead. I smiled and he left me there, awestruck. That is until someone pushed me out of the way. I was knocked into the locker and then turned to see who it was. No one really stood out so I just shrugged it off. After English let out I went in the girls’ bathroom and ran into Ashlyn. She's supposedly what they call Queen Bee of our school. In my own personal opinion, she’s sort of just a monster who's trying to steal the love of my life away. I smiled and walked past her hoping that she wouldn't say anything, but with my luck... Of course she did. "Emma! It's so nice to see you!" She plastered a super star smile on her face showing all of her pearly white straight teeth. I stopped walking and turned to face her. "Hi, Ash," I muttered indifferently. Feeling a little stagnant as to why she was even talking to me. "Okay, so listen. I'm having a party Friday night and you should come." I looked at her completely baffled. We weren't friends and God knows she hated my guts. "I should?" I questioned, dumbfounded. "Yeah!" She said brightly, in her cheerleader voice. "On one condition: You bring that hottie of yours with you." She smiled and then left the bathroom. Oh no. She really is trying to steal the love of my life. I can't go to that party. I just couldn't bare seeing Noah walking around with that... thing. I stood there demoralized, for no telling how long, until the door opened back again. But this time it wasn't Ashlyn, it was Noah. He walked in and grabbed my arm. "Wh-you cannot be here, Noah!" He gave me a look and started pulling me. "I have been looking all over for you. Come on. I want to go home." I rolled my eyes and let him pull me all through the hallway and to the parking lot. He sat me in the car and even buckled up my seat belt for me! Sheesh, if it's that serious! "Hey are you staying over my house tonight? Because if you are I swear I will make up for smoothie night." I smiled and shook my head at him. "It's smoovie night." He looked at me confused and I rolled my eyes. "Its fine, Noah. You don't have to do that." "Yeah, but I want to." His voice was so sweet and caring and he looked at me with those eyes that I'd come to love. "Okay then." I agreed, trying to sound less eager. "Just lay off the zombies." He laughed, tilting his head back. "Alright. Zombie Land here we come." He started the car and I know he was only kidding but I had a horrified look on my face. Noah loved zombies. I on the other hand I, didn't. ~•~ We pulled up at his house and I got out of the car. I didn't need to ask my mom because she knows that if I'm not home then I'm at Noah's. We walked through the front door and I said a quick "hi" to his mom before going up to his room. I sat down on the floor by his many collections of movies and pulled out 'Zombie Land'. What can I say? I'm all for making him happy. Plus whenever I get scared I get to cuddle up with him. A cheeky grin slipped on my face and he walked in. "What are you so happy about?" I stopped smiling hastily, and popped the movie in. "Nothing," I said quickly. He sat next to me on the floor and my heart rate got faster. Okay, I know he's my best friend and all, and I should be used to this but I'm not. To be honest I've always kind of fancied him but it seems like now it was just heightened. My body got all tense and I'm sad to say... he noticed. "What's wrong with you? I told you we didn't have to watch it." I sighed in relief. He only thought it was the movie. I thought I was going to have to lie. Not that I was bad at lying. Having a best friend like Noah, I really didn't have a choice in the matter. I sighed and he wrapped his arms around my waist, and pulled me down to the floor with him. My eyes widened in shock. "Don't worry, Em. I'll protect you." I shook my head at him and smiled. "Get off of me, Noah." I felt him shake his head and he held me tighter. "No can do babe. The movie's going to start." I rolled my eyes and groaned. Half liking it, and half annoyed. Moments later, we were like half way through the movie and I was already clinging on to Noah for dear life. The thing's I do for love. I buried my face into his chest to hide from all the bad parts. Noah was laughing at me the whole time and I was getting really sick of him. I peeked at the TV and there was a really intense part. I was really into and then the door swung open and I felt like dying. I screamed and both Noah and Jake started laughing at me. "What is so funny?" I asked petrified. "Dude! You should have seen your face." Jake said that. I narrowed my eyes at him while Noah just mocked me screaming. Well trying anyways. "Hey." Jake chimed. "Why didn't you guys invite me. I want to watch a movie too." He sat down and they continued to watch the movie while I was in a state of shock. I was horrified and they both thought it was so funny. In case you didn't already know, Jake is Noah's older brother and a major pain in the ass, dorkface. But he was still nice though. I guess. I stood up and shook my head at them both. "Well you guys can stay in this smelly teenage boy room, all you want. I'm out of here." I said, standing up. "Okay," Jake sighed. "You can go out there...alone...in the dark." I turned around, rolling my eyes. "Nice try, Jake. Goodbye." With that, I left the room, closing the door behind me. I made my way down the stairs, running into Noah's mom. She was sitting at the table drinking coffee, and reading some magazine. "Hey, Emma!" She smiled brightly at me. "Hi, Ms. Avery." I smiled at her as well, returning the gesture. "How's your mom? I haven't really gotten to see her much lately." "I know. She's been a little busy, I guess." She smiled, standing up. "Well, help yourself to whatever's in the kitchen if you're hungry. I've got to get to work." I nodded, smiling, as she left me there... Alone... I blinked, twice, Jake's words suddenly stuck in my head. I looked around; getting a little shaky, then shook my head dismissively. This is crazy! What am I even listening to him for? I opened the fridge pulling out the juice. As soon as I closed the door, Jake was standing there. He startled me, making jump. I shrieked, dropping the carton on the floor, and then rolled my eyes. Hitting him on the arm, I bent down to pick it up. "Jake! You scared me!" He laughed, leaning on the counter next to me. "I was just coming down here to make sure the zombies didn't get you." I raised a brow, sitting the carton of juice on the counter. "What is wrong with you, Jake?" He shrugged, pulling down a cup from the cupboards, and handing it to me. "There's nothing wrong with me." He stated, sitting on the bar stool. I poured the juice and was about to drink it when Noah took it from me. "What the HECK!?" I yelled, and he shrugged. I groaned, putting the juice back. That's it! He is SO not finding out about that party. I glared at him as he walked back up to his room, and then folded my arms angrily over my chest. He is such an ass sometimes, I SWEAR! I instinctively looked over at Jake, who was currently gazing at me with his head rested on his forearm, and the other rubbing his hair absentmindedly. I blinked, dropping my hands to my side, and then furrowed my brows in confusion. His eyes widened unnaturally, and he started to blush. Probably embarrassed, I thought to myself. I sighed, shrugging it off then turned around to go back to Noah's room. No use in staying here. And I would've left, but I remembered just how thirsty I was. I turned back around and saw Jake getting up from the barstool. He stopped midway, wondering what I turned back for, and I smiled sweetly at him. "You want some ice cream?"