"HELL NO!" Emi screeched at the top of her lungs, suddenly bolt upright in her bed she had been so comfortably sleeping in moments ago, her light brown curls draping over her face messily.

"Emma Hailey Willow! I will not tolerate that language in my house!" Her mother raised her voice at her standing beside her daughter's four poster mahogany bed. It was 6:45 and she was dressed like she was ready for afternoon tea.

"Mom, I know I'm not the greatest kid in the world but do you really hate me that much?" Emi wailed at her, throwing off the black starred comforter and jumping up to face her mother. "Don't make me beg, mom! You know I'll do it!"

"Emma there is no reason for this behavior! You're going and that's final!" her mother said raising her voice again, folding her arms across her chest.

"But mommy!" Emi cried, "I don't wanna go!" she said falling to her knees begging her mother while putting on a pout and puppy dog eyes look, her brown eyes pleading.

"Emma don't look at me like that. You know this is all for the best interest of-"

"Best interest of who, mom? You, Aunt Patty, the stupid head master at that school that is clearly milking everyone for all they have? Certainly not my best interest, because God forbid anything go my way for one time in my life!" she shouted at her mother.

Her mom let out a huge sigh before continuing. "Look dear," she began, lowering her tone and taking a seat on the bed. "You may not want to go to the academy but I can assure you, the teachers there are some of the best in the country. They will work wonders on your already brilliant mind. And-"

"If I'm already brilliant why do I have to go? Those rich snobs will eat me alive!"

"Honey they will do no such thing! And aren't you a um... 'rich snob'?"

"Mom! I know we're rich! I've dealt with it my whole life! The money isn't what bothers me! It's how everyone acts because they have it! I don't act like that! They'll chew me up and spit me out before the first semesters over!"

"Emma you're over reacting"

"Over reacting? Over reacting? OVER REACTING! Mom we crossed that rope bridge and cut the lines! How am I supposed to react when you come in here and tell me you're sending me off to boarding school, tearing me away from my friends and my life? All calm and agreeing? Oh I can picture that! Dear pack your bags your leaving. Wonderful mommy dearest! Because there's nothing here worth holding onto! Family? Phoey! Friends? Who needs 'em? Yup I think I'm going to love leaving life behind! Weeeeeeee!" Emi finished dramatically, sarcasm oozing out of every word.

Her mom gave a small laugh and said "I knew you'd see it my way! Now pack your things, your flight leaves in 2 hours." She said, clearly not noticing the sarcasm or ignoring it.

She left the room without another word leaving Emi with nothing but "I... she... no... but... why... I... huh?"

Emi stomped into her walk-in closet angrily, slamming the door behind her. "Son of a... Can't believe she'd... Little piece of..." she mumbled to herself, grabbing 2 large, bright green suitcases. She began stuffing in shirts, jeans, shoes, bags, pajamas, anything a teenaged girl would need to live. She walked to her bathroom and took hairbrushes, shampoos, toothbrushes, her straightening iron, everything. It took her 15 minutes to stuff her necessities into her bags. Finally, she walked over to her blue bean bag chair and flopped down in it with and over exaggerated "Ugggggh!"

She reached to the table next to her and picked up the phone. She dialed. "Hey...can you guys come over like...now?" she asked slowly.

Within 10 minutes, her best friends, who happened to be her neighbors and kids she'd known since pre-k, were charging up the stairs into her room.

"Where's the fire?" Colton yelled bursting through the door, his wavy black hair falling over his grey eyes.

"We know you can't see the fire with all that hair in you're face," Mikayla challenged him, "But that's not what Hailey meant." She said entering the room behind him, arms crossed, her red hair up in a neat bun.

"How would you know? You told me Willow just wanted us over here now! That's barely a 5 word description! How could you possibly know what she meant by that?" he countered, his hair hiding his cute confused face.

"Girl-speak" Mikayla giggled, walking up to Emi who was still sitting in her bean bag chair, watching them have their early morning feud. "So what's up?"

"Um...guys buckle up..." Emi started.

"Oh my God!" Colton yelled. "Something's gonna kill me isn't it? I knew your Aunt didn't like me, and now she wants revenge for the time I broke the lamp!" he wailed, diving under Emi's desk covering his head with his hands. "Ever since she started living with you guys..." his voice trailed.

"Um...not exactly Colton...I...wait what lamp?" Emi questioned.

"Never mind. Continue!" he said, emerging from under the desk.

"Ok...well...I know my mom's been talking about it for a while...but...she kinda...finally decided..."

"Spit it out Hail!" Mikayla yelled, growing impatient and shaking Emi's shoulders.

"I'mgoingtoboardingschool!" she said in one quick breath. Her friends stared at her shocked.

"What? But...when?" Colton managed, unable to put a sentence together.

"About an hour" Emi said, taking a sudden interest in her pink socks.

Everyone was silent for at least 5 minutes, but it seemed like hours. The seconds ticked on and the dead silence was interrupted with the door whooshing open and a dark figure looming there.

Colton screamed, Mikayla fell over, and Emi laughed hysterically, seeing her aunt Patty walk into the room shaking her head.

"Emma, are you ready to go yet? You're mother's taking you to the airport soon." She said quickly, not waiting for an answer before leaving the room.

"She's kinda scary isn't she?" Colton asked.

"Yeah!" Mikayla replied. She quickly focused her attention back on Emi, bombarding her with questions. "What school is it? Where is it? Why didn't you tell us sooner? How long will you be there? When will you come visit? When can we come visit? Why are you going?"

"Well, it's in California, I'll be there for a least a year, I'll get frequent visits on holidays and you can come up any day that isn't a school day, I didn't tell you sooner because my mom only told me this morning and the school is Ocean Way Academy."

"So why are you going?" Mikayla protested.

"My mom's making me of course!"

"That's totally unfair!"

"There was no point in arguing at all! She made up her mind and was not taking no for an answer! I mean I could've said 'Am I really your daughter' NO! She'd say no! Not say no! Scream no! It was like a bad horror flick when someone's about to get killed and everything goes into slow motion and there's always that one person that just goes 'Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" really dramatically. Yeah and that person was her!"

Colton was silent he whole time the girls were fussing. Something seemed to be bothering him...

"Emma time to go!" Aunt Patty's raspy voice called up the stairs.

Emi sighed getting up, grabbing her bag complete with cell phone, iPod, a notebook computer, lip-gloss, a book and assorted candies and gum. Colton politely grabbed both of her suitcases and everyone headed downstairs and to the car that was waiting for Emi. This was it. Good-bye.

Emma's POV

"We'll miss you Hailey!" Mikayla said giving me a hug.

"I'll miss you too Mickey!" Mickey, short for Mickey Mouse, was the name I had called her all through pre-k when I couldn't pronounce Mikayla. It's been my thing, just like her thing was calling me by my middle name and Colton's was calling me by my last.

Colton had put my bags in the trunk for me, (such a gentleman) and was now hugging the air out of me.

"Colton...can't...breathe!" I managed.

"Oh sorry!" he said releasing his teddy bear grip on me. We smiled at each other when Mickey threw her arms around both of us. We just stood like that foe a few minutes, not saying anything, holding onto each other like our lived depended on it. They were my BFFL and I hated to leave them but...

"Emma we're going to be late!" my mom called from inside the car.

We let go of each other and I let out sigh as a tear rolled down my face. "Only 14 and already such a drama queen" Colton teased wiping the tear away.

"We will be in constant communication!" Mickey said as I got in the car. Colton had gone silent. "E-Mail us as soon as you get there! I want details of everything! Espically your roommate!" she finished.

"Of course!" I said closing the car door and sticking my head out the window. "Bye guys! See you soon!" I called as the car started.

Colton's POV

The car started and Emi was off to boarding school. Boarding school. Ocean Way boarding school. Why was that name so familiar?

"Well Colton, I guess we can finally go see that movie Hailey didn't want to watch" Mikayla said trying to make the moment brighter. I didn't reply, but that's when it hit me. "What's wrong?" she asked quizzically.

"Mikayla, Ocean Way Academy is an all boys boarding school!"

Emma's POV

The four hour flight passed quickly, especially since my mom had just dropped me off, gave me a hug and left me to fly to California alone. I thought she was coming on the plane at least. Oh well!

As the plane landed at the Los Angeles International Airport, I grabbed my bag and hurried off the plane. First class was nice but it was still too crowded for me and the flight attendants were staring at me and my Guess bag, Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses, and equally expensive designer clothing I was wearing. They all thought I was just another spoiled brat with rich parents. I knew they envied me, and I only wore this stuff for that reason. Their faces were hilarious when the saw all my designer labels, and my bright pink Chuck Taylor Converse gave even funnier glances. It was a pretty fun ride.

After I had waited in the terminal for my bags on the spinning carousel thingy, I finally found hem and made my way to a man in a black suite and funny chauffer hat holding a sign with my name on it. I smiled at him and he took my suitcases and headed for the car arranged for me outside. He opened my door and closed it after I got in. he put my bags in the trunk and got into the drivers seat. He sarted the car and began driving without a word.

"How long till we get there?" I asked politely.

"About 45 minutes he said.

"Thank you" I said putting on a fake smile. He fake smiled back and went back to ignoring me.

How should I annoy him? Throw candy wrappers at his head? Steal his hat? Sing really loudly? Oh I know! I won't tip him! Mauwhahahahahahahaha! I smiled to myself. My plotting had passed 5 minutes. Ok, now just 40 more to go. I ended up playing with the screen dividing the front seats from the back, and constantly changing radio stations. Once I was bored of that I took out a pack of gum and popped a piece in my mouth. I chewed silently which surprised the old driver.

After what deemed like hours of boredom, we finally arrived at the school. The driver opened my door and got my bags. I paid him, not tipping him because the price was ridiculous enough, and he drove off. I looked up at the huge school and walked into the administration building.

There was a blonde secretary who looked to be in her early thirties behind a desk typing away at her computer. I walked up to her and said "Hi!" she just looked at me like I was from another planet. "I'm Emma Willow" I said. She perked up.

"Oh! That would explain a lot!" she said, typing my name into her computer with her loud clacking manicured nails much like my own.

"What do you mean?" I asked puzzled.

She was about to reply when a balding man who looked about 50 walked out of an office that read HEADMASTER in swirly gold writing.

"Ah you must be Miss Willow!" he bellowed at me.

"Yes..." I said cautiously.

"Welcome! It's so nice to have you! I must say when your mother asked me to enroll you in this school, I was a little more that shocked but I think you will make a great addition to a great school!" he said brightly.

"Thank you...?" I said. Why did everyone keep staring at me like that and talking to me like this? It was way more than creepy I can tell you that!

"Ms. Tenton, please give Miss Willow her essentials. He said quickly to her before turning back to me. "Now there will be an assembly tonight at 7:00pm in the theatre. You're roommate will help you find it. Now I must be off to see to the new students coming along shortly." He said as he gave me a small wave and smile and headed off to who knows where, this place was huge!

I took my room key and a map of the buildings from Ms. Tenton and headed to my dorm. I ended up having to walk through the courtyard, and around the Science building to find my building. I took the elevator up to the 4th floor, made my way down the hall, and opened the door to room 101.

It was a gorgeous room. The walls were a soft cream which lit up the whole place. I looked at a clock on the wall which read 1:34pm. I had been told everyone would arrive around 2:30.

I placed some of my pictures of my family and friends on a shelf above the bed I had chosen on the left side of the room. I put my fluffy pillow on the bed and jumped on the trampoline like bed for about 5 minutes. It was a fun time killer. I pulled my laptop out of my bag and set it on the desk beside my bed. I started the internet connection, which was going very slowly. I got bored of waiting so I went to check out the bathroom. Nice and clean and big! Shiny countertops and a shiny shower. I decided to have a quick shower before my roommate got here so I started the water and grabbed a change of clothes while it warmed up. I locked the door and got in, the hot water rolling of my body, erasing the bizarre day I had had. I got out of the shower a few minutes later, dried myself off and brushed out my wet hair. I had put on a blue tank-top and black short-shorts to lounge around in until someone got here.

I walked out of the bathroom and saw it was almost 2. I sat on my bed and checked my laptop. The connection still hadn't finished and o top it off I currently had a dead cell phone battery and couldn't call Mickey or Colton. I missed them already. I knew I'd be seeing them soon but it still felt weird not having them as close as across the street. I ended up reading until my internet connected. As soon as it did at 2:27 I opened my E-Mail inbox to see a message from Mickey. I clicked on it, and then I heard someone fidgeting with the lock on the door.

I looked at myself in a small mirror beside my desk to make sure I didn't look completely ugly when I met the girl I'd be living with for the next year a least. My message was loaded. It read: OMG Hailey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cant believe ur mom didn't tell u!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I no she didn becuz u woulda freaked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ur skool is a BOYS ONLY SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I stared disbelievingly at the message when my roommate finally came in and she...was a he.

Emma's POV

He looked up at me, his face shocked, his emerald green eyes staring blankly and confused. His strawberry-blonde hair hung loosely over his head and flipped out a little at the end. If I wasn't so confused I probably would have flirted with this guy!

"What are you doing in here?" we asked at the same time. "This is my room!" we said at the same time.

We both just stared at each other in disbelief. "But...But..." the boy- the very hot boy to be exact- stammered. "But this is an all boys school!" he said slightly raising his voice.

"Is this some kind of sick joke?" we said at the same time, again!

"Do you have the right room?" I asked.

"Do you have the right school?" he asked.

This was going nowhere! I pulled out the slip Ms. Tenton had given me and got up and shoved it in his face. I had been sitting with my pillow on top of me and now that I had gotten up...well he wasn't looking at the slip in front of his face.

"Hello! Earth to whoever you are!" I said to him. He looked up at the slip confused. He just pulled out a slip of his own. It said we were sharing a room. I looked at it at a loss for words. No, correction I had a lot of words. "Holy Mother of...I can't believe those little..." I was half whining and half muttering swears under my breath. I took a few steps back and fell onto my bed. "This can't be happening!" I squeaked.

The guy, whose name was Caleb Kyle Broady according to his dorm slip, sat on the end of the other bed...his bed...in our room. How wrong is this picture?!? We said nothing for a few awkward minutes. Eventually Caleb stood up and said "We have to fix this!"

"You think?" I retorted, sitting up. Being totally new and lost in this school I said "Um...where do we go...to fix this...um...disaster?"

"Headmasters office I guess" he said. He walked out into the hall. I followed only to see at least 20 guys from other dorms on this floor staring at me. I smiled shyly, stepping slowly back into the room. No sudden movements or they would pounce...no wait that's wolves. Close enough!

I was back in my room feeling intimidated. Caleb must have noticed I wasn't following him because he poked his head inside and said "Aren't you coming?"

"NO!" I screamed quickly.

"Why not?"

"Because there are a ton of guys out there staring at me like I'm a piece of meat!"

"Hey you chose to dress like that!"

"That was before I knew...dress like what?"

"Like a hottie!" some random guy said sticking his head through the doorway. "Cay who's this?" he asked.

"She's my roommate..." he said slowly. The words sounded weird to both of us.

Apparently not to the other guy though as he replied "You lucky b@st@rd!"

"Shut up!" Caleb said, smacking him upside the head. "Come on, we have to fix this!" he said to me.

"I'm not moving!" I said, intending on standing my ground.

"That's ok" the other guy said. "I've got a good view right here!"

"I'm gone!" I said, jumping off my bed, running past them and down the hall past staring guys who wolf-whistled, and to the elevator which I pressed the down button wildly! "Open!" I pleaded. The doors dinged open. "Yes!" I shouted, dashing into the elevator! I furiously pressed the close doors button and just as I was almost home free, Caleb slipped through.

"Well that was...quite hysterical" he sputtered laughing at me.

I punched his arm. "It was not!" I whined.

"Calm down Emma" he said still laughing. "You know a lot of girls like that kind of attention"

I just glared at him. Once he had stopped laughing the door finally dinged open and guess what I saw? More guys in the hallway, and outside through the glass doors, and everywhere! "Oh good God!" I said looking down again.

"Like I said, you chose the outfit!" he said grabbing my wrist and pulling me out of the elevator before we were locked in again. I was going to pull away but his hand was soft and his gentle touch brought butterflies to my stomach. This was NOT good!

Somehow we were at the attendance office and I didn't even remember Caleb pulling me through the courtyard past all those guys...maybe it was I good thing that I didn't remember.

"Miss Tenton," I started once Caleb let go of me.

"Ah Miss Willow, can I help you and your...friend?" she asked politely.

"Yeah, we would love to fix this problem" I said pointing at me and Caleb.

"What do you mean?" she questioned.

"You put us in the same room!" I said a little louder "And I would like to fix that" I suggested as politely as I could in this situation.

"I'm sorry Miss Willow" she said slowly while tapping at the computer keys "we have you together because we are absolutely full this year. There's nothing I can do about it unless you want me to make up a bed for one of you in the courtyard." She said sarcastically.

"Caleb would love to sleep in the courtyard! Thank you!" I said smiling.

"What? NO!" Caleb protested. I glared at him with a 'did-you-think-I-was-serious?' look. He clued in and said "Are you sure there aren't any extra rooms? Beds in a room? Something?" he tried.

"I'm positive there's absolutely nothing!" she said a little more defiantly. "We wouldn't dream of this under normal circumstances but some things get out of hand and cannot be helped." She concluded.

I sighed and gave and exhausted and fed up "Fine!" and stormed out of administration. Caleb caught up to me and walked along beside me silently until we got into our dorm elevator. God OUR dorm...

"I'm sorry" he said quietly when we were inside. It surprised me.

"What are you sorry for? It's not like any of this is your fault." I said trying to reassure him. This guy was weird. He could be shy and stubborn at the same time! And what kind of guy in the 21st century apologizes like this anymore?

The elevator dinged open on our floor and I stepped out to see most of the guys still standing around in the hall. "Not again!" I mumbled to myself as I began walking quickly down the hall. I reached my...our room only to realize I didn't have my key. "D*mn it!" I said quietly, turning around to see Caleb shaking his head at me while pulling out a key and unlocking the door. The guys were still staring and whispering to each other. I sighed and walked in after Caleb. I closed the door and slid down it until I was sitting on the floor. I put my head in my hands and closed my eyes, trying to figure out why my mother would do this to me.

"You okay?" Caleb asked gently.

"What do you think?" I said sarcastically looking up at him. God he was hot! I really shouldn't be saying this about my roommate but I couldn't help it! And he was just staring at me with a really cute dumbfound face. He wasn't very talkative, but I think I could fix that. I got up and walked over to my bed and lay down on it.

"Look I don't like this situation anymore than you do!" he said.

"Oh, I think he does!" came a voice from the doorway. I sat up abruptly staring quizzically at the guy who I recognized as the guy who was talking to Caleb earlier and...checking me out. I shivered.

"Shut-up!" Caleb said chucking a pillow at him. "And don't you ever knock?"

"The door was unlocked and knocking requires effort" he said walking toward me. I backed up a tiny bit. He grabbed my hand and bowed kissing it. "My lady" he said, trying to sound romantic.

"Um...ewww!" I said pulling my hand away. "Who are you?" I asked backing further away.

The guy laughed and said "Caleb you don't even introduce your best friend to you hot roommate?"

"Whatever...Emma, Damien, Damien, Emma" he said rolling his eyes at his apparent 'best friend'.

"Charmed, I'm sure" he said to me.

"Yeah, not really. Will you excuse me while I go find some disinfectant for my hand?" I said getting up and walking toward the bathroom.

Caleb laughed at Damien and I smiled at him entering the bathroom and finding the hand sanitizer in the medicine cabinet and spreading the gooey gel on my hands as Caleb kept laughing. Damien was making a face at him and I laughed at him. Let me tell you it was very fun to laugh at this guy.

Damien, his brown hair draping over his blue eyes, stared at me and started "You guys are-"

He was cut off when the door swung open behind me. It surprised me and I, regrettably, screamed.

"What?" asked a confused looking guy at the door.

"Does no one knock anymore?" Caleb asked.

"No!" Damien and the other guy said in unison.

"Who are you?" I asked, tired of random guys bursting into my room. Being the only girl in the school, I figured things like this would keep happening. Note to self: ALWAYS LOCK THE DOOR!

"I'm Ryan, Damien's roommate, um...you're Emma right?" he said.

"Yeah...wait...do I even want to know why you know my name?" I asked, a little scared of the answer.

"When guys started hearing there was a girl at the school, well, news travels fast and...you probably don't want to know the rest" he said walking into the room and sitting on the chair beside a desk. His black hair shadowed his face, covering his grey eyes. He reminded me a lot of Colton.

Colton, Mickey...OH MY GOD! I forgot to e-mail them back! I walked over to my computer and hit reply on the mail screen that was still open to Mickey's message...the one that almost stopped my heart!

My message went something like this: OMG MICKEY HELP ME! And kill my mother 4 me! How could she do this??? OMG, OMG, OMG!!!!!!!! On that note, skools huge and the dorms amazing. I think im gonna end up bein bff with the secretary at the administration because she seems to be the only other girl here that isnt over 40 and a teacher! OMG I don't know wut im gonna do! Well, srry I couldnt answer sooner. Kinda freakin out! Well say hi to Colton 4 me. Ttyl <3

I hit the send button, hoping she didn't hate me. She replied almost immediately. Her message went something like: OMG HAILEY! R u ok??? We have been freakin since we found out bout ur skool! ALL BOYS!!! OMG!!! If I wasnt so scared 4 u id b jealous!!! OMG! Well at least u dont have 2 worry bout not getting along with ur roommate. Lol. Hope things go ok there...well miss u! ttyl <3

I replied: well actually... - I started typing. I quickly took a picture of the guys, who were casually talking and occasionally looking over at me, with the webcam built into my laptop. I attached the picture to the e-mail and continued typing - the one on the far left is Caleb...my...roommate...

I hit send nervously. Again she replied almost immediately: OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW COULD THEY PUT YOU IN AN ALL BOYS SKOOL AND STILL NOT GIV U UR OWN DORM????? OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!! R U OK??????????? WUT...HOW...WHY...IM REALLY GONNA KILL SUMONE WEN I CUM VISIT!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On a brighter note...at least hes hot! So r the others! Who r they?

I replied, and looking at the clock on the screen, 6:12 pm, this would be the last message before I had to get ready for that assembly thingy: he is very hot! Im gonna regret sayin that cuz they r probably gonna raid my emails and stuff so...yup. Anyway...the one on the right is Damien and the one that looks like Colton is Ryan. And I totally agree with the dorm arrangements! But I cant talk now...gotta get ready 4 sum assembly thing. Anyway ill message u later if theres time or sumthin. Ok ttyl and miss u guys too<3

I turned off my computer but not before setting a password to access almost everything. Hey call me paranoid! I'm just being safe! They guys noticed as I went over to my suitcase and grabbed some clothes I'd be comfortable wearing in public. I also realized I was still wearing a tank-top and short-shorts, and the guys were still staring. I stuck my tongue out at them and walked into the bathroom to change, locking the door behind me.

"Dude your roommates a freak! A hot freak, but still a freak!" Damien said.

"I heard that!" I yelled at them. I changed quickly and returned before they had a chance to raid my bags. I stepped out wearing jeans and dark purple shirt that sat low, but not too low, on my chest.

"Covered up a bit but still looks hot!" Damien said. I could tell he was the pervert of the bunch. Caleb and Ryan just stared. Wow they really didn't talk much did they? Maybe they did, and it's just me here...

Anyway, I made yet another face at Damien before putting my stuff in my bag and actually locking the zippers with the little lock nobody ever uses.

"Awww, no need for that!" Damien said. I looked at him with a sarcastic 'really?' and he said "Ok well maybe there's some need..." I threw a pillow at him surprising him, and he fell off the chair he was on. Ryan and Caleb just laughed.

"Ok I really expected more of a challenge than that!" I said laughing at him. We all laughed at him for a few minutes before I noticed it was 6:37. I grabbed my toothbrush from my bag and walked into the bathroom again. I heard Ryan and Damien leaving. Great. Alone with my guy roommate. Nah, that wasn't weird t all! (Did you catch the sarcasm there? Oh my God! This is not right!)

I finished putting myself together, washed my face, put on some lip gloss, straightened my bangs quickly, which draped to the side, and put a pink headband in my hair, matching my pink Converse. I left the bathroom to see Caleb staring.

"Why do I get the feeling I will never get any time in there?" he asked.

"'Cause you won't" I said flatly. I looked up at him and smiled. Surprisingly, he smiled back and went into the bathroom with his toothbrush. His smile was adorable! It left me momentarily stunned. By the time he came out, it was 6:51. We had less than 10 minutes to get to the place for the thing.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Yeah" he started walking out the door and I followed. We got to the elevator and for the first time I noticed there wasn't much of a height difference between us. I was 5' 5", and I'd guess he was 5' 8" at the most. It was a silent ride down and when the elevator dinged open, I began walking outside. I stopped abruptly and Caleb bumped into me.

"What? What's wrong?" he asked.

"I have absolutely no clue where we're going" I said.

"Come on, we're going to be late" he said, grabbing my hand and speeding up a bit, headed past a building that said POOL. Yay! They had a pool! Wait...of course they did! I mean look at this place! The only thing it doesn't have is an arcade. Spoke too soon. We walked around the pool building and I saw...guess what...a building with ARCADE on it! Holy hell, this place was amazing!

"There's an arcade?" I said, disbelieving.

"Yeah, and the games are actually really cool. Not let's go!" he said, stating to run but still holding onto my hand. I was going to protest the running, but the butterflies in my stomach were going crazy, so I said nothing.

We got to the theatre building where, apparently, they held the school assemblies. Most of the seats were full, but Caleb still pulled me down the aisle, seeming to know exactly where we were going. Almost all the guys in the room were staring by now and I felt a little weird holding Caleb's hand. Finally he stopped and I saw Damien and Ryan sitting in the 11th row. Caleb went in beside Damien and I got the aisle seat. Usually I like this seat, but right now I just wanted to hide. I looked up at all the guys staring at me like I had 3 heads! God this would be really annoying! I put on a smile and waved in no apparent direction. I laughed when guys smiled and waved back.

"Excuse me, may I have your attention please" I looked up at the stage and saw the headmaster ready to begin this thing. "Settle down everyone!" everyone started going silent. "Thank you!" he continued before clearing his throat. "Alright, let's begin! Welcome back everyone. Welcome new students, and welcome Emma Willow. Emma could you join me up here for a moment?"

"Why does that name sound familiar?" I whispered to Caleb.

"It's you! GO!" he said in a hushed tone.

"Great! So much for laying low!" I mumbled to myself as I got up. Everyone was staring as I walked up to the stage and climbed the few steps on the left hand side. The whole time I was thinking about how much this guy didn't know about not embarrassing people.

"Ah, Miss Willow" he said motioning me toward the centre of the stage where he stood behind a podium. "Would you like to say a few words about yourself?"

"Um...no! Can I go sit down?" I asked pleadingly.

"Oh come now! I thought this would happen so I had Ms. Tenton find the information your mother gave us about you." He stated triumphantly.

"Oh good God, help me!" I mumbled in a panicky voice, looking back up at him.

"Ok, it says," he began reading off a paper on the podium. "You enjoy swimming, horseback riding, reading, you love animals, you're a singer, and you're a kid genius!" he finished.

Guys started whispering and I mumbled "Kill me! Kill me now! Please!"

"Since you don't want to say anything, how's about you sing a song?" he asked handing me the microphone.

"Oh no! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!" I said, trying to hand it back to him. He didn't take it and instead grabbed the podium and pulled it offstage. I was left standing there as someone adjusted the lights on me. "Oh God!" I said, making sure the mike was nowhere near me.

"What song?" Ms. Tenton asked from the hole in the stage where the orchestra is placed. Her being there surprised me, and I jumped a little.

"Uh...um...Bring Me to Life by Evanescence" I said, my hands beginning to shake. Oh God, was I really going to do this? The song started. I guess I was.

Caleb's POV

I stared wide-eyed at her stage as Emma started singing.

How can you see into my eyes like open doors

leading you down into my core

where I've become so numb without a soul my spirit sleeping somewhere cold

until you find it there and lead it back home

Wow she was...

(Wake me up)

Wake me up inside

(I can't wake up)

Wake me up inside

(Save me)

call my name and save me from the dark

(Wake me up)

bid my blood to run

(I can't wake up)

before I come undone

(Save me)

save me from the nothing I've become

The song picked up, and so did she. She was amazing! And she didn't even have anything planned or prepared.

Now that I know what I'm without

you can't just leave me

breathe into me and make me real

bring me to life

(Wake me up)

Wake me up inside

(I can't wake up)

Wake me up inside

(Save me)

call my name and save me from the dark

(Wake me up)

bid my blood to run

(I can't wake up)

before I come undone

(Save me)

save me from the nothing I've become

Bring me to life

(I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside)

Bring me to life

"You lucky little b@st@rd!" Damien said, a huge smile on his face.

For once I didn't say anything back. I just kept staring at Emma.

"I think he's in love" I heard Damien say to Ryan who laughed.

I stared blankly at them and said "What?"

"I think you're right!" Ryan said, still laughing.

"Shut-up!" I said.

"Oh my God he is!" Damien said.

Frozen inside without your touch without your love darling only you are the life among the dead

All this time I can't believe I couldn't see

kept in the dark but you were there in front of me

I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems

got to open my eyes to everything

without a thought without a voice without a soul

don't let me die here

there must be something more

bring me to life

(Wake me up)

Wake me up inside

(I can't wake up)

Wake me up inside

(Save me)

call my name and save me from the dark

(Wake me up)

bid my blood to run

(I can't wake up)

before I come undone

(Save me)

save me from the nothing I've become

(Bring me to life)

I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside

(Bring me to life)

The song finished everyone started cheering. It was like a concert, with the lights and the cheering fans.

"GO EMMA!" Ryan yelled. We stood up and others followed. God this place must look like a madhouse to her. She was smiling but I knew she was relieved it was over.

The headmaster walked back on stage clapping like a madman. "Wonderful! Wonderful!" he said once he had the mike back. "I think we got a good taste of things to come with you missy" he said.

People were still cheering, and I was still clapping, smiling at her, my hands going red.

"You can take a seat now" he said and she dashed off the stage. She walked up the aisle where guys were giving her high-fives and wolf-whistling.

She returned to her seat beside me and let out a huge sigh of relief. "Well that was embarrassing! Great first impression!" she said to me as everyone started quieting down.

"No that was incredible!" I said smiling at her, still shocked.

She smiled back and said "Thanks" before she started blushing. It was cute.

"Yeah you looked hot too!" Damien added.

"Can you smack him for me?" Emma asked me.

"Gladly!" I said, hitting him upside the head.

She laughed saying "Thank you" and smiled at me. She had a beautiful smile.

Emma's POV

The rest of the assembly was just the headmaster talking about a bunch of rules and stupid events happening over the next few weeks. Boring!

When it was finally over, I was bombarded by guys asking why I was here, complimenting me and asking me out. I felt like I was about to explode. I was surrounded, and scared. I just wanted to get out of there. All of a sudden someone grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the crowd. I turned around, still holding someone's hand, to see Caleb and Ryan staring at me, leading me back to our dorm building.

"You ok?" Caleb asked.

"Uh...yeah but..." I pointed over my shoulder to the guys who had started following us.

"Got it...Run!" Caleb said, still holding my hand, running beside Ryan.

"Where's Damien?" I asked, keeping up with them.

"Don't talk...run!" Caleb said.

"Oh they're probably not even follow..." I turned my head to see a large group of guys chasing us. "Ladies first!" I said speeding up and running ahead of the guys. These guys were really female deprived if they were chasing me like this. I'm not famous you know! Caleb had dropped my hand and was now running behind me with Ryan.

I found our building and ran through the doors and dashed to the elevator. I began madly pressing the up button. Caleb and Ryan crashed through the doors and I screamed, turning my back to the elevator and pressing myself against the doors. That's when they decided to open and I fell through into the elevator.

"Are you ok?" Caleb asked offering me a hand while trying not to laugh.

"Never better" I said sarcastically. He helped me stand up and once we were all inside Ryan pressed our floor and the doors shut. Up we went.

"You're fast" Ryan said, all of us still breathing heavily.

"Maybe you're just slow" I said.

We laughed as the elevator dinged open on our floor. We walked down to our rooms and Ryan continued walking to his room 2 doors down.

"Goodnight" he said cutely.

"Later" I said smiling.

I remembered my key this time and pulled it out of my pocket and opened the door. We walked in and I felt the chill out the California night air flowing through the half open window. I shivered. Caleb must've noticed because he walked up to the window and closed it.

I walked to my bed and fell on it. It was pretty comfy. I would've fallen asleep if there wasn't an awkward silence keeping me awake! "So..." I said, trying to think of something to talk to him about.

"So what?" he said.

"I don't know, I'm just trying to think of something to talk about"

"We could talk about sports" he suggested.

"Oh please don't!" I begged.

He laughed. "What, you don't like sports"

"I only like watching hot guys play sports" I said without thinking.

He laughed again. "Well maybe you could come watch me play sometime"

"I said I like watching hot guys play"

He threw a pillow at me and I could only laugh. I hid my face with the pillow, still laughing. I poked my head out past one side of it to see Caleb making a face at me. I laughed again and threw the pillow back at him. We both ended up laughing. His laugh was cute, his smile, amazing.

"It's only 8:20" he said out of the blue.

"Wow, that's past my bedtime! Goodnight!" I said curling up in a ball and closing my eyes. I opened them to see Caleb 2 inches away from my face. I jumped and he laughed. "How did you get over here so fast and quiet?" I said, looking confused.

He was still laughing but said, "Practice"

"Who would you practice this on? Damien? Wait, why would I ask? Of course it's Damien!" I said.

He finally stopped laughing and tried to protest but I just laughed at him. He sat cross-legged on the floor and crossed his arms, glaring at me. "Ok fine!" I said "I'm sorry I said that. I should've known better"

"Thank y-" he began

"It was definitely Ryan you practiced on!" I said cutting him off.

"Oh you're dead!" he said getting up. I screamed and jumped off the end of my bed running from him. I ended up running to his bed and climbing on it.

"Stay back!" I said still laughing. He stopped at the end of the bed and folded his arms again.

"Fine!" he said, turning his back to me.

"Good boy" I said taking a step closer to the end of the bed to get down. All of a sudden he turned around and grabbed me, throwing me over his shoulder. I screamed again and kicked as he walked toward me bed. He held on and all my "Put me down's" did nothing. Finally, at my bed, he began to put me down, but I pulled him down too.

We landed on the bed with an "Oompf!" and he was on top of me. All I could do was laugh. I looked up at him to see his face only a few inches from mine. The butterflies were visiting my stomach again. Caleb was just staring at me with a lost puppy expression. "What?" I asked.

"Nothing" he said quickly, beginning to get up off of me. Before he could, Damien swung the door open.

"Good God! I knew it!" he yelled. Caleb jumped off of me and just stared at his laughing friend. "I knew you liked her! I knew it!" he taunted.

"What? No! No I don't! I...I just..." Caleb started stuttering. I was staring wide-eyed at him trying to make sense of what Damien was ranting.

"Oh, so you don't like her" Damien continued. Caleb shook his head, but I thought I saw his cheeks going red before Damien said, "Then you wouldn't mind if I did this" he walked up to me, leaned over me and said, "Will you go out with me?" before he leaned down further to try and kiss me.

Emma's POV

I stuck my hand in front of my mouth and he kissed that. He opened his eyes, confused. "Two problems with that" I started. "That would mean spending time alone with you" I shivered "and second, quite frankly, ewwwwwwwww!" I finished, pushing him off me.

He didn't look hurt or disappointed. He looked shocked. Caleb was rolling on the floor laughing and I felt like I was about to join him. "Nobody's turned me down before" he said, still confused.

"You'll get used to it" I said walking past him.

"What makes you think it'll happen again smarty-pants? Who says you're that smart anyway?" he said, crossing his arms.

"Well the headmaster said she was a kid genius" Caleb said. Finally he had stopped laughing, and was sitting up.

"I don't believe she's that smart!" Damien said.

"I guess you'll never know" I said.

"Maybe we will" he said. He looked like he was thinking about something. "How about we play a game? Every question someone gets wrong, they take off a piece of clothing" he stated, smiling to himself.

"Are you serious?" I asked.

"Yup! Caleb get your textbooks." Caleb got up and pulled out a bag with textbooks everyone had to buy for the classes they were taking.

"Fine!" I said, sitting on the floor leaning up against my bed.

"Really?" Caleb almost yelled, shocked. I nodded and they sat down across from me.

They flipped open a science textbook. "Ok, on the Periodic Table of Elements, what substance has the atomic number 80?" Caleb asked.

"Mercury. Atomic mass 200.59. Symbol, Hg. One of the only 2 elements that are liquids at room temperature, the other being Bromine. Atomic number 35, mass 79.904. Symbol, Br. And-" I stated.

"That's enough" Caleb said cutting me off from stating more facts about the elements. Damien looked upset, and I was 99% sure it was because I didn't have to take off any clothes.

"My turn!" I said. Caleb was about to hand me a textbook when I reached under my bed and pulled out a book that said TRIGONOMETRY.

"Oh come on! Please no!" Caleb wailed. I laughed at their faces and gave in.

"Fine, give me the science book" I said frowning.

"Thank you!" Caleb said handing me the book.

I started leafing through the pages. "Who wants to go first?" I asked, not taking my eyes off the text.

"Caleb!" Damien said, volunteering him.

"Ok!" I said before he had time to protest. "Um...what is the average surface temperature of Saturn?"

He just stared blankly at me. "Alright, how many moons does it have then?" he just kept staring. I closed the book and gave it back to him. "It's negative 180 Celsius and has 18 moons" I said shaking my head.

"No way! That's probably not even in here!" he said looking through the pages.

"Page 450" I said. He looked up at me and flipped to that page.

"Damn it actually says that!" he said closing the book.

"Ha! Off bud!" Damien said.

"You sounded excited there Damien" I said. Caleb stared at him.

"No! What? I..." I laughed and Caleb cautiously took off his shirt, moving away from Damien. I couldn't help but stare at him, he had abs! Oh my God, some nice abs too! Damien had grabbed a history book and was flipping through it. "Ok when was the Treaty of Versailles signed?"

"June 28th, 1919" I said without giving it a second thought.

"That's right" he said, disappointed again.

"We have no chance do we?" Caleb asked.

"None!" I said, laughing. "Damien what's 48 to the power or 6 times 21 divided by 843 plus 7?"

Caleb grabbed a calculator and punched in the equation. "Um...it's...Oh would you look at the time. I gotta meet the person for the thing at the place. Yeah. Bye!" he said jumping up and running out the door.

"Ok..." Caleb said.

"Um..." Damien had left me alone with Caleb...a shirtless Caleb! "It's 304676637.775801 by the way"

"How the hell...?" Caleb said looking from the calculator to me.

I shrugged and said "It just kinda comes to me"

"Wish it just came to me...then maybe I could pass math for a change" he mumbled. I stared at him. Was he really failing math? I was about to ask when he said "I'm hungry. Wanna go get something to eat in the cafeteria?" he asked, standing up.

"Um...are they open now?" He had changed the subject pretty quickly. He nodded and I got up. He headed for the door and was about to open it when I said "Um...Caleb?"

"Yeah?" he said turning to face me.

"Shirt?" I said, trying not to laugh, hiding my disappointment.

"Oh right!" he said. I saw him blush a bit as he picked his shirt up and threw it back on.

I shook my head at him as I grabbed my key off the table beside the door and walked out. Caleb locked the door behind us and we walked to the elevator. Once we got inside I realized just how hungry I was. I hadn't eaten since my plane ride this morning.

The elevator dinged open on the ground floor. We walked outside and I stared at Caleb, no clue where to go.

"This way" he said, grabbing my hand and leading me once again. Those butterflies were becoming frequent fliers in my stomach. This was one of the times we didn't have to worry about being late or run for our lives, so we were walking slowly. "I'm gonna have to give you a tour of this place" he said.

"Yeah" I said, looking down at my hand in his.

"Sorry!" he said, dropping my hand.

"Oh, it's ok" I said. I liked it, but I wasn't about to let him know that.

"That's the cafeteria" he said pointing at the building beside the math building. We were inside a few seconds later. There were still a few guys hanging around and they looked up at me. This was going to turn into something that happened whenever I entered a room.

"Well this is turning into a habit" Caleb said, looking around at all the guys.

"Yup. Just when I thought..."I paused, "I smell French fries! Food now!" I said impatiently.

"Um...ok" he said, a smile touching his lips. He led me over to the actual area with the food and asked the lady behind the counter for 2 orders of fries.

"Here you go" she said smiling, making her aging face wrinkle. Her grey hair stuck out through her hair net, making me guess she was in her 50s at least. "You must be the young Miss Willow I've heard so much about' she said handing me my fries.

"That's me" I said smiling, taking the fries.

"Hey Caleb, come here!" I turned around to see a guy in a group of them waving him over. No doubt why.

"Come on" he said to me, walking towards them.

"Word to the wise" the lady whispered to me "Make friends with the janitors, they'll help you out when you need it" she said winking at me.

"When will I need it?" I asked confused.

"You'll know" she said.

"Hey Emma come on!" Caleb shouted to me. I walked down the rows of tables until I got to the one with the 6 guys around it. "Emma this is Keith, Nathan, Alex, Blake, James and Travis" he said quickly pointing at them in different orders than they appeared in their sitting arrangement. "Did you get all that?" he asked.

"Dude how is she supposed to-" Blake started.

"Yeah, Nathan, Blake, Travis, Keith, Alex and James" I said, putting them in order and eating a fry.

"You're good" Alex said.

"Thank you" I said smiling and taking another fry.

"So what are you doing here anyway?" Keith asked.

James slapped him upside the head saying "Rude much?"

"No it's ok" I started. "I actually have no clue. My mom just woke me up this morning and threw me on a plane to California" I said, taking yet another fry.

"Harsh" Travis said. "So where-"

"Ok I'm sure we'd all love to play 20 questions but-" Caleb started.

"Oh yeah! Let's play!" Nathan said. "Keith asked the first question. Travis what was yours?"

"Where are you from?" Travis said, finishing his question.

"Wyoming, my parents started their company chain there"

"So when's your birthday?" Alex asked.

"September 28th"

"That's only like a month from now" he said.

"Actually 36 days, 2 hours and 33 minutes" I said, still stuffing fries into my mouth. The guys didn't seem to care I was pigging out on fries while talking to them. I looked up to see them staring at me, most likely because of my last comment.

"Do you always do that?" Blake asked.

"No, and that was your 3rd question" I said, finishing my fries.

"Awww come on!" James begged.

"If you want, I can count Caleb's 'Did you get all that' as question 4" I said.

"No that's ok!" Nathan said quickly. "So, how-"

Caleb's POV

Blah, blah, blah. The question and answer went on for about another half an hour with how's and who's and what's and where's and when's and...well you get the idea. I just stayed quiet the whole time.

"Last question" Keith said.

"Thank God" I mumbled.

"Are you single?" Travis asked.

I looked up at Travis, then to Emma. She didn't say anything for a few seconds. Finally she said "Yes, and now were done here" she said, getting up and walking toward the door. Regrettably, I guess I let out a small sigh of relief. Alex must've noticed.

"Better act fast" he whispered to me, patting my shoulder.

"What do you-" I started.

"Caleb, you coming?" Emma said to me from the door. I looked over at her and back to Alex. He winked at me and went back to talking with the rest of the guys. I walked over to Emma who started walking out the door.

Almost the whole way back I kept thinking about what Alex said. Did he think I liked her? Did I...like her?

"Hello, wake up pretty boy" Emma said waving her hand in front of my face.

"What?" I said, snapping out of my daze.

"I said did you get enough out of those questions?" she said.

"Oh yeah. Do you actually go by your middle name? And last name?"

"Yeah sometimes. Only my mom really called me Emma. I was always Hailey, Willow or Emi"

"That's cute. And...wait!" I said, as I stopped walking. "Did you call me pretty boy?"

"Wow you're slow" she said quietly.

"What?" I said, smiling.

"Nothing, bye!" she said, turning away from me and running toward our building.

"Hey wait!" I called after her, starting to run.

When I got through the doors of our building she was in the elevator. She saw me and I assumed it was the close door button she began rapidly pressing.

"Oh no you don't!" I called as the doors began slowly closing. I was able to squeeze in before they completely shut. "You can't get away that easily" I said. She gave a little scream and I took a step towards her. She backed up into the elevator wall. I laughed and put my hands on the wall on each side of her head.

I was still laughing as she said, "I knew I should've taken the stairs" Now we were both laughing. We stopped laughing and I looked up at her, her brown eyes looked as if she were looking into my heart. I know, how corny did that sound? I didn't even notice the elevator ding open on our floor. All of a sudden I felt her poke me in the stomach saying "Are you getting off?"

"Oh yeah!" I said, dropping my arms which had still been on both sides of her. We got off the elevator and walked down the hall to our room. She unlocked the door and we walked in. I saw it was 10:09. That's when it really sunk in that we'd be sleeping in a room...alone...together...all night...for the rest of the year...uh-oh!

Emi's POV

Caleb let me use the bathroom first to get ready for bed. What a gentleman. I brushed my teeth, washed my face, all that jazz, and changed into my pj's. I was wearing black silk pants and a green shirt that said 'I Run with SCISSORS... it makes me feel dangerous'. Colton gave me the shirt for April Fool's Day because it is almost the complete opposite of what I am.

"Are you done yet?" Caleb asked, banging on the door.

I swung it open and his hand was still raised from knocking. "Someone's not very patient" I said walking past him.

"No, 'someone's' not!" he said, walking into the bathroom. "Nice shirt by the way" he said laughing as he closed the door.

"It was a gift! From one of my best friends! And...um...it fits! So there!" I said. I heard Caleb laughing from behind the closed bathroom door. I walked to my bed and leaned up against my pillows. I pulled my laptop onto my lap from the nightstand beside me. I turned it on and opened my e-mail when it was up and running. There was a message from my mother. "Oh goodie! I can hardly wait!" I whispered sarcastically as I opened the message.

It said: Emma darling! How do you like the school? It's a nice place isn't it? I want to know how all your classes go. They start in 6 days right? Well, I just wanted to check up on you. Aunt Patty says the house is a lot quieter now. Maybe I'll get a dog to annoy her. Okay, I don't think I'm forgetting anything. Write back soon sweetie! Love Mommy

"NOT FORGETTING ANYTHING?!" I yelled as I finished reading the letter.

"What are you yelling about?" Caleb asked, walking out of the bathroom. He was staring quizzically at me as he walked over to his bed and lay on it. He had put on loose track pants and a blue shirt.

"E-mail" was all I said as I began furiously typing a well written and structured response. No, actually it went more like this: r u sure u didn't forget anything? I'm saying that sarcastically by the way! How could you send me off to boarding school like this?!?!? Oh and here's just a wacky idea, did u ever think of, I don't know, telling me this was an ALL BOYS SCHOOL?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? DO U HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT IM PUTTING UP WITH RIGHT NOW!?!?!?! I CANT BELIEVE U WOULD DO THIS TO ME! WHAT DID I EVER DO TO DESERVE THIS? TELL ME! WAIT U CANT BECAUSE I DIDNT DO ANYTHING!!!! NOTHING!!!! GOD MOM DID U EVER STOP AND THINK ABOUT ME, WHAT I WANTED, HOW ID FEEL? NO? DIDNT THINK SO! Now, I have to go, my roommates trying to talk to me. DIDJA HEAR THAT? ROOMMATE!!!!! YEAH! AND IT'S A GUY!!! AGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Before I say something I'll regret, GOODBYE MOM!

I gave an angry moan as I hit send.

"What was all that about?" Caleb asked, looking up from his book.

"It was just-" I paused, realizing something "Wait, you read?" I asked, shocked.

Caleb really didn't seem like the kind of guy who would pick up a novel and read when he was bored.

"Yes, I do. But I asked you a question" he replied, matter-of-factly.

"Oh...ok...well my mom is acting like there's nothing wrong with this whole situation" I began, waving my arms in circling gestures. "She seems to think it's funny or something, I don't know. But I'm, if you can't tell, really pissed off with her and, I guess my dad and aunt had something to do with this, so I'm pissed off at them too!"

"What exactly-" he started.

I cut him off saying, "How would you like it if one day your mom woke you up, very early I might add, and told you that she's sending you to boarding school?"

"Well I guess I wouldn't-"

"And then having it be an all boys school! I mean come on! What's so hard about letting your kid live a normal life where she grew up, where she had friends, where-"

"Emma...um...Emi...calm down" Caleb said stopping my rant. "I know you're pissed off, and I know I'm never gonna hear the end of it, but I'm sure there's some logical explanation for all this"

"You're right" I said. Caleb smiled briefly before I said, "It's because she's a dumbass! She has no clue about anything" Caleb put his hand to his head and shook it.

"Not what I meant!" he said, laughing.

I was going to say something sarcastic but instead decided to e-mail Mickey: MICKEY MOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG U WILL NEVER GUESS WHAT THEY MADE ME DO!!! IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE SCHOOL!!! SING!!! THEY MADE ME SING!!! I DON'T SING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE!!! MY MOM TOLD THEM I SING (PROBABLY CUZ SHE HEARD ME IN THE SHOWER OR SOMETHING) BUT THEYRE GONNA KILL ME HERE!!! THERE R GUYS EVERYWHERE AND U KNOW WHAT THEY ALL WANT!!! ME BEING THE ONLY GIRL HERE!!! OMG MICKEY HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT SHOULD I DO???????????????

I hit send and closed my laptop. I put it on the desk beside me and lay back on my bed. I rolled over to see Caleb had stopped laughing and gone back to reading. I couldn't see the title and only noticed a somewhat familiar picture on the cover.

"What are you reading?" I asked, racking my brain for the familiar picture.

"The Outsiders" he said without looking up.

"By S. E. Hinton! I knew I recognized it! It's good isn't it? Have you got to the part where-" he cut me off by raising his hand to tell me to stop talking.

"You're going to spoil the ending if you keep talking" I tried to protest but he gave a defiant "Shhhhh!" and I closed my mouth. "Fine!" I mouthed to myself. I rolled over and stared at the ceiling. The next few minutes went something like Ooh what a pretty ceiling! That dot right there is extraordinary! I wish I had a ceiling like this at my house. And I- zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. I somehow fell asleep looking at the ceiling. Unbelievable right? Well, sleep was my first mistake.

Emma's POV

"Shhhhhh! Damien shut up! You're going to wake her up!" I heard someone whisper as I groggily began to wake up. I hadn't yet opened my eyes and I wasn't sure I wanted to.

"But she looks so cute! How can I not say things like that!" Damien said. With that statement, my eyes shot open and I sat bolt upright in my bed. "Way to go Ry, you woke her up!" Damien said punching Ryan in the arm.

I turned my head to look at them and noticed just how close they were to me. Damien had been sitting on a chair he had moved to in front of my bed, inches away from my previously sleeping body. I shivered and saw that Ryan was actually sitting on the end of my bed. I looked past the guys, shaking off the swear words I wanted to hurl at them, and saw Caleb sitting up in his bed laughing silently. I couldn't stay quiet anymore. I yelled "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU GUYS?" as I smacked Damien with my pillow knocking him to the floor. I smiled, satisfied.

Then I glared at Ryan raising my pillow. "Uh...Allow me!" he said before I could hit him. He dived onto the floor beside Damien and covered his head with his hands yelling "Don't kill me, PLEASE!" My God he could be Colton's twin! They're EXACTLY the same! Anyway, I ended up laughing at the two hot guys on the floor. I shook my head and got up, grabbed one of my bags and made the effort of step on Damien and Ryan as I crossed the room to go into the bathroom to take a shower.

Before I entered, I turned to Caleb, who was still laughing. He stopped when he saw me looking at him. "I'm taking a shower and if any of you come within 5 feet of this bathroom door, heads will ROLL!" I stated, venom dripping from my last words. Caleb officially looked scared and nodded. So did Ryan.

Damien however, said "Now you got me thinking about-"

"Don't even think about finishing that sentence!" I screamed at him. "And EWWWWWWWWWWWW!" I yelled defiantly, entering the bathroom and slamming the door.

I locked it and looked around the room to see if there was anything I could barricade the door with. No luck. I sighed and turned on the hot water. I took off my pajamas and stepped into the steaming water. It was hotter than I expected so I turned it down a notch and grabbed my shampoo bottle I had placed on the shower ledge. I washed my hair and then conditioned it. I was restraining myself from singing in the shower. It was a habit of mine and now I had three guys right outside the bathroom door. That freaked me out a bit. Ok it freaked me out a lot! Suddenly I felt paranoid. I wanted to stay in the comfort of the warm shower but knew I had to cut it shorter than usual.

I quickly finished up in there and turned the water off. I stepped out onto a bathmat and wrapped a big fuzzy white towel around me. It was soft. I wrapped my arms around myself and felt like I was hugging a teddy bear. In that one moment, I felt calm and serene.

The quote from Pon and Zi, Teddies don't hug back, but sometimes they're all you've got, popped into my head. I sighed at the thought of how true it was. My childhood came rushing back to me in that one moment, how I never got to hug my dad when I was sad or hurt when I was younger. How he never could comfort me and give the fatherly "Everything's gonna be alright". He was always working, and when he was home he spent most of his time in his office or with his wife. At least that was some social interaction on his part, and he did make my mother happy. So, being the lonely child I was, I had relied on my good friend Mr. Cuddlesworth the Third to help me through the tough times. I sighed again as a small tear rolled down my cheek. I quickly brushed it away. I knew the guys, Damien anyway, would taunt me forever, calling me an emotional girly girl or something. Of course Mr. Cuddlesworth was packed safely away in my suitcase. I hadn't taken him out yet. I felt he deserved as much as to be taken out of the tight, stuffed bag, no matter what the guys said.

I got dressed and towel dried my hair and put on jeans and a tank top. My hair was still damp when I exited the bathroom after I had packed my stuff up. I dropped my bag on the floor beside my other suitcases. I sat on my bed and stared at the guys who were just looking down, holding in laughter.

"What?" I asked, confused. They just laughed silently. "What?" I said a little louder. They just laughed a little louder. "WHAT?" I yelled in a pleading voice.

They all burst out laughing. I stared confused. Were they laughing at me? I think I began blushing because Caleb sputtered "No it's not you, it's-" he was hit with another fit of laughter and after a couple minutes of me pleading and the guys laughing hysterically, he continued. "Damien was just thinking out loud. He...he asked us if we thought you looked hot naked in the shower and-"

I cut him off. "You pervs!" I squealed at them. They were still laughing their asses off. I was getting really ticked off. And I still have to put up with another year or this? I'm going to go insane!

The guys were still laughing, surprise, surprise. "Fine!" I said thinking fast. "I was going to ask if you guys wanted to go swimming with me after breakfast but now-"

I was cut off when the guys immediately stopped laughing and Ryan stood up, ran over to me, grabbed my wrist and yelled "BREAKFAST NOW!"

I laughed as he pulled me out of our dorm and down the hall to the elevator. I looked back to see Caleb and Damien wrestling each other to get out of the door first. The elevator dinged open and Ryan pulled me in. Caleb and Damien charged in just as the doors began to close. I burst out laughing. How could I not? These guys are just too easy.

The elevator dinged open on the second floor. "Hey!" I heard someone say. I looked up from my laugh attack and saw Alex standing in front of the elevator.

"Hi!" I said smiling, still holding in laughter. He got in the elevator and stood beside Caleb. Ryan was still holding my wrist, but I didn't mind. He didn't give me butterflies like Caleb did, probably because he was exactly like Colton, but he was a nice guy so I didn't really care.

The elevator dinged open on the ground floor and Ryan pulled me out and into the courtyard in the middle of all of the dorms. Wow I was really hungry now. He didn't even have to pull me to the cafeteria. FOOD TIME! I thought. Yum!

Caleb's POV

When Alex got in the elevator and stood beside me he seemed a bit confused, but he was still smiling like the freak he was. When the elevator opened and Ryan and Emi ran out, followed by Damien, Alex leaned over and said "I guess you didn't act fast enough"

"What do you mean?" I was the confused one now.

"Emi and Ryan, why was he holding her hand?" he asked.

"Oh, well Emi said she wanted to go swimming after breakfast and Ryan grabbed her wrist and dragged her out of our dorm so we could eat faster and then go swimming" I said casually.

Alex's eyes widened. "Oh that makes so much more sense. So you still have a shot!" he said smiling.

"I- WHAT?" I said. He laughed and ran after the others. I'm gonna kill him! I ran after them and met up with them inside the cafeteria. Emi was getting 'hi's' and 'sup's' from random guys at tables all across the cafeteria.

"By the way, can I come swimming?" Alex asked smirking.

"It's not my pool" I said, walking up to Damien in the breakfast line. Alex laughed from behind me and we grabbed trays for our food.

"Get a small amount of food" Damien whispered to me.

"Why?" I whispered back.

He raised an eyebrow at me whispering "Less food means less time eating which means we get to the pool faster!" he finished, sounding excited.

"Good point" I said. I ended up only taking a small plate of pancakes and a juice box. The five of us sat down at an empty table and all but Emi began eating frantically. I looked up from my pancakes to see her slowly chewing and apple slice and staring at us like we were savage beasts. We kind of were at the moment. She looked at me with an 'Are you guys ok?' look and I just smiled back. I really want to go swimming!

**********

Emma's POV

Caleb smiled at me and I melted. He is so CUTE! I looked away, hoping I wasn't blushing. The guys were finishing their freakishly small breakfasts' and I still had a whole bowl of fruit and a piece of toast left. Why did they have such small helpings and why were they eating so fast? Oh! I think I know! Oh God, please let me be wrong!

"You done yet?" Ryan said anxiously. God I think I was right! Swimming was a bad idea!

"Does it look like I'm done?" I said sarcastically, pointing at my unfinished food.

Ryan sighed and Damien began tapping his fingers impatiently on the table. Alex was whistling and Caleb looked like he was about to fall asleep when he rested his head on his crossed arms on the table. I took another bite of the sweet apple I was eating. It wasn't as satisfying anymore. I sighed and pushed my tray away. "Let's go" I said, giving in.

"Yes!" Damien said, jumping up from his seat. Alex stood up smiling.

Ryan said "We'll meet you guys at the pool in ten minutes" while getting up and running out of the cafeteria with Damien and Alex.

I turned to Caleb and he grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the cafeteria before I could ask why the guys didn't wait for us. We lived in the same dorm building after all. Puzzled, and with a stomach full of butterflies, I was dragged by Caleb toward our building. What's with all these guys dragging me around everywhere? I can get places on my own thank you very much! I would've told them that too, if I didn't like Caleb's hand around mine so much.

We got back to our dorm and called the elevator. Once inside, I pushed the button for our floor and silently rode up. The doors dinged open and we walked down the hall to our room. Caleb opened the door and stepped aside to let me in. What a gentleman! I smiled as I walked over to my suitcase and unzipped it and went digging for a bathing suit. I found a deep purple two piece with a blue rose on the left breast. I pulled it out and uncovered...

Emma's POV

Mr. Cuddlesworth the Third! I almost forgot about him. I pulled him out and lay him down on my bed. Caleb either didn't notice or didn't care because he sat silently on his bed looking out the window. He was holding a pair of red swim shorts in his hand. "Aren't you going to change?" I asked him.

"I'm being polite and letting you go first" he said matter-of-factly.

"Whatever floats your boat" I said, walking into the bathroom. I quickly changed, folded my clothes, put loose shorts and a t-shirt on over my suit, and snapped a hair tie around my wrist for later. I walked out of the bathroom to see Caleb half asleep on his bed. "Hey sleepyhead it's your turn!" I called.

He sat up with a moan and said "Damien and Ryan woke me up at 6:30 this morning to let them in to watch you sleep. I'm still tired"

"Oh well then- You did WHAT?" I said. He got off his bed and laughed as he walked into the bathroom. He was out in about a minute wearing his red swim shorts and a white t-shirt.

"Let's go!" he said, walking to the door and once again stepping aside for me. I glared from his earlier comment, but smiled when I passed him as I walked out of the room.

We got to the pool house about 2 minutes later and saw Damien, Ryan and Alex swimming in a large, empty pool through the glass doors. I walked in and the smell of chlorine immediately took over. I really missed my pool in my backyard. I swam whenever I wanted. Well I shouldn't complain. I can still swim here. I walked over to a chair beside the towel rack and shook off my designer flip flops. My mom bought them by the way, and they happened to be cute. I took off my shorts and put them on the chair. I looked over and saw Caleb take off his shirt, throw it on a chair and do an almost perfect dive into the deep end. My stomach did a small flip as I saw him surface beside Ryan a quarter of the way down the pool, water glistening on every surface of him. Wow, he's so-

"You coming in or not?" Damien shouted at me, waking me from my daze.

"Yes" I said in a slightly fed up voice, shaking the thought. I took my shirt off, put it on the chair and walked to the edge of the pool.

"What are you afraid of water or something? Get in here!" Damien said splashing me.

"I'm coming! I'm coming" I said, taking a step back. I jumped over the ledge and did a perfect dive into the water. I surfaced about 30 seconds later at the other end of the large pool. I looked over to see the guys searching for me in the deep end. I laughed and they turned around with confused looks on their faces.

I realized I forgot to tie my hair back as there was a strand of it hanging in front of my face. I pulled it all back and snapped the tie around it. I saw Caleb, Ryan and Alex swimming up to me with Damien still floating in the deep end.

"Wow, You're fast!" Ryan said.

"Again, maybe you're just slow" I replied smiling. "So who wants to race?" The guys looked scared and furiously shook there heads. "You guys are no fun!" I said folding my arms over my chest and putting on a pout.

"Sorry" Caleb said, looking down. I splashed him and Ryan and Alex laughed. He looked up at me, almost surprised I splashed him. "I'm gonna get you" he said, taking a step toward me in the shallow water.

"Who? Lil ol' me?" I said in a southern bell accent while making puppy dog eyes.

He looked momentarily stunned at my innocence, but the shouted "YES!" and dived at me.

I squealed in fear and took off swimming down the pool with Caleb chasing me. I swam to the deep end and swam behind Damien yelling "Don't let him kill me!" in a pleading voice.

He just laughed saying "I'm not part of this"

"But you always end part of anything anyway!" I said in a begging tone before screaming and swimming away from Caleb who caught up to me.

"You're right" he said, and before I could blink, he somehow got a hold of Caleb and pushed him underwater. My eyes widened in shock. Was he drowning him? He let him up about 3 seconds later before I could even say anything. Caleb was coughing and sputtering water.

"What did you do that for?" he yelled when he stopped choking.

"She told me to" Damien said pointing to me and lifting himself onto the ledge of the pool.

"I did not! I asked you to not let him kill me! I didn't say kill HIM!"

"Oh...I miss read the signs" he said in a 'who really cares anyway?' voice.

"I don't want him dead!" I said boldly. He shrugged and swam to the edge of the pool. He lifted himself out and I saw he also had a well formed chest. He stood up and walked over to the towel rack. He grabbed one and began drying himself off. He then sat in a patio lounge chair and closed his eyes. I thought he was going to kill his best friend and he shrugs it off and takes a nap?

I was about to scream at him when Alex swam up laughing. I spun around in the water and faced him with a confused look. "Don't worry about them, Damien has tried to kill Caleb at least..." he paused and thought about it. "27 times? Somewhere around there right Ryan?"

"Yup!" Ryan said casually, swimming up to us. I still had a shocked look on my face and Ryan just laughed at me. The whole time Caleb just floated in the water with a completely normal look on his face.

"I will NEVER understand the simple species that is boys" I said, swimming over to the edge of the pool. I lifted myself out so I was sitting on the ledge with my feet in the water.

"Done swimming already?" Alex asked, looking slightly disappointed.

"No, but apparently Damien is" I said, pointing to him over my shoulder.

"Yeah, he's not one for swimming really" Caleb said. He swam up to me and put a hand on the ledge about a foot away from me to steady himself in the water. "So, why aren't you in the water?" he said, half smirking.

"I wanna dive!" I said excitedly. I stood up and walked over to the 6 foot tall diving board that was over the deep end. I climbed up the ladder, noticing Caution When Diving stickers on all the rungs. I knew the guys were watching me as I climbed up and walked to the end of the board. I began doing little jumps on it to gain some momentum. I finally jumped up in the air, tucked my legs into my chest quickly, doing a small somersault in the air. I quickly stretched back out into dive form and hit the water. PERFECT, I thought as I was under water before I surfaced. When I did, I saw looks of amazement on the guys' faces. I looked over to Damien. He had apparently woken up and was staring, just as dumbfounded as the others. Alex finally broke the silence by clapping loudly while trying to stay afloat.

"That was pro!" Caleb said smiling. I think I was blushing, so I looked down at the water.

"Yeah it was!" Damien yelled from his chair. I looked up to see him grinning flirtatiously at me. Talk about CREEPY! He got up and began walking back toward the pool. I just looked away from him and flipped myself over so I was floating on my back with my arms spread out, making small movements in the water. "This is a great view isn't it Caleb?" I heard him say.

I immediately flipped myself straight up to see him sitting beside Caleb on the ledge with that grin on his face. "Excuse me?" I said, trying to stay calm. He just laughed. "Caleb, would you mind?"

"Not at all" he said before pushing Damien into the water. He went under looking surprised. He surfaced, regaining his composure and glared at Caleb who was smiling satisfied at him. I laughed and he turned to me.

"Do you know CPR?" he asked.

I was confused by the question but said "Yes" cautiously.

"I knew I should've pretended to drown!" he said, disappointed. The guys laughed and I just stared with my mouth hanging open. These guys were unbelievable!

Caleb's POV

Emi's face was priceless and adorable. Damien's last remark really seemed to get to her. I don't think us laughing helped much either. She shook her head and took off down the pool.

"Awww, look what you did!" Ryan said to Damien.

"She'll come back. She can't stand not having me near her" Damien said, sounding all high and mighty. Now I shook my head and jumped back into the pool. I swam to the shallow end where Emi was floating lazily on her back again.

"Hey" I said.

"Hi" she said flatly.

"You ok?"

"Yeah"

She didn't sound ok. "I know you're not. What's wrong?"

"Nothing"

"Emi...come on, I'm not that stupid"

She sighed and said "Is Damien always a perverted asshole?"

"Well...sometimes I guess...he might be...kinda...he sorta...definitely is" I replied, unsure of really what to say.

"Then there's nothing wrong that you can fix" she stated. I was going to protest but she stopped floating on her back and stood up straight and grabbed my hand, surprising me. "Come on, I'll teach you how to flip off the diving board!" she said excitedly, smiling at me. She was so pretty, but I think she was feeling a little intimidated or taken advantage of from all the guys at this school. And she's only been here for a day!

She held my hand pulling me through the water toward the deep end. She let go when our feet no longer touched the pool floor. She swam at my pace and I purposely slowed down. I don't really know why. I think it was that I just liked having her next to me, and I wanted to hold onto that feeling as long as I could.

We finally reached the deep end and Emi said "I'm going to teach Caleb how to do a flip off the diving board-" she was cut off by laughter.

"Trying to teach Caleb anything is useless" Damien said.

"He's actually right for once" Alex pitched in.

"Um...I'm right here guys" I said.

They still just laughed until Emi said "Well I'm going to try. Anyone else want to learn?" she asked.

"No, I'd end up drowning myself or something then I'd need..." Ryan started then paused, realizing something. "What the hell! Let's go!" he said while jumping out of the pool. Emi followed him and I followed her. She looked back at Damien and Alex to see if they were coming but they just shook their heads. She shrugged and walked over to the diving board.

She climbed up quickly and walked to the end of the board. "It's actually really easy. You jump on the board, building momentum, then a simple jump, tuck, curl, flip... " Ryan and I just looked at each other then back to her with confused looks on our faces.

"Smaller words and slower" Ryan said.

She laughed and said "I'll show you a simple one" She just jumped over the end of the board with her head slightly ducked down, arching her back, and flipped her legs over herself before she hit the water.

When she surfaced, Ryan said "It looks like you just fell off the board" she nodded and he said "Oh I can do that!" in a show-off tone. He climbed up the ladder, walked to the end of the board and without stopping, ducked his head down, arched his back and jumped into the water like Emi had.

He surfaced and Emi said "Exactly! Wasn't that easy?"

"Yeah! Caleb, you're turn!" he shouted.

"Ok..." I said slowly. I climbed up the ladder and walked to the end of the board. For some reason, throwing myself into a pool like an uncoordinated klutz, didn't seem like much fun. But I did it anyway. I ducked my head, arched my back and jumped off the board. I hit the water and surfaced a second later.

"See? Easy!" Emi said smiling at me.

"Yeah, but it probably didn't look like the first flip you did" I replied.

"The hell it didn't!" Damien said from the edge off the pool. Alex laughed from where he was floating in the water. I turned and glared at them.

"At least they're brave enough to try!" Emi yelled back. I smiled at the thought of her thinking I was brave...though she probably didn't mean it like that. She swam over to the edge and lifted herself out of the water again. "Ready to make it actually look decent?" she asked us.

"Yeah!" Ryan shouted. He was like a kid in a candy store. So excited about everything. I thought it sounded like effort was involved. Ugh!

**********

Emma's POV

After about an hour, the guys finally got the hang of it. They were pretty fast learners too. Now they could actually jump off the board, pull their legs in, flip, land in the water neatly, and not kill themselves! I was so proud.

We left the pool house when crowds of guys started coming in yelling "THE GIRL IS IN THE POOL!" I don't usually like attention, and I didn't really like this kind, but for some reason, it made me feel kind of...good. I think it was that most of the stares were from guys checking me out. I don't like being just eye candy to them, but in a way, I think they're at least saying I'm pretty or something. Then again, I could be completely wrong!

I had slipped my shorts and shirt back on before leaving the pool building. We were now walking back to our dorm building and every so often I'd hear guys whispering "I told you we should've gone swimming!" or "Damn! We missed it!" I rolled my eyes at every remark, meaning I got dizzy!

We finally got back to our dorm and I let out a huge sigh I didn't even know I was holding in. I heard Caleb laugh from the other side of the room. "That stressed already? I thought you could at least handle 2 days of this" he said still laughing.

I just glared at him and said "You try it then!"

"I can't. I'm missing something really important" he said.

"And what's that?" I asked, now curious.

"Boobs" he said in a 'duh' voice. I stared, mouth gaping, eyes wide, at him. He just laughed again.

"You little-" I was about to yell at him but he cut me off.

"Chill! I was kidding!" he said, still laughing. I closed my mouth before he said "You looked hot though. Maybe that's why those guys were so jealous of me" I was chasing him around the room with a pillow as he said this. This was not the Caleb I had first met. I think Damien was rubbing of on him bit by bit. Or maybe it was just me. I finally chased him into the bathroom where he slammed the door in my face. I heard him laughing behind it.

I sighed and walked over to my bed. I was going to sit on it when I remembered I was still extremely wet. I sat on the floor and pulled out a change of clothes. I waited for Caleb to finish in the bathroom. I kept wondering if he was becoming more of a perv or if he was just becoming less shy, and he was like Damien all the time. That thought scared me and I shook it from my head, literally.

I didn't notice Caleb had come out of the bathroom and was staring at me like 'what-the-hell-are-you-doing?' I just smiled at him and ran into the bathroom, locking the door behind me. I took of my wet clothes and started the shower. I wanted to wash the chlorine off of me. Have you ever noticed how strong that smell can get? Well now, it was all over me. I quickly washed my hair and finished up in the shower. I was out in under 6 minutes. I quickly changed into my clean and dry clothes and walked out of the bathroom with my wet clothing wrapped up in a towel. I put them in one of two laundry hampers in the fairly large dorm room. When they got there, I'll never know. Were they always there? What else hadn't I noticed? Let's see, flat screen T.V., mini fridge, two double beds, shelves everywhere, two dressers...wait! Back to the T.V.! Is that a...

"YOU BROUGHT A WII AND DIDN'T TELL ME?!" I squealed at Caleb. He had been hooking the game system up and jumped in shock at my outburst.

"Um...yeah" he said. "How else do you think we stay entertained?" I was going to attempt an answer but he continued, "And, my God! How many showers do you girls take in a day?! You're going to single handedly send the school's hydro bill through the roof!"

"Have you seen what they charge to get into this school?" I said, putting my hands on my hips. Ok, so I hadn't actually seen it but it was obviously really high and I was trying to make a point.

"Oh, let's really stick it to them good!" Caleb said, realizing I was right, as always, and payback was involved. I laughed and heard a knock at the door.

"I wonder who that could be. Let me think. Tweddle dumb and tweddle dumber?" I said, walking over to the door. Caleb just laughed and finished setting up the Wii. I swung the door open and, low and behold, Ryan and Damien stood in front of me. "Look I was right!" I said turning back to Caleb. He laughed again and inserted a game into the Wii.

"Are you going to let us in or just leave us out here?" Damien asked.

I turned back to him and said "Hmmm..." I paused like I was thinking about it and said "I'm gonna have to go with option number two!" I slammed the door closed in their faces as Caleb burst out laughing behind me. There was a fit of loud banging on the door and I opened it a crack. "Sorry, we don't want to buy any cookies" I said before slamming the door again. Caleb was rolling on the floor, holding his stomach from laughter.

"Willow, please open the door" I heard Ryan beg. He sounded exactly like Colton again. I was about to open the door when Damien started pounding on it again and yelling.

"EMMA! Open this door right now!"

"What are you, my mother?!" I yelled at him. More pounding. "The door's open you idiot!" I yelled. Damien swung the door open, a look of embarrassment on his face.

"Oh..." he said. Caleb was still laughing his ass off on the floor and I thought I saw tears in his eyes. I joined in the laughter and even Ryan was trying to hold in a chuckle.

"I...c-cant believe...you d-didn't even...try...the..." Caleb was saying through fits of laughter.

"Oh shut up!" Damien yelled. Ryan finally burst and the three of us were doubled over in laughter.

Damien was glaring at us but I could barely see it because my eyes were filling with tears. I did see, however, his frown turn into a smirk. That can't be good.

Damien walked over to the opposite side of Caleb's bed and bent down, disappearing behind it. He stood up holding something but turned his back so I couldn't see what it was. He opened a window and held said mystery object out it.

Suddenly, Caleb was at his side yelling "No! Dame give that back! Stop it!" in a begging tone.

Ryan and I had stopped laughing and were staring quizzically at the two.

"Fine!" Damien yelled, throwing something into Caleb's hands. He caught it clumsily and hid it from view. Then he disappeared behind his bed, putting whatever it was away. Damien was now sitting on the floor, continuing where Caleb had left off with the Wii instillation.

"What was that?" I asked no one in particular.

"It was Caleb's mmh mmn um nhh-" Damien said, his words muffled by Caleb's hand clasped tightly over his mouth.

A second later Caleb was yelling "Dude, gross!" and whipping his hand furiously on his pant leg.

Damien just laughed. Then he said "Well anyway, that was Caleb's-"

This time I put my hand over his mouth, cutting him off. "Forget it" I said. "He clearly doesn't want us to know"

"Aw, but I wanna know!" Ryan begged. I glared daggers at him. "Fine" he said defeated, folding his arms over his chest.

I moved my hand away from Damien's mouth before he had a chance to lick it like I assumed he did Caleb's. Caleb gave me a small smile, hiding shyness and embarrassment in his eyes. I smiled back.

"Ok, I'm facing Emma in Brawl first!" Damien yelled.

"Facing who in what?" I asked, my smile fading as my head whipped to the TV and the Super Smash Bros. Brawl opening started. "But I've never played this! It's new, and I don't know what to do!"

Damien was setting the game to two players, the number of controllers we currently had. He handed me on saying "Too bad! I'm gonna win! I'm gonna win!" in a sing-song voice.

"For once in your life" Caleb said, chuckling at him.

I smiled at that. It made me feel like I at least had a teensy-weensy chance at winning, not matter how teensy-weensy that teensy-weensy chance was. Is the phrase 'teensy-weensy' bothering you yet? Ok sorry.

So the game started...and I dominated!

Ryan's POV

I really wanted to know what that was. Caleb's...whatever it was. See! I can't even tell you what it was I wanted to know what it was 'cause I don't know what it was! Emi had to go and be all nice, shutting Damien up before he spilled what it was. I mean, who does that!? That girl is too nice for her own good! I know! I'll sneak into the room tonight and find the thing under Caleb's bed! It'll probably have neon arrows flashing around saying "Don't look at this!" Haha! But I will look! And no one will be able to stop me! Hahahahaha! Well...except if you know, they lock the door. Damn. Scratch that. I'll just ask Damien tonight. Yeah, that'll be a LOT easier!

I pondered this while Emi was kicking Damien's ass in Brawl. And she was just hitting random buttons in no particular order! The chick has natural skills! Ha! Damien lost!

The TV screen changed to Emi's character, Kirbi, standing in front of Damien's with a big 1ST underneath it. I laughed out loud with Caleb as Damien's mouth hung open in shock, eyes wide, staring at the TV like this was a bad dream. Emi was holding back a laugh as she grabbed her camera off the desk and snapped a picture of Damien, including the TV in the shot.

"Damien got OWNED!" Caleb and I yelled in unison before continuing to laugh.

He awoke from his state of shock, excuse the band reference, and held the controller out to me. "You face her then!"

I stopped laughing and shook my hands in front of me with an "Oh no, no, no, no, no!"

"Chicken!" Damien said. "Caleb, you?" he asked, offering the controller to him.

He shook his head. "I-I don't see the point. If I win, I beat a girl. If I lose, I lost to a GIRL! So really, both ways, I lose"

Emi laughed at his logic. "Damien, I don't really want to play again right now. You face him. I'm gonna get some lunch" she said standing up.

"Lunch sounds good!" I said standing.

"Yup!" Caleb said, as we followed Emi out the door.

"But-but- I- guys?" Damien stuttered as we closed the door behind us, leaving him alone. "Fine! But I'm raiding Emi's sutff!"

She stopped dead in her tracks. Caleb bumped into her and I bumped into him, falling on my ass.

"Ow" I said flatly, blinking a few times.

"Sorry" she said, grabbing my hand and pulling me up. She walked back into the room and after a few seconds came out dragging Damien behind her.

"But I wanna play games!" he wailed like a child.

"Too bad! We're getting food!" Emi yelled at him, pushing him into the elevator.

"Guys, I think we should get food!" came random voices from behind various doors. Emi said that a little too loud. I looked over to her. Her eyes were wide, realizing her mistake.

"Shit!" she mumbled. She ran into the elevator and stuck her head out. "Guys hurry up!" she said to me and Caleb.

We looked at each other and began walking toward the elevator...very slowly. "Guuuuuyyy's!" she cried.

More guys began emerging from their rooms, took a look at her halfway in the elevator, then to each other, then raced each other to it.

Emi screamed, closed her eyes, and was pulled into the elevator. The doors closed before anyone could get through them. I looked at Caleb. His face had gone almost white. Then I clued in. Emi was in an elevator alone with DAMIEN! Bad. Very bad!

"Let's go!" Caleb said, running past the group of 20 or so guys all disappointed they didn't get into a confined space with a girl. We ran to the stairs that lead to all the floors and the ground floor. We burst through the door and ran down 4 flights of stairs.

We emerged on the ground floor breathless as the elevator pinged open and Emi walked out.

"She looks ok..." Caleb said as we began circling her.

"What did you expect guys?" Damien said coming out of the elevator before the doors closed and it was called back up to the 4th floor.

"Well, we thought she'd be at least a little traumatized" I said confused.

"Ooh! Big word for Ryan!" Emi said sarcastically, applauding me. "Damien was a good boy and now we're going to go get him a cookie. Let's go! I'm hungry! For some reason, I just couldn't seem to finish my breakfast!" she said, now glaring at all of us.

"Well let's go then, little Miss Attitude!" Caleb said in a mock tone, pulling her by the hand through the doors and toward the cafeteria building.

We laughed as she exclaimed "FINALLY!" in a relieved voice.

Emi's POV

How I DESTROYED Damien in Brawl is beyond me. How I survived alone in an elevator with him, a mystery. Why he didn't try anything in said elevator, puzzling but relieving.

And guess what?! Those butterflies were back, yet again, in my stomach. After we left our dorm building with him pulling me by the hand, he continued to hold it. But now he was swinging our arms back and forth and rambling about something I didn't understand with Ryan. I just stared casually between the two, studying their faces for any sigh of normal life. So far, I hadn't found anything.

We finally reached the cafeteria building, and I stopped dead in my tracks.

"What's wrong Em?" Caleb said, dropping my hand. I secretly cursed inside my head.

"Do I have to go in there?" I asked.

"That's where the food is" Ryan said.

"But there's so many of them!" I said, a hint of panic in my voice.

"Them?" Damien questioned.

"Guys...they're everywhere!" I whispered.

"Well it is an all BOYS boarding school" Caleb commented.

"What's wrong with guys?" Ryan asked.

"Oh, they're disgusting, uncivilized creatures with little intelligence other than "Food good, girls pretty" and no emotional senses for anything in the world and-" I stopped myself. The GUYS were staring at me like I'd written loser on my forehead in big letters and they were too stupid to read it. Then it clicked. I had been insulting them too! I mentally slapped myself on the head. Quick, gotta cover this...uh... "Oh, but you guys are an exception! Um...I mean, not all guys are animals...s-some are actually nice people...like you guys! I- you- they...mnnn" I said, trying to recover.

"Well!" Damien blurted after a minute of silence. "I think we all know someone's opinion of us! Let's go guys!" he said in mocking girl tone as he turned quickly, flipping his shaggy hair like a girl would, and strutted into the cafeteria.

Caleb and Ryan laughed but followed him. I just stood there outside the building like an idiot, feeling my face turn hot from my mistake.

Caleb came back out saying "Oh, we forgive you! C'mon!" and pulled me inside.

All the guys in the cafeteria, which were the "them" I was referring to, turned their heads as I walked in. the loud roar of voices from every table quieted a tad as their previous conversations turned to ones, no doubt, about me. I held my head high, trying to be more confident than I felt, as I walked with Caleb to where Damien and Ryan were standing in the food line.

"There she is!" Ryan said, all smiles.

"Um, Ry, we're not talking to her!" Damien said in his girly tone, giving me the 'talk-to-the-hand' wave.

We laughed at him, 'cause what else is new?

"Fine! Be that way!" he said, sniffling and pretending to cry.

We stared for a moment at his display before I started clapping. "Bravo!" I yelled.

And the room went quiet. "Oh come on! I didn't say it THAT loud! Mind your own business people!" I yelled, waving a fist at the entire rest of the cafeteria. Every single boy in the place looked bewildered. And they kept on staring.

"You heard the lady!" someone yelled from behind me. I turned to face him and it was none other than...some guy I've never seen before in my life! "You!" he continued, pointing at random people "Eat your food! You!" he pointed to another "Put your cell phone away! You! Go change your shirt! It's hideous! What? Have you all never seen a girl before?" he grabbed me by the shoulders and moved me in front of him, displaying me for the most of the student body. "Ok? You came, you saw, you conquered!" my eyes went wide and I glanced back at him. "Well, not so much the last one! But you get it! Now, go back to your lunches!" he concluded.

Everyone blinked a few times then, surprisingly, turned back to their meals. I heard a lot of laughter, but average conversations drowned it out. That was a good thing.

I heard laughter from beside me. I spun my head around to see Caleb laughing his damn fine ass off. I glared at him and he clapped his hands over his mouth, but that didn't stop his laughter.

"What is so funny?" I demanded, pulling away from the unknown persons grip.

"He- you- them- HA!" he sputtered through laughs.

Ryan, Damien, and mystery person started laughing. I just pushed past them, ordered a salad and Coke quickly over the counter, the lunch lady giving a friendly hello, and stalked off down the rows of tables.

"WAIT!" Caleb called from be hind me. The four guys caught up to me as I took a seat at one of the only empty tables in the room. Caleb and Ryan sat on either side of me and Damien and who know who the other guy was, sat across from me.

"Nice display there Jaret!" Damien said, giving Jaret a high five. I rolled my eyes. Well, at least I knew who he was now.

Ryan and Caleb looked confused beside me as they bit into their sandwiches. "Any time you feel like introducing us..." I said casually to Damien, shrugging my shoulders and taking a bite of salad.

"Oh, right. This is Jaret. We used to be neighbours before I started going here. Jaret, this is Caleb, Emma and Ryan" he pointed to us in order. "So Jay, what are you doing here anyway?"

"Well, my dad's the new DOA and got me in. He said something about getting a better education at a real school. He just doesn't approve of normal public schools" he answered through bites of his hamburger. Jaret was the typical Hollister slash American Eagle guy. Wore the clothes, looked to be about 5'11" and had the perfectly shaggy blonde hair and blue eyes.

"Wait, what's DOA?" Caleb asked.

I dropped my fork in my salad and turned my head slowly toward him. "It's an acronym for Dean of Admissions. Why do you not know that?" I asked.

"I don't know, I just...don't" he said, almost ignoring my question. I just shook my head and went back to eating my salad.

"Attention, students! May I have your attention please?" I recognized the headmaster's voice over the speaker system. After a few seconds, the voices in the room were a whisper and he continued. "As you all know, classes will be starting in 5 days. That's this coming Monday people, don't forget this year!" There was laughter all around the room. I would be asking about that story later. "Your individual class schedules are now available in the administration building. Pick them up BEFORE Monday" more laughter "and arrive at your first period classes on time. That is all" There was a click over the speakers and everyone returned to their conversations.

"Alright! Class schedules! Let's pick 'em up after lunch!" Alex said, appearing out of nowhere and placing his tray beside Damien and sitting down. We all froze and looked up at him. "What?" he asked, unsure of what he did wrong.

"Someone's excited to learn" Jaret said rolling his eyes and going back to his burger.

"No one asked you!" Alex raised his voice at him.

"Actually," Jaret began defending "You said 'What?' to no one in particular, making it a general statement anyone could answer, therefore, I answered with a snide remark!"

"Well you didn't have to-"

"Hey! Hey!" Damien interrupted Alex mid yell. "Chill guys! This is why I left you two back home at public school! But no! you both followed me! Can't a guy get a break anymore?"

I giggled at him and turned to Alex. "I'll go with you after lunch"

"So will I!" Jaret added enthusiastically. I looked at him with a 'what-is-up-with-you' look and shook my head.

"We'll all go" Caleb said.

"Awww! But I don't wanna!" Ryan whined.

"Ry, we'll go swimming again tomorrow if you do" I tempted.

"To the Admin building!" Ryan said, jumping out of his seat and running out the door.

"We better follow him" Damien said.

"Yeah" Caleb agreed as they all stood. "C'mon Em"

He pulled me up and toward the door. "Man! That's another meal I don't get to finish today!" I cried.

They laughed as we headed to the administration building for our oh-so-precious class schedules.

Alex bounded through the administration building doors like a spaz.

"What are you doing?" Damien asked.

"I don't know! I just really wanna know what classes I have!" he replied. I laughed at his enthusiasm.

"Here for your schedules kids?" Ms. Tenton asked us.

"Yup" Jaret said from behind me. Right behind me. Like we were practically touching! He had gotten so close and I hadn't noticed!

I took 2 steps forward as she asked "Names? Well, not you Miss Willow"

I smiled at her as she took the guys' names one at a time, typed them into the computer and printed the schedules. I got mine second last to Alex. For someone who was so anxious to get their classes, he graciously let everyone get their schedules first.

"Thanks Ms. T!" Ryan called to her as we left the building.

"Ha! You got Keese!" Damien taunted Jaret, looking over at his schedule.

I looked down at mine for the first time. "I got Keese too. Second period, first semester" I said.

"Ha-ha-ha-ha-HA!" Jaret said in a sing-song voice.

"Damn you" Damien muttered, glaring. I laughed.

"Who else did you get, Willow?" Ryan asked.

"Garner for history, Mabel for geography, Sanford for English, Pollock for science, Thoms for vocal, Versay for phys. Ed and Takahashi for Japanese" I stated.

"You can take Japanese courses here?" Caleb said, amazed at this piece of information.

"Yeah, along with French, Spanish, Latin, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese, Polish, German, Arabic, Russian, Korean, Ukrainian, Romanian, Croatian, Dutch, Indonesian, Filipino, Greek, Hungarian, Hebrew, Swedish, Danish, Swahili, Norwegian, and sign language" I concluded, ticking each of my fingers, having to repeat hands.

The guys just stared, mouths hanging open, at me for a long time.

"Ok, I understand it takes a while for your brains to comprehend all this, so I'm just going to walk away" I said, pointing in a random direction and beginning to walk.

"Hey!" Alex said, recovering. I turned back to them and crossed my arms over my chest. The others blinked a few times and shut their mouths. "How do you know all that?" he questioned.

"I saw it on the languages course listing in the administration building" I said, pointing over my shoulder to the building.

"Oh. Well, what class do you have Keese for?" Damien asked, changing that topic.

"Physics and advanced math-e-ma-tics..." I said slowing down. I turned my head to Jaret, as did everyone else. "You-?" I found it hard to believe.

He shrugged his shoulders and grinned at me.

"But you were always stupid!" Damien said stunned.

"A lot can happen in 2 years. Including me paying attention in class during you absence" Jaret replied.

"Wow" Damien said. "I don't understand this" he said, putting a hand to his head and shaking it. "Lemme get this straight: Jaret-" he pointed a finger at him "is smart?" he turned that finger back to point at his head.

"It would appear so..." Caleb said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "But..."

"Nahhh!" He chorused with Damien. They laughed with the rest of us as Jaret frowned at them.

They began walking away and a patted his shoulder, while laughing, as I passed him.

"Well, you just wait and see little Emma" he said, walking beside me, smirking.

"Oh, I plan to. In fact, my whole calendar revolves around it!" I said sarcastically. The guys kept laughing as I added "I don't actually doubt you're smart because I don't know you. You just...don't seem the type"

"Neither do you" he said, smiling.

I smiled back and picked up my pace to catch the guys in front of us.

As I was about to catch them, an arm extended in front of me and I hit it lightly and stopped abruptly. I turned my head to see some random guy and a group of guys behind him.

"Hello" he said, trying to sound seductive. "I'm Christian. Nice to meet you" he said, grabbing my hand and shaking it.

"Ye-ah...sure...likewise...whatever" I said, pulling my hand back.

"So you wanna hang out tonight?" he asked.

"No!" I almost yelled before he even finished.

The guys behind him laughed. "Well, uh, you'll want to eventually. When you realize they," he gestured to the guys that were quickly becoming really good friends to me, "aren't the kind of guys you want to be seen with" he finished, smirking.

"Yeah, 'cause being seen with you would be the highlight of my life" I said, spinning so my hair hit him in the face and walking to catch up with the guys.

But I was stopped again. Another random guy jumped in front of me.

"Hi!" he yelled.

"Hi" I said, rubbing my ear, trying to figure out if I could still hear through it after that.

"Haven't I seen you somewhere before?" he asked, trying to start a conversation.

"Yes, that's why I don't go there anymore" I replied, pushing past him.

I heard a "But-I-" as I passed, seeing the guys getting farther away.

I tried to catch up but was stopped AGAIN! this time a whole group of SEVEN guys approached.

"Hey baby, what's your sign?" one asked, stepping forward.

"Do not enter" I said, trying to walk away.

"Your place or mine?" another asked.

"Both! You go to yours, I'll go to mine!" I said, trying to leave again.

"Hey, hun, I'd go to the end of the world for you" another tried, almost begging.

"Could you stay there?" I asked, folding my arms over my chest.

Those three walked away, looking defeated and, well, pissed off.

"How much does a polar bear weigh?" one stepped up and asked.

"I believe and adult male is between 660 and 1300 lbs." I replied after a second of thinking.

"Uhm...Actually, you're not supposed to know and say 'How much' and I'm supposed to say 'Enough to break the ice', then ask for your number" he said, scratching the back of his head.

"Oh, sorry" I murmured, laughing at his attempt at a pick up line.

"So, can I have yo numba?" another asked like Derrell in the MadTV skit, using the silly accent and everything, pushing the fourth failed attempt away.

"That sounded like English, but I have no idea what you just said!" I said, throwing my arms up in the air and dropping them heavily to my sides.

"Kay your turn Joe" he said, turning to yet another guy who stepped forward.

"Thanks" he muttered. "Hi" he said.

"Hi. So, what ridiculous pick up line are you going to try?" I asked, folding my arms again.

"Uh...I was blinded by your beauty so I'm going to need your name and number for insurance reasons" he tried. I raised an eyebrow and shook my head. "I hope you know CPR, because you take my breath away" I shook my head again. "If I could rearrange the alphabet, I'd put U and I together"

"If I could rearrange the alphabet, I wouldn't. I'd leave it the way it is, with N and O together" I said. "Are you done yet?"

"One more..." he sighed. "Ok, I know I don't have a chance, but I just wanted to hear an angel talk"

"Awww! That one was actually cute!" I giggled.

"Yesss!" he said. "So, I'm Grayson and I was wondering-"

"Oh, actually, I just thought the line was cute. I'm not giving into any corny pick up lines at the moment. But I'll call you if I do!" I said sarcastically.

"Ah-But-" he pleaded as I walked away.

"Dude! I didn't even get a chance at her!" the final unspoken guy said.

I laughed as Iwas finallyable to get to my dorm building without being stopped again. I took the elevator up and was miraculously not stopped along the way up. I walked down the hall to my room, only getting a "HI!" from one single guy in the hallway.I got to the room, opened the door and slammed it behind me. I closed my eyes and slid down the back of the door and let out a huge sigh. I heard laughter in the room. I knew who it was, and didn't feel like arguing.

"Took you long enough!" Damien laughed.I just moaned and trudged over to my bed and fell on it.

"We actually expected you to be longer" Caleb laughed.

"Guys, you know she push 'em all off to come and see me" Jaret said.

"I can see why you and Damien are friends. And...as if!" I replied, rubbing my temples. The guys just laughed and I finally realized this was what the whole year was going to be like.

Emma's POV

I rolled over onto my stomach and buried my head in my pillow. Then I screamed. That made me feel a bit better actually. I rolled back over onto my back and sighed, trying to regain my composure. The guys kept laughing. At least I was amusing them with my suffering. Stupid little-

"Aw, Ems, you know you love us!" Alex said, jumping from the floor onto my bed and snuggling into my shoulder.

"Aw, you know I really just met you guys!" I replied, scooting away from him. "I still have time to find new friends!" I said, smiling.

"But-but...Emmaaaaa!" Ryan whined, climbing onto the end of my bed. I propped myself up on my elbows to look at him. His bottom lip stuck out and he made those cute puppy dog eyes. Just like Colton. They look scary alike! They're both so cute and innocent. Until it gets dark...Kidding!

I giggled at him and sat up. I reached over Alex and grabbed my laptop from my bed side table. I flipped it open and turned it on. The guys got off my bed and they all went into random conversations, for once ignoring me, and I opened my Email inbox. '6 NEW MESSAGES' was written on the screen.

I opened the oldest. It was from my mother. Well, let's see what she has to say for herself: Sweetie, I know not telling you it was an all boys boarding school was a bad idea. I'm very sorry. I know I should have told you we were sending you to a boarding school at the very least, but this just seemed like the best way. Now don't get mad, (WAY TOO LATE MOTHER! I thought) but you know you would've refused and found a way out of this somehow if we had given you the time. So telling you that your plane was leaving that afternoon, we hoped, would make you realize that you had no choice in this matter. That makes me sound like a terrible mother but I know what we did was truly for the best. You, I am almost certain, will be thinking otherwise, but I can assure you, this school has everything your genius mind needs. And trust me, if we had been able to find an all girls school, or at least a mixed school, with half the credit Ocean Way has, we would have sent you there in a heartbeat! Darling, we are truly, very sorry for any troubles this has caused you. But we believe this enriching experience will greatly improve your mind and that learning under some of the best teachers on this side of the world, will help so much more than a public school education. Remember, we love you Emma. Always. Love, Mom.

I sighed. Ok, so I can see where she's coming from. I know she wanted the best for me but I really think she should've at least given me a little warning, or some kind of decision in the matter! Though, she was right about me finding my way out with time, I'll give her that. I made up my mind. I hit the REPLY button and began: Mom, I know u just want what's best for me, but u should remember, I did learn most of what I know from public school. and I made friends there! Really good ones, that I really miss! Im not going to blow up at u again, though its hard not to. I just want to say I love u to and wish this had started off better. Im getting used to some of the guys here and I think I mite b able to make a few friends. Love u mom and hopefully I can visit home soon. Love, Emi.

I hit send and breathed deeply for I minute, trying not to scream again. Telling my mom all that, well, most of it was a lie. Obviously I had been able to make friends here! Rather quick and easy I may add! But I'm still not completely ok with the situation at hand! I mean, would you be? I admit, the attention is kind of flattering, and there are some really, like, super HOT guys here that all seem to want to get with me! ME! The attention drives me crazy! But in good and bad ways! I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm going to be the bigger person and just deal with it. Did I convince you, 'cause I sure as hell didn't convince me!

I opened my next Email. It was from Colton: Willow!!!!!!!! I know Mickys told u by now that ur at an ALL BOYS SCHOOL! but I just wanted to say I was the one that told her! I knew I recognized the skool name! but anyway! We all really miss u! oh and if any guy trys anything there that ur not ok with, I'll kick his ass all the way to Europe! Well I'll try...they mite land in the Pacific but...I MISS U!!!!!!!!! come home! Mickys too boring! well, keep her updated so she can keep me updated. I don't really like computers since that incident in 4th grade. Remember that? Good times...well BYE!

I laughed, remembering how in 4th grade Colton had accidentally hit the power button of a school computer under the desk with his foot. He had no idea how to fix it and ended up getting tangled in like 16 different wires down there. He got detention and it took 2 janitors exactly 57 minutes to untangle him without damaging him or the equipment. Good times indeed.

I replied with a quick: I MISS U TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ask Micky anything but dont expect her to tell u everything! Girl stuff and all...sorry buddy. I wish I was home. I miss public school. this place is way to clean! Lol. And OMG! There is a guy here that looks exactly like u!!!!! its freaky! He acts like u too! Omg! Ask Micky to show u the pic I sent her. Ill take more cuz I know shell want them. Hehe. Well bye for now!

I hit send and went back to my inbox. 2 messages were junk mail so I deleted them without reading them, then moved on to the first from Mikayla: OMG!!!!!!!!!!! Did they really make u sing?!?!?! I cant believe that! R they allowed to do that? How did it go? At least you're a really good singer so we know u didnt f-up. Lol but REALLY!?!?! Wow...Im sorry I missed it. as for the 'only girl in school' sitch...no clue. Sorry! Um, maybe ask the administration head office people to allow girls in. well I guess they want it to be an all boys skool so forget that...how bout getting yourself expelled? Nah! Ur too goody-goody for that! Lol I know ur not but they dont, hehe! Kidding! Well Hailey u know I love u and I want, no NEED u to keep me posted! Seriously! Don't forget! I want an email everynite! Forget=I KILL U!!!!!!!! lol. Write me soon lovey! Byeee <3 lotsa luv, Micky Mouse

Oh how I miss Micky and her carefree lifestyle. Everything was so much easier when I didn't have to take people seriously. Well, I'm not actually sure if I have to or not now...or if I ever did... GREAT! Now I'm confused!

I rubbed my head and hit REPLY: Maybe I should get expelled just so I can prove to u I can. No ur rite...I cant. And yes, they really did make me sing. They actually liked it. like, I felt like a famous person. They were all cheering and stuff. I was amazed and completely embarrassed! But I just emailed Colton to ask u to show him the pic I sent u and show him Ryan, the guy who looks exactly like him. Can u do that? Well anyway, im gonna read the other message u sent me now and reply to that one too. Wow im busy! Lol luv ya Micky Mouse!!!

I hit SEND and was re-directed back to my inbox. I opened the other Email from Mikayla: HAILEY!!!!!!!!!!!!! U take FOREVERRRRR to reply to messages! Hurry up! I wanna know whats happened so far, besides the singing! Oh and if u wanna know whats up with me, ill tell u...NOTHING!!!!!!! My life is boring! were skipping ahead to urs! Whats going on there?!?!?! Tell me!!!!!!!!! I want emails every single nite missy!!!!!!!! Ok bye! <333

I laughed. Typical Mikayla. I hit REPLY again and started: Alright! Alright! Calm down! Um...lets see...OH! I woke up this morning and had 2 guys leaning over me like I was growing another head and wanting to get a better look! It was creepy! But I hit one, Damien, with a pillow and made him fall on his ass and it was funny! The other, Ryan, dove onto the floor himself and that was funny too! The guys here are hysterical! And after that, they wouldnt let me finish breakfast cuz they wanted to go swimming. That was my idea actually and not a very bright one! Then...we played SSB Brawl on the Wii and I kicked Damiens ass somehow...Ive never played that game before and I won! We laughed at him for like 10 minutes it was the best! Oh and u shoulda seen him flip out wen he thought the door was locked and he was pounding on it, then we told him it was unlocked and his face was...omg it was so funny!!!!! Micky I wish u were here just to see that face!!! Wow! What else happened...I made a fool of myself, with a little help, in front of like, THE WHOLE SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and I dont mean from the singing!!!!!!!! Its a long story but basically this guy, Jaret, gave a speech to everyone about minding their own business, with me as the topic of that speech!!!!!!!!!! Well, besides that, I got my class schedule (BORING!) and then got hit on by like 15 guys in a row! They were, for lack of a better word, pathetic! I could also guess sex deprived but id rather insult them than give them that! And I did insult them! It was fun. But thats mean of me...oh well, I promise ill be nice from now on...or, eventually...lol =D well thats all thats happened so far today! I WILL keep u posted so don't nag me!!!!! Love Hailey

I hit SEND and was taken back to my inbox again. There was already another message from my mother. Ugh! Here it is: Emma Hailey Willow! Do not use that wretched online talk with me! Spell out your words! I'm not paying to have you cut corners in life! (That's such a mom thing to say! I thought) Anyway dear, I'm glad you're starting to see things our way. we love you and we believe you can accomplish far more at Ocean Way than ever before. Thank you Emma. Love Mommy.

I sighed, again. she just...didn't understand! I couldn't stand to write back to her now so I opened my iTunes to update my iPod. I grabbed it from the table beside me and opened the large drawer where I put my messenger bag. I pulled out the connector cable from it and plugged an end into my iPod and laptop.

I pushed my computer off my lap and looked around the room. The guys were now completely quiet. Caleb was twirling his thumbs, Alex was staring into space, Damien was lying on Caleb's bed looking dead, Jaret was doing the same on the floor, and Ryan was stealing glances at the spot under the bed where Caleb was hiding his what ever it is. the thing that I really want to find out what it is. So...what to do about this boredom?

I tapped my nails slowly on my laptop, trying to think. Oh. My. God! It's way to quiet! I never get a moment of peace, and now no one's doing or saying anything! It's driving me crazy! I sighed, only thinking of one solution for noise. You know what it is! MUSIC!!! I shuffled furiously through my play lists looking for a good song. Hmmm...Ah HA! I turned the volume on my laptop to maximum, just to see how they'd react. I started Dead on Arrival by Fall Out Boy.

I watched as Damien fell off the bed as the music blasted its first notes. Caleb lifted his head that was resting in an uncomfortable looking position on a chair. He raised an eyebrow at me as I laughed at Damien's face as the song continued and he emerged from the floor and looked startled. All the guys looked equally surprised as I turned the volume down a bit and kept laughing. Ryan, however, wasn't as startled. Instead, he jumped up and onto my bed in front of me.

"Do you have Linkin Park on there?!" he asked hopefully.

"Duh!" I replied, flipping to them in the 'Artists' section. "Which song?"

"Uhh... No More Sorrow!" he said excitedly.I nodded as I selected the song quickly. The song started slowly.

(SONG LINK: )

"What the hell is-?"

"SHHH!" Ryan and I chorused, silencing Jaret.

The beat of the song picked up and Ryan drummed his hands on his knees in perfect rhythm with it. The words began and we sung along, Ryan still beating along.

Are you lost

In your lies

Do you tell yourself I don't realize

Your crusade's a disguise

Replace freedom with fear

You trade money for lives

I'm aware of what you've done

No more sorrow

I've paid for your mistakes

Your time is borrowed

Your time has come to be replaced

We sung along to the chorus with a little, ok a lot, less screaming. Ryan wasn't a bad singer, but I could tell it was not hie forte.

I see pain

I see need

I see liars and thieves

Abuse power with greed

I had hope

I believed

But I'm beginning to think that I've been deceived

You will pay for what you've done

No more sorrow

I've paid for your mistakes

Your time is borrowed

Your time has come to be replaced

I looked to the other guys. Caleb was tapping his foot to the beat, Damien looked like he was really concentrating on the lyrics, and Alex and Jaret were bobbing their heads to the beat.

Thieves and hypocrites

Thieves and hypocrites

Thieves and hypocrites

No more sorrow

I've paid for your mistakes

Your time is borrowed

Your time has come to be replacedNo more sorrow

I've paid for your mistakes

Your time is borrowed

Your time has come to be replaced

Your time has come to be replaced

Your time has come to be erased

"I actually liked that song!" Alex said.

"Of course you did!" Ryan said.

"It's Linkin Park!" I said in a 'duh' voice.

"Do you have Riot by Three Days Grace?" Damien asked, speaking up.

"Dude why would she-?"

I cut Caleb off as I played the requested song. The first notes played, and surprisingly, Damien sung along to the words. I actually didn't, shocked that he could actually sing, and sound good!

(SONG LINK: )

If you feel so empty

So used up, so let down

If you feel so angry

So ripped off so stepped on

You're not the only one

Refusing to back down

You're not the only one

So get up

Let's start a riot, a riot

Let's start a riot

Let's start a riot, a riot

Let's start a riot

By now, Damien had stood up, really getting into the song.

If you feel so filthy

So dirty so fucked up

If you feel so walked on

So painful so pissed off

You're not the only one

Refusing to go down

You're not the only one

So get up

Caleb jumped up in unison with Alex, playing air guitars.

Let's start a riot, a riot

Let's start a riot

Let's start a riot, a riot

Let's start a riot

The instrumental solo kicked in and Caleb and Alex took over with their air guitars. Ryan threw his legs over the side of my bed and began pounding them again with the drums. They were all laughing at each other by now. My mouth was still wide open. And Damien started singing again.

If you feel so empty

So used up, so let down

If you feel so angry

Just get up

Let's start a riot, a riot

Let's start a riot

Let's start a riot, a riot

Let's start a riot

Let's start a riot, a riot

Let's start a riot

Let's start a riot, a riot

Let's start a riot

Let's start a riot, a riot

Let's start a riot

The song came to an end, unfortunately. The guys fell on the floor laughing hysterically with each other. Jaret, I noticed was strictly laughing at them. I ignored that for the moment, not wanting to argue about that right now. Instead, I stared blankly at the guys, jaw on the floor, while they laughed for the next 5 minutes, at least!

"Hey, Em! What's wrong?" Caleb called.I didn't move.

"Willow?" Ryan asked, nudging my leg.

"Emma!" Damien yelled, waking me up.

"Wha?!" I sputtered, shaking my head and looking up at all the guys starring at me weirdly.

"You ok?" Alex asked, sitting down on the end of Caleb's bed.

"Ye-yeah! That was actually very entertaining" I laughed. "And I'm just a bit, completely stunned, that he" I pointed to Damien "can sing! And sing well for that matter"

"Well, I am pretty stunning!" Damien said, taking a seat beside Alex.

Caleb sat back down on his chair and said "That was a mistake!"I looked at him confused for a minute. Then I looked back to Damien. He was smiling widely and I understood.

"I just gave him bragging rights didn't I?" Everyone in the room nodded. "Perfect! That's just what we need! Damien thinking he's king!" I said sarcastically.

"Hey! I am king!" he countered.

"And you're about to be dethroned!" I almost yelled.

"How so?"

"Well, I've devised a cleverly thought out scheme to knock you off your high horse buddy!"

"You can't!"

"Why not?"

"I'm not on a horse!"I slapped my palm to my forehead as the other guys laughed.

"It's just an expression you idiot!" Jaret said, before breaking out into more laughs.

"I knew that!" Damien yelled, trying to defend himself.

"Sure ya did" Ryan commented sarcastically.

"Emma! Put music on to shut them up, or drown them out or something!" Damien pleaded.

"Alright" I replied, laughing. I just got a great idea! "I'm going to make you guys hate me!" I said, loud enough to be heard over the laughter.

"Willow, I don't think we'll ever hate you!" Ryan said, not laughing anymore.

"Oh really?!" I started a song and...

(SONG LINK: )

Sha, sha, sha

"Oh no!" Alex yelled.

"Oh yes!" I yelled back. I turned so my legs were hanging over the side of my bed, my feet on the floor.

I probably shouldn't say this

But at times I get so scared

When I think about the previous

Relationship we shared

It was awesome but we lost it

It's not possible for me not to care

I sang along as the guys cringed at the song.

And now we're standing in the rain

But nothings ever gonna change

Until you hear, my dear

I jumped up off my bed and sang along with the next part, flinging my hair back and forth, shaking my hips cutely. All the jaws in the room hit the floor.

The 7 things I hate about you! I pointed at Caleb in his chair as I sang. He looked shocked.

The 7 things I hate about you

Oh you

You're vain your game you're insecure

You love me you like her I pointed to myself then to Ryan beside me when the song said 'her'. Ryan looked at me in protest but I kept singing.

You make me laugh you make me cry

I don't know which side to buy I held my hands out to each side of me, shrugging my shoulders.

Your friends there jerks when you act like them

Just know it hurts I waved my hand at Damien, Alex and Jaret on 'friends' and pulled my hands into my chest to show pain on 'hurts', being sure to put enough emotion in and still look like I was kidding around.

I want to be with the one I know

And the 7th thing I hate the most that you do

You make me love you I pointed back to Caleb on 'you' and no one could seem to believe my act was for jokes at this point. It was I swear. I mean...I think it was.

It's awkward and silent as I wait for you to say

And what I need to hear now is your sincere apology

When you mean it I'll believe it

If you text it I'll delete it let's be clear I picked my cell phone up off the desk beside me and shook my head on 'text' and tossed it to Damien on 'delete'.

Oh I'm not coming back

Your taking seven steps here I pointed to Caleb again and wiggled my finger for him to come during 'seven steps here'. Jaret hit him on the arm and he stood up, dumbfounded.

The 7 things I hate about you

You're vain your game you're insecure

You love me you like her I pointed to Ryan again. He didn't seem to have a problem this time, he was too shocked.

You make me laugh you make me cry

I don't know which side to buy I held my hands out and shrugged my shoulders like before.

Your friends there jerks when you act like them

Just know it hurts Once again, I pointed to the other guys and held my hands to my chest like I was hurt.

I want to be with the one I know

And the 7th thing I hate the most that you do

You make me love you

And compared to all the great things

That would take to long to write

I probably should mention the 7 that I like I bit my nail and turned my eyes away, not moving my head, looking embarrassed.

The 7 things I like about you I took a few steps toward Caleb until I was right in front of him.

Your hair your eyes your old Levi's I ruffled his hair and stroked his cheek under his eye gently on each cue.

When we kiss I'm hypnotized I brought my face close to his so our lips were about 2 inches away on 'kiss'

You make me laugh you make me cry

But I guess that's both I'll have to buy I held my hands out and shrugged my shouldere. But this time I shrugged them like I didn't care.

Your hands in mine when we're intertwined I grabbed his hands and held them up between us.

Everythings alright I want to be with the one I know

And the 7th thing I like the most that you do Surprisingly, Caleb pulled me into him as the song slowed and we started slow dancing in front of all the other guys. His hands were on my hips, and mine were on his shoulders, my elbows tucked into my sides.

You make me love you I sang a little quieter, my lips right beside his ear.

You do, oh

Oohhhh oooooooooohhh... We swayed back and forth until the song ended. Caleb put a hand on my lower back and dipped me gracefully on the last notes of the song. It ended and we were just staring at each other. A smile touched his lips and I let out a small giggle. I looked straight into his eyes and wondered how I could like someone, like-like someone, so fast.

"I'd clap if I wasn't so damn jealous!" Damien yelled, snapping me out of my daze.

Ryan's clapping slowed and stopped. He fake coughed and looked down, his chest shaking slightly with laughs he wouldn't let out.

"Wow...I might actually start listening to Miley Cyrus now..." Alex pondered. Jaret laughed at the crazy idea.

"Please don't!" I begged, Caleb returning me to my upright position.

"I thought you liked her...the song...?" Caleb questioned, his hand still on my waist. I hoped he forgot it was there so he wouldn't move it.

"That's her only song I can tolerate!" I said, laughing.

"Good!" Damien yelled. He stood up and said "My turn!" holding out his arms. I just laughed at him and he shrugged, sitting back down, not really caring.

"Well that was fun anyway!" Caleb laughed. I smiled, his hand still on my hip. "What do you want to do now?" he asked, moving his hand and falling back onto my bed.

I refrained myself from yelling "Kiss you!" and actually doing it. Instead I said "I have no clue!"

Caleb's POV

When Emma pointed to me the first time during her amazing performance, my heart skipped a beat. Maybe two. And when she ruffled my hair, my heart sped up immensely! When she touched my cheek, it skipped again. And then, when her lips were so close to mine...I wanted to grab her and kiss her so badly! I died inside, knowing I couldn't. I knew she didn't like me like that. And me liking her like that was really starting to sound stupid! I mean, come on! We just met! Yesterday! It hasn't even been 24 hours yet! What am I supposed to expect, her to like me back this fast? At all? NO! I can't! I know the slow dancing was my idea, but she went along with it, so that has to mean something! Right? I have to stop thinking like this! I should just worry about being a good friend to her right now. That's it! Just friends! Do you understand that Caleb!? Oh my God, this is not going to be easy!

"CALEB!" Emi screamed beside me. I jumped almost a foot in the air.

"What?!" I yelled back.

"You were totally zoned out!"

"No, he was day dreaming!" Damien said loudly.

"About what?" Alex asked me and Damien, whoever would answer. Damien raised an eyebrow at him and Alex clued in. "Oh! Right! I get it! You're his best friend Dame, what exactly is he day dreaming?"

"Well, we're not telepathically connected or anything but my answer would have to be, from years of being stuck with this kid, I definitely know he was thinking- OOMPH!" Damien stated in a tone he knew would get on my nerves. I didn't let him finish.

"I was actually thinking how hard I'd have to hit you with this pillow to knock you off my bed. I succeeded in that calculation!" I stated.

Damien lifted his head so it was visible from the other side of the bed and said "If only you could succeed in any other calculations!" I brought the pillow back down onto his head, making him yell "OWW! STOP THAT!!!"

"Then shut your pie hole!" I yelled back, glaring at him. He glared right back, and was about to say something.

"PIE! Where?!" Ryan yelled from behind me. We broke our glaring contest and turned to look at him, confused expressions on everyone's faces.

"Did you like, just wake up?" Jaret said, laughing.

"Nah, I've just learned to block out their old couple bickering. But I heard 'pie' so...yeah!" Ryan explained. "Actually, I'm going to go get some!"

"Me too!" Emma yelled, following Ryan excitedly to the door.

"I thought we were going to go to the arcade...?" Alex asked, walking up behind her.

"NO!" she yelled, spinning around and pointing a finger at him. He raised his hands like he was surrendering. "You people have not let me eat all day! I'm starving!" she yelled, waving her finger at all of us.

"But can we go to the arcade after-"

"Aagghh!" she screamed, shutting Alex up. He now looked officially scared. "What am I? Your mother or something? Why do you need my permission?!"

"That's one lucky bastard who gets you as a mom!" Jaret said. She turned her head to look at him. Even I noticed he was staring at her chest. And that was the first time I wanted to punch him out.

Emi shook her head, looking completely disgusted. "EW! Whatever! I'm just going to go get something to eat!" she sighed and pushed Ryan out the door, her hands on his lower back. I felt that little green monster of jealousy on my back from that one little action.

Once Emma and Ryan were out of the room Damien asked "So, you guys wanna get something to eat?"

"Yup!" Alex said, leaving the room. Jaret followed him. Damien picked himself up off the floor and made a wide circle around me so I wasn't able to hit him again. He wouldn't turn his back toward me and glared at me as he left the room. I laughed at him and began walking slowly to the door. I poked my head through it and saw everyone waiting for the elevator. I brought my head back into the room and slapped myself across the face, hoping it would make me stop thinking what I was about Emma. It didn't...and now my face hurt. Greaaaat!

Emma's POV

The elevator opened and I pushed Ryan in. "Ok, ok! I'm going, I'm going!" he said as I pushed him to the back of the elevator.

Jaret pushed the close doors button and I commented "Caleb's not here yet!" He just stared at me blankly, showing a 'do-you-think-I-care?' look in his eyes. I just noticed...Jaret's kind of...a bastard!!

"Oh, allow me!" Damien said, pushing Jaret out of the way. He began rapidly pressing the close doors button.

"Uh, wrong button kid!" I said, hands on my hips.

"No it's not!" he said, smirking.

I shook my head in disappointment at him. The doors were almost closed and Caleb slipped through. He smiled at Damien triumphantly and Damien glared back.

"You really like doing that don't you?" I asked Caleb.

"It's become a habit" he replied, glaring at Damien again. They didn't give each other death glares or anything, it was more like, 'I know things about you and I'm not afraid to tell people!' I laughed on the inside thinking about this.

The elevator was really quiet now, except for that annoying elevator music. I cocked my head to one side and stared at the speaker on the ceiling like doing so would shut the music off. It didn't. Figures! "Has anybody noticed this particular elevator has extremely gay music?" I asked no one in particular.

"You get used to it" Alex said, leaning against the wall.

"I don't wanna get used to it!" I whined. "It's..." I paused, racking my brain for the right words.

"Extremely gay?" Ryan offered.

"Yes! Thank you!" I laughed. He smiled at me and Damien covered his ears.

"Thanks a lot Emma! I had forgotten it was there until now!" he yelled.

"Your welcome! And you don't have to yell!" I shouted back. He stuck his tongue out at me, uncovering his ears, and I stuck mine out back.

"Alright children, that's enough!" Caleb said, putting a hand on each of out shoulders. I got a tingly feeling in mine and pulled my tongue back in. I looked at him and he nodded his head toward the doors, which were now open.

"Oh!" I said quietly. He laughed and followed me out of the elevator. I wanted to bang my head against a wall after being so stupid. Normally, doing something like that wouldn't embarrass me, but now, it did. Maybe it was just me, or all the guys there, or...Caleb. I didn't want him to think I was only book-smart! Or that I didn't have any common sense and wasn't observant! God! Why was I thinking like this? I barely know him for crying out loud! Maybe he wasn't even thinking anything like this about me and I was just psyching myself out. I hope that last one's right! I really do!

Back to life, the guys were talking about...something guys talk about. Sports, video games, movies, it was one of those. Or all of them. I don't know.

Jaret's cell phone rang. He answered it quickly with a "Hello? Now? Fine! 10 minutes. Bye" I starred at him quizzically. "Gotta go meet my brother. See ya guys later! Bye Ems!" he said, jogging in the opposite direction we were headed. I hate to admit it but I watched him as he did. He may be a bastard, but her pretty damn hot! All these guys were! A lot of girls could be jealous right now if they knew I was here...Haha! Lucky me!

"Ems?" I mouthed. Whatever, I'd be getting a lot of nick names around here. I suppose 'Ems' can't be the worst.

"Alex! Cale! Get yo asses ova here!" I turned my head and saw a group of three guys waving them over. Correction, they were waving at me. I rolled my eyes.

"Be right back!" 'Cale' said. Cale...? Could I get away with calling him that? Once and a while maybe...but I'm already used to Caleb.

"Shit!" Ryan mumbled, looking at his watch.

"What's up?" I asked.

"I'm supposed to call my mom now" he said, dreading it.

"Aww! Look at the little mama's boy!" Damien cooed.

"Am not!" Ryan yelled. "She's just over protective and paranoid! You know that!" he defended.

"Whatever" Damien said, raising his hands and letting them drop, signifying he didn't really care.

"I gotta go. No pie for me right now" Ryan said sadly. "Later!" He changed direction and headed back to our dorm building.

"Bye!" I called after him. I looked from side to side, realizing 5 guys had dropped to one.

"Hey, Em?" Damien said, turning around so he was walking backwards as we continued to the cafeteria.

"Yes?"

"Are you any good at DDR?"

"Well, I-" I paused, noticing something behind Damien. "Damien you're-"

"No, no! You answer this question!" he commanded.

"But Damien you're going to-"

"Emma!" he wouldn't listen! I was trying to warn him he was about to walk into a fountain and most likely fall in.

I stopped walking as he was about a foot away now. One more step and-

"Shit!" he swore loudly, tripping over the ledge of the fountain. His arms flailed briefly and I grabbed his arms in an attempt to save him. But being the small girl that I am, he ended up pulling me into the water. I landed on top of him, my hands on his arms and head on his chest. Our legs were practically tangled from the fall and he now had his hands on my upper arms, propped up on his elbows. To a passerby, we would probably look like we were there by choice.

"I'm sorry" he laughed. I looked up at him. The flowing fountain was spraying water on top of his head but he didn't seem to mind. He was just laughing.

"No you're not!" I stated, glaring at him.

"You're right!" he said. He tilted his head back and let the water hit his face. It moved away the hair that was clinging to his forehead. He brought his head back up straight, still laughing quietly. Then his expression changed drastically. His eyes widened and his mouth opened like he was bout to protest.

Crap! Was there a teacher behind us or something? Damn, we're going to get detention or something! My mother's going to kill me! I squeezed my eyes shut and climbed off Damien. I turned around and opened my eyes slowly. Then let out a huge sigh.

"Caleb, thank God! I thought you were a teacher!" I breathed in and fell back into the fountain. My head went under the shallow water but I didn't care if I got any wetter. I already knew I had to change. I lifted myself out of the water so I was sitting. My eyes were still closed.

Water splashed beside me and Damien called "Caleb wait! It's not what you think! Caleb! Caleb STOP!" he sounded like he was begging now. My eyes shot open and I saw a dripping wet Damien catch Caleb by the arm as he was trying to walk away. They exchanged some words I couldn't hear and I stood up. Then Caleb tore his arm away from Damien's grasp and shoved him aside.

"CALEB!?" I yelled confused. He wouldn't do this to his best friend. He looked at me briefly before turning and stalking toward our dorm building. The look on his face was weird...he looked angry and...hurt...? But why? He didn't...did he? No! NO WAY!

Caleb's POV

I knew it! I just knew it! I'm so stupid! Thinking I even had a decimal chance with her! She doesn't like me! Clearly! She was just in a fucking fountain with Damien! DAMIEN! I can't believe he'd do this to me! He knows! He knows how I feel! I told him how I feel! I'm so stupid! My grades can prove it to you too! That should have been my first sign! She's so smart and...a kid GENIUS! And I...I can't even pass math or history! Or science or geography! God, it's no wonder she doesn't like me! Damien can be an ass but girls always fall for his charm! And he can pass those classes! With decent marks! Oh my God! I'm so stupid!

I reached...our...room. I opened the door and walked in, slamming it fiercely. I realized I was beating myself up, but I couldn't care less. Besides, it helped...kind of...I fell on top of my bed feeling defeated. I covered my face with my hands and sighed. I was like that for a minute until I got restless. I sat up and...well that was a mistake.

Emma's side of the room was staring at me and I knew I couldn't escape this. But I couldn't confront it either! I felt my eyes start stinging and I rubbed them viciously with the back of my hand. I wouldn't let myself cry over one girl I've only known for one day. But it was Emma. A tear slid down my cheek and I felt like breaking something. My hands balled into fists as I slowly let the anger and hurt flow through me. I took deep breaths but couldn't seem to make it stop.

Then there was a soft knock on the door. "Go away!" I yelled, not caring who it was.

"Caleb?" Emma's voice drifted through the solid door gently. "Can I come in?"

"It's your room too!" I said harshly.

"Yeah, but I kinda forgot my key..." I looked at the desk beside me and saw her key next to mine. I sighed and rubbed my face again, making sure that traitor of a tear was gone. I opened the door and my heart fell into my stomach. Emma looked at me with her big brown eyes. She looked concerned, confused, and cold.

"A-are you ok?" she asked.

"Yeah...fine..." I said slowly.

"What happened? Damien wouldn't talk to me" That struck me as weird. Why wouldn't Damien tell her...unless...what was it he said? I racked my brain for the words I'd blocked out. "Caleb! It's not like that! I fell and she tried to help and-" "So you pulled her into a fountain and-" "NO! Nothing happened!" I recalled the argument, barely remembering it, wanting to forget it. Was Damien really telling the truth? If he was, I'd look like an idiot!

"Nothing...I just..." I couldn't let her know what I was thinking, especially if I was wrong! So she might not be with Damien, but she probably still doesn't like me like that...

"Caleb, I know it's not nothing" she said, now shivering and still dripping wet.

"Why don't you change?" I suggested, walking back to my bed and falling on it. What was I going to tell her? I know she won't give up!

"'Kay..." I tried to ignore her as she dug through her suitcase and grabbed some dry clothes. She walked to the bathroom and I saw her look over her shoulder at me. I pretended I hadn't seen it and stared at the ceiling thinking of an excuse as she changed. She came out a few minutes later and put her wet clothes in her laundry hamper. She came and sat beside me on the end of my bed. My heart beat quickened and I felt her gaze piercing me. I finally looked up at her. She still looked confused and worried.

"What-?" I shook my head and she paused. "But-" I shook it again and she stopped again. "Caleb!" there was now a threatening tone in her voice and I knew I had to stop her from asking that question. "Caleb, wha-?"

"Do you want to know a secret?" I blurted.

Her expression hinted curiosity and I knew I was safe, for now. "Sure..." she replied.

I rolled off the side of the bed and reached for something under it. Emma's eyes widened and I took it she remembered I was hiding something under here. I smiled and pulled it out. I held it at the edge of the bed, hiding my face behind it.

"Hey! Is that...mine...?" her voice trailed as she looked at her bed where there was an identical teddy bear resting to the one in my hands. "Is that what you were trying to hide?" she asked.

"Yup" I said flatly.

"Why? I mean, I wouldn't make fun of you because you have a teddy bear. And I'm pretty sure Ryan wouldn't either"

"Actually, that's not really why I hid it...well it kinda is" I laughed. She smiled and I continued "My grandmother bought it for me on my 3rd birthday. She died about a year later"

"I'm sorry" Emma said softly.

"It's ok. I don't really remember her. But, I've had this bear ever since. When I was eight, my mother and I were going through old photo albums. There was a picture of me, my grandmother and the bear. She explained to me that it was one of the only things I had left from my grandmother, the others being trust funds" We both laughed at that. "Well, that night, I was playing with it, and I kinda...ripped a hole in its back. The stuffing starting falling out and I made it worse trying to fix it. The bear was near empty by the time I realized my mom would be disappointed I ruined it. So, I stuffed it back up and had one of our maids sew it up. She promised me she wouldn't tell my mom. The thing was, the bear looked flatter when I re-stuffed it. So I had to find something else to put in it. I...put my allowance in" I was smiling remembering all this.

"You got an allowance? I thought you were rich?"

"I did, and I am"

"So your allowance would be like, a lot?"

"I got $20 a week and put almost all of my allowance in. I started getting an allowance at 6 years old, so the bear would be worth about...uh..."

"$3120" Emma offered.

"Sure...If you say so!" I said.

"That's a lot!" she commented.

"Yeah, the bear ended up being to fat and my mom found out. But she wasn't mad because my bear now had more that a sentimental value. It had a dollar value!"

Emma laughed and I thought I was home free. Of course I wasn't! She stopped laughing and got serious. "Caleb?" I looked up at her. "What happened?"

I bit the inside of my cheek. Think...think...think damn it! "Well, I...had a headache, and I can get kinda irritable when that happens..." Did she buy that?

"Makes sense, I guess" I sighed quietly. "But then why did Damien say 'It's not what you think'" she used air quotes and I panicked.

"I don't know...I guess he thought something...but you know him! He doesn't exactly think before he talks" I tried, smiling.

"So you blew up at him because...?" she trailed.

"Well...he wasn't very helpful about anything and like I said, I can get irritable so...yeah"

"Oh, alright" I think we wrapped up this situation. Hopefully. I knew I had to find Damien and apologize and ask him if anything really did happen between him and Emma. I couldn't ask her because if there was something, I'd look like an ass, and if there wasn't, she'd want to know why I thought that and would figure I blew up about that. And if she didn't like me like that, which I'm pretty positive is the case, things could get really weird between us! I'd rather just be friends, as much as that hurts. And I should be happy for Damien if it's true. He is my best friend and it would be Emma's choice.

"Hey!" she said loudly.

"What?" I asked, scared she caught me.

"You're wearing Levi's!" she was looking at my jeans.

"Yeah...so?""I never noticed...the song...'Your hair, your eyes, your old Levi's'" she sang. I clued in and laughed. Then I pondered...the song...was just a song right? I mean...she didn't think that way about me? No...she laughed about it...and it was really just or fun...

"We should go find the guys. They're probably looking for us by now" she said.

"Yeah sure" I got up and grabbed my key. Now I could find Damien and apologize. And if interrogation happened to occur...well I warned you!

Caleb's POV

We left the dorm building, staying completely silent the whole time. It was more than a little awkward. I knew she knew something was up, I just prayed she didn't know what. We looked for the guys in the only place we could think, the cafeteria. I hate to admit it but where there's food, there are guys to eat it. Especially if it's already been paid for!

Sure enough Alex, Ryan and Damien were sitting at a table by a window. Alex and Ry were talking, but Damien was silent staring out the window. I figured it was my fault.

We walked over to the table and Emma sat down with a "Hello again!"

"Hey!" Alex and Ryan chorused.

"Em, did you change your clothes?" Alex asked.

"Duh! She was soaking wet, like Damien!" Ryan answered. I noticed Damien hadn't actually changed his clothes. He was still fairly wet, and looked only a little less cold than Emma had.

"Why?" Alex asked. Ryan proceeded to tell him the story and Emma put her forehead on the table and laughed the whole time.

I nudged Damien's shoulder and whispered "Can we talk?"

He sighed and nodded, standing up. "We'll be right back guys" he said.We left the cafeteria silently.

"Why haven't you changed? You're soaked!" I said lightly. He just shrugged. I changed my direction toward the dorm building and he followed me.

It was silent still until we reached his dorm room on the fourth floor. The tension was unbearable! We got to his room and walked in. I sat on his bed, knowing it was his because he always made his bed, something that completely contradicts his personality. Unlike Emma and I, Damien had unpacked his clothes and was rummaging through the drawers of his dresser to find something dry. After a few drawers he walked into the bathroom and was out not even a minute later. He tossed his wet clothes into a hamper and sat on Ry's bed. The layout of their room was the same as mine, only mine had somehow managed to stay cleaner in one day. I wonder why?

"What did you want to talk about?" Damien said coolly.

"Well... I wanted to apologize for earlier. I kinda overreacted, and didn't listen to your side of the story. I was just pissed and..." I didn't know what else to say.

"I get it. I just can't believe you think I would do that! Sure, Emma's great, and gorgeous! But I knew how you felt about her! Give me a little credit! Have some faith! I wouldn't do that to you!" he replied.

"I know that now. And I'm sorry. I should've at least talked to you first. I mean if you felt the same way I do, I'd back off. I'd be happy for you..." I said.

"Wow. You...you really like her don't you?"

I nodded and hung my head. I stood up and turned away from him, saying, "It's stupid. It's been one fucking day! I don't know how I can even feel anything so fast! And I know she definitely doesn't feel the same way"

"Hey. You don't know that! Give it time!" he defended me. I turned back around with a bit of an embarrassed smile.

"Thanks" I said.

He stood up and said "No problem. And don't worry...I forgive you" he said, once again sounding like the king.

"Oh thank you sire! I don't know what I would've done if you didn't say that your majesty!" I said sarcastically.

"You know I'm king!" he said, pointing a finger at me, looking completely serious. I laughed and headed for the door, Damien behind. I stopped laughing and everything came back to me at that second. Even if she didn't like me now, would she ever? Or was I even stupider to think that? I sighed and opened the door.

Damien patted my shoulder from behind me. Reading my thoughts, he said, "Time, dude!"

"Yeah..." I mumbled.

*********************

We were laughing by the time we got back to the cafeteria. Everyone was still at the same table, and Alex saw us, waving us over. Emma and Ryan were eating something, and I found out what it was when we got closer.

"Finally got your pie, did you?" Damien asked them. They nodded furiously and we laughed.

"So I was wondering..." Alex started.

"NO!" Emma yelled, dropping her fork before she took another bite.

"What?" he asked nervously.

"You people are not dragging me away from my meal again! I haven't eaten anything today!" she exclaimed.

"I was just going to ask if you guys were going to that party they hold on the last day of summer..." he said slowly, afraid of Emma.

"Oops..." she said, laughing. We all laughed and she asked "What party exactly?"

"Oh, well the school rents this hall a few blocks away and holds all these parties and dances there throughout the year. I don't know, but I think they're trying to keep us entertained..." Damien said.

"That made it sound so lame. There's music and food. What else do you need?" Ryan asked.

"Girls!" Damien said in a 'duh!' tone.

"It does sound kind of lame..." Emma admitted.

"Ah, but now we have a girl!" Damien said.

"Yeah, a girl. Singular. One. Me. And I'm not gonna dance with every guy in this school because there's only me!" she said defiantly.

"Well then it's a good thing for you that most guys don't go because it is so lame" I said.

She laughed and replied, "Then I'm going to go...just 'cause it's part of this whole experience"

"Yay!" Alex said, clapping his hands. "I can never convince these guys to go! It's like they actually have something else to do. Like their lives are that interesting they can't go out for a few hours!" he said sarcastically.

"Then maybe it'll be just you and me!" she said to him.

He smiled and the rest of us chorused "No, no, no! We'll go!"

They laughed at us and our now desperate looking faces. I ended up laughing too, and then we all were. For the next 10 minutes. For no apparent reason. We just didn't, or couldn't, stop. We got a lot of weird glances from guys all over the cafeteria, and had no doubt it would be all over campus by tomorrow, just because Emma was with us.

We finally stopped a few minutes later, gasping for air.

"What was that about?" Ryan asked, clearly confused.

"Yeah, what were we laughing about exactly?" Alex asked.

Damien coughed and gasped for air again. "I have no idea!"

"I think I need some air!" Emma said, standing up. She walked towards the exit and turned around. "You can come you know" she said like we were 4 years old.

We all nodded and stood up, feeling stupid. She laughed as we ran to catch up to her.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Well, I never really got a proper tour of this place, so why don't we start with that?"

We exchanged glances and I said, "We can do that"

Emma's POV

"Dylan and Jake"

"Math department"

"Science"

"Flower garden"

The guys were taking turns naming and pointing to random buildings, random people, random...anything! I just followed a few steps behind them, actually taking all of it in.

"Garbage can"

"Janitor"

I froze mid step at that word. I backtracked to where Caleb had last pointed. Back to the janitor. The cafeteria lady's words drifted through my head. "Word to the wise...Make friends with the janitors, they'll help you out when you need it"

I walked over to the janitor, a balding man in the classic orange jumpsuit. I stuck my hand out for him to shake and he looked up at me.

"I'm Emma!" I said smiling.

He wiped his brow with his sleeve and said, "I know. So, can I help you with something?"

"Not really" I admitted, withdrawing my hand. "Just trying to meet new people. Get to know everybody around here. Nice to meet you..." I paused and looked at his name tag. "Mr. O'Riley" I smiled again.

He smiled back, saying, "Nice to meet you too" He looked a little confused, but grateful I acknowledged him.

"Hey Emma!" I looked to where someone called me from, and saw who other than the guys, waving me over and staring at me like I was a freak. I was used to that look by now.

"Well, I gotta go. See you around Mr. O'Riley!" I called over my shoulder, walking toward the guys.

"Bye Emma" he called back before chuckling to himself.

"What, was he trying to rape you or something?" Damien asked as I got near them.

"No. I started the convo" I stated, walking past them.

"Uh...why?" Alex asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" Caleb said. "I mean, she clearly has some insane fetish for greasy old men!"

I punched him in the arm and he laughed, not even flinching. "'Kay, we all...all but Cale that is... know that's not true!" Ryan said. "But why were you talking to O'Riley, Willow?"

I shrugged saying, "I dunno. Just thought it'd be nice to say hi. Thank him for his great service to this school, since no one else does"

"Whatever!" Damien said. He opened the door to a building I hadn't even noticed walking toward. The loud noises from each game and each boy playing it echoed in my head. The blasting back ground music coursed through me and my eyes widened. "I will beat you at one game, to prove Brawl was a fluke. Beginners luck" he said smirking.

"But I don't know how to play-" I shouted over the chatter.

"That's my point!" he yelled back.

I pouted and crossed my arms. He laughed and Ryan yelled from behind me. "Caleb! Play you in House of the Dead 2!"

"You're on!" he yelled, accepting the challenge. They ran toward the empty machine and Alex grabbed my wrist.

"You have to watch them! They're so good! And freakishly competitive!" he shouted.

"Ok..." I whispered. House of the Dead 2? Call me crazy, but it sounds scary.

I was right. And so was Alex. Ryan and Caleb got incredibly competitive, matching point for point, kill for kill. I spent most of the time hiding behind Alex, peeking over his shoulder every once and a while to check the score. Finally the time ran out and I gave and inaudible sigh.

"Ha! You can't win!" Caleb mocked Ryan.

"I will! One of these days!" I laughed at their display.

"Oh you wanna go Em?" Ryan called me out. I shook my head furiously. "Too late!" he yelled, restarting the game.

"But... I can't! I don't know how!" I squealed.

"You also didn't know how to play Brawl. Yet you kicked Damien's ass" Caleb said, passing me his gun.

"Two differences. Actually three. One, it was Damien. Two, I wasn't freaked out by Pitt and Kirbi. And three, I didn't need a gun!" I shouted, waving it in has face. I looked at it completely confused.

He put his hands on my shoulders and spun me towards the screen. The game started and I stood there frozen. Then Caleb's arm wrapped around me, helping me hold the gun properly. He put his hand over mine and his finger over mine on the trigger. He aimed and shot quickly.

"Just point and shoot!" he said. He pulled his hands back, keeping them on my shoulders. I aimed as best as I could and fired. I actually killed one of the things attacking me! Then more came at me. I shot at them a few times, and then my gun stopped working. I panicked as the dead things got closer.Then Caleb's arm angled me, pointing the gun off the screen.

"Shoot" he whispered beside my ear. I did as I was told and I heard the gun reload. I swiveled back to the screen and kept shooting, reloading every now and then. And Caleb still had his hands on my shoulders. And guess what? Yup! More butterflies! They made the game a tad harder.

I soon got to the area Ryan was in, finding the game quite simple once I knew the basic controls. The game ended and of course I was far behind Ryan's score. He turned to me and smiled triumphantly.

"Again!" I commanded.

He was slightly taken aback, but restarted the game. Now, unfortunately, Caleb's hands were gone, but I could concentrate on the game. I came in full force, keeping a steady pace with Ryan the whole time. We would take turns pulling ahead of each other, but in the end, it was a tie. A fricken' tie! That's terrible!

"Woooow!' Alex said. "You catch on quick" I nodded and smiled. "Remind me never to cross you" I nodded again.

"Come on Emma!" Damien yelled out of nowhere, towing me somewhere. "We're playing Jurassic Park!"

Oh God! I knew that game. Dinosaurs and 2 people behind a closed curtain, in a tiny little box. Me and Damien. Fun!

**************

Alex's POV

Caleb had definitely flirted with Emma! Look at how he 'helped her with the game'. Come on! It's so obvious!

When she started walking away with Damien, I shoved him lightly in the shoulder. He looked at me confused and I glared. He clued in and laughed, shaking his head.

"Dude! Come on!" I said.

He stopped laughing, knowing he was caught.

"I won't tell" I whispered, leaning closer to him.

"Thanks" he muttered.

"Son of a bitch!" Damien shouted, a few minutes later. "She beat me!"

We laughed as he and Emma emerged from the game. Emma blew on her nails and rubbed them on the front of her shirt.

"A challenge once and a while would be nice" she said victoriously.We kept laughing as Damien glared at her. She shrugged and headed for the door.

"Where ya goin'" I asked."Just back to the room. You guys can stay and play your games though. I'll see you later" she replied, leaving.Caleb looked a little disappointed but we all went back to our games.

Emma's POV

I got back to our dorm and flopped down on my bed. I stayed there thinking for a few minutes. Caleb had put his arms around me. But I'm not going to make a scene. I know he was just trying to help. But I liked it either way.

I sighed and rolled off my bed. I crawled to Caleb's side of the room and grabbed my phone from where Damien had left it when I'd thrown it to him during my performance.I flipped it open and saw 'New Message' across the screen, with 'Damien' glowing underneath it. I opened it shaking my head.

Big mistake! I hav ur numbr now! And u hav mine! Hope that made ur day :)

I rolled my eyes and closed my phone, crawling back to my side. I put it on the desk and grabbed my iPod. I put the ear buds in and hit shuffle. I climbed back onto my bed and got comfy. I listened to a few random songs, and then Chasing Cars started. I can't help it. I always sing along to this song. I closed my eyes and started.

[Song link: ]

We'll do it all

Everything

On our own

We don't need

Anything

Or anyone

If I lay here

If I just lay here

Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

I don't quite know

How to say

How I feel

Those three words

Are said too much

They're not enough

If I lay here

If I just lay here

Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told

Before we get too old

Show me a garden that's bursting into life

Let's waste time

Chasing cars

Around our heads

I need your grace

To remind me

To find my own

If I lay here

If I just lay here

Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

I felt weight on the bed beside me. I turned my head and opened my eyes. Caleb was staring innocently back at me, smiling.

Forget what we're told

Before we get too old

Show me a garden that's bursting into life

I stared at him and he said, "I like that song"

I blinked a few times and stared at the ceiling, singing the rest of the song.

All that I am

All that I ever was

Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see

I don't know where

Confused about how as well

Just know that these things will never change for us at all

If I lay here

If I just lay here

Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

The song ended and I stopped singing. But we lay on the bed for a long time after that, saying absolutely nothing. I closed my eyes and felt myself drifting off to sleep. I put my head on his shoulder, not knowing if I was crossing the line or not. He rested his head on top of mine and I smiled. Ok, even though this was just a friendly gesture, I felt all warm and fuzzy inside. I never wanted this to end. Never.

************************

"Emma! Caleb! Please open the door" came a soft voice from behind it, waking me. My head was still on Caleb's shoulder, and his was still resting gently on mine. I recognized Ryan's innocent plead. I would've moved, but I didn't want to ruin this. It could be the only time anything like this happened any time soon. Or at all!

Suddenly there was pounding on the door and Damien's voice bolted through it. "EMMA! CALEB! Open the God damned door!"

It shocked me and I jumped a little. Caleb however, awoke and jumped a lot. He fell off the bed, a look of confusion on his face. I rolled over on the bed to see if he was ok. His gaze was darting all over the room. He finally looked at me and I laughed. He stood up and rubbed the back of his neck, walking toward the door.

It was open barely a centimeter when Damien Burst through yelling, "What the hell is wrong with you? Didn't you hear that? The door was actually locked that time! God, I almost died of old age!"

Caleb looked frightened by his friend's outburst and I kept laughing. Ryan and Alex followed him in, laughing as well.

"What's wrong with him?" Caleb asked.

"I think he's PMSing..." Ryan pondered.

"Why didn't you open the door?" Alex asked, looking at him funny. It was a look I couldn't read, but I knew Caleb could. Some stupid boy mind thing. I don't know.

"We, uh... fell asleep" he said, ruffling his hair.

"Seriously?" Alex asked. Caleb nodded and he added, "But it's not even 6 yet!"

"Oops" I said, falling back down on my bed and fiddling with my iPod, still playing music softly.

"Well...what do you guys want exactly?" Caleb asked.

"What, we can't come and visit our friend every now and again?" Damien said sarcastically, draping an arm over Caleb's shoulder.

"Suurrree" he replied, shaking Damien off. "It's just, you guys seem to have another reason for constantly bothering me now" he said, glaring at...me. Hey!!

"Hey! This isn't my fault! I explained to you why I was here! Clearly not my fault!" I defended.

"Chill Willow!" Ryan said, sitting at the end of my bed. That was becoming a habit of his. "We came to see if you guys were going to eat anytime soon" he directed toward Caleb.

"I don't know" he replied looking at me.I sighed and rolled my eyes looking toward the wall. I stared at the same spot for a whole 6 minutes and the guys said nothing, they didn't even move around behind me.

"Uh, Willow?" Ryan finally said a few minutes later, poking me in the side repeatedly.I rolled over to lie on my side to face him. I raised an eyebrow and he just stared back innocently.

"Are you ok?" Alex asked, leaning over me.

"Oh no! I know that look!" Damien said, walking backwards until he collided with Caleb's bed and sat on it. "That's the 'Why does everything you do revolve around me look?'!" he said, pointing an accusing finger at me.

"How did you know that?" I asked, sitting up. He just shrugged and I shook my head.

"Well then, we'll just go to dinner by ourselves" Caleb said walking out the door. Ryan jumped off my bed and ran after him at the mention of food. Alex followed a second later and Damien looked back at me briefly. I was staring straight at the wall, looking deep in thought.

"Emma?" he asked from the doorway. "What are you...?"

"I'm hungry too!" I blurted. He just laughed as I climbed off my bed and pushed him out the doorway toward the elevator. We slipped in before the doors shut and I took my hands off Damien's shoulder blades where they'd been from me pushing him.

"Changed your mind?" Caleb asked.

"I never said I didn't want to eat! I was just referring to how you guys seem to always ask my permission before doing something, like I'm your mother" I clarified.

"Mommy!" Ryan whined, falling to his knees and pulling on the bottom of my shirt. "Can we go to the park and play on the big slides? Then can you read me a bedtime story?" he said in a begging little kid voice. It was absolutely adorable!

I laughed and ruffled his hair. It was soft and shiny and I loved it like I loved Colton's. He smiled up at me cutely. It made me miss my friends even more. He laughed and stood up, leaning against the elevator wall.

"I knew you were a little slow Ry, but come on!" Damien joked.

"Hey! I happen to have a 3.1 GPA!" He said.

"More like 2.7" Alex muttered.

"Well if you wanna get technical..." Ryan said. "But it's better than you!"

"Not really! I'm only 2.6! And that's better than Damien!" Alex countered.

"I'm 2.4 guys! That's not bad! You wanna see bad, check out Cale's GPA!" Damien defended, pointing at Caleb to take the attention off himself.

"Thanks" Caleb said sarcastically, looking down.

"Oops..." Damien said quietly. "Sorry dude" Caleb shook his head and kept staring at the floor.

"What's your GPA Willow?" Ryan asked, getting the subject off Caleb. I froze and stared at him for a few seconds. The elevator dinged open, saving me.

"Oh look! The doors open!" I exclaimed, speed walking out them.

"Emma!" Damien called after me in a defiant tone. The caught up to me outside the dorm building and someone grabbed my arm, spinning me around to face them.

"Em, we all told ours!" Alex said, staring me down.

"Caleb didn't" I pointed out.

"Oh we all know it's low!" Damien said. Caleb raised his hands and shrugged his shoulders, silently questioning why everyone was picking on him. "What is it?" he persisted.

I bit my lip and mumbled my answer, not making eye contact with any of them.

"Did you catch that?" Ryan asked.

"No. Repeat that louder and enunciate please" Alex commanded, standing up straighter.

"3.9" I said in a small voice. I took one look at all their shocked faces and spun around, walking away from them.

"No effin' way!" Damien shouted, being the first to recover. He ran up beside me and stared at me like I had green skin.

"I don't really doubt it..." Alex said, appearing on my other side.

I shrugged and kept walking, slightly embarrassed. This was another reason for them to give me special treatment.

Damien's POV

"Where's Caleb and Ryan?" I asked, not hearing them say anything about Emma's freakishly inhuman intelligence.

Alex turned around and walked backwards. "There they are" he said laughing.

I turned around as well and saw Ryan trying to get Caleb to move faster by pulling his arm. Caleb was frozen with a shocked expression on his face, staring at Emma.

"Whaaaat?" she said innocently, having turned around and seen Caleb's face.

"I think Caleb's in loooove!" Ryan teased.

Alex and I exchanged panicked glances. Ryan didn't know he actually liked her yet! Shit!

Caleb flung his arm out and it collided with Ryan's stomach. He gave an audible "Oomph!" and doubled over.

"What was that fo-"

"Hey Emma! Did I ever tell you about the time the dog got into the school?" Alex interrupted her, spinning her around and leading her away from us.

I walked back toward Caleb and Ryan. Ryan stood straight, still holding his stomach, and I slapped him upside the head.

"OW!" he cried. "What did I do?!?" he shouted in my face.

"You idiot!" I yelled.

"Whaaaat?" he tried. I just glared at him and shook my head. It finally clicked. "Oh my God! He does like her! You do like her!" he said, directing the last bit to Caleb in an unbelieving tone.

"Shut up!" I said, slapping him again.

"Ow! Oh...sorry!" he whispered.

Caleb had been looking away the whole time and finally turned to Ryan. "You didn't know" he said.

"Exactly!" Ryan yelled. "Why am I always the last one to know!"

"Because you act irrationally about it!" I said, raising my hand, threatening to hit him again.

"Ok! Ok!" he cowered, raising his arms to block his head. "I said I was sorry!"

"Yeah, but now Emma's gonna be suspicious!" I pointed out.

"Oh...oops" Ryan muttered.

"Yeah 'OOPS!" I yelled.

"Don't!...hit me again!" he emphasized.

"Then keep your mouth shut!" I yelled.

"Fine!" he said, walking away from me before I had a chance to change my mind.

Caleb followed, trying to laugh this off. I knew, deep down, it was killing him that Emma might find out because of Ryan. I would feel terrible if she found out and didn't feel the same way, or reacted by never speaking to him again. See? I can be sensitive sometimes! Puppies and rainbows just touch my heart, you know? 'Kay, whatever.

*****************

Emma's POV

"It took 4 janitors and the 2 animal control guys to get the dog out of there" Alex said.

"Fascinating" I commented dully, resting my chin on the palm of my hand, elbow propping me up.

"Am I boring you?" he asked.

"No really, this is fascinating, go on" I said sarcastically.

"Ok, well, after they finally got a net around the dog, there was the trouble of getting him in a cage. So they-Hey!"

I had thrown a carrot at him, interrupting him.

"Did you just throw a carrot at me?" he asked, disbelieving.

"No shit Sherlock!" I replied. I took a bite of another carrot as Ryan sat down, followed by Caleb and Damien. They began eating their own meals and I finally laughed at Alex's expression.

"What happened?" Damien asked curiously.

"Oh, I did this..." I picked up another carrot and threw it at Damien. It bounced off his forehead and he gaped at me. I laughed again.

"You did NOT, just throw a carrot at me!" he said.

"I'm pretty sure I did" I replied.

"Oh. In that case, I'm pretty sure I did this..." he said before throwing multiple French fries at me. They hit me in the face and I now gaped at him. Caleb picked a fry out of my hair, holding in a laugh.

"You...I...Oh, you're dead!" I chucked a bread roll at his head, but the little ass ducked. Instead, the bun hit some huge guy in the back of the head at the table opposite ours.

I slapped my hands over my mouth as the guy turned around.

"Who!?" he said standing, looking around our table, then at me. I pointed a finger at Caleb beside me. The huge guy turned around briefly, then back and hit Caleb in the face with a handful of spaghetti. I burst out laughing as he whipped it off, and turned to me, glaring.

"Oh, this is funny is it?" he asked. A string of spaghetti fell over his eye at that moment and I laughed even harder. He brushed it away quickly and turned to Ryan on his other side.

"Hey that's mine!" Ryan complained as he turned around holding Ryan's...gulp...pudding bowl. I didn't even have a chance to move before he flipped it over and splattered it on my head.

I screamed from the 'spill' as I felt it ooze down my forehead. My eyes and mouth were wide open as I raised my hands in front of me, balling them into fists. By now the whole cafeteria was looking at us...or rather, me.

I shook my head fiercely and ice cream flew off and hit everyone at the table and a few guys at the one behind us.

Before I knew it, someone had yelled "FOOD FIGHT!" and the place broke into chaos.

I got hit many times in about 5 seconds and dove under the table, pandemonium raging around me. I few seconds later I heard a voice from above me, someone standing on the table.

"Emma chickened out!" It was Damien. That's it! I am no chicken!

I crawled out from under the table to see Damien jump off the table and chuck a hamburger at some random guy who fell sideways on impact. He had his back turned to me and didn't see me grab an ice cream sundae from the table beside me. Acting quickly at the exactly right moment, I grabbed his belt loop and pulled it, making a small gap between him and his jeans, and poured the ice cream down them.

He jumped and let out a scream of his own. He spun around quickly and I laughed in his face.

"You!" he said, voice dripping venom.

I took that opportunity to run away...fast. I dove under a few tables and used random strangers as shields as I made my way to the exit. I pulled one familiar-ish guy in front of me to block an attack, not being able to see him clearly in my mad escape. But he knew me.

"Ems?" Jaret said, spinning around as a taco...a effin' TACO!...hit him in the back of the head.

"Gotta go!" I yelled, seeing Damien only one table away from catching me.

I finally crossed the battlefield, Damien still trying to follow me, getting held up by various meals hitting him, and made it to the doors. I was less than 3 steps from freedom when the Headmaster burst through the doors.

"Miss Willow!" he said strictly before getting hit in the face with a slice of pizza that clung to him. He peeled it off as I cowered under his new found rage. His face turned beet red as he took a few more steps into the cafeteria. The guys close to him stopped immediately, but the ones who hadn't seen him, that being over 98% of them, kept flinging food. He got hit a few more times before he cracked.

"EEENOUGHHHH!!!" he bellowed. The whole room fell silent as the boys dropped their 'weapons' and faced him, looking genuinely scared. "WHO started this?!" he hollered.

Almost every single person pointed to me, clearly having been paying attention to me when I threw the carrot that started it all.

"I'll ask one more time!" he yelled.

Everyone kept pointing to me and nodding, knowing I had started it.

He turned back to me, shocked. "Seriously?" he asked. I bit my lip and nodded nervously.

"Oh...well..." he seemed at loss for words. He opened his mouth a few times to say something, but never did. After about a minute, he said, "Miss Willow, go clean up and see me in my office"

I nodded as there were a few "Ooooo!"s around the room.

The headmaster left, flicking off some Jell-o clinging to his shoulder.

As soon as he was through the doors, I heard clapping echoing from somewhere in the room. The slow clap built as more guys joined in and it sped up. Soon, everyone was clapping and yelling my name. I blushed for a second, and then I extended an arm and tucked the other into my stomach. I bowed to the left, then reversed arms and bowed to the right. I laughed and left the cafeteria, guys starting to follow me.

I ended up surrounded by guys congratulating me and thanking me for starting the food fight. I made it to my dorm 20 minutes later, having to break into a run to get away at the end. I took the stairs up to the 4th floor to e sure I wasn't stuck in an elevator with any of them. I entered my room and burst out laughing again.

I was laughing so hard, and couldn't stop. The door opened behind me and someone put a hand on my back.

"Em, you ok?" Caleb asked, sounding concerned.

"I...I-" I couldn't get anything past the giggle fit. I just waved him off and dragged my whole suitcase into the bathroom. I locked the door and was able to stop laughing long enough to start the shower. I tried to make it quick, but every time I washed my hair, I swear I could still feel pudding.

I used up half a bottle of shampoo and finally gave up. I got out and dried off, pulling out a pair of sweat pants and a loose Fall Out Boy hoodie and slipping them on.

I dragged my bag back out, my clothes wrapped in a towel, looking at the ground. I kicked my bag across the floor and it stopped when it hit my bed. I put my clothes in the hamper and turned around. I got one glimpse at Caleb before erupting with more laughter.

"Alright..." he said, going into the bathroom himself.

"Going...ha! To...ahaha!...office!...HA!" I pushed out through laughs.

"Alright..." he said in the same tone from behind the bathroom door.

I left the room, slipping my phone into my pocket for no apparent reason, and headed for the headmaster's office. I was stopped by more guys every step I took and eventually put my hood up so I'd blend in a bit more.

I finally made it to his office, Ms. Tenton seeming utterly confused as she let me in. He sat behind an unnecessarily huge desk, in an unnecessarily huge leather chair.

"Miss Willow..." he began. "Sit"

I sat in a smaller armchair in front of his desk and stayed quiet.

"Miss Willow-"

"Emma, c-call me Emma" I interrupted.

"Ok, Emma" he continued. "Did you start the food fight?"

"Technically, yes. But I didn't mean for it to get out of hand like that! I just threw the carrot at Damien to demonstrate the answer to a question he asked..." I rambled, trying to defend myself.

"Damien? Do you know his last name?"

"Uh...I think it was...Tuck..." I racked my brain and that name jumped out at me. I couldn't remember where I'd heard it though.

"Ah yes, Mr. Tuck. He's a regular here" he said, placing his elbows on his desk and lacing his fingers.

"Really?" I asked, curious.

"Yes...Ah, but we won't go into detail there" he cleared his throat and seemed to be thinking for a moment. "I think I can let you off with a warning this time. It's your first offence here and with Mr. Tuck involved I'm sure it wasn't entirely your fault. Just make sure it doesn't happen again, Mis- Emma" he said.

I was shocked but stood saying, "It won't!" he smiled at me and ushered to the door. I smiled back and left quickly.

"Um...Emma?" Ms. Tenton called as I was passing her desk.

"Yeah?" I turned toward her.

"There's a phone call for you" she said, her hand covering the mouth piece of the receiver.

I walked up to her desk and took the phone. "Hello?"

"Emma Hailey Willow!" my mom's voice rang through my ears. "What have I told you about misbehaving! What's all this about a food fight?" she interrogated.

"Nothing mom, really! It was an accident, not my idea! I swear!" I pleaded.

"Don't swear!" she yelled.

"I...sorry..." I muttered.

I heard her sigh on the other side of the line and say, "I don't want to get another call about you anytime soon unless it's about how well you're contributing to the overall wellbeing of the school!" she commanded.

"I can assure you this won't happen again!" I said, knowing I was miraculously off the hook.

"Good. Well, I have to go. Your aunt's yelling at me for some reason" I laughed. "Good bye hunny. We miss you"

"Miss you too. Bye mum" I handed the phone back to Ms. Tenton and she hung it up, hurriedly typing something on her computer again.

I walked back to the dorm, hood over my head the whole way, and took the stairs up again. That was keeping me safe, and happened to be a good workout! I got to the room to find no one in it.

I wondered briefly where Caleb was, but shrugged, closing the door. I jumped onto my bed and sat Indian style, placing my laptop on my...well, lap. It turned it on and went straight to my E-mail inbox. I deleted random junk mail I'd gotten and read the message from Mickey:

Hailey!!! I wish I was there! That one pic of them u sent me made me so jealous! theyre hot! H-O-T! HOT! I need more pics! don't forget that! tell me everything that happens! dont leave anything out! Oh btw...u remember David Cole frm school...football jerk guy...? Ya well he asked me out. But dont worry! I said no and omg it was hilarious. He asked me in front of all these ppl so I would say yes and then hed change his mind and make me look stupid, but I turned him down without blinking and proceeded to insult him. the cheerleaders applauded me and the rest of the football team laughed at him for like a hour straight. It was amazing! Wish u were there. K well ttyl <3

I replied with everything that happened since my last message, including the Miley Cyrus (ick) moment, the arcade, the food fight, and how I maybe liked Caleb...a lot. I knew I was setting myself up for something bad with that, but I had to tell her. The message was extremely long and took me a whole 45 minutes to write. I went on YouTube out of boredom after that and watched the music video for Nine in the Afternoon by Panic! At the Disco. I never get tired of it! It's completely random and hilarious. I watched a few other random things and got really bored. I couldn't think of anything else to do online at the moment and somehow ended up playing Solitaire. 9 times.

Where is everybody?!

Emma's POV

I really began to wonder where Caleb was. I didn't mind, it's just, I didn't have any other friend here yet, and I didn't want to seem to clingy to the guys, but I was lonely. It was almost 9 and I wasn't tired at all, despite recent events. Maybe it was the afternoon nap...

My thoughts were disrupted by my phone ringing in my pocket. I shifted my weight to one leg and pulled it out of my pocket. I flipped it open and answered. "Hello?"

"Emma! Are you out of the head-honcho's office yet?" Damien said, speaking over someone.

"Yeah I-"

"Shut up!" he yelled at someone. His end went quieter.

"Yeah, I got out like an hour ago" I finished.

"Really? What'd he do to you?"

"Nothing"

"Nothing?"

"Nothing"

"Nothing!"

"Damien! Stop that!"

"Sorry. Get your ass over here!"

"Where?"

"My room. We're watching a movie. Hurry up!"

The line went dead before I could object, not that I wanted to. I brushed my hair, drying and getting frizzy, and put it up in a pony tail. I hugged my hoodie to my body and walked down the hall. I stopped outside Damien and Ryan's room and raised my hand to knock but someone opened the door before I could and pulled me in. I wasn't expecting it and fell into the arms of whoever it was. I looked up to see Jaret grinning at me.

"Jay! Don't Break her!" Damien yelled.

"Don't plan to" he replied, helping me stand up, his arms lingering on me longer than necessary. I walked farther into the room, noticing the layout was the same as my own.

"So, the big boss guy really did nothing to you?" Alex asked, starting the conversation.

"Nope!" I said, making a little popping sound on the 'p'.

"Damn, you're lucky! That guy usually cracks the whip on us!" Damien said from behind me. I shrugged and went to sit on a big black bean bag chair beside a bed. I was about to fall on it when Ryan jumped into the seat and smiled victoriously.

"Hey! I wanted to sit there!" I complained.

"You're not fast enough!" he mocked.

Fine. I'll just have to change my technique. "Pwease?" I asked, making puppy dog eyes, putting on a pouting face and clasping my hands together, begging.

"But I want to sit here" Ryan said, making puppy dog eyes of his own. He almost got me with them too but I held strong. After about a minute of this, I sighed and fell onto the chair next to him, squishing up beside him as the beans adjusted under the new weight.

Ryan was slightly surprised but shifted so I could sit more comfortably.

"What movie are we watching?" I asked Caleb, as he was the one putting it in the DVD player.

"Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the remake" Damien said from a bed, I assumed it was his.

My head turned slowly toward him, eyes wide. "B-Bu-But..." I stuttered.

All the guys laughed and took seats. Damien was lying on his stomach on his bed. Alex was sitting in the desk chair, his legs resting on the desk. Jaret sat on Ryan's other side in another beanbag chair he'd pulled out from somewhere. I was glad right now that I'd ended up in a chair with Ryan opposed to him. He was hot, sure, but still a bastard. Finally, Caleb sat beside me on the floor, leaning against Damien's bed.

The movie started and I spent pretty much the whole time burying my face in Ryan's shoulder. The guys would try and get me to look at the screen every once and a while, but I absolutely refused, the sounds emanating from the speakers terrified me enough.

The movie finally finished and I looked up at the screen. Ryan laughed when I finally moved my head from his shoulder. I didn't know who had died in the movie, if the killer, or killers, were dead or in jail. I had no idea of what had happened whatsoever!

I looked around the room for the first time. Damien was asleep on his bed, snoring quietly. I had to admit, he was very cute, despite being Damien! Jaret was also asleep in his bean bag chair, sprawled across it. Alex was now lying on his back on the floor a few feet away from me. He had one hand on his chest, the other under his head, holding him as he slept. Caleb was the last to draw my attention for some reason. He was usually the first. He was resting his head on my chair beside me, making it unbelievable that I didn't notice.

I looked back to Ryan, asking "How could they fall asleep during that?"

He just shrugged and yawned, stretching his legs in front of him. I felt extremely tired at that moment as a yawn pressed through my lips. I rubbed my eyes but couldn't ignore the sudden feeling of exhaustion. I moved without thinking now, falling out of the chair and crawling a foot on the floor.

"This looks comfy" I mumbled. I flopped down and used Alex's stomach as a pillow. He didn't even notice as I gently lay my head on him.

"Yeah, sure..." Ryan said, cuddling back into the chair. Caleb had sunk down into it a bit more after I moved, and now moved in his sleep to a more comfortable position.

"Good night!" I said quietly to Ryan.

He answered with his own soft snoring. I smiled and closed my eyes. My head moved rhythmically up and down as Alex breathed, the soft breath escaping his lips lulling me into unconsciousness. It was only after I had no control that my subconscious thought of the consequences. Me, 5 guys, one room. Oops!

Caleb's POV

I woke up hearing the crunch of Styrofoam beans as I lay on the bean bag chair. I rubbed my eyes in a daze, blinking a few times. Ryan was asleep in the chair I was leaning on, Jaret snoozing on the one behind him. Damien was practically falling off his bed above me. I will laugh when he falls off! Then my eyes landed on Alex, and a fire flew through me for a few seconds. Emma was asleep on top of him, resting gently on his stomach. I reminded myself not to overreact like I had with Damien. I would calmly deal with this situation.

I moved gently to sit a foot away from him, crossing my legs on the floor. I leaned toward him slightly. Calm! I reminded myself. "Alex!" I whispered harshly in his ear.

"Wha?" he said, eyes snapping open.

I backed away and glared at him as his eyes focused and he stared at me, confused. I pointed to his stomach. He propped himself up on his elbows slowly, noticing the weight there. He saw Emma and his eyes went wide. He turned back to me, a panicked expression on his face. I continued to glare.

"She wasn't there when I fell asleep! I swear to God!" he said quietly, as not to wake her.

"I figured that. I'm just jealous!" I whispered, stressing the last word.

He gave a quiet laugh, muttering "Sorry" He lay his head back down on the floor and looked at me apologetically.

Emma stirred and her eyes opened. She turned her head on his stomach and looked at me. I wiped the glare from my face quickly, and smiled.

She returned the gesture, and then asked "How could you fall asleep during that movie?" I shrugged and she continued. "And why is my pillow moving?" She elbowed her 'pillow' in the ribs, and Alex winced in pain, gasping. Her eyes widened and she rolled her head to look at him. "Oh...my..." she stuttered.

"Hi there" Alex said, lifting his head to look at her. He sounded out of breath, and his head fell back on the floor, hard. He moaned quietly.

Emma got off him quickly, sitting beside him. "I am SO sorry! I forgot you were there!" she said, putting her hands on his chest where she'd hit him.

"It's ok" he said, still trying to breathe. "Man, you hit hard!"

"Aww! Poor Alex!" she said, leaning on him lightly and hugging him.

He looked at me and mouthed "Not my fault!" I glared again and shook my head, knowing it wasn't his fault.

"No more gravy!" Damien yelled, waking up. Emma sprang up off Alex and looked at him, then Damien, then me. Then the three of us burst out into laughter. It had woken Ryan up and he looked around the room, confused.

"What's going on?" he asked, his eye lids sagging.

We continued to laugh as Damien said "What happened? Who dere? Where am I?" still half asleep. Ryan joined the laughter and stood up, stretching.

"Mmm. Shut UP!" Jaret yelled, clearly woken up from the laughs. He grabbed Ryan's bean bag chair with one hand and knocked him over with it.

Ryan gave an "Eeanh!" as he fell to the ground. Emma and I fell onto the floor, holding our sides as we laughed harder. Alex kicked his legs in the air and rolled around.

"What the hell did I miss?" Damien said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand and staring at us like he was scared. Ryan laughed again from under the bean bag and Jaret smiled in his moment of victory over him. Then he went back to sleep. Tears built up in my eyes as we laughed, a steady few already running down Emma's.

"Ok, that's ENOUGH!" Damien yelled. I gasped for air as I tried to halt my laughter. It died out about a minute later, the four of us panting and holding our sides.

"So...What do you want to do today?" Damien said, trying to change the topic so we would shut the hell up already.

"I was thinking food, then swimming. But that didn't work out to well yesterday..." Emma pondered.

"Too late! You already said it!" Ryan said, jumping to his feet and grabbing both of Emma's hands, pulling her up. "Up Caleb!" he said, kicking me lightly as he passed, pushing Emma to the door. He pushed her into the hallway saying, "Put your bathing suit on and meet us in the caf! Hurry!" Then he slammed the door in her face.

"Someone's excited" Alex mocked.

"And you're not?" Ryan said.

Damien flicked Jaret's head to get him to wake up fully. Ryan pushed me and Alex out the door, Jaret soon after. I shook my head at Ryan's display. I was about to enter my room when I realized Alex and Jaret would have to ride in an elevator together. Mortal enemies in an enclosed cube. Dangerous!

"Don't kill each other!" I called to them. They glared at each other, then at me, and then back to each other. I laughed as I entered our room. Emma had just walked out of the bathroom in her bathing suit, a black two piece with purple hearts. I bit my tongue, hard, inside my mouth. She just hauled her suitcase, the bigger one, onto her bed. She opened it and began looking through it like she'd lost something. I don't think she even knew I was there. Oh! Idea!

I tiptoed up behind her and grabbed her waist with both hands. She screamed and jumped a foot in the air, a few tee shirts flying out of her hands. I dropped my hands after she jumped and burst out laughing. She spun around and was shocked. Her expression was priceless!

I tried to apologize for scaring her, but it sounded more like "I-em... so...r-ee" through the laughs.

She started hitting my chest playfully, saying "You suck! You're mean! I hate you!" She said it sarcastically, but it still hurt. I took deep breaths to stop laughing and Emma shook her head at me. She picked her clothes up quickly and hit me over the head with a shirt, 'cause that really hurt!

She went back to doing whatever it was with her suitcase and I went to mine and pulled out my swim shorts. I went into the bathroom and changed my bottoms. I emerged to see Emma pulling something out of her bag with an "Ah ha! Gotcha!"

"Ok..." I said, tossing my clothes in my laundry hamper. I pulled another shirt out of my bag, since I'd been wearing this one yesterday, and then fell asleep in it. I found another shirt and pulled off the one I was wearing. I changed into the clean on and turned around to put it in my hamper. Emma was staring at me weirdly.

"What...?" I asked cautiously.

"N-nothing!" she said, shaking her head. She slipped a sundress over her bathing suit. It was casual, but fit her curves perfectly. I bit my tongue again.

I put my shirt in my hamper as Emma fiddled with her phone briefly. "Text messaging is fun!" she said.

"Yes it is" I agreed.

"Especially when you send ones like 'Damien stop texting me every five seconds you retard!'" I laughed as she put her phone down. "Ok, food time!" She skipped to the door and down the hall. I stared after her, cocking my head to one side as her skirt kind of went up a bit and- "Caleb are you coming?"

"Yeah!" I ran down the hall and into the elevator. The doors closed and Emma glared at the speaker playing the horrendous music.

The doors opened on the 2nd floor. Two guys were talking but stopped when they say Emma.

"Hello!" one said, raising an eyebrow and looking her up and down.

"Goodbye!" she replied, pressing the close doors button.

"Hey!" they yelled as the doors snapped shut before they knew what was going on. We laughed at them and were on the ground floor a few seconds later.

We got to the cafeteria a few minutes later, guys saying 'hi' to Em every 2 seconds. Some even followed us there. I would be very freaked out if I was her. I actually was freaked out, just because I was walking with Emma, they were technically following me too. Eerie! This could be a long year!