8: Sunset

(Pic of how Emery was dressed)

Gracen's view

I woke up around 8 a.m. I was just so nervous to hang out with Emery. So, I decided to go downstairs and see if my family was up.

"Ready for your date?" teased Spencer. She can tell I'm so nervous since I never get up at this time on Saturdays.

"It's not a date (though I wish)."

"Heard that," yelled Spencer.

Oh no, I can't believe I said that out loud to her.

"Spencer, it's just two friends hanging out and getting our projects done"

Spencer smirks at me teasingly, she wants to embarrass me as much as she can before I leave.

"It's ironic how your project in chemistry is on molecular forces of attraction," laughed Spencer, "You're going to have to thank your teacher later for partnering you with your crush."

"I guess you could say the teacher saw their strong attraction towards each other," added my mom.

Oh my God, not my mom too. They are having way too much fun teasing me. This is going to be a long four hours before I go pick up Emery.

When I arrived at Emery's house I texted her to let her I was outside waiting. When she came out, my jaw dropped. She looked so beautiful in a spunky way, which made her look hot. She had on dark red jeans, a black sweater with a dark blue Denim jacket and a cute black beanie. I could not keep my eyes off her, god, hanging out with her is going to be so hard. Literally all I want to do is grab her and passionately kiss the heck out of her, but I don't want to freak her out and plus I don't even though if she's gay.

"Hey there, Gracen."

"Hi Emery. You look really pretty today," I blurted out mentally face palming right now. I can't believe I said that, you don't say that to new friends. Right? I don't know, I'm so lost here.

"Thanks," she blushed and it was the most adorable action.

"So, what did you have in mind to do today? Or better yet, what is your favorite spot?" I asked.

"Ummm... I love the beach. So how about we head to Santa Monica pier, it's pretty cool there." She replied.

"Your wish is my command," I stupidly say. Wow, I'm a dork. At least I got her to laugh. Did I mention she has a cute laugh too, one that you'd like to hear all the time.

When we get to Santa Monica, we decide to get lunch first. After walking around for a few minutes, we find a good place and order something from the menu. While we waited for the food we talk a little.

"So, so far you love the beach. What else do you love Emery," I question.

"Ummmmmm......... hiking and playing video games and sports," she blurts out.

I could tell she was a bit nervous by her rosy cheeks. "What sports do you love?"

"All. My favorites are soccer and lacrosse though. I used to practice for hours with my brothers to be the best in my club team and at school," she replied.

"That's so cool. Why'd you stop playing at school?" I asked curiously.

Emery hesitated for a while before saying, " I just couldn't play anymore," she simply answers.

I'm getting suspicious that she doesn't want to explain, but I don't want to push her so I changed the topic.

We talked a bit more, but the entire time I felt like Emery was only telling me half the truth. I could tell she was very careful in wording her answers to my questions.

After lunch, we decide to walk around the pier and the beach. Emery even convinced me to take off my shoes and dip my feet in the water a little, which was freezing. She looked so happy and it was adorable. This was like a whole new side of Emery that I never see in school. We are joking and laughing so much and we even threatened to throw seaweed at each other at one point. When the sun starts going down we go to the edge of the peer where all the rides and games are at. It starts getting very cold and I start shivering. Curse the weatherman for telling me it was going to be warm all day. Well I guess it was my fault since I never checked the weather forecast and assumed what the weatherman would say. I guess Emery saw me freezing and immediately took off her denim jacket and gave it to me. It was the sweetest and most caring thing she could have done for me. I blushed and thanked her while I put the jacket on.

We kept on walking and I even convinced her to play a basic 20 question game to get to know her better.

As I was thinking about the first question I wanted to ask, we saw a little girl run with her brother fall, she accidentally dropped her stuff animal over the railings. She starts crying loudly and her parents try to calm her down, but it was no use.

"Aww that's so sad," I say.

"Yeah it is. Hold on, I'll be back," replied Emery. She jogged away and I felt weird just standing there so I followed soon after. When I went around the corner, Emery was at a claw machine trying to win something. As I got closer, she was able to get a cute little teddy bear. She grabbed it and ran to the little girl.

"Hey, I know it's not the one you lost, but here you go. Promise me you will take good care of it for me," Emery asked the little girl.

The little girl promised her and reached out to hug the little bear tightly to her chest. The girl's parents thanked Emery before leaving.

I stood there in complete awe at Emery. I am convinced she is the kindest person I have ever met. It made my crush on her even bigger. How could a girl like her ever walk into my life?

"Emery, that was the nicest thing I've ever seen," I say at loud.

"It's nothing. It was the least I could do for them."

Oh god, this girl is humble too. She's not making the crush I have on her go away at all.

"Nothing? Emery, really. You didn't have to do anything. You could have walked away, but you took the time to win her a stuffed animal. That's so sweet," I blurted out.

Emery blushed and thanked me. Man, this girl, was wow. We walked around a bit more, until we stopped to watch the sunset and it was so beautiful.

Literally it felt more like a date than hanging out and I had slight hope it was. Until she said,

"I had a lot of fun hanging out with you today. You're a fun person, I'm glad we are friends."

I sigh as my heart brakes a little and force a smile and say,

"Yeah, me too. It was so fun,"

Great I just got friend zoned, but I still have 10% faith that I can make it out. Maybe later.

We left the pier and went back to her house. As I parked the car in her driveway, we say goodbye. Before getting out of the car, she suddenly turns to me and gives me a half hug and says goodbye really fasts as she jogs to her home. I sit there dumbfounded as my heart beats out of control. She hugged me, wow, she actually did. It was a big thing since the other times I touched her she would always back away, especially when I hugged her. Maybe I have a better chance than what I though.

When I get to my room, I jump on my bed. I'm so tired and incredibly happy. I get hot pretty quick by the amount I'm blushing, so I take off my jacket.......Wait, I didn't have a jacket. Wow, I forgot to give Emery her jacket back. I guess I have my excuse to see her tomorrow.

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:)