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by EmMz

  “Oh, you may want to change your shoes.”

  “My shoes?” I glanced down at my glittery flats. “What’s wrong with them?”

  “Nothing. Except if I were you, I’d wear your Converse or your tennis shoes.”

  Okay, now I was dying to know what was going on. “Mom—?”

  “They’re in the great room, hurry okay?” With a little wiggle of her eyebrows she was gone.

  For Pete’s sake. I dug around my closet and found my worn black and white striped Converse. Quickly I slipped my flats off and them on. If there was one thing that drove me nuts, it was surprises. Especially surprises where everyone else already knew what the surprise was, except me. I bounded down the stairs and spun on the post as I turned in the direction of the great room. With another set of rapid steps I’d crossed the threshold and then stopped. Gasping, my hand flew to my mouth to stem the burst of laughter.

  There stood Chase all decked out with a knight helmet and plastic sword. He awkwardly placed his hand over the hilt of his sword and half bowed. “Lady Emmalee, I am at your service.”

  “What in the--?” I couldn’t help it, I giggled.

  “What? Can’t you tell what I’m supposed to be?” He held his arms out dramatically and made a circle.

  He is crazy. “You’re a knight.” I chuckled and shook my head.

  “Yep. See? I’m your knight. Sir Chase!” He proudly smirked and awkwardly put the visor on his helmet down. It covered his whole face.

  I raised my eyebrows and began to really laugh. “Oh! Well, Sir Chase, can I ask why you’re ah—my knight today?”

  He raised the visor and attempted to imitate an English Lord but, failed miserably. “Yes, milady, you may.”

  I turned when I heard a faint giggle behind me at his silly voice. There stood Georgia in shorts and a t-shirt, all smiles, and I grinned with her. Chase cleared his throat and brought my attention back up to him.

  “Me and Lady Georgia would like to take you for a ride on our trusty steed.”

  “Yeah!” In her excitement, Georgia ran up to Chase and took his hand. “Me ‘n’ Chase has fixed the paddle boat! We wants you to come with us. ‘Cept Chase said you’d be too scared if he didn’t remind you he was your knight first.”

  “He did?” I caught the faint sparkle in his eyes and for a moment my heart sputtered. He had one lock of dark brown hair that had fallen on his brow beneath the cheesy helmet.

  “Is it true, Emma? Are you scared of the lake?”

  I looked down. Georgia’s beguiling blue eyes gleamed into mine, so much so that I answered her honestly. “Yes. Very scared.”

  “You don’t go in the lake at all?”

  “Not since I was a little girl.”

  “Oh, so you won’t go with us?” Her smile fell.

  “I—uh—” I glanced at Chase. Instantly he removed the helmet and our eyes locked. His gaze was so strong and steady. I knew that he would never let anything happen to me. I took a deep breath and smiled shakily. “Well, I guess it’s safe, as long as my knight is there by my side.”

  Chapter Four:

  “Do you have a map? I keep getting lost in your eyes.”

  “What are you going to do with them?” I asked once he’d set the helmet and sword down on the coffee table.

  He looked at them and shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m sure they’ll come in handy again. Who knows me and Georgia might ask you to come fishing with us next.”

  “Ha ha.”

  Georgia bounced up and down. “Yeah, you have ta come fishin’ with us! I’m soo good! Even Chase says so, huh Chase?”

  “Yep. Even I says so.” He grinned up at me and I caught his sparkle again.

  Why is it the Andersons have the most beautiful eyes? It so isn’t fair.

  “I wanna hold your hand and Chase’s ‘kay?” Georgia clasped my hand before I could answer.

  “But what if I want to hold Emma’s hand, too?” Chase grabbed my hand. “See this won’t work.” He leaned down and caught Georgia’s hand too. “We’ll all have to walk in a circle to get to the lake.” Slowly, Chase put his words to action. Georgia and I both giggled as our hands tugged within his grasp and we began to walk in a circle out of the room.

  “Chase! We can’t do this the whole way!” Georgia protested.

  “Why not?”

  “Cuz, then you’ll have to walk backwards the whole time.”

  Chase stopped. “Oh, that won’t work, you’re right. I don’t suppose either of you would want to walk backwards then?”

  “No!” I laughed. “Ladies do not walk backwards.”

  “All right. Well, then, I guess that means we’ll have to do it Georgia’s way. Sorry, Emma.” Chase grinned as he released my hand and broke the circle.

  “That’s okay. I would rather holdGeorgia’s hand anyway, huhGeorgia?”

  “Come on. Let’s go already. We’ve gotta get to the lake!” Georgia demanded as she pulled us both toward the back of the house. Chase and I chuckled as we followed her short little legs.

  Within minutes we were at lake, with life vests on. I was trying to control my unease as Georgia coaxed me to climb onto the shaky paddleboat with her.

  “Just step down, you’ll be fine.” She waved her little hands in front of her life vest. “Come on. You can do it.”

  Great. I’m getting encouragement from a six year old. Okay, I can do this. Look, it’s only like two feet from the dock. See? Two feet. Just step.

  Just as I had convinced myself to gingerly take a step forward, I felt Chase’s arm wrap around my side and with one large bound we both landed into the rocking boat.

  Ahh! In confusion, my heart jolted within my chest and I tried to recover my balance.

  “There, wasn’t that easier than worrying about it?” Chase’s voice near my ear caused me to let out a delayed scream. The boat pitched wildly to the side when he dodged my shriek and I clung to him. “Whoa! Okay, calm down. Hang on. I’ve gotcha.”

  I felt Chase’s strong arms wrap around me. After a moment the swaying stopped and I felt secure enough to relax a bit. “Thanks,” I mumbled into his shoulder.

  “You’re okay, now?”

  I’m such a wimp. “Yes, I think so.”

  “Okay, here’s the deal, we’re going to both sit down together. On the count of three, okay?”

  No! I clung tighter and nodded yes.

  “One. Two. Three.”

  In less than a second Chase had glided us easily down to the wide bench. As I felt the solid plastic beneath me, I let go of his shoulders, first one hand and then the other and gripped the seat.

  “There you go.” He chuckled. “Now try opening your eyes.”

  Huh? Surprised my eyes flew open and I was assaulted by the sun bouncing happily off the water. Ugh. I didn’t even know my eyes were closed. Seriously, I have got to get a grip.

  I heard a soft giggle and focused my squinting gaze on Georgia next to me. “You really are afraid of the water, aren’t you?”

  “Not the water. Just the lake.”

  “But why?”

  “Because sweets—” Chase leaned over me and ruffled her hair. “—when Emma was little, her boat had an accident in the water.”

  “It did?” Her eyes became huge.

  “Yeah, I almost drowned.” I attempted to laugh; it sounded more like a croak.

  “Wow! Really?”

  “Yep, Chase rescued me.” I tried not to look at the vast amount of water all around us.

  “Chase did? My brother’s a hero?”

  “Well, yeah he is.” I looked over at Chase.

  All at once he became a flurry of activity as he got the boat ready to set off. “Don’t believe it. I’m not a hero, just a knight doing my duty.” He untied the rope from the dock and pushed.

  I held on tighter while the boat rocked a bit and glided away from safety. Why did the Anderson’s have to make such a large lake anyway?

  “Okay,Georgia, you ready?”

  She s
cooted farther down the seat and nodded. “Yep. Let’s go.” Her little legs began to pump the peddles.

  I watched fascinated, as Chase kept speed with her. In no time at all we were gently moving across the water. After a few seconds of nervousness I began to enjoy the sensation. It was unexpectedly wonderful. I had forgotten how much I loved the feel of a boat skimming beneath me.

  And then after a few more minutes, I got brave enough to ask, “Are you going to need help Georgia? I feel bad that you’re doing all the work.”

  Georgia looked up at me and smiled. “No way! This is my favorite part. It’s fun.”

  “It’s true,” Chase said. “She loves this. It’s one of the reasons I had to get it fixed so quickly. She was so impatient. –So, are you okay?” He asked me. “You’re hangin in there?”

  “Yeah, actually. It’s nice. Thanks.”

  “Would you ever do it again?”

  “What, ride in a paddleboat?” I grinned and gently leaned back in the seat. “As long as my knight is there.”

  “Girls. You’re all demanding, aren’t you?” He chuckled and glanced out across the lake toward a cluster of trees on the other side. “You know, I would believe you, if you’d actually let go of the seat.” He turned back and smiled. “As it is, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to get you back out here again.”

  I rolled my eyes. Whatever. I decided to answer him truthfully. “Okay, so I love it out here, but yeah, I can’t imagine coming back any time soon.” I looked down at my hands as they clung on for dear life.

  “Why’s that?”

  Chase’s quiet voice near my ear caused me to jolt my head up. Concerned blue eyes glittered into mine. “I—uh, well, there’s—I mean, first I’ll have to see if I have any nightmares.”

  “Nightmares?” I thought that he would laugh at me, but instead he asked, “Are they really bad, then? Do you still have them?”

  I looked down and nodded. “Look, let’s not talk about it, okay? That’s all I need to think about right now.”

  He chuckled. “I’ll bet. Okay, so let’s change the subject.” He leaned back and I watched his legs move a moment before he asked, “Oh! So how is your hunt for a new best friend going? Any luck?”

  Any luck? Are you kidding? “You didn’t think I’d find a friend very fast, did you?”

  “Well, no—”

  “Of course I found a friend. She’s awesome too. You’d be surprised at how many things we have in common.”

  “Really?” He looked skeptical. “This is the girl you’ve decided to make popular? I mean, you’re talking about the same one?”

  “Of course I am. Her name’s Hannah Smith. You would really like her. She’s normal and funny, you know? Like, she’s not hung up on the newest and latest thing. And, she has no idea that she’s pretty! Like, none at all. I can’t wait to show her how to enhance her beauty.”

  “Wait.” Chase sat up. “So you’re going to take a nice normal girl and turn her into your little clone?”

  “What does that mean? My little clone?”

  “You don’t know what this could—”

  “Yes, okay, I want to improve her life. Is that some major crime? She’s great and people should get to know her.”

  “I’m not saying—”

  “You know what? I know perfectly well what you’re saying and you’re wrong, Chase. Dead wrong! What is up with people thinking I’m some shallow snob all of the sudden? I care, really care about things, okay? And this is something that means a lot to me right now. Just because you can’t see the good it will do, doesn’t mean the potential isn’t there. I’m going to give my friend every opportunity she deserves. Sometimes the difference between success and failure is an open door. Well, I’m opening doors for her.”

  “Whoa, Emma, calm down a bit.”

  “Calm down? When you’re the one accusing me of—”

  “I’m not accusing you of anything.” He took a deep breath and agitated I waited for him to answer. “I just hope you know what you’re doing, okay? I wouldn’t want this to get out of hand.”

  I rolled my eyes again. “Please, Chase. We’re talking a friend here, that’s all. I’m not redefining her life or something.”

  “Chase! Are you gonna help or what?”

  We both looked over atGeorgia.

  “Stop, bothering Emma and get movin’! We’ve been goin’ in circles now for like two minutes, cuz you’re not doing anything.”

  “Oh!” Chase laughed. “Aye, aye, Captain, I’ll get to it right away.”

  I shook my head and chuckled at yet another of Chase’s bad accents. For a guy who’s lived in foreign places, I’m surprised he’s not better at them.

  The next day at school, I was happy to see Hannah waiting for me outside our history class.

  “Hey, did you get my text last hour?” she asked as I approached.

  “Oh, no. Hang on.” I pulled my phone out of my bag and glanced down. Three messages waited for me. “Sorry, I’ve learned not to check at all in Health. Talk about being anti-cell, Ms. Stuart is the worst.” I quickly flipped through the other two and opened Hannah’s.

  Want 2 study

  history 2nite?

  Mom’s gone says

  I can hang w/u

  I looked up and smiled. “I thought you’d never ask!”

  “Fab! Hey, I can bring my British boy band collection? If you love Take That, wait till you hear BoyZone and Snow Patrol. Both are so awesome,” she exclaimed as we walked in.

  “I think I’ve heard of Snow Patrol, but who in the world is BoyZone?” I dropped my bag on my desk and we scooted to let a couple other students past.

  “They’re totally vintage--like back in the nineties--but you will so love them!”

  “Cool—”

  “Hey, Emma.” Elton plopped his backpack on his desk

  “Hi,” I answered as the bell rang.

  Hannah hitched her bag up on her shoulder. “I’m gonna get to my seat, see ya for lunch.”

  “Perfect.”

  “So uh, you and Hannah hit it off, huh?”

  I looked back at Elton as I sat down. “Yeah, thanks. She’s really cool.”

  “Really? I never thought you’d actually like her.” Stunned, Elton glanced up at Hannah’s seat. He stared at her back totally confused until Ms. Ingle announced,

  “Welcome fourth period History. Please open your books to chapter five. Remember there will be a test on chapters one through five tomorrow. After we finish this chapter, we will spend the rest of the hour in review. Let’s begin.”

  There was so much to absorb it took all of my concentration to stay with the class. Even then, there were a couple of times I had to call on Elton’s superior intellect to help me follow along. Thank goodness he is next me. Who knew World History would be so much harder than last year’s American History?

  By the end of class my brain was fuzzy. I was relieved to see Hannah looked the same. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who looks like they needed a stiff lemonade.

  “Let’s go to Sonic for lunch, okay?” asked Hannah as she approached. “I could really use a fresh lemon-berry slush right now. You know something cold and sharp to freeze my brain good and snap it out of this zone.”

  “Man, how do you do that?” I gasped as I placed my book in my bag.

  “What?” She grinned.

  “Read my mind! Seriously, how was it we didn’t get to know each other sooner?”

  Hannah laughed. “I don’t know. Give me a few more days and I’m sure I’ll start wondering how I ever could’ve lived without “Emma the Great” before now. But let’s let the oddness of our friendship wear off first. I’m still freaking out we’re even getting along.”

  I blinked. Okay, she’s smiling. I’m gonna take it as a compliment. “Meet you at the car?”

  “Sure, give me five again.”

  I tried not to let it bother me as I slowly walked toward the parking lot, but between Hannah, Chase, and Elton’s stunn
ed look, it was becoming fast apparent that I was acting beyond what people thought I should act like. And it hit home once again, that maybe people really did think I was a snob. But I wasn’t. Was I?

  Chapter Five

  “Can I call 911? Cuz you’re scorchin!”

  “Emma! You really don’t have to buy me clothes. Seriously, I have my own money, remember?”

  “Will you stop? Besides what girl doesn’t love new clothes?”

  “Um…?” Hannah paused and thought a moment. “All right, I give, no one that I can think of. All girls love new clothes.”

  “Exactly.” I snickered as I climbed out of my red Mini Cooper, fully decked out with a large British Flag decal on the roof and two miniature flags on the side mirrors. It was Friday afternoon—just after school--the perfect time of day to go shopping. “Anyway, think of it as doing me a favor, really.”

  “A favor? Yeah, right!” Hannah smirked as she shut her door. “How is buying me new clothes doing you a favor?”

  “Well, ever since my stepdad stayed home sick from work like six months ago he’s been on a do-gooder kick.” I clicked the lock and switched my purse to my other shoulder while I waited for her to come around the car.

  “How sick was he?”

  “No, it wasn’t that. It was just during his randomly boring afternoon he managed to thumb through the TV channels and caught this old rerun of Oprah. It was an episode all about giving to people. I walked in on him crying like a baby. I’ve never seen my stepdad so emotional before. Anyway, later that night he sat me down and told me he’d come up with a plan for our family to give back.”

  “A plan? You’re kidding, right?”

  “No, sometimes I wish I was. So here’s the deal. I get $350 a month put in my bank account that I can’t touch unless I’m giving something to someone else. Then I have to report and tell about my experience to my parents. Well, tada! That’s where you come in. I heard on the radio last week how Animas Animal Rescue Shelter had already met their quota for this month, so I’ve been trying to figure what to do with it. Now, you’ve just saved me like a massive headache trying to find a different charitable cause. So please say you’ll do it. Please?”