Emma & the car crash

Alan, an early riser, was up before anyone else that day, and when he saw Emma stepping into the room, his jaw almost dropped. She was practically glowing, a bright smile lighting up her face.

“Wow, look at you, princess,” he teased, unable to hide his admiration. Emma smiled back, and Alan felt his cheeks warm up—a rare blush that caught even him off guard.

Emma’s eyes sparkled. “Today’s just a practice test, but tomorrow… the real one,” she announced, her excitement making Alan grin.

“Oh, I see,” he said, eyes dancing. As she leaned over to grab her books, he noticed her shirt had rolled up a bit, exposing her belly button. He reached out, pulling her top down gently, his hand grazing her skin. The touch sent a little shiver through her, and she let out a soft breath, surprised by the spark it ignited.

Alan chuckled, his voice low. “You trying to seduce me, missy?”

Emma’s eyes widened. “W-what? No!” she stammered, clearly puzzled by his teasing. But Alan just leaned in, brushing a kiss against her cheek. “Only do that in front of me,” he whispered with a grin before heading off to the bathroom.

Madeline, who had been watching from the doorway, narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms. She felt a strange pang—a mix of jealousy and irritation. Romance wasn’t exactly her thing. She didn’t like the idea of someone telling her what to do or how to be. And watching Alan and Emma like this only confirmed it. She rolled her eyes, muttering to herself, “Ugh, lovebirds.”

Later that day, with Emma all prepped for her test, Alan offered to drive her to school. As they buckled up, Emma was still buzzing with excitement, barely noticing when Alan made sure her seatbelt was secure.

“You know, you’re like a little kid on Christmas morning,” Alan laughed, giving her a warm smile.

As they made their way down the road, Emma’s nerves kicked in a little, and she fidgeted with her bag, double-checking her notes. Alan reached over, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Hey, you’ve got this. It’s just a test.”

But as they turned the corner, a truck appeared out of nowhere, speeding toward them. Alan’s face went pale, and in an instant, he swerved to avoid it. The car screeched, tires spinning as they skidded across the road. Emma screamed, clutching her seat.

The next thing they knew, the car came to a jerking halt, narrowly missing a tree on the side of the road. They sat there, both stunned, hearts racing.

Alan took a shaky breath, turning to Emma. “Are… are you okay?”

Emma nodded, still in shock. “Y-yes… I think so.” She looked at him, her face pale, and reached for his hand, needing some reassurance. “That was… that was terrifying.”

Alan gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I’m so sorry, Emma. I should have been more careful.”

For a moment, they sat in silence, both grateful that they were safe. Alan’s hand never left hers, his gaze softening as he looked at her. “I’ve got you,” he whispered, his thumb brushing her knuckles.

As they calmed down, Emma couldn’t help but give a small smile. “Well, that was one way to get my mind off the test.”

Alan laughed, his eyes filled with relief. “Guess I owe you a real, non-crashy ride home.” He pulled her into a hug, holding her close as they shared a quiet moment, both grateful for the safety—and each other.

As Alan parked his car in the school lot, he reached over and held Emma’s hand tightly. Emma felt his fingers trembling a bit, and she could sense the worry he was holding back. She didn’t say a word, letting him have a quiet moment to breathe.

But silence wasn’t on the agenda for long. Almost immediately, students noticed them. From whispers to mutters, the gossip spread like wildfire.

“Hey, look! Alan and Emma are here… holding hands!”

“What? Are they a couple now?” someone murmured.

Across the cafeteria, Martha, in the middle of savoring her extra-cheesy burger, overheard it too. “Pfft,” she muttered, stuffing another bite. Monica, her friend, gave her a nudge.

“Martha, you know that cheese is going to show. You’re gonna get fat!”

“Please,” Martha smirked, wiping her mouth. “I’ll diet later. I’ve got a brilliant plan to snag Alan.”

Meanwhile, the basketball team let out a chorus of “Oooo!” as they spotted Alan and Emma entering hand-in-hand.

Monica gave Martha a sidelong glance. “Uh… you might wanna take a look at that,” she said, pointing across the cafeteria.

Martha froze, mid-bite, and the ketchup packet she was holding exploded all over her hands as she saw Alan and Emma. Her heart sank as reality hit. She’d been crushing on Alan since junior high, but now her hopes felt as messy as her hands.

“Oh, come on! Seriously?” she huffed. But a glint of determination filled her eyes as she grabbed a napkin. I can still win him over. I just need to… be on his level or something!

Just then, the booming voice of Mrs. Hardin interrupted the cafeteria buzz. “Emma, Alan! I need you two right now!”

Emma and Alan turned, immediately alarmed. “What happened?” Emma asked.

“It’s Madeline,” Mrs. Hardin said in a hushed tone. “She fainted right after finishing her test. She’s in the nurse’s office.”

Emma’s heart skipped a beat. Without a word, she grabbed Alan’s hand and practically sprinted toward the nurse’s office, dragging him along. Alan was surprised by the urgency in her grip—he hadn’t realized how deeply she cared about her sister.

When they arrived, Emma rushed over to Madeline, lying on a cozy bed with her face pale, her body unusually still and cold. Emma felt a pang of worry, and without even thinking, she whispered, “Madeline… wake up.” Her voice cracked, and tears began to fall onto Madeline’s cheek.

Alan wrapped his arm around her, trying to console her. “She’s going to wake up, Emma. Don’t worry.”

Emma shook her head, her voice choked. “But what if she doesn’t?”

Alan leaned close, gently brushing her hair back. “She’s not going anywhere. She’s got a lot of tormenting left to do—you think she’d miss that?” He gave her a small smile, hoping to ease her worry.

Emma let out a shaky laugh, her head resting on Alan’s shoulder, holding onto that glimmer of hope as they waited for Madeline to open her eyes.

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