Emmalee (13 page)

           
I tried to be reasonable.  “Maybe, but there’s just
something about her that gets on my nerves.  She’s not
rude or anything,” I quickly clarified.  “She’s
just—she’s, I don’t know.  We’re just
very different people that’s all. 

           
“Really?”  He looked surprised.  “I think
you two are a lot alike.”

           
I let out a short sharp laugh.  “Whatever!  You so
can’t read people as well as you think you can if you think
Cassidy and I are alike.  I’m not sure if I should be
offended by that or not.”

           
“Why should you be offended?  I meant it as a
compliment.” 

           
I rolled my eyes instead of answering.

           
“Come on, Em.  You really don’t see the
similarities?”

           
I snorted and shook my head as I walked over to the sink and began to
wash the dishes.  Letting the hot soapy water fill up one side I
glanced over and asked, “Just for curiosity’s sake I
would like to hear one—just one—thing you
think
we have in common.”  I held my hand to fend him off for a
moment as another thought hit me. 

           
“Okay.”  Chase walked around the counter and leaned
his hip and elbow against the side closest to me.  “You
wanna know what you have in common, I’ll tell you.”

           
I turned off the sink, leaned my hip against it facing him and folded
my arms.

           
I watched one corner of his mouth raise before he began.  “Well,
for starters you’re both blonde.”

           
What?
  “That’s the best you can—”

           
“And,” he interrupted.  “You’re both
really artistic.”

           
“Artistic?  What in the—?”

           
“Okay.  You may not think photography is an art, but I
do.  Just because Cassidy doesn’t use a paint brush to
capture images, doesn’t mean it isn’t art.”

           
“Okay, fine.  You’re right.  I forgot she was a
photographer.  But that’s not enou-”

           
“That’s not enough?  Okay then.  You both love
to throw parties.”

           
I rolled my eyes. 
Good grief!
  I picked up the
washcloth.  Dipping the large bowl into the water I started to
scrub.

 “Hey!  I’m
not done.  You both have eccentric mothers.  You both like
the same movies.  You both used to have a crush on my little
brother Taylor—”

           
“What?  I did not!”  I spun around, flinging
soapy water with me.

           
A couple of splats landed on Chase’s shirt.  “Hey! 
Watch it.”  He chuckled and stepped toward the end of the
counter.

           
“I have
never
had a crush on your little brother. 
As if!”

           
“Really?”  His smile was way too confident. 
Before I could even counteract Chase walked over to my mom’s
address book, near the phone on the counter against the wall. 
He picked it up. 

           
Dang!

           
He headed smugly towards me and flipped through the pages until he
got to the very back.  My face flamed up as he spoke, “Let’s
see here.  Hmm… right underneath business contacts. 
Yep, here it is.  Small, I grant you but definitely legible:

           
“Emma + Taylor = true love 4ever.”

           
“Give that back!”  I went to snatch it out of
Chase’s hand but he was too quick for me.

           
“No-no-no!  Wait!  There’s more.”

           
“Chase Lionel Anderson!”  I tried to fetch it again.

           
He deftly dodged my hand and held the address book high above his
head.  “Oh-oh!  You
are
embarrassed. 
Middle names even.  Well two can play at that game Miss Emmalee
Elaine
Bradford.  Oh.  Or, wait!  Should I
say, Mrs. Emmalee
Anderson
?”

           
Ugh!
  “You’re not even funny Chase!” 
I jumped up and tried to reach the stupid book but he was just way
too tall.  Besides it only made him laugh louder.

           
“What?  I thought you wanted to be called that? 
That’s what you wrote.”

           
His blue eyes were so wide as they stared into mine, that I couldn’t
help it.  I grinned.  “You’re horrible, you
know that, right?”

           
“Yeah, actually, I’ve been told that a few times.” 
His gaze twinkled a moment and I realized all at once how close I was
to him.

           
Hurriedly, I took a step back and then remembered the dishes in the
sink.  With my face still red, I went to work again, scrubbing—a
bit too forcefully—the remaining utensils and measuring cups.

           
Chase must’ve realized the game was over, because he walked
over to the counter next to me and tossed the address book on it. 
“There.  You can have it.  I got my point across
anyway.”

           
He chuckled again and I decided to ignore him.  “So you
want me to tell you what else you and Cassidy have in common?”

           
“Nah, I’m good.”  I rinsed the utensils. 
After setting them on a dishtowel to dry, I turned toward Chase and
asked, “You sure seemed to know a lot about Cassidy.  Do
you like her or something?”

“Like her?”  He
laughed.  “No!  Well, not the way you’re
thinking.  I just worry about her, that’s all.”

           
Worry about her? 
“Do you hang out at her house a
lot?” 
Does he feel just as comfortable there as he
does here?
  For some reason that thought bothered me.

           
“No.  Not a lot.  But I
am
trying to get to
know the familyTaylor hopes to be part of one day.”

           
“Yes!  I knew he was going to marry her.”  I
beamed, very proud of myself.

           
“Ah!  So I see you don’t have a crush on him
anymore.”

           
“What?  No.  Good grief.  Like I would.” I
giggled.  “That was so two years ago.  I’m way
over Taylor Anderson, now.”

           
“Good.  I’m glad to hear it.”

           
Three days later and two days before the party there was a knock on
my door.  Stunned, I opened it and stared at a very
uncomfortable Cassidy Hart on my front step.  “Hi,”
I gasped.

           
 She glanced behind me and then smiled slightly before asking,
“Can we talk?  Do you mind if I come in?”

           
“Oh!  Uh, sure.”  I stepped back and opened the
door wider.  “Come on in.”

           
“Thanks.” 

           
She walked hesitantly into the house and I poked my head outside. 
No one else was there.  “Is Claire coming?”

           
“No.”  I waited for her to say something else and
after a moment of silence she added.  “I-I walked here.”

           
I was shocked.  “You walked here?  Are you kidding
me?  How far is that anyway?”

           
“I dunno, like three miles or something.”

           
What?
 
And they let her walk that far alone
? 
Cassidy must’ve been able to read my mind because in the next
breath she answered, “It’s all I’m allowed to do by
myself.  Walk.”

           
Wow!
  I was so surprised it took me a moment to realize
that this was probably the most I had ever heard Cassidy speak in at
least two years.  Curious as to why she was there I quickly
offered, “You want to talk in here?”  I pointed
toward the front room and then followed Cassidy in when she silently
accepted.  I waited until she chose a sofa before sitting across
from her.

           
She took a deep breath and then shakily smiled again.  “You’re
probably wondering why I’m here, aren’t you?”

           
“The thought has crossed my mind.”  I grinned to
take the sting out of my words.

           
“Well, it’s to apologize actually.”

           
“Apologize?” 
Huh?
 

           
“Here.”  Cassidy leaned forward and pulled an
envelope out of her pocket.  “I guess I had got the house
number wrong.  This-this is for you.”

I took the offered envelope and
read: RETURN TO SENDER scrawled in bold letters across the front
. 
My invitation!  I did get one.
 

           
Cassidy was quick to explain.  “When that came in the mail
afterschool I was sick to my stomach.  I mean, I know it’s
no big deal, really.  It’s just a stupid party I’m
throwing this weekend.  And I know you will more than likely not
want to come anyway—it’s just, it’s just—I
didn’t want you to feel left out, you know?  Especially
when a lot of people you know will be there.  Anyway, I had to
walk straight here and give it to you.  I know it’s last
minute and all.  But, you are welcome to come.”

           
“Oh, thank you.”  Unsure of what to do, I opened the
invitation and pulled it out.  “It  looks like fun,”
I offered.

           
“Really?”  It was the first genuine smile I had seen
her have in years.  “I’m kind of worried about it. 
My sister Chloe used to do these amazing parties every year with her
friends.  This is my first attempt so I am kind of nervous.”

           
“Oh,” I said again, not sure what else to say.  It
wasn’t that I was speechless in Cassidy’s presence, I was
just so thrown off by her candor it surprised me. 
So say
something already!
  “So who’s all coming, do
you know?”

           
“From what it looks like, almost everyone I’ve invited.”

           
Yes, but who have you invited?
  “You said people
I know will be there?”

           
“Oh, yeah.  There will be.”

           
Is she trying to drive me crazy? 
I tried another
tactic.  “I know Chase is going.  And I heard earlier
that Carson and his girlfriend were coming.  Do you have anyone
else older coming to the party, or is everyone else from school?”

           
“Well, Ethan Franklin, Carson’s little brother said he
might drive up from Albuquerque to come.”  

           
No way!
  “Really?  Hmm… that would be
nice.  Do you know him well, then?”

           
“Yeah, we’re friends.”

           
I leaned forward.  “So what’s he like?  Is he
funny?  Is he as cool as everybody says?”

           
“He seems pretty cool.”

           
“Do you think he’s cute?  I’ve heard people
say he’s pretty hot.  What do you think?”

           
Cassidy looked away from me.  “Yeah, I’ve heard
people say that too.”

           
“Yeah, but what do
you
think about him?  I’ve
never met him before, and I’m dying to know what he’s
like.”

           
She shrugged her shoulders.  “He definitely seems very
nice and a lot of people like to hang around with him.”

           
“Yeah, but, what does he look like?”

           
“He looks nice.”

           
Ugh!  Now I remember why Cassidy gets on my nerves. 
Can the girl answer a question without sounding like a politician? 
For crying out loud, I get more response from Ginger’s
puppies.
  I smiled sweetly.  “Well, I guess I’ll
have to see for myself when I come to the party.”

Cassidy’s jaw dropped. 
“Y-you’re coming?”

           
Uh, did I say that out loud?
  “Sure.  You
don’t want me to come?”

           
“No—no!  You’re definitely welcome. 
You’re more than welcome.  I was just surprised; you
didn’t even have a chance to really look at the invite.”

           
What?
  “Oh, yeah, well, I’ve seen Hannah’s
so I already knew all about it.”

           
“Now I feel even worse,” she moaned.

           
I chuckled. “Don’t worry about it.  It’s no
big deal, really.  I understand.  Accidents happen.”   

           
“Thanks.” She smiled.  There was a momentary pause,
before Cassidy clapped her hands on her knees and said, “Well,
I guess I should be heading home.  I guess I’ll write your
name on the RSVP list then?”

           
Great.  What have I got myself into
?  “Yep. 
Make sure I’m there.”  I stood up when she did and
then asked, “Do you need me to bring anything?”

           
I think the question surprised her a bit because she glanced over at
me and then positively beamed. “No.  But, thank you for
asking.  That was really sweet of you.”

           
Sheez!  Someone else who thinks I’m a snob.  Am I
ever gonna break this reputation? 
“No problem.” 
I walked her to the door and added, “Just let me know if you
change your mind and think of someway I can help.”

           
“Thank you, I will.” 

           
I watched as Cassidy stepped out into the bright sunshine.  “Do
you need a ride?  I can drive you home.”

           
“No!”  I was surprised by the vehemence in her
voice, but she quickly softened it and explained.  “I like
to walk, really.  As I said before, it’s my chance to be
alone.”
           
Heaven forbid I offer to take away someone’s alone time,
especially their alone time from Claire.
  “Well, I
hope you enjoy your walk then.”

           
“Thanks.  I will.  Bye!”

           
“Bye.”

           
I watched Cassidy head down the driveway and marveled a bit at what
her life must be like living in the Hart home.  I had heard
stories about her mom, but had never met her. 
Hmm… I
wonder if she’ll be at the party?  Who am I kidding? 
I wonder if Ethan will be there?!

Chapter 13

“Didn't I see you on the cover
of Vogue?”

           
Ethan didn’t come.  It was the first thing I had heard
when I walked into Cassidy’s house that weekend. 
Apparently he had an unexpected test he had to study for.  From
what I could tell, I wasn’t the only one eager to see him. 
Judging by the disappointed faces around me, it looked like quite a
few people were expecting his cheerful face.