Chapter 2 I wake up to my alarm clock going off at 6:45. I get dressed in some jeans and a light blue hoodie, I grab my riding boots and walk downstairs. On my way to the door I grab two apples. “Hey bud!” I say to my black horse, Blaze. I grab Blaze's halter off the gate and walk inside the pasture. I put Blaze's halter on, then walk him into the cleaning stall. I saddle him up, leaving the bridle off. I give Blaze an apple then eat the other. I put the bridle on and mount. I put some music on right before we trot out of the ranch. We start loping when we get into the woods next to our ranch. Suddenly my phone vibrates. I sigh. I look at it and see its spam. I put my phone on 'do not disturb' and turn the music back on. Thirty minutes later I’m walking back towards the house. I take my boots off at the door and walk inside. “Good morning!” Mom says cheerfully. “Hey.” I say. “What did you do this morning?” Mom asks me during breakfast. “Just rode Blaze out in the woods while listening to music.” I answer. Mom nods softly. “Well, I’m done,” I say standing up. “So I’m gonna get ready for school.” I walk upstairs and grab some black jeans and a grey sweatshirt. I grab my light pink backpack and put my notebook, iPad, pencil bag, and phone in it. I put on some black converses on, then walk downstairs. “See you later.” Mom says as I walk out “Bye.” I reply. “Ok class, I want you to write an essay about why the Chinese soldiers made the Great Wall of China. Turn it in Monday.” Our history teacher, Mr. Sams says. A series of Ok’s and groan’s go through the classroom. Connor says ok. I glance over to him, he glances at me and smirks. “Ok, class dismissed.” Mr. Sams says. I walk out with Connor behind me. “Usual lunch table?” He asks. I grin, “Yep!” “Great.” Connor says. We walk towards the cafeteria and get our food trays. We walk back towards our table, we have a table we’ve sat at for a couple years, just me, Connor, Tyson and my best friend, Chloe. “Excited for tonight?” Connor asks when we sit down. I giggle, “Yes.” I say. Chloe smirks. “Anybody wanna talk about something important?” Tyson asks. “Like, let’s see… our essay?” “I already know why they built it, the problem for me is how to put it in a whole essay.” I say. “Why did they make it then?” Tyson says. Connor stifles a laugh. “Just search it up, it’s not hard to find why they did.” I say standing up to put my food tray up. As I walk back towards the table the bell rings. “I’ve gotta get to English.” I say. “I’ve gotta get to math.” Connor says. I walk to the door of my English class. “Oh, Emily! Welcome, today we are going to start writing a story!” Ms. Wells, the English teacher says excitedly. “Nice.” I say sitting down. “I will give everyone binders and a blank piece of paper, for you guys to color the cover of your story.” Ms. Wells is says. She gives me a binder and a piece of paper. After some debating with myself I finally decide to print a sunset picture. I grab my iPad out of my backpack and scroll through pictures until I see a nice sunset picture I like. I save it and print it. “I’m gonna go and get something I printed.” I say standing up. Ms. Wells nods. I walk out of the classroom and start for the school office. Suddenly, I hear a voice behind me, “I’m surprised to see you out in class time.” I jump and look back. I see Tyler, who used to be one of my friends, but we had a little argument, and now we don't talk much. I groan internally, then roll my eyes. “I’m just getting something I printed.” I say pushing past him. Tyler smirks. I roll my eyes and walk to the office, I walk back to Tyler. “What are you doing out in a class time?” I ask. “Nothing really, I’m supposed to be doing an errand.” Tyler answers smirking. I roll my eyes. Then push past Tyler again towards my classroom. “Emily, you’re back!” Ms. Wells says as I sit back down and put the sunset in my binder. “Emily, do you have a title for your story yet?” Ms. Wells says suddenly. I look up, startled. “Uh... no, not yet.” I say.
“Alright, class is about to be dismissed, please start gathering up your items.” Ms. Wells says right before the bell rings. I get all my stuff, shoulder my backpack and walk out. I see Tyler leaning against the wall next to the bathroom door shouldering his backpack. He looks at me then smirks. I roll my eyes. I start walking towards the my last class, bible. One of the only classes Connor is in with me. I look around but don’t see him anywhere. Suddenly I feel hands on my waist. I look back and see Connor. I stifle a laugh. “Jeez, you scared me.” I say. “That’s kinda the point.” Connor says. I laugh. “Ok, to bible?” I say. “To bible.” Connor says before kissing me on the forehead. I sigh. “Hey, you look really pretty.” Connor says. We’re at a restaurant, and we’re having a date here. I chuckle. “And you look very handsome.” I say back. Connor chuckles this time. “What did you do after school?” Connor asks. Took care of Bullet, then got ready.” I say looking at my blue dress. “What about you?” “Literally watched YouTube until about 10 minutes before I came to get you.” Connor says. I stifle a laugh. “How did you get ready that quick?” I ask. “I got into a more fancy shirt. Stayed in my shorts.” Connor answers. “Here is your food.” Our waiter says. “Thank you.” I say. “Thanks.” Connor says. We eat our food and then leave. “Care to join me again?” Connor asks 20 minutes before my house. I giggle. “Sure.” “Hey wanna come with me to my place?” Connor asks after school. “Sure! Let me tell mom.” I say pulling out my phone. We drive to Connors house while listening to our playlist. When we get to Connors house I get out and walk towards the door. Connor gets out behind me, he opens the door for me, “Ladies first.” I giggle, “Thank you, gentleman.” I say. I walk inside and take my shoes off. “Mom isn’t here, so we have the house to ourselves.” Connor says playing ‘Shut Up and Dance’ by Walk the Moon. He holds his hand out for me. I giggle then take it. We dance for like 10 minutes, until we sit down in the couch. I sigh. “Wanna watch a movie?” I ask. “Sure, what movie?” Connor asks. “Well, we watched The Avengers last night, so how about Transformers?” I ask. Connor stifles a laugh. “What part of “The Avengers” made you think of Transformers?” “I don’t know.” I say shrugging. “How about the second movie in The Avengers series?” Connor asks. I chuckle. “Yeah, that probably makes more since.” I say. We finish The Avengers Age of Ultron, then watch Transformers, after I beg Connor. “Wait, can you pause it real quick?” I ask. Connor pauses it. “What’s wrong?” Connor asks. “I heard something.” I say. I stand up and look out the window, I look around but don’t see anything. “Hm, maybe it was an animal of something.” Connor suggests. “It didn’t sound like one, it sounded like people talking.” I say. “I don’t know.” Connor asks. I shrug. “Ok, you can unpause it.” I say sitting down. Connor unpauses it, but 5 minutes later I still hear stuff. “I still hear stuff.” I say, sighing. “Maybe you’re tired, it is pretty late.” Connor says. “Ok.” I say. I walk to the door and get my shoes on. “Oh crap, I guess I gotta drive you back.” Connor says. “Oh shoot.” I say smacking my head jokingly. “Care to join me again?” Connor asks when we get to my house. I chuckle. “Sure.” I reply. “Here’s your destination m’lady.” Connor says opening my door. I laugh. “Thank you kind sir.” I say. Connor kisses my forehead. I walk inside and go into my room, assuming mom’s asleep. I grab a crap t-shirt and shorts, then go into my bathroom and change. I brush my teeth and hair, then walk back into my room. I sigh and grab my phone. I decide to watch some YouTube in my AirPods for awhile. “I thought I heard a car.” A voice says. I look up, startled. “Gosh mom, you scared me.” I say. Mom chuckles softly. “How was your time with Connor?” “It was good, we watched some movies.” I say wondering if I should tell her about the voices I heard. “Well I’m downstairs if you need me.” Mom says going down the stairs. I nod, then think how weird it is to check on me, also how weird it is for her to tell me where she was incase I needed her. I shrug, whatever.