Emilee

Shit. Shit. Shit. Late for school...again! I ran down the stairs only half dressed, grabbing my bag and slipping on my shoes on the way out the door. This was the latest I’d been in a while. I half-jogged down the street, past Max’s house, past his car still parked in the drive way. I wasn’t sure how he got to school on time, seeing as his car was always there when I walked past each day. I was baffled. I continued jogging as best I could...which was not so good...for the next few streets, giving up panting with a stitch in my left side. It took me half an hour to walk to school each morning, you’d think I’d be fit by now. I felt a few rain drops hit my face, then realising there was quite a few darker clouds in the sky above. “Shit,” I mumbled. I’d forgotten my hoodie. I hated getting wet. I took a few steps forward before the rain really started. I think I heard thunder. I jumped at the screeching of breaks beside me on the street. I recognised the car as Max’s as the door opened invitingly. It took me no thought to rush inside his car and slam the door behind me.

“Getting a bit late to start walking now isn’t it?” he asked, smiling.

“Yea, thanks Max.” I grinned across at him. “Thanks a lot.” His car was nothing special, kinda messy inside. I needed a distraction to break both the silence and my gazing at his face as he concentrated so perfectly on the road. “Can I put a CD on?” I asked. He pushed one into the player, smiling across at me as Green Day started blasting.

“Been a fan for years,” he said.

“Same,” I replied. There was a short silence as we both raked our minds for something - anything - to say.

“So what lesson you got first?” he asked.

“English, same as you,” I replied. “I mean I only know cos your name is on the roll and you sit in front of me...” Shut up Emilee, just shut up...

“Ahh, thought so.” He looked as if he was thinking really hard about something. I wanted to ask what, but then I’d seem too interested. I began to tap my fingers on the doorframe along to the beat of “She” as the song started. Max started to hum to the words. I found myself gazing at him again. “Scream at me until my ears bleed. I’m taking heed just for you.” He sang it perfectly. I noticed we’d reached the school car park, and that he was gazing right back at me. I blushed and looked away.

“Oops,” I said quietly, more to myself than to him.

“You like me.” He stated the fact I thought he’d never find out so easily, not a single sign of hesitation or worry in his voice. How did he know? I’d never told anyone.

“You don’t know that,” I said, trying to cover it up.

“You’d be surprised and probably creeped out by what I know about you Emilee.” His eyes glistened.

“Ohh yea? Try me,” I said. He didn’t know me. I was surprised he knew my name. He shut off the radio and took a deep breath. What exactly did he know?

“Okay...” he started. “I know you’ve liked me since you first saw me at the start of the year. You liked the way I looked so different and didn’t seem to care. You tried to get a seat next to me in maths, but instead sat behind me so you could still see me, but not embarrass yourself by talking to me. I woulda loved to have sat next to you. You’re...interesting to say the least.” He paused to smile at me. I was stunned.

“How do you know all this?” I asked, horrified. He’s known all along. “I mean, you just guessed it, right?”

“I also know that you have a diary you keep called Jane, which lives under your pillow. You hold it some nights, those hard nights when everything crashes down...” he said softly. “I’m sorry, it’s not my place.” As I blinked, a few tears cascaded down my face. How could he know that? No one knew that...

“Max, how-” He cut me short.

“I can’t tell you.” He turned his head to glance out the window.

“You have to! How did you get in my room?” I asked, horrified as I thought of him reading my diary. I cringed, remembering what I’d written in there.

“I can’t tell you...here.” He looked over to a group of teens pointing towards his car we were still in.

“Fine, let’s go then,” I said. I put my seatbelt back on.

“You serious? You’ll get in trouble,” he said, the shocked expression on his face proving that he knew me better than I gave him credit for. How, I didn’t know. My parents would kill me.

“Dead serious.” The corners of his lips formed an evil little smile at my last sentence. He drove back outta the school, towards...well I wasn’t sure where we were going.