Paige's POV

It was a chilly September day today. I had on some black skinny jeans and a silver tank top and my leather jacket with some black combat boots laced loosely up to my mid calf. After swim practice got out I drove over to pick up my best friend Mallory from her after school reading club to go back to my house to do homework. As I pull up to the house, I see a new car in the drive next to my mom's. It's a very beautiful Toyota, a deep shade of blue. I'm not one for cars, I mean I drive an old Saturn because that was what my mom insisted I buy because it was safe and I could afford it. But this car was eye catching somehow. As Mal and I walked up the drive to the house she says "looks like your mom may have a date over" with a wink.

I just laugh at her and roll my eyes. Sure my mom has been trying to get out there but I also know that there was no way she would bring a man to the house without me hearing about it first. As we walk into the house I stop in my tracks. As Mallory bumps into me and asks what the hell she looks up and she's her as well. My mom is sitting at the kitchen table with a mysterious raven haired woman. I breathe and walk forward.

"hey ma, how was school?" I ask

She looks up and answers " it was alright, Paige. Oh, this is Emily from my College Algebra class. She is here to study for our test next week with me. Emily this is my daughter Paige."

Emily looks up and smiles this beautiful breathtaking smile. I actually feel my knees getting weak as I smile back at her. 'wow, she has an amazing smile' I think to myself. Mallory must have heard it because she nudges me with her elbow and smiles.

"Hey Mrs. McCullers, I'm Mallory by the way. Paige's cousin." Mallory introduces herself to Emily.

"We are going to head upstairs to study Ma. Is there anything you need me to do? What's for dinner?" I ask my mom.

My mom looks back at me after turning to Emily to ask if she wants to stay for dinner "No, we are fine. Dinner is in a couple hours. I'll call you two down when it's ready. Oh, how was swim practice today?"

I groan because I didn't want that question to come up in front of a guest. My mom pushed me into swimming a few years ago. I took a liking to it after a while but for some reason this year I was tired of it. I guess it was because of the pressure of getting a college scholarship to a good school. I'm a senior this year and my mom has VERY HIGH expectations for me.

"It was fine mom. I'm still the captain and I think coach is going to name me anchor for the relay next week. She told me that my times are up and that it's looking good for the scouts that are going to come watch in a few weeks. Is that good?" I can't help the little hint of annoyance in my voice at the end. Something about how hard she is on me about swimming. I guess it was because she used to be a swimmer as well…..at least that is what she keeps telling me.

My mom smiles at me "That's amazing honey! Do you know any of your times? What leg of the relay does she want to put you at?"

All I can do is roll my eyes at these questions. She knows exactly what leg of the relay they would put me at and she knows what my times look like. "Butterfly mom, and I'm not sure what my times look like. But they couldn't be any better than when you were timing me on Sunday."

Emily laughs at this. My breath hitches in my throat. Mallory knocks me again with her elbow and says "dude, let's go. Let your mom study."

Mallory can tell when I'm getting annoyed. She also knows that I don't find swimming enjoying anymore. I feel like it's a job. One I do to not let my mom down after what happen to my dad not so long ago.

"Right, well nice meeting you Emily." I say smiling from ear to ear for some reason "I hope you do stick around for dinner. Mal come on then."

We head for my bedroom and as we shut the door she turns to me.

"Paige…..what was that? You acted as if you had never seen a girl before! Do we need to have a talk?" Mallory says teasingly with a laugh. I don't know what she was talking about. Sure Emily was pretty, but I had a boyfriend and I was straight…..right?

Emily's POV

Judy turns to me and I try to go back to studying. But for some reason I can't get that smile out of my mind. I know I shouldn't be looking at my friends daughter like that. I shake my head to try to concentrate and look back at my book. But it doesn't really work. I'm hearing her talk but I am not really listening. That other girl, Mallory, she elbowed Paige when she smiled at me. Why? Whatever, it's not right. I need to get back to math!

"So will you stay for dinner Emily?" I hear Judy say.

Startled I look up and say "Of course. I mean if that's not too much of an in convenience for you, Judy. I don't want to over stay my welcome."

"Don't be ridicules Emily! It's no big deal. Mallory lives here and Paige eats a strict diet while she's swimming so there is always plenty." She says to me. "Sure then, I would love to have dinner" I say with a smile.

We go back to studying for a while. Then Judy decides it's time to make dinner. I ask if there is anything I can help with but she says no. So I pull out my Psych book and start reading about Multiple Personality Disorder. I can smell the pasta sauce and meatballs already.

I hear laughing coming from the living room now. I hear Paige let out a huge laugh at something I'm guessing was what Mallory said because I don't hear the tv on. I keep pretending to be reading my text book. Finally I hear Judy go into the living room and ask Paige to set the table for dinner. At this I pack my books up to clear the way. As Paige comes into the kitchen for some reason I blush. Maybe it's because I was just replaying her laugh in my head? I'm not really sure right now. But I turn to Judy and excuse myself to my car to put my book bag in the trunk.

As I'm leaning against the trunk of my car looking up at the stars I hear the door behind me open and close. Paige was sent to make sure I was still here and didn't bail. I tense as she walks up behind me and leans on the trunk next to me.

"Hey, so my mom was worried that you had bailed on us for some reason. Are you ok?" she says next to me while looking up at the sky as well.

"Yeah, I'm good. I just live in the city so I never get to see the stars at night. Thought I would take my time is all. I didn't mean to worry your mom." I can't help but steal a glance at the auburn haired girl standing next to me. I can see her eyes twinkle and a wondrous look on her face as she stares upward. "Can I ask you, do you swim for fun at all? Or, just for the team?"

I can see the look on her face become one of contemplation. She turns to me to speak now " I'm not sure anymore. It's been so long since I swam for myself and not to make my mom happy that I can't tell if it makes me happy anymore."

I can tell she is telling the truth. "I'm sorry about your dad Paige." I say in a whisper to her.

All she does is look away at the ground and put her hands in her front pockets.

"I don't normally like to talk about it. I'm sorry." She says still looking down.

Just then Mallory comes out the door and shouts "guys! Dinner is ready. Come on!"

We went into the house and had a nice meal. There was talk of swimming which Paige lit up at. Talking about the swimmers she loved. Mallory was all about her latest boyfriend. I didn't know that someone could be that 'boy crazy' till now. I mean one of my best friends Hanna is all about boys, but not like this kid. Judy was a great cook, we had angel hair pasta and meatballs with a sauce she makes from scratch. We all discussed school and how we were doing in it. I learned that Paige was a senior and Mallory was at Hollis with me. But she was a year behind Judy and I.

As the night came to an end I got another chance to speak to Paige alone. "Do you like to work out or run at all when in swim training Paige?" I ask her.

She cocks her eyebrow at me with a smirk as if to say 'you don't know much about swimming do you?' but instead she speaks "I actually used to do both. But mom had to let my gym membership lapse because…..There is a small gym at school I can use but I hate having to work out will the football team. Why do you ask Emily?"

I find myself holding my breath at the sound of my name on her lips. I find her chocolate eyes and smile. I try to speak but nothing comes out. What's going on with me?! Finally I get the words out I am trying to say. "Well I do have a gym membership. I hate going alone and was wondering if you wouldn't mind joining me. I know that's a bit forward as we just met, but I really hate going alone. We also have a lap pool there if that's something you would like." Oh crap, I must sound like a weirdo asking her to go to the gym with me like this. What the hell! Pull it together Emily! As I'm silently cursing myself for actually asking her to the gym she smiles at me. Wider then I've seen all night. I must of said something to make her happy because she is beaming at me.

"Are you for real?! I would LOVE to go to the gym again! What time do you like to go?" She says excitedly. I can't believe she just said yes to going. What time do I go? Uh….thinking about it I look back over to her. Paige is still beaming at me. I can't help but smile back shyly and look away. "Whatever time you like as long as neither of us is it class. I can either pick you up or you can meet me there." I say still unable to really look those beautiful eyes full on.

She thinks for a second and says "Well, how early is you first class? I used to go before school because I have practice after."

Before class? Is she crazy? From the look on her face I can tell she's not. So I let her know that my first class isn't until ten in the morning every day. We set a time to go that just happens to be at 6:30am because the gym is only ten minutes from her school. I give her my number and we plan to meet in a couple of days on Friday. Because I don't have school that day and she can pick me up to make sure I get up.

As I leave their house I can't help but smile to myself. While I know from what Judy has told me that Paige is straight and is kind of a player who loves to mess with people's hearts, I still can't help but think she is pretty. I keep saying to myself "Judy is your friend. You cannot fall for her straight daughter!" But no matter how many times I say it out loud on the way home in my car, I just can't convince myself that it matters.

Paige's POV

After Emily gave me her number I gave my mom a hug and told her goodnight and went upstairs to where Mallory was waiting for me in my room.

"What the hell was that Paige?" she asks with a smirk on her face and a laughing tone.

"I have no idea what you're talking about Mal. Let's go to bed." I have no idea what she is talking about and right now I'm just far too tired to hear her out. But in true Mallory fashion she isn't letting up.

She stands and moves over to be in front of me. She's few inches taller than me so I have look up into her face. "Bitch, you know exactly what I'm talking about! You got her number! Paige McCullers, if I hadn't known any better I would say you wanted it!" She starts laughing at this. Seeing the look of confusion on my face she laughs harder now. Apparently she didn't believe me not knowing what she was talking about. She grabs my shoulder to keep from falling over now. "Jeez, calm down! I know you miss working out. And I personally think it's going to be good for you to have a friend who doesn't live with you for once! Don't look like what I said was the worst thing in the world. Relax. I just wanted to have some fun with you."

My body starts to loosen up now. I didn't even know it had tensed when she talked about the number exchange. I hadn't realized that it could have been seen like I just wanted her number and a reason to hang out with her. I smack Mallory on the stomach and that stops her laughing for long enough so she can punch me back in the upper arm. I tell her it's time for bed and to get the fuck out of my room and she grudgingly leaves. We usually stay up for another couple hours and talk to rock out to music before she heads to her room but tonight I feel like I need to just be alone.

I can't get that smile out of my head. The one Emily had on when I said I would go to the gym with her. And the way she looked down was so adorable…..wait. How can a girl be adorable like that to me? But her eyes, it felt like they were there just for me to look at tonight. And when we were out by her car I felt something. I can't quite put my finger on it. There was a jolt I felt being next to her like that. It was electric. I had ever felt that before. What was I thinking? I didn't like girls like that. Plus she was my MOMS friend!

As I climb in bed I think about it. I had never questioned myself before like this. But there was something about Emily that I wanted to be around. I told myself it was not because she was stunning and easy to talk to but that it was because she was an athlete like me. As I drift off my last thought is her eyes. The next morning everything would be back to normal right?