The Thirteenth Year of Emily John- August

I woke up and it was 8:00 a.m. I could hear my godmother snoring in the other room, I don't know how my godfather is able to handle it. I laid in my bed and looked around my room. Many people (well, girls), when they turn thirteen, will clear out their room of any childish memories. Layla did, she actually had me come and help. It was kinda sad getting rid of the Barbies we used to spend hours on end playing with. After she turned nine, she shoved them under her bed, but the day that Layla turned thirteen, they were gone. I couldn't bring myself to clear out my room, I liked it. It was my room, my escape from reality. I had decided that I wouldn't clear out old memories, I would only add new ones. 
I had asked my mom if we could invite the family over again this year. I just had to start off my fourteenth year perfectly. They were all to arrive around 10 or 11 a.m., except my godparents, who came out yesterday morning. I told Layla and Tom to drop by sometime, so that should be good. Of course, one thing that I was debating was inviting Greg, but then I stopped and thought about him laughing at me all those times and being a jerk and kissing me when he had no right to, and I put the phone back down. 
So, of course, the plan was a total bust. I really wanna give up, but I just can't bring myself to. Never give up on something you can't go a day without thinking about. So, I'm not gonna give up, but its so hard because there is no use! I am scared of saying the wrong thing or getting angry or anything like that, and I never get nervous with boys! Never ever! Then I think of that girl, Julie, and I give a little shiver. Ugh, horrible memories. 
I got out of bed and wrapped the blanket around me as I sat down on the bench below my window. I could see runners coming by, their breath panting and their feet pounding. I saw the head of a deer pop out of a bush and look around frantically before dashing across the street into another persons yard. I saw birds fly above my line of sight, and I tilted my head upward to see them better. I closed my eyes and listened to the chirping of the birds, and then I heard pounding of another runners feet. I opened my eyes and pressed my face against the window to get a closer look, and I realized it was Sam. I saw him turn into our driveway and turn his iPod off before disappearing below me. I threw my blanket off and ran down the stairs to greet him at the door. As soon as I caught his eye I broke into a sprint and ran into his arms. Sam lifted me high into the air, my head grazing the chandelier in the front hallway. He put me down and laughed.
"You may be thirteen now but you're still very light!" Sam said, then brushed past me into the kitchen.
"Nice shirt by the way," he said, smiling at me and biting into a banana. 
I looked down at my worn in Gators shirt, I slept in it almost every night. 
"I'm not thirteen yet," I said, breaking into a grin. Everyone busts me because I refuse to say I'm a year older until I really am.
"9:07 a.m. I will be thirteen," I said, and turned around to face my mom and dad with a plate of birthday waffles. 
Gosh how I loved birthdays.
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I pulled on a pair of denim bermudas and a turquoise and white striped t-shirt while happily humming to myself. I heard the grandfather clock strike 9:00 a.m. and my stomach churned a little. I finished tying the laces on my sneakers and went downstairs to sit on the deck. I could smell food in the kitchen and hear the phone ringing, family asking for our address again. The Tree cast shadow on a part of the yard, but ended because of the lake we have. My mom had been so excited about putting that in. We have these fish in there that she takes care of in the summer, and then they hibernate for the winter. Its actually really pretty and really clean. There are two big rocks next to it that Greg and I used to go and sit on while we dipped our feet in the water.
Greg. Ugh, he is always coming up, probably because he was such a big part of my past, my childhood. Well, in T-minus 3 minutes, I will be a teenager, and none of that will matter anymore. I will be positive. Today will be a good day. Its my thirteenth birthday for crying out loud, I will enjoy it. I came inside and saw the oven clock say 9:07 a.m. My mom came over and hugged me and my godmother yelled, "You're thirteen now, no more Happy Meals!"
I chuckled to myself, and Sam yelled over her, "Thirteen is an unlucky number! Emily is unlucky now!"
No, Emily is a happy, normal teenage girl now.
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Things were actually going really well. I was very pleased with my gifts and Layla and Tom and I were having a great time together. We were sitting outside eating and my stomach churned. I glanced over at The Tree and felt it calling me over. Layla seemed to notice because her eyes went all big and scary looking and she shook her head from side to side urgently. I bit my lip and thought for a second, before looking at her and nodding my head just as urgently. I did the same as last year, banged my knife against my glass and got everyone's attention. 
"Now, I know that last year didn't start off too great," I began, and let everyone have their moment to chuckle, "but this year is different. This year, I will climb The Tree. So, lets get a move on now!"
My family whispered, but they all got up. My dog trotted along beside me, and as we reached The Tree, I patted his head, then turned to face everyone. I flashed a thumbs-up signal, and began my journey. I would describe what it was like, but all I really remember was the pounding in my head and my chest. 
But it gets better.
This journey, was successful. Everyone crowded around me, hugging and clapping me on the back. My dad had filmed the whole thing, and was now trying to contact Channel 5 News. Those who had already congratulated me stepped aside, until there was one person left.
Greg.
According to Tom (who told me this later on), Greg showed up right before my journey up The Tree began. I must have been so nervous I didn't see him. 
I awkwardly stood there, looking at him, before he reached out and hugged me.
"I'm so sorry Emily, you have no idea how horrible it has been without you. I was a jerk, and I can totally understand if you don't--"
"Greg," I cut him off, releasing myself from him,"come on."
I grabbed his hand and turned around to face the lake. The sun was setting now, and the sky was a gorgeous mix of purple, orange, yellow, pink, and turquoise. We walked towards the lake, hand in hand, and only released hands to untie our shoes. I sat on my rock and he sat on his. Then he grabbed my hand again, and we sat there in silence, and that was enough for me. 
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Hope you enjoyed "the end." Please vote in the poll and let me know what you think! Thanks guys!
Megan

The Thirteenth Year of Emily John- July

"Layla," I called from my room, "I need that photo album, rope, and a cinnamon bun pronto!" 
"Why do you need a cinnamon bun?" she asked, as I typed away on my laptop.
"Make that two cinnamon buns," I called out, clicking the send button on my laptop.
"You still didn't answer my question," she said, clearly getting irritated.
"Layla, the plan is in action in T-minus 4 hours! You need to move!" I yelled, opening up Google Earth.
I heard her groan, and then go storming off into the kitchen opening the box of cinnamon buns. I, unlike other people (*cough cough* Layla), was completely and totally focused on getting this plan to work. I am the sort of person where once I put my mind towards something, it happens. Usually, not quite the way I picture it, but it happens. Layla came back upstairs, holding in her hand my photo album and a plate with two cinnamon buns.
"Layla, where is the rope?" I asked, biting my lip and trying to perfectly adjust my view on Tom's backyard. 
"I couldn't find it," she said, placing the photo album and plate on my desk. 
"Go look downstairs in my Dad's workshop, there should definitely be rope there," I said, grabbing one of the cinnamon buns off of the plate.
"Hey," she whined, "I thought those were for the plan!"
"They are," I said, taking another bite, "Because a part of the plan is keeping me satisfied. Now go!"
Layla left the room, and my phone rang at about the same time. I put my cinnamon bun down and licked my fingers before grabbing the phone. It was Tom. He spoke to me as I rotated the camera that shows his backyard on Google Earth. As he spoke, I also dropped a pin on each important mark. This had to work, I thought, as we said good bye and he wished me luck. Layla came back with the rope just as I finished my cinnamon bun. We wrapped the other one up and double checked our checklist before leaving the house. 
T-minus 3 hours now. Just 3 more hours.
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Tom and Layla sat on his deck while blowing up all of the inflatable pool toys while I tested out the rope, just to make sure it was securely fastened to the tree. I then tied the other end to the top ring in my photo album, and practiced lowering it. I checked to make sure the note was in the photo album, then I bundled it all up and placed it on the branch where the rope was tied to. I then put the cinnamon bun in its special hiding place, just so no one would take it. The pool party starts in 15 minutes.
"T-minus 15 minutes, over," I said into my walkie talkie, before hiding it in the bush next to the diving board.
Layla and Tom came down with the last of the pool toys, and then we all gathered around the site of the plan.
"Time to review," I said, as I stared into the eager eyes of Layla and Tom."
"Right before the diving contest starts, Layla will go to the secret hiding place and retrieve the cinnamon bun. She will then bring it over to Greg, who will be standing by that tree over there. Tom, be sure he is standing by that tree when Layla goes to the secret hiding spot. When she brings it to Greg, she will say, 'Enjoy your cinnamon bun and watch the divers.' After that, Layla will climb to the top of the tree where the rope and photo album are sitting. Be prepared to lower it. After I have done my dive, Tom will say something, anything, to Greg about me. Layla, after he says something about me, and something good, you will lower the photo album. Tom will then say, 'Hey Greg, how about we check this out.' You guys will look through the entire thing, and when Greg gets to the back where the note is, be sure he reads it. Give me the signal Tom, after he is done. I will take care of the rest. You guys got it?" I asked.
They nodded in agreement. 
"Be sure your walkie talkies are on at all times so we can contact one another," I said as the first guests started to arrive.
"Lets do this," Tom said, as he left to greet them all.
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The diving contest was about to start. I looked over at Tom and gave him the signal. He nodded back towards me, and I saw him lead Greg over to the tree. On instinct, Layla went to the secret hiding place and came back with the cinnamon bun. She said something to him, and he looked at Tom. Tom shrugged and leaned back against one side of the tree. Greg did the same and started eating his cinnamon bun. Tom's older brother announced the start of the diving contest, and all us divers lined up. I was very nervous. I looked over at the tree and saw Layla resting upon it, ready to lower the photo album. I adjusted my bikini straps again, and stretched my legs and arms out. I looked over at the tree again and saw that Greg was happy. I knew the cinnamon bun was a nice touch. Its his favorite food, so its a great way to suck up to him. Paul was in front of me, and he ran and did his dive, a can-opener. People cheered and the girls sitting next to the pool shrieked because they got wet. I heard Tom's brother announce my name, and I stepped up to the diving board.
Everything went in slow motion after that. Everyone knew I was famous for my "Uber Double Backwards Flip Dive", as I like to call it. I would do a back-flip twice in midair, and then arch my back in a backwards dive. This was the moment we had all been waiting for. I walked to the end of the diving board and turned around, did my first jump, then my second, and on my third, I was in the air. I did my first back-flip and my second back-flip. I heard shrieks as I arched my back, although it was probably everyone's shock that I had nailed it so perfectly this time. As I hit the water, I smiled, because the plan was going to be ten times better now. I surfaced the water and put my hands up in victory, a big smile on my face. It only lasted for a second, because everyone started laughing and pointing at me. Was it that bad I thought? I thought it was pretty good, until I looked down and didn't see my bright aqua bikini top. Well, that's a lie. I did see it, laying at the bottom of the pool. I immediately ducked my self underwater and turned bright red. I looked over at the tree and saw Greg in hysterics while Layla and Tom were in complete shock. I swam over to the edge of the pool and grabbed my towel, covering myself and running to the bush. I grabbed the walkie talkie with my other hand, and screamed into it, "Abort plan, repeat, abort!" Tom scrambled to his feet and Layla jumped off the tree, instantly dropping the rope and scrapbook. It fell on Greg's head, but he deserved it. She didn't even try to grab it back from him, because she was too busy being a good friend and chasing after me. When she caught up to me, I told her to go dive back in and get my bikini top while Tom's mom came out to me and pulled me in the house.
"Em!" I heard Greg call after me, but Tom just pushed him out. 
Later that night, I was sitting in Layla's room watching Grown Ups when my phone rang. It was Tom.
Greg had read the note and wanted to see me. 
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Hope that was a good cliff hanger for you all. Please spread the word and comment! One more posting (maybe). After August, I'll put up a poll asking...well, you'll see. By the way, the tree the photo album was on is not The Tree, in case there was confusion. Please keep coming back though! Thanks guys!
Megan

The Thirteenth Year of Emily John-June

I am once again the topic of everyones' discussions. I mean, can't they find anything else to talk about? Gosh. But, after I went running off the stage, I managed to stay hidden in the basement for a while, until Layla found me. She high-fived me, so I guess that means she thought Greg deserved it too. 
I am getting a variety of looks from people in the hallways, some people turn their noses up in disgust, others slap me on the back shouting, "Good Job!" Whatever the reaction may be, it still makes me wonder, should I have really done that to the boy who I grew up knowing? Did I really destroy everything?
Today is our big 7th grade field trip, I am uber excited! We are going to a water park, which will be amazing. Layla and I have been looking forward to this all year, planning exactly which rides we will go on and how long we would be willing to wait in line. We even went shopping for swimsuits last weekend! I got an aqua two piece while Layla got a pink and orange two piece. Mine is a halter back and hers is racer back, but that isn't important at this moment. We just have been counting down forever for this day right here, because it will be the best day of our lives! 
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We have been at the water park for about an hour, and things are going pretty well. I haven't fallen or broken anything yet, so all is well. I have managed to avoid Greg for the most part. I think I still like him, I don't quite know yet. There are so many other schools here today, so our plan isn't working out exactly how we planned, but it is still a lot of fun. We were getting inside of a tube to go down a water slide, and Layla and I were talking. 
"You know Em, I think you may have completely ruined your chances with Greg, after slapping him, not that he didn't totally deserve it! But, I mean, well, he totally deserved the slapping. He was avoiding you for months and being a total jerk, that for him to just come out of nowhere and kiss you, expecting everything to be okay, that was totally wrong. So what will you do now?" 
"Well," I said, adjusting my position in the water tube, "I think that the two of us just have to work it all out. We have to, and even if we don't end up boyfriend/girlfriend, I would at least like to go back to being friends."
"After this ride Emily, you should go and talk to him. Share your feelings over a water balloon fight for all I care, just talk to him. I can't stand to see your heart broken," Layla said, as she flipped her hair out of her face and grabbed the handle bars. 
"I will," I said, after taking a deep breath. How hard could it be, I thought, as the operator of this ride pushed our tube down the slide. 
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Here I am, walking over to Greg, ready to share my feelings. My heart is beating like mad, and I feel like I am going to pass out. I get over to him and take a deep breath.
"Hey Greg," I said, my voice going up and down. 
"Uh, hey Em," he says, as a girl in an itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini walked over to Greg and put her arm around his waist.
"Who's this?" I asked, clearly confused.
"Oh, um, she's a girl I met earlier this morning. Um, her name is Julie, and she goes to the other middle school in town," Greg said, putting his arm around her shoulders.
"Do you know her?" I asked, kinda/sorta shrieking.
"Now I do," Greg said, smiling at Julie. I glared at her. Who does she think she is taking away my Greg from me?!
I went storming back to Layla, giving a little finger wave and a forced smile. She then grabbed my hand and we went to the food hall, me stocking up on hot dogs and onion rings, and of course, Popsicle's. Layla meanwhile had a grilled cheese sandwich, and was nibbling it as she stared at me. I was fuming. Absolutely nothing was working out for me, and my mother thought that 12 was a lucky number! All that I can say is I cannot WAIT to turn 13, then I can put this whole year behind me. 
But most of all, I was kinda sad. I mean, before any of this, Greg was my best friend and I was his. Now, I'm nothing to him. I have to find a way to fix this, and fast I thought as I shoved another onion ring in my mouth.
"Em, are you OK?" Layla asked, looking at me with concern.
"Layla, I have a plan," I said, cracking my knuckles and smiling.
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So so so so so so so so sorry it took so long for this to come up! Its summer now, so I will try and be better about posting. Please comment and tell your friends, because the story is almost over, Emily is almost 13! Thanks guys!
Megan

The Thirteenth Year of Emily John-May

Alright, so I had to leave everything that happened to me behind and move on, because the play is this month! Well, actually, tomorrow to be exact. The actuality of being the lead in a school musical hasn't hit me until now. Huh, that's odd. Maybe because I have had so much going on! Oh my gosh, play rehearsals have been so stressful! I mean, Mrs. Morris is just freaking out! She thinks that we won't be ready, which that statement is subject to disagree. I am Belle, and I feel perfectly ready! As a matter of fact, all that I have been singing lately is these stupid musical songs, I even have solos! Who would have thought that me, Emily John, would have solos! And don't even get me started about my lines because they have been going through my mind constantly too. As a matter of fact, yesterday, me and Layla had gone out for pizza and she asked me a question and I replied with, "I didn't escape Papa, he let me go!" Then I realized how that sounded because everyone in the pizza parlor turned to look at me and Layla. She grabbed my wrist and we ran out of the parlor (and I didn't even get to finish my pizza!). I don't think they'll ever want us to go back there again. 
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I'm backstage, and someone's mother is putting the finishing touches on my makeup. Layla (who has the role of Mrs. Potts) comes waddling back to me and says, "Emily, there are a lot of people out there. You know, I admire you for being able to go out there and not be nervous at all!"
Ha! She isn't in my mind right now, because I keep thinking, what if Beast steps on my dress while dancing, and, are they using real fire in the scene where everyone chases after Beast?! Holy cow! What if the school burns down! Well, that last line apparently slipped out of my lips, and Bubba's mother looked at me. I forced a smile and leaned back in my chair, close to hyperventilating. I listened as the school filed in to the auditorium. Man, and I had always thought that we had a small school.
"Finished. You look gorgeous, if I do say so myself," said Bubba's mother. I looked in the mirror, and I did. I really did. If only Greg could see me right now...
"Um, is Mrs. Morris back here?" a voice that was all too familiar to me asked. I turn around and Greg is there, holding a clipboard and wearing a headset. He is looking around for Mrs. Morris. Holy cow, that's right! He is in charge of stage crew. 
"Why do you need her?" asks Bubba's mother.
"Well, the spotlight that goes on Belle isn't working. Oh, um, hey Emily. You look, wow. Really good," he manages to sputter out. 
I bite my lip.
"Thanks Greg, er, you do too?" I say, then turn bright red and turn around. Wow, talk about epic fail. Mrs. Morris comes walking in right at that moment. 
"Oh dear oh dear. I am in a predicament. Paul slipped on someones banana peel and he can't play the role of Beast. And, our understudy is in Montana. What am I going to do?!" she cried. I looked over at Layla, and she turned bright red, immediately swallowing the rest of her banana. 
"Does anyone else know the lines for Beast?!" she yells, and everyone freezes. 
"Mrs. Morris, I think I do," says Greg.
"Oh Greg, really?" Mrs. Morris asks, with a hint of hopefulness in her voice. 
"Yea, I was at all of the rehearsals and I pretty much memorized Paul's lines, and I wouldn't mind," Greg says.
"Greg, you are my lifesaver. Get Hailey in here, she is in charge of stage crew. Go find the costume labeled Beast 1 and put it on, then take a quick run through the script and get familiar, we are on in half an hour people!" she yells, then walks out of this wing of backstage. 
Thanks a lot Layla.
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Ten minutes. I really should go to Greg and try to practice lines with him, but I just can't bring myself to do so. My face is buried in my copy of the script. Holy cow, I am supposed to kiss Beast at the end. Layla comes and peeks over my shoulder.
"Man, you are in luck sister! You get to kiss your man!" she says, whispering the last part. 
I glance up at Greg and see him smiling at me. I bite my lip and turn away. 
"Layla, I am going to hurt you so badly when this is over," I say, glaring at her.
"Hey, sweetie, be happy that I am helping you. I could just laugh and roll my eyes at you," she says.
"Yea, I'd rather you do that then help me. This isn't help Layla!" I cry.
"Em, you are just stressed. I'm sure it will all work out in the end," she says, then pulls me into a hug.
"You are the best and most beautiful Belle that I have ever known, and your acting and singing will make the crowd stand on their chairs!" she says to me.
Mrs. Morris walks in and calls us all together for scene one. Layla squeezes my hand and smiles as I walk out, ready for anything.
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The play is almost over, and I've got to say, the audience is loving me! We are lining up for the last scene, it is after the crowd has come to bang down the doors. Surprisingly, they didn't use real fire! The stars are on my side tonight. But I spoke too soon.
Greg and I are dancing, and I just can't look him in the eyes. My stomach starts to churn as the rest of the cast gets their last lines out. I glance over Greg's shoulder and see Mrs. Morris on the side of the stage, smiling. Chip says his line, and then Greg cups my face with his hand. I take a deep breath. It will all be OK because he is supposed to kiss his thumb, not me. Ha. I watch as he leans in, closer, and closer. And then I feel his lips on mine. I hear Adam and Tyler cheering the loudest. He tightens his arm around my waist, then releases me. 
"Em, I'm so sorry, could you please forgive me?" he asks, still holding on to me.
"JERK!" I scream, smacking his face and running off the stage. As I open the side door which exits down to the basement, the first of my tears come, and I let them come, running down the stairs and leaving everyone else behind me, including Greg.
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I hope that you guys enjoyed this posting. I really liked writing it! The year is ending for Emily, she is 12 and three quarters, almost 13! Please keep reading and commenting and following, it will keep getting better!
Megan

The Thirteenth Year of Emily John-April

You know, that trip down to Florida turned out to be a total bust. Probably the worst fun time of my life. The Gators did win, obviously by a lot, but I still got hit in the head by a basketball (that was probably ten times the size of a normal one. You know, I'll bet the future elves probably came and replaced the normal basketball with a larger one because they knew I was going to get hit with one) and ended up with a concussion that the doctors thought they could fix with a bandage. So, I had to stay in Florida for longer, which wasn't all that bad. But when I came back, I had all this school work to make up and that wasn't fun. 

Oh, but I'll bet you are wondering what happened with Greg. Well, haha, funny you should ask. Apparently there was a Spanish project in Spanish class and we were all assigned a partner. So, Greg was assigned to be my partner by Senora Rodriguez (thank you!) and he called to see when I was coming back to school so we could get started on our project! Talk about rude?!?!?! Or maybe he called because he misses me.........

So, the Greg thing isn't going too well. But I am determined to tell him that I like him before school gets out, in three months. Can you believe that I only have three months to find a time to tell my best friend that, "Hey, I'm sorry I turned you down when you asked me out. I was a total jerk. But, I like you now and that's what counts, right? So, how about we go to see a movie together babe?" No, it doesn't work like that. My first problem is how am I going to tell Greg that I like him? How will I find the perfect moment? God, can you hear me? And second, how will I tell him? "Yo babe, I think you're hot" isn't going to work!

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So, I have been back in school for a while now, and everyone is pointing and laughing because apparently, ESPN decided to post the video on their website, and on YouTube. Yay-NOT! So, besides being laughed at, its been going good. Me and Layla have been going up to the library at lunch because Greg and Tom have taken over our lunch table. Gosh, will Greg ever give it up? Will he ever give me a chance to explain myself? Well, be careful what you wish for. 

I am standing at my locker, trying to figure out what else I will need for the rest of the day, when I feel someone bump into me. I turn around, and its Greg.

"Oh, well looky here," says Adam, probably one of the most obnoxious friends of Greg's. 
"What," chimes in Tyler, not to high on my "I like him" scale either. 
"It's little Miss Fall Down and come back up hoping her little boyfriend will be there for her," Adam says.
"That's not nice," I say, glaring at the three of them.
"Well, life's not nice sometimes, but we all learn to deal with it. Well, at least most of us." Tyler snickers. 
"Emily, aren't you going to say hi to your boyfriend?" asks Adam, pushing Greg towards me. 
"Guys, come on," Greg says, moving farther away from me. I roll my eyes and turn back to my locker. I give it a once over, then close it. I turn around to hear Tyler making kissey noises.
The boys laugh, and I try to push myself through them. But, some people have decided to be a little stubborn towards me. I look at my watch and realize I'm going to be late for drama class, which is getting very intense since the musical isn't too far away. But, no matter which way I go, Adam and Tyler are blocking me.
"Come on guys, let her through," says Greg, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. 
"Why, so she can go and run into your arms and cry and hope you'll make it all better?" asks Adam, and the boys start laughing.
I stomp my foot and say, "Please let me through," but that does it. 
Adam reaches out and knocks all my books down to the ground. As I bend to pick them up, Tyler kicks them all across the hall. And just guess what came flying out of my pencil case? Yep, a personal product. My face turns bright red as I grab it and shove it in the pocket of my jeans. When I turn around to grab the rest of my stuff, Adam is fingering through my assignments book, reading every single thing out loud.
"Well, whats this? I HEART GREG!!!! Sincerely, Emily John!" Adam says, fairly loudly too. 
Well, that was it. Everyone started cracking up, including Greg. The three of them walked away, still laughing and replaying the moment, without a single glance back. 
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Sorry its so short! The next few months will definitely be longer, I promise. Feedback, become a follower, tell your friends, spread the word about my blog!!!! Thanks, hope the sun comes soon!
Megan

The Thirteenth Year of Emily John-March

OK, so I was so shocked to turn around and see Greg standing there, I mean, friends who have been friends since diapers do not ask each other to go to school dances with them and be their girlfriends and such. I fainted. Seriously, I fainted, meaning I fell down right in front of him. Blacked out. I woke up and Greg was just sitting next to me awkwardly. 

"I guess thats a no," he said sadly.

"Look, Greg, its kind of complicated, but.." I said.

"Whatever Emily," Greg said, stood up, threw the rose in the garbage, and walked away.

I felt horrible. I mean, I was shocked when I saw him, and I wanted to say no because like I have said before, he is my best friend! What if we broke up and never wanted to talk to each other again?! How could I possibly live with that? I just moped through the rest of the day, not wanting to talk to anyone. I came home and logged into instant message and Greg was online. I jumped, ecstatic, maybe now I could finally talk to him. So I sent him a message, and then he logged off. My shoulders slumped. I already feel horrible.

So, now its March, past February, that day is done. But, I keep replaying everything that happened over and over in my head. Layla told me I just needed to forget about it, and Greg would go back to being my best friend. So, I have given him some space these past few weeks, and its getting on my nerves to not be able to talk to Greg. I tried talking to Tom but I guess that Greg recruited him, so, I have lost two best friends. Great. So, I was sitting in bed last night, just thinking. Of course, my thoughts fluttered over to the day of the dance, and I replayed each and every moment. Gosh, Greg must have been a nervous wreck, I mean, its gotta be hard to get up the nerves to go and ask a girl out, especially if she is your best friend. Man, I feel really bad about turning Greg down, I wish I had said yes...

WAIT!

Why did I just say that? I wish I had said yes. I thought of his brown hair and his dimple and oh how his eyes were absolutely gorgeous...

Hold on, this is Greg we are talking about.

Yes Greg. Holy cow, I have a crush on Greg. 

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We are in an airplane, flying down to Florida. Its March, March Madness for all you college basketball fans. Sam plays basketball for the Florida Gators, if you didn't already know that, so we are going to see one of the games. You know, I could really get used to Sam being in college. Not having him bother me anymore, getting COURT-SIDE seats at a March Madness game because we are family, man, life is good. 

So, the Gators are playing the Connecticut Huskies, which I can already tell will be an easy game for the Gators to win, knock on wood. We have about twenty minutes before we land. Gosh, I'm excited, so excited that I am hardly thinking about Greg. NO! I will not think about Greg while I am here at this game tonight, because I am here to have fun, and not worry about 7th grade drama. So there. Although Greg is really good looking, I will not think about him tonight. 

As we walk into the basketball court, music is pumping louder than any concert I have ever been to. I flash my court-side ticket to the ticket checker guy and stroll down the basketball court, plopping down into one of those seats. I watch as eyes envy me, and I smile. This is what I look forward too, having fun at a basketball game, a March Madness one to boot. Sam comes out in his Gators uniform, and all the Gators fans in the stadiums cheer. Sam smiles and waves, then walks over to my mom, dad, and me. 

"Hey guys, glad you could make it," he says, glaring at me. I didn't do anything this time, I swear.

"Emily, please don't get hurt while your here. I heard that you dislocated your shoulder," he said, smiling at me.
"Haha, very funny Sam. How could I possibly get hurt at a basketball game?" I asked running through all the possibilities at the same time in my head.
"Well, Coach is calling, gotta run. See you guys after the Gators destroy the Huskies," Sam says, then saunters away. 
**************************************
The game is going really well, I'm enjoying myself. The score is 67-53 Gators. Sam has made many of those 67 points. I keep worrying about what Sam said, and I especially got scared when I saw one of his teammates dive head first into the audience on the other end of the court. Holy cow, I thought, what if one of them dives into me? Would I get hurt? Nah, I thought, I'm not that unlucky. There is only a minute and a half left of the game, and I don't want to horn the Gators, but they are totally going to win. Sam makes a 3-pointer and I jump and scream. I look to the person behind me and say, "That's my brother." 
The guy just nods, since that is the 7th time I have told him. I noticed how he didn't come back from half-time for a while, guess the hot dog line was long. He whispers to his wife and they get up and get ready to leave. As he is walking out the door, I call out to him, "Hope you had fun! Bye!" He turns and scowls at me. I hang my head in shame and sit back down. 
Gosh, Sam is really good at basketball. Even though he is just a freshman, I see some NBA guy talking to his Coach, maybe about Sam. Hopefully, I thought, then I could go around saying that my brother is a basketball player in the NBA! Haha, I thought, but I would be happy for Sam too. That's an awesome opportunity. Sam wouldn't appreciate my sense of humor, but Greg totally would. Greg. 
I start to think about how it is so terrible that I have a crush on him, but how could I help myself? He is really good looking. I try and stop myself and pay attention to the last 30 seconds of the game, but I just can't. His eyes are what get me, and his sense of humor! I would totally vote for Greg for the Class Clown award next year. As I am going on in my fantasy, I get snapped out by hearing, Emily, Emily duck! I blink my eyes, confused for a second, but it isn't a long second, because I black out again, as the round orange ball comes flying towards my head. Gosh, who knew a basketball was THAT big?
***********************************************
I wake up in the hospital, and my head hurts like crazy. I look around and see flowers all over the hospital room. I pick my arm up to touch my forehead, but it hurts. There is a big bandage on it, but it apparently isn't helping. The bandage on my head is doing about as much good as a Band-Aid would do on a bruise. 
"Hey, she's up," I hear Sam call, and then he strolls into the room, shaking his head.
"My goodness Emily, you didn't believe me I guess? You got a concussion." 
Then he holds up two newspapers, local and a newspaper from home. I am on the front cover of them both. Its an embarrassing picture of that humongous basketball smacking me in the face and me falling backwards. Well, I guess its a good thing that guy behind me left, or he would have had more to scowl about. 
Sam laughs.
"Lets count how many times you have gotten hurt this past year. Well, you fell off of The Tree, you fell out of a window, you dislocated your shoulder, and you got hit in the head by a basketball. At this rate Em, your going to have more injuries than Mr. Bump. As soon as you get one cast off, you get another one on."
He laughs at me.
"I'm sorry," I say, thinking immediately of the NBA guy standing there talking to Sam's Coach. How much more could I ruin, I think to myself? Might as well just disappear off the face of the Earth.
"Oh Em, I'm just teasing you know," Sam says, and reaches out to hug me.
"But what about the NBA guy I saw," I said, fighting back tears.
"Well, I think that your concussion gave me a boost, because he apparently thought I was a great person leaving the game to go and take care of my little sister. So thanks Em, you may have guaranteed me a spot on an NBA team!" Sam says.
I grunt. Of course, my pain is another one's gain. 
"Come on Em, don't be so sensitive," Sam says, then he adds, "Oh ya, Greg called, he told me to tell you to call him back as soon as possible. It sounded important."
Holy cow, Greg called. I jump out my bed and go dashing out of the hospital room. Why am I sitting in there when Greg called and wanted to talk to me? I would rather talk to him then sit in a place I have been a little too accustomed to lately. I pick up the pay phone and dial Greg's number. The phone rings and I hear his voice, and my heart picks up a little.
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Hello all, I hoped you enjoyed this month. Kind of a let down after the excitement of February huh? Haha. Just remember that I LOVE comments, so please add comments! Become a follower, just show me you like my blog! I love feedback, so give me lots of it! Have a nice month, lets go Ducks! (although I don't have much faith)
-Megan

The Thirteenth Year of Emily John- February

Well, I'm out of the hospital. Do you want to know what happened? OK, so as I was skating, I got a little side tracked and fell into a pile of snow, dislocating my shoulder. When my family came to visit me, they said I was accident prone. I, for one, don't agree, but that's just me. So, I go back to school and all my friends put a "Get Well Soon" card on my locker and signed it, so that was  a good way to start my Tuesday. It is the fourth of February, so that means ten more days until Valentines Day. We have a school dance planned for that night, so all over school are posters and banners advertising the dance. We have had other school dances this year, but for some reason, everyone is super excited for this one. A few days later, Tom and I were talking about this dance while waiting for Layla to come back. Tom said probably because its the Valentines Day Dance, and all the lovebirds are excited. So, I said to him, "We're in seventh grade, there are no lovebirds." 

"You'd be surprised," Tom said. 

I got a confused look on my face, and he just shrugged. At that moment, Layla came back and told us that Greg would be there in a few minutes. We were at the movies and were going to see Ninja Guinea Pigs which was picked by Tom. It's supposed to be about these guinea pigs that are trained to be ninjas by the Sensei Guinea Pig then have to fight ninja bunnies in the final battle. We agreed to go, so the four of us decided to spend our Friday night at the movie theater. Layla, Tom, and I sat at one of the tables in the lobby sharing nachos and waiting for Greg. For a Friday night, the theater was surprisingly empty. Layla seemed to notice that too. 

"Gosh, isn't this supposed to be the hang out for middle schoolers on a Friday night?" she asked.

I was about to agree when Tom spoke up.

"I'm willing to bet that everyone is threatened to be in the presence of the ninja guinea pigs!" he said, and with that he jumped up doing some sort of jump screaming "Wachaa!"

"Nice to see you too Tom," Greg said, standing back defending himself.

"You're here, lets go," I said, and the four of us walked into the theater to watch Ninja Guinea Pigs.

That was one scary movie. The guinea pigs made these faces that would even give Frankenstein nightmares! Tom insisted we see it in 3D, which we did. There was this one part where the evil enemy guinea pig turned around and jumped out at you, and I jumped. Greg, who was sitting next to me, grabbed my hand and smiled at me. He did not let go, until I told him I was thirsty and needed my hand to get my soda, since I couldn't move my other one due to my shoulder. 

I didn't think any more of it. So what, I mean, Tom could have grabbed my hand for all I cared. Nothing more happened that week. Yesterday (Monday) I got my sling off. So now, I have both hands free. The weirdness started today. I went to my locker right before lunch, and a note came falling out.

Emily John

She's pretty 

And she's cute

Sometimes clumsy,

Shy and mute

She makes me laugh

She makes me smile

I hope to see her Friday night

And dance with her for a while

Emily John, Will you go to the dance with me?

What? What is this? Who wrote this note to me? I blinked a few times, just to make sure I wasn't seeing things. For all I knew, I was hallucinating, it was probably a note telling me not to forget to study for my upcoming math test. But when I opened my eyes, it still said the same thing.

Emily John, Will you go to the dance with me?

*****************************************************************

It's Wednesday. I can't stop looking around at all the boys in my school. Was it Drew? Was it Cole? No, and no. There was not one logical answer for who could have written this note. It was all that was on my mind. Who asked me to go to the dance with them? But of course, that note/poem was only the beginning of what was going to come. When I went to my locker before lunch, there was a heart shaped box. My first assumption was chocolate. But, I opened it up and saw heart shaped Sweet Tarts. I love, love, LOVE sweet tarts. So, that showed that this person knew me well. I thought for a second, but I still couldn't think of a logical person. A piece of paper fell out and it read:

Emily John

I hope you enjoy your Sweet Tarts. Have you figured me out yet?

Love, Your Secret Admirer 

No, I haven't figured you out yet. Ugh, I have a secret admirer. It's only two more days until the dance, I don't even know if I want to go yet, and I got someone leaving Sweet Tarts and poems in my locker. How does he know my combination? I only told......Tom. 

*******************************************************

"Tom, TOM, I need to talk to you!" I called out to him. 

He turned around and said, 

"Hey Emily, ooh, candy!"

I glared at him. 

"Look, Tom, I got your candies and your poems, and, to be honest, I don't even know if I'm going to the dance yet and," I took a deep breath. We were approaching our lunch table. I blurted it out.

"I'mreallysorryTombutIdon'tlikeyou.Pleasepleasepleaseunderstand?" 

We sat down across from Layla and Greg, they just looked at us.

"Emily, I didn't leave those poems and stuff in your locker."

"What?!" I practically screamed.

"Tom, your the only one who knows my combination," I said. 

"Why does Tom know your locker combination?" Layla asked.

"Long story short," I began, "He had to help me get it unjammed one day. But that's not the point here. Who got into my locker?"

"Em, where's that paper where you wrote down your combination?" Greg asked. 

"Right here," I said, opening my binder, expecting to see it in the plastic lining. But it wasn't there.

Layla bit her bottom lip.

"Anyone in the school could have my locker combination," I said, then slumped back in my chair, shoveling Sweet Tart Hearts into my mouth. Great, just great. Lets go back to the drawing board.

********************************************************

Thursday, tomorrow is the dance. And still, no idea who my secret admirer is. I probably took a step back after yesterday. I'm really scared to go to my locker now. I mean, at this point, there could be a diamond necklace in there. Ugh. But I still had to get my stuff, and there was no way I was carrying a days worth of supplies around all day. So, I went to my locker before lunch, and there was an envelope with my name on it. I opened it, and read the note.

Emily John

Glad you liked the Sweet Tart Hearts. Here's your locker combination back, I'm sorry about that. I'm also sorry that there's no gift today. You will soon find out who I am. I'm guessing you don't know who I am yet, since you have not yet confronted me. Tomorrow, at one o'clock, come here, and follow the instructions on the card inside your locker. That's not too hard, is it? 

Love, Your Secret Admirer

Tomorrow. As in, 24 hours from right now. Well, actually, about 25 1/2, but still. His identity would soon be known. 

******************************************************

Today. I'm lying in bed at 5:00 a.m., thinking, today. Tonight is the dance, do I still even have to go? I mean, what if its someone really ugly, and I really don't want to go. I fiddled with my locket from Greg, my heart pumping hard, butterflies begging to escape from my stomach. Today. In eight hours, I would arrive at my locker and see my secret admirer. Oh man, what if I break this guys heart? What if its someone I really don't want to go with? What if this is something he has been planning for days, weeks, months? And I say those words, no. I'm sorry. I can't. My heart would break for just breaking his heart. I don't think I can do this. But, I do want to find out who it is. Maybe I could come around and peek over the corner, see who it is, and run if I don't like him? Today. I'm really going to do this. And with that, I get out of bed and get dressed. Today. Eight hours.

*******************************************************

Now. It's 12:55 p.m., and in five minutes, I will turn around to see him. Who is it? Will I be happy? Will I be surprised? Well, either was I'm going to be surprised. But in five minutes, FIVE MINUTES!!! My leg starts shaking, and I really have to use the bathroom. I raise my hand, then drop it. Layla reaches over and kicks me. 

"Do it," she whispers.

So, I raise my hand, and I go to the bathroom. As I walk through the halls, I get the chills, and my speed starts slowing down. I shake my head and start walking at a normal speed, until I get to my locker. I look around, then enter my combination. 17-08-42. My locker opens, and there it is. The final envelope.  I open it, and read it.
Emily John
Are you excited? I am, but I'm also nervous. For months I've been planning this. I really like you. You're my best friend. I'll be OK if you say no. Just count to five out loud, now. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 
So I did.
"1,2,3,4,5."
Now, turn around.
And I did. It felt like slow motion. I turned around, my mouth slightly open, my hair fell on my right shoulder, and there he was. He was holding a single rose, smiling at me with that cute little dimple that I never noticed. His hair was a nice shade of brown, his eyes kind of sparkled when he looked at me.
"Will you go to the dance with me, Em?" he said.
Who said it? My best friend. He said it. He asked me to go to the dance with him. He liked me. Who was standing there, holding the rose?
Greg. 
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I have been planning this entry for a loooooooong time. I really hoped that you guys liked it. I was getting nervous writing this entry. But, this is the one I have been dying to post. So, I really hoped you enjoyed it. Please, please, PLEASE leave your comments in the comment section. Thanks! Happy Valentines Day!
Megan

The Thirteenth Year of Emily John- January

Well, let me just say one thing; I have been pondering over that moment when Greg walked away and pumped his fist. Honestly, something's up with that boy. I mean, we have been best friends since diapers and all of a sudden, he walks away and pumps his fist into the air after hugging me?? I was sitting in bed one night, just replaying that moment over and over. What did I say? What did I do? What happened that day that would excite Greg that much? And if so, why wouldn't he start doing the happy dance in front of me? Why did he have to wait until he was down the street? People these days, gosh!
And here's the even weirder thing. Layla always throws this huge New Year's bash where she rents out the country club and its basically all ours. It's from 6:00 pm New Years Eve to whenever you feel like leaving New Years Day! So, I'm usually all phsyced for this, but something told me this year was going to be different. So, here I am, walking in to the Country Club with my mom, dad, and Sam. We all have on our fancy dresses and suits, and bathing suits in case we want to go swimming. I walk in and find Layla standing by an air hockey table, so I play a few games with her.
"Greg's not here yet, I wonder why," she says, standing on her tip toes looking around.
"Maybe we should go look for him," I suggest, after she comes back saying that he checked in.
So, that's how I found myself traveling the halls of the prestigious Country Club trying to find Greg. I walked past the hallway to the tennis courts when I saw him leaning against that wall with his head in his hands.
"Greg, are you O.K.?" I asked.
He immediately looked up at me and said he was fine. We walked back to the party in silence.
He wouldn't tell me what was wrong for the rest of the night, but Greg looked nervous. It kind of scared me a little bit too. Finally though, the time came for counting down to the new year. We were all gathered on the observation deck room place counting down. 10...9...8...7...6..5...4...3...2...1! Everyone was cheering and clapping and hugging. Greg turned to me, and took in a deep breath.
"Emily, will you be my first hug of the New Year?" he asked.
I bit my lip and hugged him, sensing his smile on the other side.
**********************************************
So, as you can see, something weird is up with Greg. I don't know what, and if I ever ask him about that night by the tennis courts, he just shrugs and says he didn't feel good. Wow, that really narrows it down. But my mom keeps telling me to just forget it, he could have eaten bad sushi at the party! So then I say, but if it was bad sushi, then why couldn't he have just said, its bad sushi! Then she says, Emily, go work on your homework. Then, I go upstairs and work on homework. 
Honestly, this New Year isn't really starting off to be so great. About a week after the party, I'm sitting in Layla's room lacing up my skates to go ice skating and we're talking.
"Emily, I think you're making a big deal out of nothing. Maybe Greg did have bad sushi. But wait, we didn't serve sushi.  Maybe he had bad shrimp!" Layla says to me.
"Greg doesn't even like shrimp," I say, "and like I told my mom, if it were bad sushi..."
"Shrimp," Layla says.
"OK, shrimp, sushi, tuna, its all seafood! If anything he had was bad, then why couldn't he have told me it was just bad food! Honestly, I've been his best friend since diapers! He has told me everything, why couldn't he have told me that the seafood was bad? Did he think he would get kicked out? I don't judge him based on his cuisine likes and dislikes! He should know that by now!" I said, practically screaming at the end.
Layla just took my hand and brought me out to the lake behind her house, and told me to skate and clear my mind. So I did, I just skated. I left every little problem behind me. I forgot about everything that has recently happened with Greg, I forgot about school and things like that. I took a deep breath and skated. It smelled like pine in Layla's backyard. I closed my eyes and inhaled the pine goodness. But when I opened my eyes, I found myself in a pile of snow with a throbbing pain in my left shoulder.
"Layla," I croaked. I sensed her gently scooping me up and screaming for her mom to call 911. It's gonna be a great New Year.
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Sorry this posting is so short, but just wait until February! I have a feeling that you guys will all enjoy February. A lot is starting to make sense to Emily John since in February she will be 12 and a half. Please leave your comments in the comment section of my blog and come back soon to see one of the biggest events that will occur in Emily John's thirteenth year!