Premise:
Part of a series of 10 shorts aptly titled "Ten Years" which, as the title implies, has the prompt of 10--10 years, 10 years old, 10 objects, etc.
~~
WHATEVER.
Emily stared at the word on her computer screen, willing herself to accept the thought behind the word. She laid her head on her desk.
He has a girlfriend. His what, #2, since we’ve met? Ugh!
Tolerating was a better alternative to acceptance. Acceptance was admitting she’s fine with the idea without any hard feelings. Tolerating it made it seem like she had no choice, and that is it—end of story. Her eyes widened. If I had a choice about what?
When she met Matthew, she was drawn to him right away. He sat in front of her in Sunday school. She remembers feeling relieved that he did—with his height, their Sunday school teacher wouldn’t notice her taking power naps behind him. Unfortunately, her naps did last long. By the time he turned around to shake her hand during “Getting To Know You,” she thanked God she hadn’t drooled in her sleep.
“I’m Matthew,” he said, offering his hand.
“Um, Emily.” His hand was warm, but a little sweaty.
“Good to meet you, Emily.” Then he smiled brilliantly, and it was infectious.
She hated to admit how much he impressed her that day. There was something about how he carried himself so easily, as if he was wore bunny slippers everywhere with a certain kind of grace. When he spoke, the slightest dimple would make indentations on his cheek.
They became instant friends after discovering their birthdays were just a day apart: February 3 and February 4. She used to think it was – cough Fate cough – now, she is convinced it’s a stupid coincidence.
I don’t even know what I’d do if I was given a choice. A choice to do what? Be with him? Oh, God.
The idea of being with Matthew scared her. At 16, she had scarcely been in contact with boys, let alone become the object of a boy’s affection. The mere thought of being with Matthew is so ridiculous. Hello? He has a girlfriend (a new one, again).
Her phone rang. It was Libby.
“You wouldn’t guess what we did, Emi!” Emily heard another squeal on the other line. It was Sarah, no doubt.
“We called KEMP and got a song dedication for you!”
Pause.
“Turn on your radio, they’re playing it right now!”
Her heart stopped. She doesn’t even remember pulling the phone with her when she moved towards the radio. The phone’s curly cord was caught against her computer chair, now on the floor.
Digital, digital get down, just you and me
You may be twenty thousand miles away but I can see ya
And baby, baby you can see me
“We had them dedicate it to Matthew!”
Despite the squeals she heard on the phone, and the sound of the radio, she found her voice.
“WHAT? Oh my god, Libby, no!” Her ears felt warm when she realized what they had done. She jumped across her bed and buried her face under a pillow to scream.
“Sorry, Em… but you should just tell him you liked him—"
“—do you think they have KEMP in California?”
"Of course they do, Sarah, we did ask them to play 'N Sync."
“What do you think Emi?”
"Em?"
But the phone was left on the floor of her room. The song was still playing, but all she could hear was the heavy pounding of her heart in her chest.
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