The morning sun filtered through Emma's bedroom window as her phone buzzed with a text from Layla. She'd been dreading this moment since she'd fled the club the night before.

"Emma!! Where were you last night? You totally bailed on us?!" Layla's text read, the multiple exclamation marks reflecting her worry.

Emma's fingers hovered over her phone before typing back, "I'm so sorry laylay. I should have warned you before I left. I just had to get out of there. I hope I didn't worry you and Hayley?"

"You did a bit!!" Layla responded quickly. "Until I saw your text I was gonna call the cops! If it hadn't been for Hayley telling me to chill, I might have done it anyway. but all's well that ends well, I guess. Just glad you're ok. What happened anyway??"

Emma's response was deliberately vague, trying to deflect from the real reason for her hasty departure. "It was just too hot and loud in there for me. I got a bit claustrophobic."

"Sorry to hear that :-( just try and warn me next time, Kay?" Layla's concern was evident even through text.

"Will do :-) talk to you later, laylay xxx," Emma replied, hoping to end the conversation before more questions arose.

Just as she set her phone down, it started ringing. Emma's heart skipped a beat when she saw who was calling. "Hello?"

Hayley's voice came through immediately, cutting straight to the chase. "It was Crystal and the M-bomb wasn't it?"

"Hayley?" Emma's voice wavered slightly.

"Why you left, I mean," Hayley continued. "I saw them dancing together and the next thing I knew, you'd vanished! I'm coming over, ok? I'm not taking no for an answer."

Emma felt a wave of relief wash over her at her friend's determination. "Ok, Hales. Thanks." She paused as her phone buzzed again. "Hang on, I've gotta go. I think I'm getting another text message."

The new message made her breath catch in her throat. It was from Mason: "I'm sorry about last night. If I'd known you were going to be there, I'd have taken Crys someplace else. I never meant to upset you."

Emma took her time composing her response, carefully weighing each word. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have said what I did yesterday."

"We both said things we regretted," Mason replied. "Regardless of what happened between us, I want you to be happy, Emma. I just want you to know that."

Her heart ached as she typed back, "I do, Mase– and I want the same for you."

A knock at her bedroom door interrupted her thoughts. "Hey, Emma? Can I come in?" Hayley's voice called out. "Your mom said you were up here!"

"Come on in, Hales!" Emma called out. As Hayley entered, her glasses slightly askew from rushing over, Emma couldn't help but smile. "You got here fast."

Hayley adjusted her glasses, a habit she'd developed over years of wearing them. "My dad gave me a lift–for the first time in, like, ever. You're lucky to be an only child, Em– you never have to compete with anyone for a ride in the family car!"

Emma's gaze drifted to the empty hallway visible through her open door. "I dunno. It can get way too quiet around here. Sometimes I think it'd be nice to have a sister to goof around with."

"Spoken like someone who has never had to fight to use the bathroom in her life," Hayley said, flopping onto Emma's bed with visible exhaustion. "Sisters are hell, Em, take it from me. The older ones pick on you, and the younger ones steal your stuff."

Emma managed a small smile. "Well, there's gotta be some perks to being alone forever."

Hayley's expression softened with concern. "Yeah...about that: how are you doing? Still checked in to Heartbreak Hotel?"

"Checked in and ordering room service!" Emma attempted to inject some humor into her voice. "Care to join me?"

"Sounds like fun!" Hayley played along. "Do the beds have those little complementary chocolate mints?"

"In Heartbreak Hotel, you can have as many complementary chocolate mints as you can eat." Emma paused, then deliberately changed the subject. "Anyway, enough about me and my stupid problems. How was your evening? Did you enjoy your first clubbing experience?"

A telltale blush crept across Hayley's cheeks. "It was pretty good... Alright, it was awesome. I had the most amazing time."

Emma's eyes widened with interest. "Hales, you're blushing! What happened? Did you meet someone?"

"Something like that." Hayley's blush deepened.

"I'm so happy for you! Tell me all about it."

"Eep! Not yet! I want to see where it goes first."

Emma studied her friend's flustered expression with amusement. "Hmm. Ok, you're off the hook for now. But keep me posted! Now I'm sorry I bailed. I would have liked to have seen this mystery man."

"So when did you leave?" Hayley asked, her expression growing serious. "I remember you went off by yourself at one point, and after that we lost track of you."

Emma's smile faded as she recalled the moment. "That was around the time I went home. I got lost and ended up bumping into Mase and Crystal on the dance floor. Then I basically panicked and ran away. Mase did text me this morning to apologize though."

"Ooh, what did he say?"

"'I never meant to upset you.' I think he wants to stay friends."

Hayley leaned forward, her glasses catching the morning light. "IS that what you want?"

Emma's gaze dropped to her hands. "Yeah, I guess. I mean, I still have feelings for him, obviously, but if I can't be with him then I'll settle for being his friend. It might take me a while to get to that stage, though."

Hayley reached out and squeezed her friend's hand. "It will get easier, Emma. And until it does, I'll be right here."

----

The next morning, Emma was barely through the school entrance when Hayley came bounding up to her and Layla, practically vibrating with excitement.

"Guys, guys guysss! Guess what??" Hayley's eyes sparkled behind her glasses. "The school office has just announced the date of the Fall Ball!! It's going to be the last Friday in October. Exciting, right?"

Layla shook her head in amazement. "I will never understand how you manage to find these things out before we do, even though you ALWAYS arrive later than us to school."

"Maybe I have mysterious telepathic powers!" Hayley wiggled her fingers mysteriously.

Emma shifted her weight from one foot to the other, trying to sound casual. "So...the Fall Ball! You guys planning on going?"

"Uh, is SpongeBob a pineapple under the sea?" Hayley rolled her eyes dramatically. "Of course I'm going! Laylay?"

"Wouldn't miss it," Layla confirmed, then turned to Emma with a questioning look. "You'll be there too, right, Emma?"

Emma's response was noncommittal. "Maybe. I'll see how I feel closer to the time."

"But Emma, you have to!" Hayley's protest was cut short by the shrill ring of the school bell.

"That's our cue!" Layla grabbed Hayley's arm. "Hales and I have Spanish. And you are NOT going to be late again, Miss Smith!"

As her friends walked off, Hayley grumbling all the way, Emma muttered to herself, "I better hurry as well if I want to get to social studies on time."

Lost in thought, she rounded the corner and collided with something solid. Or rather, someone. "I am so sorry," she stammered. "I wasn't looking where I was going!"

The guy she'd bumped into was tall, with an athletic build and kind eyes that crinkled at the corners when he smiled. "It's me who should apologize," he said, his voice warm and concerned. "Are you hurt? I hope I didn't make you drop anything?"

"Yes-- no-- I'm fine." Emma felt her cheeks flush. "I can't believe I just walked right into you– I must've had my head in the clouds! Are you alright?"

His smile widened. "Never better. Really? Don't give it another thought. Just my luck, bumping into a beautiful girl and almost knocking her out– I'm such a klutz! I hope I haven't made you late for class. I'll let you get going now."

As he walked away, Emma stood rooted to the spot, her heart beating a little faster than usual. "Woah," she whispered to herself. "Who was that guy? I've never noticed him around the school before..." She touched her warming cheeks. "And did he just call me beautiful?"

***
The cafeteria buzzed with its usual lunchtime energy as Emma made her way to their regular table, where Layla was already seated.

"Hey Em! How was your morning?" Layla asked, unwrapping her sandwich.

Emma's eyes lit up. "Weird! There was this guy--"

"Ooh, hold that thought!" Hayley suddenly appeared, looking slightly nervous. "Guys, I have to warn you about something! So I may have invited Madison to eat lunch with us today..."

"Hales!" Layla's expression darkened. "What did I tell you about keeping her at arms length?!"

Before Hayley could respond, Madison materialized at their table, dropping her tray with a clatter. "Crystal kicked me off her table so she could get all lovey-dovey with Mason."

Hayley seized the opportunity to change the subject. "Are you going to the Fall Ball, Maddy?"

"Duh! Of course!" Madison's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "I've been looking forward to it ever since the last one!"

"I know, right?" Hayley's expression turned dreamy. "The school hall always looks so pretty with all those fairy lights."

Madison leaned forward conspiratorially. "And it's, like, a gossip machine. There's always at least one unexpected couple, and one messy breakup!"

"Sounds like you're looking forward to it for very different reasons," Emma observed dryly.

"That's what makes the Fall Ball so awesome: there's something for everyone!" Hayley squealed, then suddenly remembered their interrupted conversation. "Oh, but Emma, I completely forgot that you were telling us about your morning! Go on, tell us more about the guy!"

"Well, he--" Emma's words caught in her throat as her eyes fixed on a point across the cafeteria. "That's him! That's the guy I bumped into on the way to class this morning!"

Hayley's enthusiasm faltered visibly. "Liam? But...what is he doing here?"

"Wait, you know him?" Emma turned to her friend in surprise.

"I went to middle school with him," Hayley said quietly. "But he doesn't go to Daleside!"

"He does now!" Madison interjected eagerly. "He just transferred here– OMG, you guys are like drama magnets! How do you keep running into these hot guys before I do?!"

Emma couldn't help but smile. "I'm getting some serious deja vu here, Hales. Didn't we have almost this exact same conversation last week, about a different mystery guy?"

"Yup!" Hayley confirmed. "But Laylay and I have switched roles. She knew who Mason was last time, but I'm the one who knows Liam."

Madison's eyes gleamed with interest. "Forget about Mason, tell me about Liam! C'moon! The public needs to know!"

Hayley shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Liam and I were at school but I didn't know him very well. So I don't think I can tell you anything useful."

"How about you, Emma? Help me out here?"

Emma shrugged. "I barely spoke to him for 5 seconds, Mads. I think I'll be even less useful than Hayley."

"Waaahh! You guys are no help!" Madison pouted, but quickly brightened. "Maybe you are better lunch buddies than sources. I am still invited to lunch, right?"

"Of course!" Hayley assured her.

Madison gathered her things. "See you tomorrow, then! I've gotta go finish my blog post for this afternoon."

As Madison's footsteps faded away, Layla, who had been conspicuously quiet during the entire exchange, finally spoke up. "Great, now we're stuck with her."

"Aww, don't be like that!" Hayley protested. "She's nice!"

"You have a strange definition of nice, Hales." Layla turned her attention to Emma. "So, Em, sounds like you and this Liam really hit it off."

"Yeah, he was nice." Emma's gaze drifted to Hayley. "What else can you tell us about him, Hales?"

Hayley's usual cheerfulness seemed to dim. "Like I said, I'd really rather not talk about him. I didn't know him that well, and I don't want to be unfair on him."

"Come on, Hales," Layla pressed. "Madison's gone now. If you've got concerns about this guy, you should tell us."

Hayley twisted her hands in her lap. "I dunno, Emma. You should be careful. Liam's...well... Just be careful, ok?"

"Why the need for caution?" Layla's eyes narrowed. "Is there something you're not telling us, Hales?"

"He... I... No." Hayley's voice wavered slightly. "There's nothing to tell. He just has a weird vibe, that's all."

"Hmm." Layla glanced between her two friends. "So you say he has a weird vibe, and Emma says he's nice. I'm looking forward to meeting this guy and judging for myself!"

The tension at the table was palpable as Emma studied Hayley's unusually troubled expression, wondering what her friend wasn't saying about the mysterious new student.