The rain stopped overnight and Emily stepped outside onto the rain-washed cement, beneath a crystalline blue sky the next morning. She inhaled deeply.

The cleanest these city streets get... Nearly devoid of odor...

Her phone chimed. Evan had sent her another "Emily" song with a note.

I know it's cheesy Country-Pop. But I was thinking about your green eyes this morning and this fit.

She ambled to the bus, listening to Lady Antebellum sing about chasing dreams.

Texting back "I'm a Keeper" by The Band Perry, Emily hopped over a residual puddle before she skipped along for another couple blocks until his response came back.

You are the most confusing girl ever - but I love it!

Emily laughed at the irony of his answer, which matched the song.

If Evan were a different boy he might be turned off ... The lyrics about being free with a title like 'The Keeper' could have just frustrated him... But once again he pleasantly surprises me... And now there's such a happy feeling vibrating inside of me that can only be attributed to the delightful combination of a sun and Evan Murphy... Maybe I should invite him to a Brooklyn Cyclones game?

At the bus stop, Emily found a steady buzz of excited voices as all of the students spoke about the dance that night and their other plans for the weekend. She chatted with Anna about Evan and they looked online at the Cyclones schedule to pass the time.

Soon a frowning Jenny arrived on the corner. Emily observed Jenny stand alone for a minute, dodging a few glances through the crowd before she walked toward their group.

She looks far too unhappy for such a perfect morning... Maybe she feels badly about missing out on all of the fun tonight... I don't need to go to the dance tonight... I should stay home and help her study...

Emily flashed a huge smile at her best friend.

"I just thought of a brilliant idea Jen. Why don't I skip out on the dance tonight and help you finish your homework, then after that we can take the bus together to Alex's place for the sleepover?"

But Jenny's face went from merely sad to her eyes filling with tears at the suggestion.

Something is horribly wrong here... What am I missing?

"What's the matter Jenny? Did I say or do the wrong thing? We can skip the sleepover too if something is going on and you want to talk about it."

Emily stepped closer to offer a hug. Jenny accepted the embrace, but before anything more was discussed, Geoff appeared.

He said, "Hey Jenny! I'm looking forward to tonight!" Then he continued to walk over by his friends.

The buzz Emily had been feeling that morning instantly turned into a hornet's sting of pain in her heart.

Oh God! I can't breathe! What is happening? This is not what I think it is... Is it?

Emily pushed away from her best friend but couldn't speak. She looked in mute horror at Jenny's face, which had gone from sadness to anguish with the shove.

Then Emily turned and rushed away from the bus stop.

Jenny followed after her, urging, "Em, wait! Please stop and talk to me!"

Emily kept speed walking down the block and Jenny continued the chase.

She blubbered, "I... I wanted to tell you all week, but I... It was just a kiss at the party and then a talking at the beach and I thought that was it. When he asked me out on Wednesday I don't even know why I said yes. I guess I... I figured since I had already... I wanted to see if there was any real reason..."

When Emily didn't stop walking Jenny called out, "I'll cancel the date!"

This comment finally made Emily stop. She was winded and began to shake with anger. She took deep breaths through her nose and out of her mouth to try to regain her composure and find her voice.

Smell the flower... Blow out the candle... Smell the flower... Blow out the candle...

"Don't do me any favors. Keep your date," Emily wheezed between breaths.

She still didn't turn to look at her best friend. Jenny came around in front of Emily. Emily looked at the floor.

Flower... Candle... Flower... Candle...

"Please look at me Em," Jenny pleaded.

Emily looked up. Tears slid down Jenny's face.

"I figured because you had Kelly and Evan interested in you that you didn't care about Geoff anymore. I know I was wrong about that."

Emily's dry eyes looked up and through Jenny's wet ones. She kept her voice low but couldn't hide the quiver in it.

"What you should know is that this is not about Geoff and has everything to do with the fact that you lied to me. You're supposed to be my best friend. And you haven't even said you're sorry."

Jenny put her palms up in supplication but still didn't say anything.

Emily yelled, "I'm bad at reading body language and even I know that's what people do when they have nothing to say for themselves!"

Jenny stepped forward and Emily stepped back. With her voice now louder than she wanted, Emily struggled to lower it to a near hiss.

"Go back to the stop before you miss the bus. I'll take the later one."

Jenny walked silently away.

In... Out... In... Out...

A few minutes later, Emily heard the bus engine rumble to life and the doors' hydraulics hiss in release as they closed. Only after the bus pulled away completely did Emily turn and walk back to the stop.

She heard her phone alert her to a text and looked to see a message from Anna.

What the hell just happened? Jenny is sitting with Charlotte and Geoff? Why aren't you on the bus? Where are you?

Emily typed back.

She's been lying to me all week. She hooked up with Geoff last weekend and has a date with him tonight. That's why she's been acting weird. I'm taking the next bus. Please tell Alex and Evie so I don't have to. Thanks.

A few minutes later she got a group text from Alex, Anna and Evie.

Alex: WTF?! I can't believe Jen did this.

Evie: Seriously! Sisters before Misters!

Anna: We'll drown your sorrows in ice cream and chick flicks all weekend.

I know they are just being supportive but I'm so overwhelmed at the moment... I can't even think about spending the whole weekend talking about what happened... I want to get as far away from everything as possible right now...

Her hands shook while she texted her father.

Can you pick me up at home after school today? I'd like to come back this weekend.

Her father responded quickly.

Dad: Sure Bean! I'll pick you up at 4.

Next, she texted John to tell him she was coming. He answered back.

John: Cool! Kelly will be thrilled. See you later.

Finally, despite dreading it, she wrote her mother.

I got into a big fight with Jenny just now, so I've decided to go to NJ this weekend. Dad is going to pick me up after school.

She braced herself waiting for her mother's reaction.

Mom: And this boy Evan has nothing to do with that decision?

Wow she is surprisingly calm! I expected her to immediately freak out and launch into a texting tirade in which she forbade me from going...

Emily sent back.

Other than the fact that right now he's a better friend to me than Jenny - No.