The next day at school was much the same except for the growing excitement for Jake's party that night. Everywhere Emily went people were talking about what they were going to wear and how they were going to do their makeup. From sitting there listening out of boredom she found out most girls were going to wear dresses. Personally she didn't like dresses; she hated how guys did nothing while girls spent hours choosing an outfit and getting ready. She was going to wear black leggings and a rock and roll t shirt.

She didn't talk to Jake all day since he was constantly surrounded by people asking about his party. Thankfully he remembered to text the details so she didn't have to push her way through his crowd of admirers to find out. By the afternoon the excitement was getting to Emily and she couldn't wait for the party! She hadn't been to a party in a while.

Emily now stood with Derek at the front door of a huge house. Emily had never known how BIG Jakes house was. No wonder he invited half the school, he had enough room for more! A lady who Emily presumed to be Jakes mom let them in and directed them to the back.

Emily looked out and was amazed. There was a giant pool in the middle of the setup, tables along the side of the yard filled with food, beautiful gardens everywhere, and twinkly lights hanging up on beams over everything, even the pool so when you looked up it looked like a starry sky.

Emily followed Derek as he made his way over to the food table. She grabbed something that looked like a mini hotdog and sat down in one of the chairs by the pool. She looked over to the food table and saw Derek talking to a pretty girl that she recognised from English. She checked her watch, 10 minutes, a new record for Derek.

Emily spent about a half hour sitting on the chair eating and watching the party before she decided to go find Jake. She looked around and didn't see Derek so she made her way beside the pool to the house on her own. She was looking down admiring the plants surrounding the pool when someone shoved her from the side into the pool. She felt the cold water soak her clothes and the first thought that crossed her mind, oddly enough, was 'Good thing I didn't wear a dress'.

She swam to the surface of the pool, looked around and noticed Kelly and another girl casually making their way away. She didn't even care that everyone was staring at her, she was focused on getting back at Kelly.

"Hey Kelly!" she yelled across the pool with a sugary sweet voice. When Kelly turned her head Emily continued, "I'm sure by 16 you know your own body weight. Maybe you should be less clumsy; you could seriously hurt someone someday!"

Kelly glared back at her but her face was turning red with embarrassment since everyone was now staring at her. Emily decided to make a show of it, just for fun. She swam to the top of the pool and started doing backstroke from one end to the other.

"I did want to go swimming, but I prefer doing it in a bathing suit." That earned a laugh from some of the people watching. She swam around for a couple minutes and then when other people started to come swimming and attention was off her she got out of the pool and ran into the house.

She walked into the house and she saw Jake talking to his mom. Once they saw her standing at the doorway completely drenched they stopped.

"What happened?" asked Jake in shock. His mother ran off to get her a towel and she started shivering. Jake came over and put an arm around her and rubbed her back to try and keep her warm. "What happened?" he asked again more softly.

"Bitch pushed me into the pool." muttered Emily angrily.

"Who?" he asked looking at her puzzled.

"Kelly." stated Emily between her chattering teeth. Jake said nothing and she wished she could see his face. His mom returned with a towel and he wrapped it around her.

He led her down a hallway to get her some warm clothes. His eyebrows were drawn together and he seemed to be in deep thought. He went into the laundry room and came back with a grey t-shirt and some shorts.

"My mom's stuff wouldn't fit you so here, the might be kind of big, but that's all we

got." he said directing her to a washroom where she could change.

After changing Emily looked at herself in the mirror. She was glad she had no makeup

on so the water hadn't ruined it. She traced her fingers over her eye that wasn't as swollen anymore and the bruises on her arm. She had always been a quick healer and she guessed the bruises would be gone in a couple days.

The clothes Jake lent her were too big but they were okay for now. The red shorts went a little past her knees but she pulled the drawstring on them tight enough so that they didn't fall down. The t-shirt went down a little past her waist but it worked too. She put her hair in a ponytail and tucked in some strands before opening the door.

Jake was sitting down outside the bathroom waiting for her. Once she opened the door he stood up and before she could say anything he was already talking.

"I'm really sorry Emily and this is all my fault." HE ran his hand through his hair. "Kelly wanted to get back together and I told her no because we aren't right for each other and I don't like her that way anymore. She asked if it was someone else and I said maybe and she asked if it was you and I said.. What I mean to say is I kinda like you and I reall-"

He was cut off when Emily kissed him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He kissed

her back and wrapped his arms around her waist.

Derek sat outside on a chair wondering where Emily had gone. He had heard she had been pushed into the pool and was worried about her. The girl he had been talking to, Sydney had gone home but had given him her number. He planned on calling her back on Sunday; he didn't want to come off as desperate. But truth be told he thought she was really nice and couldn't wait.

The thought disappeared from his head when he saw Emily walk out of the house holding hands with Jake and a smile on her face.

He knew everything was alright. Spencer was doing fine and the bully problem was being taken care of since the school tapes showed them acting in self defense and he had started to come to term with his childhood and talked about it, Emily seemed to be happy with Jake and had JJ as a good friend, and he had a possible date Sunday evening and had Mike and Jake as best friends. Things were certainly looking up for them.