***Emi’s POV***

                “My mom’s here. I’ll talk to you guys later. We should hang out again soon,” Taylor said eagerly, standing up from the table we were sitting at. Gavin and I nodded in agreement and smiled at him. We had gotten ice cream and texted our parents to come pick us up.

                I stood up and hugged him. He froze in shock before smiling and hugging me back happily. I smiled as I pulled away from him and then blushed.

                “Bye guys,” he said, color also creeping into his cheeks. He waved at us before leaving to get in his mom’s car.

                “Emi, careful. Don’t lead him on. He likes you, I can tell. Don’t give him the wrong idea. He’ll be so hurt,” Gavin warned with a sad sigh.

                I bit my lip and shrugged nervously. “I don’t really know why I hugged him like that,” I admitted and twirled a piece of my hair around my finger. I was such a dumbass sometimes.

                Gavin pat me on the back reassuringly. We got up as his dad pulled into the parking lot. We went out and crawled into Ronnie’s car.

                “Where am I taking you bastards?” he asked.

                Gavin glanced at me and shrugged. “Take us home, dad. Emi and I can hang out for a little while,” he said and leaned back in the seat.               

                “Sounds good kid. Give me a cigarette and light her up, will you Gav?” Ronnie asked. Gavin pulled pack out of the glove compartment. He put it in Ronnie’s mouth and lit it for him. He turned on the radio and we nodded our heads along with some catchy beat.

                We got out of the car and went into Gavin’s house. “Hi Emi!” his mom greeted with a smile. I gave a polite wave to her and returned her smile.

                Ronnie came in and ruffled Gavin’s hair. Gavin’s mom, Lily, glared. “Ronnie, you smell like smoke! Get away from Gavin!” she said in annoyance.

                Ronnie rolled his eyes and left the room. Lily glanced at Gavin and gave him a stern look, placing her hands on her hips firmly.

                “Gavin, I found a cigarette in your room. I don’t like you hanging out with those boys. We are going to have a serious talk about this tonight, young man. But for now, you can hang out with Emi. I think it’s good to be around a good influence,” she said.

                I blushed a little and Gavin’s face slightly paled. “Yea, okay mom,” he grumbled and took my hand in his. He began to lead me out of the room.

                “Gavin! I don’t want to lose you to cancer,” his mom said quietly. Gavin tugged me out of the room and upstairs to his bedroom.

                “Shit. I must have dropped a cigarette before I left for school,” he said with an annoyed sigh. I wrapped my arms around him and frowned deeply.

                “Gav, I agree with your mom. You need to stop before you give yourself cancer. Taylor, well hell, I can understand why he does that. But you and those other two guys you and Taylor hang out with? There’s no point,” I said seriously.

                “Whatever Emi. I’m going to hear it from my mom tonight,” he said with an annoyed sigh, running a hand through his hair. He forced a smile and we sat on his bed together.

                “Gavin…if I tell you something, promise not to laugh?” I asked nervously.

                He pulled me into his arms and nodded. “Of course!” he said seriously and kissed my forehead. I rested my head on his shoulder and looked up into his eyes with a sigh.

                “I like Taylor,” I muttered. I knew it did. I had felt it when we were outside waiting for Gavin. I had felt how much I liked him.

                “You like him, you just don’t like his habits,” Gavin said and I nodded. He had spoken exactly what was on my mind.

                “I don’t want to hurt him, though. I don’t want to lead him on if I’m not even sure I could handle being in a relationship with him,” I said sadly.

                “Emi, you’re my best friend and I love you, but I know Taylor. He needs the drugs and drinks. He really needs them. You can’t speak against them. He’ll try to quit to impress you, and that’s not safe for him. Hallucinating about his dead best friend will literally drive him crazy. His parents can’t lose him. Hell, I can’t lose him. He’s a good guy. Be careful with him,” Gavin said seriously.

                “I know,” I whispered and he hugged me tightly.

                “I’ll talk to him for you,” Gavin said with a small, encouraging smile. “Thanks Gavin,” I said and hugged him back, suddenly unsure of myself. What if I hurt Taylor by being with him?