EMMA'S POV
"How could I have been so forgetful?"
I say to myself for the hundredth time in the past minute. Suddenly all the tiredness goes down the drain, the idea of a shower seeming more appealing.
Should I go down stairs to receive him and then come shower? or should I should I shower then go downstairs? I choose the latter, I don't want to come off as the girl who only showered because she saw a hot guy downstairs, which is exactly who I am right now.
But in all honesty it isn't my fault really, I had just been really tired. Just then it clicked, I didn't tell my family I would be having someone over, I face palm myself
"Stupid, stupid, stupid"
Dad would flip when he sees Tyler, not inviting anyone aside the girls and especially not a guy to my house isn't really helping my case.
I jump into the shower, at least if I was going to go down a little late, I'll have to make it worth it.
Stepping out from the shower I grab my towel, I wrap it around myself, good thing I had locked the door, if there was remotely any chance my parents would send him upstairs like the girls i rather save us both from the embarrasment, like that's ever happening.
After applying every lotion I could get my hands on which wasn't much seeing as it's my room, I reach for my sweatpants, Esmay's warning comes back to me and I put them down, Instead I grab the girls emergency sleepover bags they keep in my closet, even I have an emergency bag in all three houses.
Starting with Jody's bag, I dig inside and pull out a baggie Tee somehow bigger than mine and bigger basketball shorts, this would have been my first pick if I wasn't trying to avoid my choice of clothing tonight.
I place it back in the bag making sure to secure the zip and reach for Esmay's bag, she had packed some really short shorts and no doubt an air sucking crop camisole, there was no way in hell I was going to wear this so I stuff it back into her bag.
I walk downstairs as quietly and slowly as I can to buy myself sometime from the inevitable, dressed in an ankle cut pallazo sleeping wear and a top that fitted just right, not too big but not to tight.
My brown locks finally receives the care it was in dire need of, brushed and oiled, I had even made extra effort by applying a perfume which my mom had gotten me but had long been forgotten, I could say I looked okay.
I move to the kitchen but not before my eyes had scanned the entire living room for Tyler, so I resulted to the kitchen.
Mom turns my direction the moment I step into the kitchen so much for walking quietly. She eyes me from head to toe, her lips tug up knowly and her eyes bore a mischievous glint but she doesn't say anything.
I take my time to scan the dinner table, plates had been set with a box of pizza in the middle. No one other than mom and myself were present, what if dad along with Max were drilling Tyler?
Not wanting to sound like I cared too much, I try to ease into the conversation by starting small.
"I thought we were having soup for dinner?"
I take a few spoons from her helping her set the table.
"We were but some spice from the soup turned out expired so we had to dispose of it"
"You know if you had just let me have a taste earlier, you would have known it was bad and saved yourself the trouble"
I say in a sing song voice taunting her, how the spices managed to expire without her knowing still remains a mystery.
"If I hadn't stopped you, you would have been on your way to the hospital due to the stomach ache you would be suffering from by now"
That's my mom, always has a smart reply for everything, not being able to hold myself anymore I decide to ask.
"Who was at the door, I heard the doorbell ring?"
She gives me a look that screams
' are you trying to annoy me or you're just being plain stupid' cocking her head towards the pizza on the table which in any other situation I would have dug into by now.
So it was just the pizza delivery guy, does this mean Tyler isn't coming? Still contemplating if I should text him, the doorbell rings. My mom immediately facepalm herself, seems it has become a part our family.
"Honey could you go pay the pizza guy, I totally forgot i didn't pay him his complete fee"
It was my turn to give her the look, I mean who forgets to pay for pizza and starts setting the table.
"Don't give me that look, I know I'm awesome but even people like myself forget things sometimes"
"Are you ever speechless?" I ask her amusingly as I grab some change lying on the kitchen counter before heading for the door. I open the door already trying to explain.
"I'm so sorry for the wa.."
I stop dead on my tracks as I'm faced with the very own Tyler Briske in all his handsome glory, his blue eyes standing out regardless of the dim porch light. He is dressed in a white fitted shirt not completely covering his chiseled arms causing it to bulge with every slight movement, combined with casual jean pants. He's collecting what looks like change from the pizza guy.
"Ty..ler?" I stutter not sure what else to say, way to catch me off guard.
"Hey Em, sorry I'm a little late didn't realise what time it was"
"The piz...za?" I say trying to make sense of the situation.
"I hope you don't mind but I payed when I saw him waiting on your porch?"
Just as my brain is about to go crazy, my mom screams from the dinning area.
"You're taking too much time honey, is there a problem!" Her voice immediately jerks me up to reality, just how am I expected to survive through Tyler meeting my family? Before I would lose whatever ounce of brain cells I had left and help Tyler sneak into my bedroom through the window, I quickly speak.
"It's no problem I should be saying thank you instead, please come in?"
"I guess I should be saying 'You're welcome' then.
He gives me a billion dollar smile entering into my house, I make sure to move out of his way to avoid any form of contact, I was already a nervous wreck with the distance between us.
I watch him from the corner of my eyes as he scans my house from the war decor holding my baby  pictures I pray he wouldn't see, to the leather sofas and the TV.
"Nice place"
"Thanks" I blush not being able to hold it even if the compliment was cos of the house, a compliment from Tyler Briske is a compliment.
I lead him to kitchen where Max and my dad are now present, my dad busying himself with a cup of coffee"
"Look who finally agreed to shower" Max says not noticing Tyler at first, I immediately  want the ground to swallow me.
"Quit taunting your sister and sit do.."
My mom tries to defend me but stops short when she sees Tyler, my dad who hasn't been paying attention chooses now as a great moment to glance my way.
He chokes on his coffee the moment he sees Tyler before getting himself back together, while Max's mouth hangs open. Way to give out the fact that I don't have guys over dear family.
"Is there any chance that he's the pizza delivery guy?" My dad says causing my mom to playfully hit his shoulder, tightening her grip on him as a warning to behave.
"And who is your handsome friend Em?"
My mom encourages me, her eyes full of delight, I can only imagine what's going on in that head of her's.
"This i..s Tyler, he go..es to my sch..ool" I stutter not meeting her eyes.
"Good Evening Mr and Mrs. Johnson"
My mom smiles at him warmly.
"How are you dear?" Before he gets the chance to reply he is cut off by my dad who ignores his greetings.
"Is there a reason this 'Tyler' is at our house?" Causing me to visibly gulp, I see Tyler tense next to me.
"We have a project to work on, it's due tomorrow so I... We agreed he would come over"
"And you didn't think to tell us?" My dad questions, I have never seen my dad go 'Dad' on me before, probably because I haven't brought any other guy to my house before.
"Oh Henry give her a break, it must have slipped her mind, she was really tired"
Her reply causes my dad to huff and go back to sipping his coffee, strangely Max has not muttered one word but he did manage to shut his mouth which had been hanging open.
"Um mom we are going to head up now, it's getting late and we need to start working so we can be done before really late."
"Won't you have dinner with us Tyler?"
"I'm sure he would love to but we really need to get going" I cut him off before he would reply and I would have to suffer through a dinner with Tyler and my family.
"Nonsense you know how important dinner is"
Leave it to mom to ruin my plans.
"We'll just take some chips and some pizza upstairs" I say to my mom, my eyes pleading with her to let me go, she seems to understand because she smiles and replies.
"Okay dear, Max go get your sister some snacks from the fridge"
Max huffs in reply and picks up the snacks tossing them to me angrily.
"Hey little guy"
Tyler finally acknowledges Max who ignores him and bites into his pizza, aggressively chewing, Grumpy much.
"Max" my mom warns.
"I'm not little" he replies with gritted teeths.
"Thanks mom we'll be going now", I grab some drinks from the fridge along with the snacks not forgetting the pizza, ignoring the weight I had pilled on my hands, i  pull Tyler towards the stair already tired of this conversation we make for the stairs but not before Tyler speaks.
"It was nice talking to you Mr and Mrs Johnson"
He smiles, that smile that could melt the hardest heart, well....... Except my dad's.
"Call me Claire dear"
"Okay....." I cut off their conversation,
"We better leave now" I pull him away from her towards the stairs again.
"Here" He says as he takes the snacks from my hands, relieving me from my the stress, his hands brushes mine and i instantly feel giddy and warm, the warmth his touch provided ceases as he pulls back his hand, I can't say i didn't wish he wouldn't.
"Thanks" I shyly say, tugging a strand of my hair behind my ears.
Just when we were out of their line of sight I hear my dad's loud voice.
"Leave the door open!"
Which I clearly ignore shutting it but not closing the locks cos believe it or not, I was more nervous than my dad. He scans my room like he did my living room, but this time I felt more conscious, this was my safe haven he was in, I also scan the room to make sure I hadn't left any embarrassing stuff lying around. Satisfied with my search I set the drinks on my desk, he follows suit placing the remaining snacks on the desk.
"Nice room, didn't really picture you as the music type though"
He says referring to the guitar which layed next to my closet, he walks over and picks it up.
"Um, I take classes" I try to control the reddening of my cheeks, not knowing why I was flaming up.
"Do you just play or can you sing too"
"I can play but I'm not that good of a singer"
"Judging from your talking voice you'd be a really great singer, maybe you can give me a private show some other time"
This time I couldn't control the blush that crept up to my face, if I keep turning red with every single word he says, I would melt before dawn.
"Thanks, I think we should start working on the project so we can catch some sleep" I congratulate myself for completing my sentence without stuttering, and then my over calculative brain began to give me ideas.
"Not that I meant together literally, if that's what you thought" all he did was smirk and grab a sit, I didn't miss the fact that he pulled out mine for me, red once again covers my cheek, damn chivalry.

(A/N): hey guys hope you enjoyed the chapter, you know the drill, if you did please do well to vote and leave a comment. Thanks