Free Sworn by Emma Knight Page B

knew the party started at 8 o’clock, and she only had a few more hours to go. She wondered why Rob hadn’t texted her yet. Maybe he forgot? Maybe he was standing her up?
    Many options crossed through her mind.
    Should I text him?
    Rachel continuously checked her phone thinking that maybe Rob had texted and she didn’t hear the buzz. Still nothing.
    She began to like him even more and let her mind wander, thinking about their date. She wondered what the party was going to be like and who was going to be there. She wondered what she and Rob would do together -- she even let herself think about kissing him.
    Rachel had only kissed one guy before, and that had been a random guy at one of her sleepaway camp socials. It was more of a peer pressure kiss, and meant nothing to her: she didn’t even remember the guy’s name. So this would be Rachel’s first “real” kiss.
    Another hour went by with no text from Rob. Rachel’s hopes of them getting together begun to fade. She was a little annoyed, too, because she had already lied to her parents and had come up with an elaborate plan to get out of the house. She started to feel that maybe she liked him more than he liked her.
    All of a sudden, Rachel heard a buzz. Her heart leapt into her throat as she reached for her cell.
    1 New Message:
    Rob: Hey Rachel, psyched for tonight. I’ll pick you up around 7.
     
    Rachel waited a few minutes to reply, so she wouldn’t seem too eager. She didn’t want Rob to think she had been sitting by her phone all day waiting for his text, and she wanted to play it cool. Having never had a boyfriend, she had many years of analyzing and overanalyzing her friends’ relationships and guy drama.
    Rachel: Great. Can you come around 7:45 instead?
    Rachel didn’t want Rob to accidentally run into her parents as they were leaving the house, and she also knew that her parents were chronically late for everything, and they probably wouldn’t end up leaving until after 7.
    She was also a little puzzled that Rob wanted to pick her up an hour before the party started. She knew it was only a five minute drive to everything in Bedford, so 7 was way too early. Then she thought maybe he wanted to take her somewhere first, so they could be alone. She loved the idea of, but realized tonight was not a possibility. If she wanted any shot at sneaking out, it would have to wait until her parents were long gone.
    Rob: Yeah, that’s fine. See ya later babe!
     
    BABE! Did he really just call me babe? Rachel had never been referred to as babe before, or for that measure, any pet name or term of endearment.
    She felt awesome. It made her even more excited for her night. Now the thought of lying to her parents and sneaking out all made perfect sense. This was going to be the love of her life. Rachel daydreamed about her and Rob dating, and then becoming boyfriend and girlfriend. She thought that this was going to be her high school sweetheart, and she hoped that the two would get married. She could see them going to college together, or at least to schools close to one another.
    Rachel’s thoughts were interrupted when she heard her phone buzz again. Was it Rob again? Rachel wondered what he could have forgotten to say.
    1 New Message:
    Emily: So crazy last night Rach! Glad you came out. You have fun?
    Rachel: Yup! Totally. What are you up to?
    Emily: Figuring out my plans for tonight, want to see that movie?
    Rachel: Oh, I can’t. I’m going to Jordan’s party with Rob.
    Emily: YOU ARE? Why?
    Rachel: Rob’s cute, I kinda like him.
    Emily: Yeah, but he hangs out with the worst people. You are going to hate it.
    Rachel: Want to come?
    Emily: Never.
    Rachel: Ok, well, I’m going to go for a little bit. Let’s see the movie next weekend, K?
    Emily: We’ll see. If I haven’t already seen it by then. Bye.
    Rachel: Cya
     
    Rachel worried that maybe Emily was mad at her. She liked Emily a lot: she was her favorite of the group, but she didn’t like how Emily was