9.

Dear Nate,

Your email wasn't long at all, honest. Kudos to you on shortening it as much as you could, though I wouldn't have minded a longer one. 

I'm glad you're taking my advice into consideration ( the whole thing about you pursuing psychology). But make sure it ends up being your choice, and your choice alone, and not a decision you came to because of some external influence, aka, me.

Also, I want to thank you for what you said about my mum. She was an amazing person truly.

A vampire? Really, Nate? I know you suck at cracking jokes, but that was just really bad. And the fact that it was a horrible joke made it funny. 

But guess what? I did dress up as a vampire on Halloween once, when I was nine years old. I remember my mum being shocked when I refused to dress up as a princess. She almost ignored me, but I have my ways. Also, I met Matt that Halloween, but more about that later. 

I don't necessarily hate dresses. They're just really uncomfortable, and I also have nightmares about them. There's one I don't think I'll ever forget. I had that nightmare a year ago.

Get this. I was walking down the hallway, in this really tight, cool looking( some might even call it sexy) black dress, with red knee high boots and a matching leather jacket. There was even the wind blown hair scenario ( yeah, I felt on top of the world in that dream). Then, a pen fell out of my purse, and I bent down to pick it up. And then Nate, then, my dress ripped at the back. And like that wasn't bad enough I was wearing "SpongeBob" underwear. 

Safe to say, I became a laughing stock, and I woke up soon after that, thank God. So, I don't hate dresses, but knowing how clumsy and unlucky I can be at times, I'd rather not test fate. 

I told Janet this, and she told me it was an irrational fear. And that things like that only happened in movies. Still, I'd rather not take any chances. 

I'm sorry, but you work out when you're stressed? Now I smacked my head. I might be weird, but even I can't do that. But then again, one man's meat is another's poison. Though my meat both is and tastes better than yours. 

Still not into the whole siblings thing, sorry. I have Jack(that's my dog) and he's enough as it is. Maybe I'm just really not seeing whatever perks there must be. When I read about Allen, I sat down and pictured myself having an older sister. 

Now, you said Allen and you are alike. I'm not entirely sure I'd get along with my sister if we were alike. Because I don't talk about things that bother me, or talk in general- unless spoken to- and if she's the exact same way, then there would be a problem. 

Then if we were different, I definitely won't want to talk to her. And I'd most likely ignore my sibling if he was male. I'm just not an open person, if I'm being honest. Especially now. In fact, I don't talk to Janet about a lot of things. I tell Matt more things than I do Janet, but not to the point that he could confidently tell anyone that he knows me one hundred percent. I guess the only person I've ever really opened up to is...you. 

I feel dumb now. The fact that the one person I feel comfortable telling anything is someone I haven't even met in person is dumb.

About Matt liking Janet, well, I think you're right. Janet is like a bull, really difficult to control...tight leash or not. At the same time, it doesn't mean that it's impossible. 

And Matt doesn't give up easily, I'll give him that. Anyone that can tutor me without going crazy can handle quite a lot, in my eyes. You said you were unsure of Matt's personality. 

Matt is a reserved guy. You know, those ones that suffer in silence. He is also one of those people that would more likely stand up for his friends than himself. He's patient (established) and very kind. Then, he's the crazy type( though I believe everyone has a little bit of crazy in them). 

Remember the Halloween thing, well, I eventually dressed up as a vampire. I remember the stares I got when I left my house. I didn't care, both because that's how I am, and because I was a kid who got what she wanted. A girl dressed as a mouse walked up to me and started laughing. She called me a freak and most people joined her in pointing and laughing. 

I might not have cared  what other people thought of me, but I did care about attention. I hate attention in anyway, especially the bad kind. Before I started to feel really bad about myself and regret ever going as a vampire, Matt walked up to me and that girl. 

He then said, "you do know vampires eat rats, don't you?"

Is that even true? 

And just like that, I felt better. I don't know why, and up till now, I can't explain it, but I felt better, all because of a stranger. The girl huffed and walked away, and Matt and I joined forces in trick or treating. Another thing I forgot to mention here, Matt didn't have any costume on. His family isn't exactly well off, and he just went as a normal kid.  When I pointed that out, he said he had a sharpie, and that he  had planned on drawing whiskers on his face, but he had a different idea. 

And he took his black sharpie and made two vampire bite marks on his neck and hand. We've been tight ever since. 

All in all, Matt is one of a kind. He's the unpredictable type, macho one day, quiet the next. But I can handle all forms of Matt. He wants to be a doctor, and while I see that as a huge dream given his financial background, nothing's impossible to the guy. 

The Becky story was funny. Oh, how I wish I get paired up with that sort of person for an annoying project. I'll sit down and watch my partner do all the work, and he won't even feel bad about it or complain. You just had to feel bad for her, hence you brought your previous predicament upon yourself. 

She's avoiding you up till this present day? You're a junior, and unless she doesn't understand what the phrase "move on" means, she should've gotten over it long ago. I totally understand what she felt at that time (I might've done worse really). I'm not a fan of embarrassment at all. 

You've really tangoed with a handful of girls, haven't you? Okay, this might sound weird, but since I'm not talking to you face to face, I'm slightly comfortable asking you this. 

Have you had sex with any of them before? And what did it feel like? I don't know why I feel like there's this unnecessary hype when it comes to intercourse, so I want to hear it from you. And since you're a pretty honest person(unlike me),  I'll be getting straight, hard facts from you. 

Believe me when I tell you this, I would not have been able to ask this question if we'd been together. Best friends or not. Siblings or not. And I'm most likely going to cringe when I hit "send", but eh...the curiosity is killing me.

I'm socially awkward, and even if I wasn't, I don't talk. So, other than Janet and Matt, I don't really have friends. Acquaintances, sure. The once in a blue moon "hey", yeah. But friends, nah. 

Also, you really should see me in person. When I started talking to Janet (freshman year), she told me that I had the most unapproachable countenance she had ever come across. And I quoted that, because it's not something I can easily forget. I instantly fell in love with her choice of words, and after quite the series of butting into the other's life( mostly on her part), we officially became friends. 

Summary of that entire paragraph, people don't want to talk to me when they see my face. I don't appear friendly. At all.

What do I do daily now that we're on vacation? Well, my alarm clock wakes me up at six thirty, I hit snooze and fall asleep. I'm usually fully awake around eight. I organize my room, shower, read for a while, and go downstairs. My dad would've left for work at that time, so I'll make myself breakfast. Oh yeah, I didn't mention this....I love to cook. 

When my mum was alive, she did most of the cooking, so I didn't bother. But after she passed, and I discovered my dad was a mess in the kitchen, I decided to try my hand at cooking. Luckily for me, because I don't think I would've survived on pizza and junk food, I was good enough. And over time, I improved, with the help of YouTube and cook books of course. 

So I make breakfast, get Jack his food, and we eat together. Then we rest for a bit and take a walk. Jack usually naps after his walk, so I do whatever it is I have to do in the house, and stay downstairs in the living room. Not because of Jack, he's a well behaved dog, courtesy of  moi. I know if I stay in my room, I'll sleep the day away. I have a blog where I upload my thoughts on, and I work on it everyday. Then, I read whatever new book I'm obsessed with. 

I practice my cooking too, play with Jack, watch videos on YouTube... whatever. Occasionally, I do take a nap, but that is only when Jack is asleep, or Lord knows what's going to happen. 

That's it. My dad comes home, we eat whatever it is I make, or order something, and I retreat to my room. I usually finish a book everyday( something I'm proud of), so if I don't accomplish that during the day, I do so at night.

I'm fully aware that I could've looked you up, but I didn't want to. I'm not exactly comfortable with...is there a nicer word for stalking? And yes, I pegged you as the golden boy type, but from what I've seen, you're better. Slightly better, but better all the same. 

Don't let that compliment get into your head so much. 

Till whenever, 

Emma.

***

Please note that this book will be proofread and edited upon completion. Forgive any errors. 

Hope you liked this chapter. 

Stay awesome, 

Kathy.