The Soundtrack of My Summer, Ch. 37

Several paparazzi took photos of Ross and Emma together before a photographer requested a picture of Rocky and Samantha. Ross and Emma stepped aside while Rocky and Samantha stood in front of the cameras. Emma couldn't help but think that Rocky and Samantha looked like they could be models in an advertisement for Hollister or some other brand that was popular with teenagers. "Is it just me, or do they both look like they could be models?" Emma asked Ross, who was standing beside her. "You think so?" Ross asked. "I guess I could see that. Are you saying you think my brother is better looking than me?" Ross asked with a smile. Emma laughed. "Don't worry, you look like a model, too. Your whole family looks like models, really." Though she knew she shouldn't, Emma had always envied the good looks of the Lynch family. She thought that Rydel was really pretty, and all of the Lynch boys were very handsome. Even their youngest brother, Ryland, appeared to be very popular among young girls, and Emma could see why. 'Wait,' Emma suddenly thought. 'Did I just admit to Ross that I think he's really good-looking?' Emma felt a little embarrassed, but Ross smiled. "Thanks." He told her. "Right back at you." Emma laughed. "Me? A model? I wish!" Emma told the boy, knowing that he must have been joking. Ross raised his eyebrows. He looked surprised. "You think I'm kidding?" Emma was caught off guard by this comment. "Weren't you kidding?" she asked. Ross frowned. He glanced at his siblings and Ratliff to make sure they weren't listening in on their conversation. "Look," Ross started, speaking more softly than he had before. "About what I said to Calum at the amusement park the other day. I was wrong. I can't believe I said that about you." Emma looked up at Ross. "That's okay, don't worry about it." Emma told Ross. She knew he felt guilty about the comment he had made about her at the amusement park a few days prior, and she really didn't want Ross to continue feeling that way. It was, after all, a night to celebrate. Ross looked at Emma. "You say that, and yet I still feel bad. Okay, I have to make up for what I said before. I think you look gorgeous tonight." Emma was so surprised. She wasn't sure if Ross was just saying it to make up for what he had said before, or if he was serious. She began to smile. "You're just saying that." Ross frowned at Emma, who immediately felt bad. She knew she probably should have just said a simple "thank you." "Wait, you don't believe me?" Ross asked Emma. Emma looked Ross in the eyes, and wondered if he would ever understand how she felt. "That's not it. I just... No one has ever called me gorgeous before." Emma wondered if this was the first time Ross had realized that, no, people didn't tell her she looked great all the time. She knew that Ross probably heard a fan say he was "so cute" on a daily basis. And while Ross was confident, Emma's self-esteem may not have been quite as high as his. "Well," Ross began, "there's a first time for everything, right?" Emma felt Ross's fingertips on her hand, and knew he was referring to more than just being called gorgeous for the first time. Emma knew Ross would remove his hand if she asked him to, since they had agreed that they wouldn't date. But this time, Emma didn't want him to. "You're right." Emma told Ross, and she locked her fingers around his. "Thank you for the compliment." She added, and Ross's sweet smile returned.

Riker tapped Ross on the shoulder. "Sorry to interrupt." Riker said with a smile. "Mom wants a picture of all of us for Instagram before we go inside." "Okay, thanks." Ross told his brother, who nodded then headed back to the group. "He's probably telling on us." Emma told Ross, noticing Riker motion for everyone to get closer as if he were going to tell them a secret. "Yeah," Ross agreed with a laugh. "Let's see what happens when we walk over there." And with that, Ross and Emma walked over to join R5, holding hands for everyone to see. Emma didn't consider the consequences of what they were doing. She didn't even think about that someone may take a picture.

As Ross and Emma approached the rest of R5, Rydel got a huge grin on her face and started jumping up and down. "What part of 'act completely normal' don't you understand?" Riker asked Rydel with a laugh. Rydel tried, and failed, to consume her excitement. "Sorry, everyone!" Rydel said with a smile. "I'm just pumped for the party, you know!?" Emma was pretty sure Rydel wasn't jumping up and down because of the party, since once she looked at Emma and Ross she got a huge smile on her face once again. Emma realized then that Ross's whole family was smiling at the two of them, and wondered if they all thought Ross had just asked Emma out. 'I guess he'll have some explaining to do later.' Emma thought as the whole group had their photo taken for the R5 Instagram. 'It's kind of sweet though. It kind of makes me feel like, if Ross and I were going to date, their family would approve of it.' Emma smiled at this thought, and followed the group inside for the party.