"Just because you can not see your own beauty does not mean it does not exist." 

-Unknown

The next morning as I hid behind the bleachers with Levi, Devon, and Michael once again sharing a blunt and getting high I decided to make it my mission to talk to Emma again today.

As the world around me began to become less clear I looked over towards the bench Emma was reading at yesterday and frowned as I noticed she wasn't there today.

Once the school bell rang I quickly stumbled into school to my first class of the day excited for my chance to speak to Emma, wherever she may be.

Time seemed to fly by, yet still felt like forever. By the time third period was ending, I still hadn't got even a glimpse of Emma and it was killing me. How is it so hard to find a girl and talk to her?

When the bell rang ending third period and starting lunch I quickly walked out of class. Since it's lunchtime there were two places she could be right now, either in the cafeteria or outside in the courtyard. But she would have to be crazy to be in the courtyard, it's nearly freezing today.

I quickly pushed through the crowd of students heading towards the cafeteria trying to get there faster, when I made it to the lunch room she wasn't there.

Maybe, she just isn't here yet? I took a seat at a random table and waited as students pooled in from the doors. The lunchroom was buzzing with life as it became full, but still no Emma.

I got up and left the lunch room, time to check the courtyard. She isn't going to be there, maybe she isn't here today? I thought as I walked down the hall.

The courtyard is pretty much an area outside with a few tables squared in between two hallways with glass walls showing the small yard.

As I looked out the glass wall of one of the halls I noticed the strangest thing. There Emma sat alone outside in the cold. I opened the door leading outside to the courtyard slowly.

Cold frosty air pooled in through the now open door. I hadn't thought to stop at my locker to get my jacket so I step out onto the snowy ground in only a thin sweater over a plain t-shirt and some jeans.

I walked over to the table Emma sat at and sat down across from her. I couldn't help but stare at her. I finally found her. She looked beautiful.

Today she had the same jacket as the day before on, her hair in two long braids hanging down each side of her face with a red beanie atop her head. And, of course, large dark black glasses covering her eyes.

"Hey," I say finally finding the courage to say something. I've finally found her and now I've got nothing to say. "Daniel?" She asked softly. "Yeah, how did you know?" I ask curiously. It's not like she can look up and see me. "Your voice." She answered.

I didn't know what she meant by my voice but I didn't ask. I usually don't care how people thought of me but I don't want her to think I'm stupid for not understanding. It was silent between us after that.

The only sound is the howl of the cold wind.

I rubbed my hands together as I tried to warm them up but it was no use. It's too damn cold this time of year, I really fucking hate winter.

Technically, it was still fall but it felt a hell of a lot like winter.

Last time I was smart enough to wear gloves, I should have been smart enough to grab at least my jacket before coming out here.

"Why are you here?" She asked breaking the silence. She didn't sound scared this time speaking, at least that means she is warming up to me. "I thought we could have lunch together," I answered honestly.

I hope she knows I'm not going to hurt her. That she doesn't have to be scared, not of me.

"Why?" She asked as she ran her bare fingers over a page of the book in her hand. I shrugged before remembering she can't see me. "I wanted to talk to you," I told her leaving out the fact that all day I've been looking for her.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" She asked as the tip of her soft pink tongue poked out and licked her bottom lip. Oh man.

"Nothing in particular," I answered as I looked away from her pale lips. "I just like talking to you," I added. I looked back to her lips to see they were now in a soft smile. "So talk." She replied.

So that's just what I did, I talked. I rambled on and on about whatever came to mind. I talked about music, books, and school. And, she sat still listening. Every once and a while she would say what she thought on the subject.

After a while I pulled out a cigarette and lite it up, not bothering to ask like last time. I always keep my pack and a lighter in my pocket, never know when I'd want one.

"You're smoking?" Emma asked frowning. I took a drag before blowing out and saying "yeah." She was still frowning. I didn't like seeing her frown.

"Why do you smoke?" Emma asked as she began to play with one of her braids. "I don't know. I just like to." I answered with a shrug. She didn't look pleased with that answer. "It could kill you. You could get cancer." She finally replied.

Weird, she didn't seem to have a problem with me smoking last time.

I took another drag before saying "Doesn't really matter, I'll die eventually. We'll all die eventually. Might as well enjoy living while I still am, plus it's not that bad, weed is way better though."

She closed her book as she balanced her head on her hand. "I wouldn't know." She finally said.

"You've never smoked?" I asked. Duh, of course not, I thought to myself stupidly. "No, I haven't." She replied softly.

"Well, then I plan on changing that," I said smirking at the way her eyebrows pull together in confusion. Emma looked skeptical and a bit hesitant like she didn't believe I could do it as she moved around in her seat. It's not that hard to get someone to try smoking if they really wanted to try it. I mean Michael never smoked before he met me and look at him now, he's a total stoner.

"I don't really see the appeal." She said honestly. Well, you can't really see at all, I thought to myself.

"It's not the act of smoking that's appealing it's the effect. When you're high it feels like any and everything in the world is possible. Like the world is in slow motion and you have super speed." I explained to her. Smoking isn't for everyone, and if she doesn't want to she doesn't have to. I won't force her, I'm just saying how it is for me.

"What about other drugs?" She asked curiously. She seems interested maybe I could get her to try it, by it I mean to smoke weed though not to snort cocaine or some shit like that.

"I've only done Molly before and it was crazy. It's like you're performing a metal concert with Jesus or going skydiving into a volcano. It's pretty weird so I wouldn't recommend it." I told her honestly. I've done some other stuff but she doesn't need to know about that. I'm not perfect, I never claimed to be. What she doesn't know won't kill her.

Emma laughed using her hand to cover her laughter over her mouth. I like her laugh, it's high and loud but sweet. It only takes a few seconds for me to get past the beautiful sound leaving her mouth enough to join in.

As we both calmed down from our laughter I flicked my cancer stick in the ground into a pile of snow nearby. I couldn't help be let a content smile spread across my face, and it was not because of weed.

"Skydiving into a volcano and a metal concert with Jesus? That's by far the best thing I've ever heard." She said with a final giggle.

Right now, she has no idea how glad I am that she is blind because if she could see then she would definitely know my blush right now isn't from the cold.

"Can I ask you something?" I asked wanting to change the subject. "You just did." She said smirking. I rolled my eyes as I still smiled. "I mean to ask you something else?" I corrected.

"Okay," Emma answered as she faced me. Or should I say faced my direction? I wish I knew if her eyes were trained on me.

"Do you like hanging out with me?" I asked looking away from her. She was silent before saying "I guess, I've never really hung out with many different people before." I bit my lip before asking "would you like to hang out again, soon?" She smiled before saying "when?"

I smiled back "I could come over yours this weekend?" I offered. I need to see her again. I like her company way too much for me to admit.

"Come over?" She questioned as she began to unfold her white stick thing. "Yeah," I answered. She seemed nervous and fidgety. I could tell her fear was back.

Maybe, I shouldn't have asked. Maybe, it's too soon. We only started talking yesterday. Maybe, I'm moving to fast. I just want to get to know her. I want to be closer to her. I feel like the best way to really get to do so is being together off school grounds.

"Why would you want to?" She asked softly. "I just like hanging out with you," I said sincerely. She is different and I like being around her.

I've never really personally cared about the way I sounded, but I cared right now. I want her to say yes. Gosh, I sound like a girl right now.

Emma tilted her head slightly the few loose strands of hair falling into her face."I guess, but there's not much we can do." She said agreeing. I smiled brightly "we'll come up with something." I replied.

She smiled sweetly and warm. She smiled a smile that could end world hunger. "okay." She finally said.

From outside I could just barely hear the bell ring ending lunch. As I began to stand up I said: "Can I get your number?" Wait, can blind people even have phones?

Emma slowly with the help of her stick got up. As she did the door to the courtyard opened and out walked Emma's cousin who I think the name is Bridget or Brittany.

Emma's cousin walked through the snow to us. "Ready to go?" She asked Emma completely ignoring me. "Almost, Rebecca. Hold on." Emma replied before saying "Daniel?" As if checking I was still there.

"Yeah?" I asked. She turned towards my direction before saying "my number is 443-850" As she said that I quickly wrote it down on my hand.

"Okay," I said as I smiled at her. She smiles too, "bye." She said before her cousin took her elbow and lead her back into the school.

I looked down at my hand where I had written her number. My handwriting was messy and unclear but I could still make out the six digits that made up her number and smiled again.

With one final look to my hand, I walked back into the school. Standing here in the crowded hallway I finally noticed how cold my body was. I was freezing but I didn't care. I'm going to see her this weekend, and if doesn't matter that she can't see me.

"Hey, man. Where the hell were you during lunch?" Michael asked me as he, Devon, and Levi made their way from down the hall towards me.