This is one of the earliest entries from Emma’s childhood diary — written long before the events of Unfinished Melody. It captures the moment she first began to see Josh McGuire as something more than her brother’s best friend… a moment innocent enough to overlook, but meaningful enough to remember.

Dear Diary,

I think I might like Josh McGuire.

Like… like like him.
I don’t really know when it started. Maybe today. Maybe last week. Maybe forever.

We were watching a movie at his house after school—me, Molly, and Mitchell—but they fell asleep halfway through like they always do. Josh and I ended up sharing the blanket because his living room gets freezing after the sun goes down.

And then something weird happened.
Not bad-weird.
Just… different-weird.

His hand brushed mine under the blanket, and I thought maybe he’d move it away, but he didn’t. He left it there. And then my heart started doing this funny thumping thing like it was trying to get my attention.

I didn’t move mine either.
I don’t know why.
Well… maybe I do.

We weren’t holding hands.
But we also kind of were.
It felt like a secret. Like something we weren’t saying out loud.

He looked over at me once during the movie, and it felt like he was seeing me in a way he never had before. Not just like his best friend’s little sister. Not like someone he has to share a blanket with because Molly hogs it.

Just… me.

I tried to play it cool, but I probably looked weird because he asked if I was okay. I said yes even though my heart was still doing the thumping thing.

After the movie, when everyone woke up, everything went back to normal. Josh teased Mitchell about drooling on the couch. Molly blamed me for the popcorn mess. Mrs. McGuire made us hot chocolate.

But the whole time, I kept thinking about his hand brushing mine.

I don’t know what this means.
Maybe nothing.
Maybe everything.

All I know is that I haven’t stopped smiling.

—Emma

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Listen to the song that inspired the story here: Please Don’t Go Girl NKOTB from the guys who sang the song: https://www.nkotb.com/

• Emma's Diary