Ryan and I walked to the school entrance together.
"If you need any help with the article, do not hesitate to call me. I will be really glad to help". He offered.
"Okay, no problem. Thanks for offering". I was touched by his kindness though I didn't like the fact that he was being too kind.
"The pleasure is all mine".
I know he is a good guy but I also understand that he is with one of my best friends and I do not want anything to come between me and Rhyme or Angie.
I hold Ryan in very high regard and I do not want to get too close to him. The end result is two-sided and both are catastrophic. It's either I fall for him and end up hurting myself if he chooses Rhyme or he chooses me and Rhyme end up being hurt and I lose my friends. I am not willing to risk all I have earned in Duncan town because of Ryan.
"Thank you so much. I will wait for my brother to pick me up". I said when we got outside hoping that he would leave.
"No problem, I will wait till he comes to pick you up".
Oh no, he is the clingy type, or maybe he is just being polite. We both sat down on the stairs.
"You do not have to. It's fine".
"Oh please, I would love to".
"Okay".
"So tell me what do you have in mind for your big article?".
"Who says the article has to be big?".
"Hmm, didn't you get the memo?".
"What memo?"
"Oh, that's just a figure of speech".
"Oh. I still do not get you".
"Angie is such a control freak who doesn't take anything less than perfect".
"Even she is not perfect".
"You should really see her throw a tantrum".
"I don't know that part of her".
"Have you met the girl?".
I smiled and soon burst into laughter. He joined me and we both laughed so hard that I was having a pain in my stomach.
"My tummy hurts". I said laughing.
"Mine too".
I looked at him and he did the same. He used his fingers to brush my hair backwards and stared straight into my eyes.
*Ahem*
I cleared my throat.
"I was going to brush back your hair. It was tangling". He explained
"Thanks".
"No problem".
It's was getting really uncomfortable for me. Simon wasn't coming and here I was feeling uncomfortable.
"I should probably call my brother, he is running late". I told Ryan.
"Okay do".
"Hey bro, where are you?". I said to Simon over the phone when he finally picked up.
"Hey sis, am in the middle of something. I will call you later".
"No don't". I screamed at him.
"What's up".
"Don't ask me what's up. Where are you?".
"I can't be there to pick you up today, something came up. I am so sorry".
"What happened?".
"Am in the middle of something".
"What?". I heard screams and shouts of happy people.
"Don't question me. Find a way to get home yourself today. I will make it up to you somehow".
"Simon, listen to me".
"I can't hear you. I think the signal is bad". I knew deep down the signal wasn't bad. In fact, I was convinced. Simon was faking losing signal to avoid providing an explanation for not being here to pick me up.
"Simon I know you can hear me".
"I am losing signal".
"Simon...."I shouted at him.
"Bye". He said
"Simon, don't...".
The line went dead.
"What happened?". Ryan asked.
It was really stupid that Simon could not be here to pick me up but looking at the bright side, I didn't have to spend more time sitting with Ryan. The only bad side was the fact that I had never gone home alone before and I was not sure I knew my way home.
"My brother said he can't be here to pick me up". I said feigning disappointment. The truth was, deep inside I was happy.
"Great". Ryan said and a smile lighted his face.
The look I gave him was like: What the fuck?
"I mean bummer". He said and changed his expression.
"Whatever, bye". I was eager to leave.
"No wait, let me get my stuff and we can walk home together".
"You don't have to walk me home. I will be fine, thanks anyway".
"No, it's not a problem. I was going home anyway, I was just waiting for your brother to pick you up and since he is not coming I will be glad to walk you home".
"Okay". No way! Why can't I ever be free?
I was trying to avoid falling for Mr handsome and betraying my friends and here I am walking home with him.
"I don't have to do this". I thought to myself.
"Tell him you don't want to walk home with him". My inner voice told me.
"Just wait till he is gone and make a run for it". Another voice told me. I remembered what I was thought in Moral instructions class in elementary school about "Conscience". I was not sure which one of the voices was the bad conscience but I decided to listen to the other voice.
He had run up the stairs and was about entering the school when he turned back.
"Hey, you will wait right?".
"Of course". I laughed nervously.
He walked into the school building. I made a run for it.
"Run, Marvel, run". I told myself.
I ran with all of my might.
"Babe". I froze.
"I know that voice". I thought.
"I should have known". I turned around and saw Ryan walking away.
"Ryan". I called. "Wait".
"Why should I?".
"It's not what you think".
"Oh really?".
"Yes, the thing is.....".
"You said you would wait". He cut in.
"I know I did".
"You should have said that you did not want my company. Why did have to make me feel like am forcing myself on you".
"I didn't mean to. Something came up". I lied.
"What came up?".
"My brother called me and told me I had to be home immediately family emergency".
"O,hand what was the family emergency?". He queried.
"Uhn.. hmm...urh" I stammered in response.
"Can I see the call log".
"Actually, I do not keep records of my phone calls". I lied again.
"oh really".
"Yes". I said reluctantly.
"I was not born yesterday, Barbara. I know you are lying to me".
"I didn't mean to". I tried to explain but instead, he walked away.
"Ryan, please listen to me".
"I have nothing to listen to. In fact, I do not want to listen. I didn't mean to force myself on you and I understand that you don't want to be friends with me. I am a believer in feelings and I sincerely understand if you decide to want to be left alone. I am sorry for forcing myself on you and I promise you it will never happen again". He crossed the street.
"Ryan, no".
I was starting to cry. I realized instantly that I really wanted to be friends with him.
I walked on feeling like a hole had been bored in my heart.
"Thank you so much bad conscience". I said to myself.
I had realized my mistake and wished that I had explained why I wanted some space rather than running off as I did.
"I do like him". I confessed to myself.
I looked sideways and Ryan was walking the same way I did. He was not looking happy about what I did to him, I was not happy either. I understood his pain. I wouldn't want to be friends with me too if I was in his shoes. I wasn't ready to lose him as a friend. I decided to make my wrongs right
I crossed to the other side of the road to talk to him.
"Ryan". I called.
He walked on and didn't look back.
"Please wait".
I had to run to catch up with him.
"Listen to me". I called behind him.
People stopped to look at us or maybe at me. I was creating a scene and most people probably didn't know that I was talking to Ryan. Ryan walked really fast and it was hard for me to catch up. He stopped for a while to tie his shoes, I caught up with him.
"Ryan please listen to me. I need to talk to you".
He stood up and walked faster than he did before. It was harder to catch up with him.
"You should do some exercises, Marvel". I scolded myself.
I walked on and lost sight of him. I started to run.
"Ryan". I shouted as I ran.
I soon reached a crossroad. The road leads to about four different streets and I didn't know which way he went.
"He went this way". A woman in her fifties said and pointed to the right.
"Thank you so much ma".
"I'm really glad to help". She smiled at me. "You know when I was younger...". She talked on.
Oh no, this is the part where she starts reminiscing old memories and giving advice to the "young" generation.
"See you around". I ran off.
"You are such a beautiful highschool couple". She said as I ran off
"We are not dating". I called back.
"You would if you decide to".
"Thanks for the compliment". I ran farther until I saw Ryan ahead of me.
"Ryan wait".
He stopped and turned back.
"What do you want from me?".
"I am so sorry about what happened earlier. I would really appreciate it if you will let me explain myself".
"I think I get what is going on".
"You do?".
"Yes and am sorry for being such an inconvenience".
"No, that's not what happened".
"Really?".
"Yes".
"Then what happened?".
"The thing is I know that you are Rhyme are together and I do not want...."
"Wait, wait, wait for what?".He exclaimed.
"You and Rhyme are you dating aren't you". I asked confused.
"No, of course not". He denied. "We are just friends. We have been friends since we were babies. We grew up together and she is like a sister to me".
*Sigh* I was relieved
"She doesn't seem to think so". I said aside.
"What was that?". He asked me.
"Nothing". I replied.
"My parents would kill me if they found out that we are together".
"Oh, I didn't know it was that way".
"What gave you the idea that we are together?".
"Well everyone thinks so".
"I didn't realize".
"It happens".
"Even we were dating Barbara, it doesn't mean we can't be friends".
"Yes I know but I was afraid Rhyme wouldn't understand and would probably think otherwise and get jealous".
"I am sorry I misunderstood you".
"There is nothing to be sorry about. It's not your fault, I should have talked to you about it".
"Does that mean we are friends again".
"Friends". I said.
We walked side by side. Soon,my hand wandered and found his. He brought his hand closer and twined with mine. We were holding hands. The excitement almost made me jump out of my skin. I felt like a thousand tiny fishes were tickling my whole body. I had never felt like that before.
We walked through the first, second and third streets together still holding hands.
"So do you have a boyfriend back in..... where did you say you were from?".
"Allentown". I answered.
"Yeah Allentown".
"So do you have a boyfriend".
"No, I have never...". I paused mid-sentence.
Ryan stopped to look at me and laughed. I felt embarrassed and my cheeks were red. I should not have said that but I can't seem to control my words when I am with Ryan.
He became sober suddenly and apologized.
"I am so sorry".
"It's okay". Of course, it's not okay, I was still angry at him for making me feel embarrassed like that.
"I didn't mean to make you feel that way, I just couldn't help but wonder why a beautiful damsel like you would be without an admirer".
I smiled stupidly. It was foolish that I would forgive him all of a sudden and still smile at his flattering but I couldn't help it.
"Please stop flattering me"
"I am not flattering you, am being honest".
"Whatever".
" I think there are a lot of guys out there who really admire you".
"oh please".
"I am really serious. I know at least one of them".
"Who?". I was really curious. Of course, boys do tell each other who they have a crush on.
"He is standing next to you".
We fell silent. I didn't know what to say and I guess he didn't know what to either.
"Babe". He said after a few minutes of silence. We had stopped holding hands by then.
"What?". I answered.
He turned and took both my hands in his.
"I really think you are cute. Your chestnut brown hair, your brown eyes, your height, your posse, tanned long legs that could win the Olympics, everything about you is just magical". He was looking into my eyes. I avoided eye contact.
"I liked you the very first day I saw you and I really want to hang out with you sometime".
"It's now or never Babe". I thought to myself.
"You are really good looking too. Icy blue eyes, blond hair, smart, nice and you have a perfect height".
"You think". He pestered.
I blushed.
"He lifted my chin with two fingers and looked me straight in the eye.
"I really like you, Babe".
"I really like you too Ryan".
Still holding hands, he leaned close and I did the same. He ran his fingers through my hair and we kissed.
Oh my God, the guy is such an expert kisser. I have never been kissed before so I had no experience to compare with but I knew he was good.
The kiss was the best thing that had ever happened to me since I moved to Duncan town two months and two weeks ago. Being kissed by Ryan was like having an ice cream sundae with extra sprinkles and toppings or having a brown pie with extra hot melting cheese and hot chocolate with extra cream on a cold afternoon.
"Wow". It was all I could say.
"Wow as in good or bad". He asked.
"Good".
"You want to hang out today?". I smiled and almost said yes when I remembered.
"oh no, I can't. I have a date with someone".
"Oh". He said and looked disappointed.
"It's not the way you think. I am going to meet Kim at somewhere called The Seven's later today".
"Kim?".
"Yes, Kim".
He looked at me again with an expression I understood quite well.
"She did something bad and wanted to make it up to me". I said showing him the chat.
"Ohh I guess some other time then".
"Yes, I will see you later".
"Let me know if you have any issues on the article you are writing".
"Sure will".
"Bye". He kissed me again, this time on my cheek.
"Bye". I said and he crossed to the other side of the road.
I walked into the street and into the house.