"I'll be honest with you. I did not expect this sort of behavior with you Ms Peters," Mrs Henshaw, the principal's secretary stated and I frowned.
"Neither did I, Mrs Henshaw." I never get caught.
But I didn't tell her that. She already looked mad enough as she turned to Ryder.
"But you Mr Stone, I expected this from you and even worse you roped such a good student like Ms Peters into it," she said and my frown deepened.
"I make my own decisions. And besides isn't there some sort of open campus policy," I asked through gritted teeth and she glared at me. Like really glared at me as if she wanted to strangle me. But I wasn't fazed. "You'd know that if you actually read the school rules...."
"You are not helping your case Ms Peters," she said cutting me off and I could feel my eye twitch.
"Maybe I don't want to be helped. Why do you make it sound like a disease anyway? Teachers are supposed to want the best for their students but you, on the other hand.." I said nonchalantly making her frown deepened and Ryder nudged my knee with his urging me to shut up.
"No worries. It was just a wonderful lunch off campus. No need to be jealous. I'll invite you along next time," he said winking at the lady whose face was beginning to turn red in anger and I mentally facepalmed. As if he was actually helping.
Ten minutes ago,
"You know I had fun we should probably do this again," Lauren said and I nodded unconsciously. She might act like other snobby cheerleaders but she could handle her food well and was actually less malicious once she dropped the act.
"Yeah. Come on we should probably get inside before we get caught. We are late for class," Kyle urged but my focus was not at all on him as I watched Ryder who was just pulling in with his bike as I grabbed my keys and jacket.
"I'll catch up with you guys later," I said starting my way towards him ignoring Kyle who called me one more time before he was pulled inside and I let out a somewhat relieved sigh.
"You know you are supposed to be in class, grumpy."
"You're out here with me. Your point?" He asked raising an eyebrow at me.
"Touchè grumpy. Find any good food spots out there?" I asked knowing very well he had seen my group of fellow deliquents.
"Quite the contrary. Just looking for a nice quiet spot to relax," he said and I raised an eyebrow in question at him but he only chuckled, shaking his head as he got off the bike and leaned against it. "No big deal. I..."
"Hey. You are breaking school rules. You shouldn't be out here." Guard.
It's needless to say that he had brought us to the principal's office without a second thought, I thought glancing at Ryder who had a strange look on his face and I nudged his knee.
"Is everything okay?"
"I'm fine."
"I asked if everything was okay. Not if you were fine or not," I let out irritated and he gazed at me with that faraway look.
"I'm sorry."
"What for?" I asked and he let out a sigh looking away.
"It hits harder when you have people that are sure to be disappointed. I guess I should have warned you," he said running a hand through his hair.
"Warned me? I snuck out of school on my own you know that right?"
"I still should have warned you. Despite my bad boy good looks and charm... people don't really expect that much from me. Nothing good at least. And they have a right to be suspicious even when I'm not doing anything. I'm not a good person, Diana and I merely being selfish to keep on stringing you along," he said and I raised an eyebrow in question as I watched him scrutinizngly.
"Really? For how long have you been practising that little speech?"
"S..speech? It's not a speech. I..I just don't want you to be miserable because of me and my bad reputation."
"Who cares what they think?"
"Says the girl afraid of what her foster parents might think," he said and I coughed in embarrassment shifting in my seat.
"Well, I have no intention of being kicked out," I said and he chuckled getting comfortable in the seat.
"I'm sure I can make some arrangements."
"Right? You are never ever going to stop trying to tempt me into having sex with you?" I asked leaning my head against his shoulder and I could feel him tense as he let out little coughs in what I assumed embarrassment. "No wait, stupid question. Don't answer that. Of course you won't."
"Have I ever told you you have no filter?"
"As if you're any better than me," I scoffed not once looking at him and momentarily forgetting where we were before, not that he seemed to mind anyway as I looped my arm through his before there was a certain shift in the atmosphere as Mrs Henshaw stood up.
"Principal Scott?"
"Ms Peters. Mr Stone," the principal greeted a tinge of irritation clouding his voice as he nodded to his secretary and yet I could see his eyes widened in surprise for a moment as he narrowed his gaze at us before asking to see Ryder first, who gave me a reassuring look before he went in. And for a while.
"... isn't part of the deal...I don't care.." Came the voices through the door when I got curious and I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. What deal? Unfortunately those were the only words I managed to hear in their conversation before they came out after a while as I'd they weren't just arguing.
"Ms Peters," the principal called once he was out of the office. "I rather not have you repeat today again."
"..."
He was actually letting me off the hook!?
"W...what?"
"I trust you'll not make this mistake again," he said looking at me with... curiosity? Nah, that's not it but it was pretty much close. And so, not really trusting my words I nodded absentmindedly before excusing myself only to find Ryder waiting for me in the hallway.
"He let you off to huh?"
"Sounds like it's not much an occasion occurrence."
"It isn't."
"Maybe it's the birthday gods at work?" I suggested and a chuckle reasonated in the empty hall and I couldn't stop my lips from curving up into a smile as I watched him quietly.
"You could say that," he said as we walked side by side. "I'll walk you to class?"
He asked and I stopped, regarding him coyly and he cocked his head in question as he faced me with a bemused smirk.
"And you think I'm going to class after all that because...?" I asked and he raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"I'm beginning to think my bad behavior is starting to rub off on you."
"Who is to say it wasn't there before?"
"You certainly have a way with words."
"I'm pretty sure that's why I've killed more than enough people with kindness in my time. I should say, I'm better with words than you ever were."
"You do know that you're just nearly three years my junior," he said and I rolled my eyes playfully.
Right, he was 18 or turning, and probably prepared to leave for college at the end of the school year.
"May I emphasize on the junior? Shouldn't I be childish in your eyes?" I asked nonchalantly as his penetrating gaze caught mine. "What?"
"You are more mature than most people here."
"Really? Even more than you?" I asked cheekily and he smiled as we walked on.
"Probably. You say things than even I reflect on at times. Sometimes I wonder if I'm talking to an old experienced auntie instead of a teenager," he said and I looked at him darkly.
"I thought I annoyed you."
"You do," he deadpanned and I giggled my mood doing a huge 360 degrees as I watched him.
"Well, I promised didn't I?" I said showing him the ring hanging on the thin chain around my neck.
"I guess you did," he said letting out a chuckle and I was quick to notice his mood had lifted slightly and he was no longer brooding as I grabbed his arm stopping him from walking further.
"Are you okay?" I asked and he looked at me expressionless as he shrugged.
"Yeah why?"
I couldn't tell if he was just being his sadistic, cold, nonchalant self or he was telling the truth but I was unconvinced.
"Because... I remember a certain someone telling me something about giving me something that belongs to me," I said raising an eyebrow at him and he widened his eyes in shock before he let out a low chuckle as I read gratefulness in his eyes when I reconsidered my words.
"Right. I guess I owe you that much," he said and I watched him curiously trying to tune down my eagerness as I ran a hand through his already disheveled hair before taking my hand and pulling me into an empty room. "Diana..?"
He called out in that low husky voice pulling me close to him and I didn't resist feeling my eyes flutter closer as his warm lips brushed against my own so feathery and light, and any resistance my mind had started to plot wavered. It was as if he was testing the waters to see if I would push him away. I didn't.
His feather light kisses soon turned hard, gentle into harsh, hot and fervent. Honestly, it always feels like it's our first kiss, well at least my first kiss, and his, his last. His passion was contagious, the hand tipping my chin towards him trailing down my neck and brushing the underside of my breast before grabbing my waist harshly and I held onto his bicep for support.
"Diana..?" He groans against my lips and a shiver passes through my form as his hands grip my thighs hoisting me up against the wall as he catches my hazy gaze again before crashing his lips against mine once more muffling my groan as the heat in my core intensifies.
His hand grazes a scalding hot path on my inner thigh before his thumb grazes the little nub at my core through the thin material and I gasp momentarily losing the heavy fight of dominance as our tongues clash heavily drawing a loud wanton moan from me. He explores every inch of my mouth pulling the thin lace of panties onto one side and lightly smacks my ass muffling my moan and I can feel him smirk against my lips as we pull away for lack of oxygen. His eyes are a darker shade of blue than I've ever seen as he leans his forehead against mine letting out a breathy sigh before closing his eyes and all that can be heard in the room is our harsh breaths and all I can think is fuck!! He's hot. He makes me feel hot. And yet...the nasty voice at the back of my head is at work arguing against my conscience. They seem to be doing this a lot these days.
I can't keep doing this.
But he makes you feel wanted.
It wasn't fair to him. I would go away some day and if he starts feeling strongly....
Yet you don't want him, or this to stop.
I'm distracted from the argument by Ryder's hand lazily drawing circles on my back before I catch his gaze once more and I'm disheartened by the conflicted look in his eyes. What was it? Regret? Change of heart..?? I'm wonder as he let me down not quite removing his gaze from me and hands from the wall behind me as I fix my dress.
"Hmm, I guess I can't complain. I was expecting a keepsake or something but it's okay," I said a look of indifference passed over me as I ducked under his arm and he let out a sigh hurt flashing in his eyes before he grabs my arm.
"You... Diana, I don't regret anything I've done with you. I just hope you don't too," he said quietly and yet a chill dropped down my spine as the atmosphere suddenly chilled as he brushed his lips gently against my forehead before he walked away.
He was angry, I thought as the chill in the room left with him, yet leaving some of its traces as my fingers unconsciously trailing over my lips. Swollen. He never really held back did he? I questioned as a goofy grin popped on my face. Despite the fact that I was subjected to his anger at my dismissal, and despite my act of indifference, I was well aware he was as much as disheveled and looking thoroughly kissed as I was and I couldn't hold back a giggle. Maybe I should have warned him about the smudged lip gloss beforehand but no. And I was majorly surprised that I liked the idea. He was taken, I thought feeling my eyes flash in anger when that nasty voice at the back of my mind came to annoy me.
You aren't exactly in a relationship. Heather declared her claim on him, it said and my grin dropped as I clenched my fists. As much as I didn't like that fact, it was right. I let out a sigh dropping onto one of the seats. By the way, neither side won and just like me they were both brooding. But I mostly definitely agreed with their conclusion....whatever this was with Ryder, it was nice. We could keep at it but we had to set some major ground rules and that in no way will end well. As for Heather, she was becoming a certain pain in the ass, not that she's tried something yet but I was holding my breath. Especially since I had managed to make tryouts and I was officially a cheerleader. She could have had her way but she wasn't Captain and a teacher was present during tryouts and Alice and I had a good laugh watching her brood. And now because of the attention I'd received today I knew it wouldn't be long. Deciding that I seriously looked like I was back from a room I decided to skip the last class and head to cheer practice directly.
************
"You've been avoiding me."
"I had a good reason to," I said with a shrug.
"I know and I'm sorry. I just.."
"Don't do this Kyle. Nothing you can say can change my mind," I said and I could hear his breath hitch at my words as hurt contorted on his face.
"I..know. I know there is probably no chance now but..one chance. Let me prove that I really like you. Forget our parents and everything else I really did like you when I asked you out the first time despite the fact that....I really do like you. Please give me a chance to prove it," he said shaking his head grasping my hand in his and it was my turn to be at a loss for words.
Minutes after last period ended I started my way to the girls' locker room when I suddenly bumped into Kyle who was coming out from near the gym, probably coach's office behind their own locker room. And when he stopped me, I was at a loss. He seemed regretful and worse than I've ever seen him, not that I've seen him at his worst but I didn't need to be a genius to tell me that Ryder had retaliated. Maybe that was why when he took my hand, when he started his monologue or rather when he confessed his feelings, I didn't stop him. Not sure I had the heart to stop him in the first place.
"Kyle that is not something I can easily forgive," I said with a frown retrieving my hand and yet I couldn't entirely shift the blame on him. Kate should have warned me beforehand. Or rather Tess or Logan or Tony but they didn't. "I'm not going to make any promises. I'm not going to give you a guarantee but friends is all I can do now."
He was taken aback in shock but he recovered quickly as he pulled me into his embrace.
"Thank you. You won't regret it I promise." Problem was, I already was.
I thought as a few of his friends called him so they can practice. I almost forgot he was quarterback.
"I should go. I'll talk to you later?" He asked hopefully and a stiff nod that I would give to anyone came out of me and he tried to hide his disappointment as he turned on his way after kissing my forehead, which definitely was a surprise to me.
"Oh and by the way, I have a message for you," he said turning back and I frowned.
Just when I was thinking there was no more unnecessary drama.