Ryder
"Why don't you play football anymore?"
I'll be honest, that was the last question I ever expecting to hear from Diana, well at least not for a couple of years. But she had asked still looking at me with her big brown eyes, maybe slightly dilated since she had been drinking and I served the barrier between her and any more of it that I had to bring her outside away from the eyes though I was sure we were the main attraction of this pool party even as we took up a secluded area on a platform serving as the deck to the mini spa. I didn't even have to hear it from Alice. There was on in the Stone mansion on a large scale, which is pretty stupid 'cause no one ventures there. On the other, an white L-shaped leather couch, a love seat and two other single seats had been placed into a square and a clay fire pit lay in the middle setting a orange hue on us. Currently we were tangled facing away from the party on the love seat as I detained a tipsy Diana so she wouldn't get any more drinks. This had to the first party I've gone to and not drunk. Leave alone that one party Ethan insisted on throwing in my house a few days ago and I ended up kicking them out to the backyard at the end of it, I'd barely touched a cup, well if you look over the shots I drank for her. Come to think of it, I rarely attended parties till she came along. It should be alarming how much she seemed to have turned my life upside down in just a few short weeks but I wasn't. She could tornado through my life and I'd still be smiling. A tornado with a heart. Yeah, that's what she was.
"Well?" She asked, not seeming in the slightest fazed by my reaction when I jolted and she sat up looking at me as I stared off my grip on her waist tightening slightly.
"I..why are you interested all of sudden?" I asked harshly anger dripping from every word but she doesn't flinch still looking at me.
I know I shouldn't be hostile but I am and I can't stop it. She must have heard the rumours from someone, though I'm pretty sure he or she has a death wish. They fear me and what I would do. Not that I've ordered for her to be kept in the dark or something but there was a reason parents give me stink-eyes. Why people didn't want me to get associated with their kids or relatives?
In all honesty, I'm just waiting for the Wallace's to snap. They don't like that I'm mostly around her. Yeah, I see the look they give me when we aren't looking. I also get the feeling that's why they suddenly want to play matchmaker with that fucking asshole. Everyone knows we are rivals. From the parents to the teachers and other schools all around. They thought we would fare well as rivals, not as teammates. And they have tried to buy me into their teams when I suddenly stopped playing. Rejection, wasn't also taken well but I could care less about what other people thought. Well, until her. Maybe I staked my claim a little too early but I'd be a fool to let the jerks target her on a bet. I was male and I knew all they wanted to do was stick it in her. Maybe I did too at first but after she opened her mouth I was enchanted. And it wasn't about fucking anymore. She'd probably bash me on the head if I told her that. Not to mention the fact that I actually did it in my dreams, or at least I almost. Hell, I was even getting cockblocked in my dreams. Tough luck.
"I don't know.." her soft voice removed from my thoughts, looking distracted as a frown on her face deepened as if she was trying to wrap her head around the thoughts swirling in her head and I was tempted to pull her close and overwhelm those thoughts with me. But of course I doubt she'd appreciate the gesture as that furrow in between her eyebrows deepened and I reached smoothing it out amused as her eyes fluttered closer and her breathing became harsher before she slapped my hand away.
"For some reason, coach thinks I can somehow convince you to join the team again," she said and I tensed feeling my own frown deepened. He wouldn't..? I questioned myself as she let out a snort, placing her head back on my shoulder. But he would. "Is that why he called you during those first days?"
She asked still looking up at me as her body curled up to my side, moulding into my own body. As if she was practically made for me and the hand on her waist rose digging my fingers into the loosely tied bun and aligning her lips with mine. Not expecting the sudden contact as I grazed my teeth on her bottom lip, something the cross of a squeal in surprise and a moan slipped out of her lips. At it, I was back to the notion that I wanted to tuck her away from all these perving eyes despite the fact they couldn't see what I'd done, unless they were pretty close and for that they actually had to get close which was pretty impossible courtesy of the influence I had in school, no matter how damned it was, and listen to all those small moans by myself. I couldn't blame them but it didn't mean I liked the perverse attention she had caught. I wish I could be mad at the fact that the clothes Kaylee had sent for us, as simple as they were, could be sexy as they snuggled to her like second skin but I couldn't. I wasn't one of those possessive guys who didn't allow their girls to wear clothes that they thought were too tight or.... my girl? How did she get upgraded to that that fast?
"Yeah," I let out quietly as she wrapped her arms around my waist and I refrained from smiling.
Of course I failed miserably. It was so easy to get used to her touch or easily get wrapped around her finger and honestly I didn't mind. I had to say coach Stratton had the right idea going to her. I'd probably do it if she wanted me to, I thought looking at her to see she still had that frown.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm wondering if I should have just punched him. It's obviously a sensitive topic for you and I feel bad getting tangled in it even though I told him I wasn't going to do it. I'm sorry," she said with a pout and I held my breath amused and all the anger I had at the cheap move just burnt out.
Right. She was even more expressively honest and truthful than usual when she's a drunk. And cute too. It was easy to see why Kaylee had already made up her mind on us eventually marrying, not that I had my mind set on that now. But she knew I loved a woman with a sexy brain and a sexy body too. After all I was pretty much a mass of muscle and teenage hormones. In this case, it was a well deserved plus. I've had my fair share of girls, so you could easily say she wasn't my type and yet she had captured my attention. I wondered if it was purposeful. I was ruined for other girls. Literally, I thought as my dry spell came to mind. Sigh, I seriously needed to get laid.
"Don't worry about it, babydoll," I said kissing her forehead and keeping her close to me and she beamed up at me raising her head before she winced at the sudden movement.
"Ow!! I think I'm gonna be sick," she said moaning into my chest and I laughed. "Whose idea was it to drink on a school night?"
"Partly yours, Alice's and the party lovers in the whole world."
"I feel like I inhaled a whole beer keg then got rammed by a truck a couple of times," she groaned and I smiled running a hand through her now loose hair as she shifted laying her head on my lap and her body stretched out on the sofa.
"You did insist on playing beer pong with Ethan after I told you not to. The trick is to get you drink enough to miss. But I think you are one of the people to give them a run for their money."
"Is that your way of trying to tell me I told you so?"
"Probably."
"You know I'm not even mad. Come on let's go walk this off," she said suddenly standing up and tugging on my arm.
"Wait, why do I have to walk with you? I'm not drunk."
"Because you should have stopped me duh?" She said placing her hands on her hips and I was well aware how the swell of her curves was much more potruded and I could feel myself getting hard in my pants as she grabbed for my hands again. "Now get up."
"No," I said teasingly before pulling my hands back and she ended losing her footing as she came down and the squeal she let out was muffled when her lips ended up on mine and I couldn't help but grin.
"Well that ended up better that I expected." Lie. It felt as if my dick would rip through my jeans.
"You are horny, aren't you?" She remarked looking at me skeptically and I choked on a breath.
"Uhh, babydoll. Where did you get on earth did you get that idea?" I asked sheepishly and she rolled her eyes as she pointed a finger at me.
"You are horny. I can feel..it poking me," she said a red hue coloring her cheeks and I bit my lip trying hard not to laugh at the slightest show of innocence. Sometimes I almost fell bad that I was the one ripping it down.
"It?"
"Yes it."
"What is it?"
"Is that a trick question?" She asks a bewildered expression on her face as I burst out laughing and shift our legs that I'm sitting in between them her bare knees firmly planted onto the couch.
"Not exactly," I said with a chuckle pulling her down and her arms shot out to my shoulders to steady herself as I placed a chaste kiss on her exposed stomach and she let out a small moan cupping my face and leaning her forehead against mine.
"Ryder this is fun and all and I don't really mind being famous but I don't think I want to be remembered as a lead character in a murder mystery trilogy," she said and I pulled back confused.
"What?"
"I can even see the title, A 1000 ways to kill Diana Peters: A Crave Crest
Production," she said and I groaned laying my head on the crook of her neck.
"Babydoll they can't touch you if you are with me," I said wrapping my arms firmly around her waist even though she wasn't trying to move.
"Still, I'm not sure I'm one for exhibitionism," she said and I gaped at her.
"Are you calling me an exhibitionist?" I asked shocked as I looked up at her.
"You could walk out here butt naked and you wouldn't give a damn about what anyone thinks."
"Yeah, I see your point."
"Now can we go?" She asked and I rolled my eyes. Not that she irritated me or anything but rather I knew I was weak against those puppy eyes, I thought letting her pull me out of the seat. "Oh, wait here."
"What now?"
"Powder room break," she said and I raised an eyebrow at her wording. She could be so ancient at times. "Don't give me that look."
"Why wasn't this done before you got me out of my couch?"
"One, the couch isn't yours. And who was it that had me bound on to the couch," she said raising an eyebrow at me and I bit my tongue. She had me there.
"You could have told me. Okay fine. Go, hurry up and do not talk to anyone you don't know. And don't drink anymore or even accept a drink from anyone you don't know." Damn Alice for making it an open party. I could just about spot 6 schools so far, ones that I could remember from all the football games, and all the rivalries that I managed to get myself into when I still played.
"Whatever you say dad," she said rolling her eyes at me and I narrowed my own on her.
"Do not call me that."
"Whatever you say, Daddy," she whispered in my ear and I froze feeling all the blood rush to my semi-erect member as she sashayed away winking at me and I groaned inwardly running a hand through my hair.
Fuck! This girl would be the death of me. If not of jealousy and such given the male attention she gets, then by blue balls. And that's even a more miserable way to go, I think and that's before I hear a louder fuck and I snapped my head in the direction.
"Look away," I seethe through gritted teeth narrowing my eyes at the group of boys, roughly a mixture of sophomores and freshmen and they scattered wordlessly and I turned once more to make sure she'd disappeared upstairs where I was well aware no one apart from a few close friends were allowed.
I should be glad she had Alice for a friend. One who tries hard to get her out of her shell and out of those clothes she hides under but maybe It's not such a good idea anymore. I knew she was hot, most guys did and now even more guys did. This was bad. Now people would go crazy with the idea of the girl under Ryder's protection. Maybe I'm just being dramatic or jealous. Nah, I'm being practical. I was beginning to question my life choices. She wouldn't be caught in the middle, right? Kaylee was right when she said I'd grown overly possessive of her after she tricked me into going to that 'ball' tonight that I'd originally declined to go to when my father had ordered me to. Now I'm beginning to see it, not to mention I'm even more glad I won't have to worry about leaving her here if she graduates early. Then we would leave together. But she wants to enjoy high school. Sigh..this is hard, I thought before becoming aware of a familiar figure walking towards me.
"When are you going to stop scaring freshmen?"
"Why are you talking to me?" I asked not even hiding my disdain for the male in front of me.
We weren't even friends from the beginning. Kyle didn't owe me anything nor did I but trust had been breached. Someone had gotten hurt. Someone I cared about. And now he was after her.
"You haven't changed. I'll be straight with you," he said his gaze darting briefly to the staircase where she'd just disappeared and I figured he didn't want her to find him here. "It's about Diana."
He said and I let out a snort watching for Diana, ignoring the stares that had somehow landed on us at his arrival.
"You're chasing after a lost cause. Spare yourself the embarrassment."
"Yeah well, sorry to dampen your ego but I like her. I'm not giving up on her," he said and I could feel my eyebrows furrowed as my mood visibly dampened and I cast an indifferent look at him.
"I don't know if you're trying to annoy me or are fool enough to not know when to quit. Though point for effort," I said and he scowled at me making me let out a snicker.
I had to give him a point though. He didn't back down like most people did when I was involved. He didn't know how much, neither did anyone, but for her, I'd fight. The will was so strong that it scared me at times. And my agenda had deflected, very far from changing. It wasn't about wanting to see how a skirt would look bunched on her waist. I wanted to see her wild mane of her hair spread on my pillow. I wanted to know if she was a screamer or a moaner, who knows maybe both. Would she dig her nails on my back in the throes of passion or would she spread her legs laying on her back waiting like a prize to be claimed. In this case, I had the hots for her was and is an understatement. But maybe it's the fact that every time I spot her in a room or she enters one, just like the first time I saw her, only one sentence rings over and over.
Fuck! I'm looking at the most beautiful girl in the world.
"Today was a cheap move, man. And don't even bother hiding it. I know it was you under the mask at the gala."
"When did I deny it?"
"Whatever. I just can't believe you do something as low as to steal my date. I was supposed to be her escort."
Of course I didn't, at least on purpose though I wasn't sorry. I was set up too. And by that I mean Kaylee 'accidentally' spilled one of her healthy shakes on the suit I had picked out when she said Diana had called looking for an escort and pulled out a it doesn't matter card. Of course the shake hadn't been there when I'd left to shower and I waved it off. But there was no need to explain to him now.
Thinking about it, I hadn't even verified from Diana if that was what she had wanted till I arrived at the gala when it hit me I hadn't talked to her after I left school. That and the fact that my more-than-happy excuse of a father had already planned a date for me just in case I decided to listen to him for once. Why he tries is still beyond me? Our relationship has been over for a long time. Crap! I really am pussy whipped, I concluded feeling my body tense at the realisation but the fucktard didn't seem to pick on it as he watched me almost smugly when I reached for the phones in my pocket. Turns out I was more eager to punch the smirk off his face than get mad when I saw it was a call from Jaime.
"I'm willing to make a truce. Well, a weird version of one. We are the same. And we are after the same thing. I want her and so do you. Why not let her choose?" He said and I subconsciously clenched my fists narrowing my eyes at him, angered by his words.
"Scram and take your pity party somewhere else. You and I are not the same. Not even close and don't you dare forget that."
"Kick your ego to the curb for one moment. We both like her. We both want her. And we wouldn't give up before we achieve our goal. Pretty much the same," he said nonchalant and I let out a scoff in disdain.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, and yet there just one thing you've forgotten."
"What's that?" He asked suddenly seemingly on guard.
"The fact that she's mine and I'm never going to dream about what I don't have," I said not bothering to glance at him as he bordered on throwing a fit and yet he didn't.
"You are an asshole," he said but I didn't bother answering him.
I'd said my piece. But the fucktard didn't seem to get the memo.
"Surely you must know she hates people who smoke," he said and I raised an eyebrow at him wondering if that's what he was so smug about. It was old news and the cigarette pack that was conveniently incriminating didn't belong to me.
Believe it or not, I was actually telling the truth. Zayn and Trevor had brought a couple of friends around and having the pack in my pocket was as a result of me snatching the pack afraid to reek of smoke when Diana came back from wherever Alice had dragged her. Again, pussy whipped.
"Don't believe me. Maybe you should ask her yourself," he said and I turned to see Diana making her way to us pretty fast and I stepped forward.