Avoiding Ryder Thain

Ryder Thain.  If I was given a dollar every time I came across that name, I’d be rich.  But the funny side of the story is that I’ve never even seen the guy. I have no idea what he looks like, how tall he is and what he smells like. Is he an athlete? A famous person’s son? Is he even real? He’s basically a ghost to me yet something tells me it’s more than that. Why else would these people keep mentioning him anyway? Evergreen High’s built for the prestige and low class men. Their aim is to mix diversities and sculpt them to become one.  They’re not doing a decent job though. Here, everyone would rather hang out with people their own status than be judged for something they have or don’t have.  I’m somewhere in between you’d call financially stable but not enough to have my own car. Which in my case, its perfectly fine.  I cross the hallway, watching familiar places pass by. It’s my third day being a student at this school after transferring and I’m already beat.  “Tris! You’ll never believe what happened.”  And did I mention that the only thing keeping me sane is my cousin, Fae? Her parents moved here four years ago and if it wasn’t for the fact that she went to school here too, I’d be all alone and bored out of my wits.  She’s like the colorful sunshine to my dull, grey world.  “Let me guess, Reign asked you out?”  Her lips purse forward a slight bit. Today she’s decided to throw in a beige blazer her uniform. “No. But that would have been better. Anyway, remember Mr Harvey? The teacher I told you about?” I pause to recall. “Your chemistry teacher?” “Bingo. Someone video taped him harassing a student from the junior section.” She rolls her eyes. “The nerve of that man.” “That’s awful.”  “ More than awful. But the good news is that he’s been fired.”  A happy ending for her side then I guess? Since day one, Fae’s been babbling about how much he hates her chemistry teacher.  I won’t be surprised If she suddenly tells me that she’s the one who took that video.  I slam my locker shut and fix the weight of my backpack. Fae checks her face from her compact mirror and smack her pink lips together. “What’s next in your schedule?” “Biology.” “Oohh. Good luck. I have to get to chem class. I heard the new teacher’s ten times hotter and cooler than the last one. See ya!” Giving me a gummy smile, Fae then storms off the direction of her class as I do the same.  The day ends with the teacher giving us homework. After a long day at school, I feel like stopping by a*****e for some milkshake.  Fae’s already standing by the gate outside of school, waiting for me. Since she too occupied with her phone, she doesn’t notice a certain someone approaching her. And its not until he taps her shoulder that she finally looks up.  Even from a distance, I capture the redness from her neck gliding up to her face. Reign’s asking her something - judging by the facial expression she has on. She eventually nods her head and he leaves with a slight smile after handing her a piece of paper.  She watches him walk away, the piece of paper stuck between her fingers.  “Someone’s in love.” I playfully tsk as I approach her. All she does is sigh dreamily, extending the piece of paper my way without taking her eyes off the direction Reign disappeared off to.  My scan the perfect hand writing only to lift an inquisitive eyebrow.  This doesn’t look right.  ‘Hey there. : ) I’m Reign by the way. I guess I was to shy to approach you myself but maybe text me sometimes? Or whenever you’re free. I’d love to get to personally know you, Tris. 07xxxxxxxx’ “So? What does it say?”  I look up to find Fae staring with her expecting puppy eyes. I hesitate a little, tilting my head in a quick jerk.  What should I say?  “Well, um.”  She snatches the paper from me and examines the words before giving it back with a neutral, unbothered smile etched across her cheeks. “Congrats. Didn’t think you were his type to be honest though.”  I blink my eyes. “You’re not mad?” Fae looks at me like I asked a ridiculous question. “Why would I be mad?” “Because like you him?” Silence.  And then it isn’t. She bursts into a bit of laughter, going as far to clutching her stomach and between laughs she rasps. “Me? Where’d you even get the idea?”  I raise an eyebrow, shoving the piece of paper inside my pocket. “You talk about him a lot.” Or did I assume wrong?  “Oh that.” She glides her finger below her eyes to wipe out the happy tears. “I guess it’s my fault for giving out wrong signals. Let me educate you in something here, Tris. There’s a fine line between admiration and well you know, like. Love or whatever. Reign’s a model signed under a huge company. I’m into fashion. I admire him for his fashion sense and the fact that he’s famous.”  I nod my head in understanding. So she never liked him.  Fae slings her arm around my shoulder an navigates me out of the school perimeters. Childishly leaning her head against mine, she chuckles one last time before saying.  “And besides. I’ve already got someone else in mind.” I give her a side glance. “Really? Who?” “Who else silly? “ She smirks. “Ryder Thain.”