Where we left off

Chapter 2

Diana and I leaning against each other most of the game, making comments and joking the whole time about the game the whole time. I her defense, basketball is the only game she can do that in; when we’re at football games, we are usually too busy being anxious and cheery when Eddie and Jeremiah are playing.

“How are things between you and Eddie going?” She asked.

I shrugged “They’re good I guess” I told her “I don’t know how to answer this question”

“You two are still just friends” she asked.

I shook my head “Best friends. Four years now actually”

“Did you ask you for prom yet?” She asked “Jer asked me last week”

I looked at her narrowing my eyes in entertainment “Is that not automatic when you’re dating?” I asked “And Senior year doesn’t officially start until Monday. Plus, prom is not until the end of the second term”

“So?” She asked.

I shrugged.

She then dropped her hand to mine and gave it a squeeze “How are you doing though?” She asked “Is the gym helping with this whole thing?”

I nodded “Yeah” I told her as I looked down at Eddie who was talking to the basketball team by then bench “It’s a lot to handle sometime, but Eddie is always there when I need him to be”

“Sounds like a boyfriend to me” she said.

I shook my head “Sounds like a best friend that really cares about me” I told him.

Jeremiah jogged up the bleachers before bending down between us to whisper “Do you see number 14?” He asked.

Both Diana and I leaning the other direction to see the guy he was referring too from the opposite team. He had our back to us while he was talking to another team member of his team on the court. He was tall and lean, straight long chestnut colored hair tied into a bun.

We then both lean back into the middle for Jeremiah to continue talking.

“He’s the captain of his team” He pointed out “Guess where he transferring too on Monday”

“Are you serious?” Diana said.

He nodded “He has a big reputation around his school” he said “Top of his class and plays basketball. He has a way with girls and rumors say that girls literally throw themselves at him because he so good looking”

“Well is he?” Diana asked.

He grabs his girlfriend’s chin and move her face so she’s only looking at him now “You keep your eyes on me, and me only. Understand?”

She smiled “Okay, Sir” she smiled.

“You think he’ll play for our team?” I asked as I moved to see the guy again. Still just his back.

He shrugged “Not sure” he said “He will most probably so. There’s no way a guy like him would just stop playing just because he moved. A guy like him breathes basketball”

“Why is he not turning?” Diana said “I want to see what’s the hype”

Before I could even process what was happening, she cupping her hands around her mouth and called him out loudly “Hey number 14” She called “Turn around for us please”

My hands immediately flew up to my face to hide myself from the scene that she just caused. I felt my ears burn from embarrassment at how everyone’s attention turned to us.

“Oh, he is good looking” Diana said “You’re missing this beautiful scene”

She then giggled “He’s still looking”

I moved my hands away from my face to look at where she was looking. It felt like the whole world crashed around me and the floor slipped from under me when my eyes met his.

As soon as he took the first step toward us, I picked up my bag and ran out of the gym with Diana and Jeremiah calling me out. When I heard the foot steps behind me, I took off running out of school without a hesitation. I need to get away from everyone and everything.

I ran to what felt like hours before I stopped in front of the house with shaky hands and teary eyes. My hands kept shaking as I attempted to open the door. When the key fell from my hands, my mum opened the door worry all over her face.

She didn’t ask me questions, she just opened her arms and welcomed me with a comforting hug as I let out the pain and sadness that seeing Ryder again triggered. It was as if it was happening all over again when I saw him; all the hurt, the pain, the confusion and the sleepless nights hit me like a truck all again when I saw. Seeing him alone was enough to break all those wall I had around me and brought up all the bad memories up to the surface.

I didn’t have to tell my mum what happened, she knew I didn’t want to talk about it. When Eddie called her to tell her that I ran off, she asked but didn’t get an answer from him since he himself was confused on what happened. Everyone was.

When he stopped by, I was already tucked into bed by my mum who stayed next to me to make sure I was okay. Him and my mum talked for a bit before he grabbed a pair of cloths from his bag and went to the bathroom.

“Do you want to watch something” he asked as he walked back into the bathroom in a pair of shorts and a tank top “We can watch The Choice again”

I shook my head.

“Do you want to read something together” he asked. He dug his hand into his bag and help out a book “I just picked this out yesterday for us to read together. Already added it to your library”

“You don’t have to stay” I told him as I sniffed “I’ll be fine”

He smiled before tossing the book on the table behind him, he moved to the bed and instructed me to move. I scooted backward before he crawled under the duvet next to me.

“I don’t have too” he said before facing me “I want to though”

I nodded as I moved closer to him and hid my face into his tank top. He chuckled and wrapped his arm around me before placing a kiss on the top of my head.

“Do you want to talk to me about it?” He asked.

I shook my head.

“Did Jeremiah or Diana say something to you?” He asked “Diana said that you two were talking about prom and things before you took off. Is this what’s it about?”

“That’s really stupid” I told him “Why would I cry over prom?”

“Because everyone already got their date and no one asked you out yet?” He said feeling bad.

I looked up to him confused “Did you ask anyone yet?” I asked him.

He looked at me like I’m stupid “Why the hell would I do that? I thought you were my date?”

I gave him a small smiled “I never thought otherwise”

After a minute of silence, I rested my forehead against his chest again “You know you don’t have to drop everything in your life to be here with me. I’m not 14 anymore”

He playing with my hair “I know, it’s just I haven’t seen you cry like this since the summer of 2015 when we met” he said “I haven’t seen you show such emotions since you know who left”

“I’m fine” I reassured him “I promise I’m fine”

“He hurt you that bad, huh?” Diana said as she dropped her tray next to me before her Jeremiah took a seat on the table. Soon everyone else followed them.

“Can we please not talk about him?” Jeremiah said “All I heard today was Ryder this and Ryder that. While we were standing in line, I swear I heart some girls giggling about how he already hooked up in the closet with someone in the janitor’s room”

I dropped my spoon on the tray feeling uneasy at the words that just left his mouth “You just made me lose my appetite and in need or fresh air. I will see you guys at history”

I have Eddie a small pet on the shoulder telling him that I will be fine on my own before picking up my backpack and leaving.