- Wait! - Ryder says, holding my arm gently and stopping me when I try to get past him. I take a deep breath feeling your rough hands touching my skin. - Look, I'm sorry that my somewhat promiscuous behavior has affected you.
- A little? - I say laughing.
- All right! All right! I admit it! I'm a nymphomaniac! - he says shaking his head. - Satisfied?
- A little, but I don't know how that helps me.
Smiling, he signals to me to watch him, then he grabs a chair and climbs on it. I frown without understanding.
- Ryder, what are you doing? - I mean looking around.
Ignoring me, he whistles, drawing everyone's attention in the cafeteria.
- Listen up, because I'll only explain it once! - he screams in a deep, deep voice. His countenance is serious and frightening to those he faces. - What happened between me and Brooke on Friday was just an accident. Because of me, she hit her head against the closet door, where I was with another girl, which is not the case, but it wasn't her. Miss Evans and I have never had anything.
He takes a break while I hold my breath.
- If the assholes here don't remember, slander gives process and jail. - he threatens. - Woe to the one who decides to keep spreading those lies that roll down the hall.
Smiling at everyone, he makes a measurement.
- Thank you for everyone's attention! - he says, then he comes down from the chair.
They all go back to what they were doing and some even leave the mess hall. I stare at him, and then I punch him in the arm.
- Ow! - he grunts. - What are you doing? What are you doing?
- Have you gone crazy? Scramble. - Now you'll all have a reason to go on with your bullshit!
- What do you mean? I just saved your reputation!
- Save? You just sunk me, that's what!
Huffing, I turn around and keep walking down the hallway.
- Hey! What about your help? - he screams.
- It's still the same! - I say without looking back. - Besides, I don't like you.
- I don't like you either, but I saved your life anyway!
I stop, frowning and staring.
- I have no idea what you're talking about!
I bite my lower lip, causing it to face my mouth. Ryder makes a face and gets close to me.
- That day at the club? I saved your life, remember?
- Are you talking about the guy who was threatening to slap my face in the face? - I ask by folding my arms and bending my head making a face. - That doesn't count as saving anyone's life, but thank you.
I answer by turning. He holds my arm again, pulling back, only hard this time.
- Of course it counts! Luck is one of the best fighters in the club and doesn't like to be touched. - he says with serious expression. - He'd kill you if I hadn't intervened.
- Don't exaggerate! - I say making a face and I pull my arm. - What to stop holding my arm?
- Listen, a girl only shows up at that club alone if she's looking for fun. - he says, squeezing my arm tightly, preventing me from pulling it back. - Most people take no for a waste to her, but Luck doesn't like to be ignored.
- That's machismo, you know? - I mean fixing my glasses with the other hand.
- Whatever! - he smiles on his shoulders, but he won't let me go.
I take a deep breath.
- Listen, thank you very much for your help Friday and now, but the answer is still no.
Pushing on Ryder, I hurry out past the curious people on my way out of the cafeteria.
- You need me too! - he says with arrogance. I let out a laugh, turning around to face him, and Ryder keeps going. - No! No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! According to Mr. Keller, you're in debt for volunteer work. So you need my help, too.
Snorting, I approach him and smile with disdain.
- Your help would be the last thing I need in the world, but nice try! - I mean cold. - The answer is still no, Mr. Taylor!
Making a gesture of salute, I wave at him and turn around. I walk out of the cafeteria again, and before I cross the door, I hear Ryder scream in fury.
- Witch! - Ryder screams. - Ungrateful! You'll still change your mind, so I'll be the one to say no.
- I doubt it very much! - I answer sarcastically, without looking back.
Although I was really tired, I would stop by the rectory not only to ask for a discharge, but to find out what Ryder had said about my volunteering. A shiver rises through my spine and a bad feeling comes over my body when
