Kim sighs. "Ugh, whatever. Later." She finally leaves and I hurry over to Ryan.
"Hi." Without my phone to hide behind I feel a little shy. "I'm happy to see you."
He gives me his cute crooked smile. "Well, here I am!"
I laugh and tilt my head and flutter my lashes, in full on flirt mode. "You wanna hang out a bit before the bell rings?"
"Sure." He offers me a piece of gum and we start walking, in the opposite direction of where I know Kim will be.
"Hey, I like the hoodie!" He gives me a sideways grin. He's wearing his own Adidas hoodie, so we're twins.
"Thanks, I like yours too!" Our fingers brush against one another as we walk. Ohhhh, he makes me all tingly inside.
"Naked in a towel this morning, huh?"
I blush at his teasing. "Yeah. I had a shower...so..."
Ryan laughs and the bell rings, ruining the moment.
"Hey do you wanna...come over tonight, play some X-box?"
I stare at him. Is this...a date???
"Yeah, I'd love that. I mean, you know, yeah, that would be fun!" I sound like a dork.
He grins, showing his sweet little dimples. "Cool. Okay, like after dinner. Text me first so I know you're coming."
I clutch my textbook to my chest and watch him head to his first class.
◆◆◆
I am now totally and completely in love with Ryan! In the two days since he and Kim broke up, we've spent most of our free time texting and at his house playing X-box and watching Netflix. It seems really fast, but when you take into account the fact that I've been crushing on the boy since Middle School, it's really not fast at all.
Okay, so maybe Ryan hasn't kissed me or held my hand, or done anything to act like he likes me in that way. But I'm sure it's coming. The point is that we are having fun with each other. And he's so adorably sweet! I love his cute little innocent boy act, he really does get excited playing games and watching his cartoons. I could just stare at him all day long!
So now all I have to do...is figure out a way to dump Patrick, get Ryan to fall in love with me, and avoid Kim for the rest of my life.
Which is really hard to do when she keeps texting twelve times a day.
"Party, Jason's, Saturday at 7. Be there. That's an order."
I stare at my phone while sitting next to Ryan in his family room. We're sharing a bowl of popcorn and watching some Army movie or war movie or something on Netflix.
Ryan glances at me when I sigh. "Problem?"
I bite the inside of my mouth. "It's...a party. Friday."
"Cool. Where's it at this time?" Ryan throws some popcorn into his mouth.
"Jason's." I wince as Ryan scowls.
He crosses his arms over his chest and glares at the tv. "Well, I guess I won't be going to that!"
"I don't want to go, but you know Kim."
He snorts. "Yeah, I know Kim. Taryn, why do you do everything she tells you to do? You're like her bitch or something. It's disturbing."
Ouch! But it's true. I know it. I look down at my lap. "I don't know," I whisper.
"Well it's weird." Ryan gets up and snaps off the TV. "You should probably go now."
Damn Kim and her text! Now he's mad and doesn't want me around.
My crush is kicking me out.
I say goodbye and tell I'm text him later but he says nothing and I slink back home.
◆◆◆
I'd rather get my wisdom teeth cut out again than go to this party. But Kim comes over and picks out my outfit - a white and peach tie-die tank mini dress, brown belt, and jean jacket – and she drives us to Jason's house.
Jason’s house is on the other side of town next to the golf course. When we get there Patrick is waiting for me. Kim goes off to find Jason and Patrick takes my hand and leads me downstairs to the massive rec room where the music is blaring and the alcohol flows.
"You wanna tell me why you're ignoring me?" Patrick glares down at me sullenly. "You're not answering my texts, you're like avoiding me in school. What the fuck, Taryn?"
I have to end this. And soon. I just don't know how to do it.
"I've just been busy," I tell him. "I mean, I've got schoolwork, and the paper and cheer-leading..."
Patrick narrows his eyes at me. "Is there someone else? Are you cheating on me?"
People are looking our way, sensing an argument. I don't want anyone getting their stupid camera's out so I pull Patrick to a corner and try to calm him down.
"No, don't be silly." I lay my hand on his chest and gaze up at him. "You know you're the only guy for me, Pat." I want to barf on my words. I hate what I'm doing. What kind of a person would do this, stringing him along this way? An evil person, that's who.
He smiles down at me, relieved. "God, Taryn. I was going crazy, thinking you might be with someone else." He grabs me and holds me tightly, his face buried in my hair. "Please, tonight, yeah?"
Ugh, not this again. I pull back slightly and he kisses me hard on the lips before I can answer.
"It's about time you two started smashing lips again!" Jason walks up, Kim on his arm.
Kim smiles with satisfaction. "So cute together. Pat, wait till you see Taryn's prom dress. It's almost as pretty as mine."
I swallow my annoyance and Patrick and Jason leave to film some more stupid shit for their YouTube channel.
"God, you don't even have any beer yet, Taryn!" Kim pulls me over to the bar and grabs us both a couple cups from the Keg. "Get your party on, girl! You're acting so quiet and demure, it's disturbing!" Kim drinks nearly half her beer
