"You ARE the fucking bad guy!" I shout. "You're a horrible, horrible person!" I want to say more but I can't. I can only stare at him and wonder how on earth such a piece of shit could have been created?
I shove him away from the door and fumble with the lock. Behind me Michael puts his arm up, his palm holding the door shut as he puts his mouth to my ear.
"Don't forget, Taryn. You tell anyone, it'll be your reputation too. And right now, I don't think you want to give Jay Pat another story for their channel."
I jerk my elbow back, hard, into his ribs and he grunts. Yanking the door open I run, escaping down the hall and as far away from Michael as I can get.
◆◆◆
I leave school early and go home. I take off my cute, trendy outfit and wearing just my panties and bra I climb beneath my covers and cry. I must have fallen asleep because when I wake up it's late afternoon. When my cell buzzes, I cringe, afraid it might be Michael. Afraid it won't be Michael.
It's Ryan, asking if I'm okay. He says he's home from school now and do I want him to come over?
I text him one word.
"Yes."
◆◆◆
Ryan comes right over and I text him to come up to my room. Concern is written all over his face when he walks in.
"Gosh, are you alright? Do you want me to call your mom?" He comes over to my bed and sits beside me.
I smile at him and pull back my covers. "Lay with me."
"Huh?" Ryan is staring down at me in my bra and panties.
"Just...in your clothes, but take off your shoes." I tell him. "Please, I need to cuddle."
He thinks about it for a moment then nods. "Okay." He slips off his Adidas and crawls into bed beside me, taking me into his arms.
I'm not thinking about sex, I'm just looking for comfort. Luckily Ryan doesn't seem to be thinking about sex either. He just holds me and lets me cry and soothes me gently.
"What happened, Taryn? Is it about that website the guys did?"
"No, it's just... it's nothing. I just need a break."
Ryan rubs my bare back and I again marvel at his kindness. He's been my heart's desire for years, so why do I go after guys like Michael? Why can't I just be happy with a guy like Ryan? Nice and sweet and safe?
"Well, we all need a break now and again. You just relax, Taryn. I'm here for you."
I lift my head from his chest and kiss the long line of his angular jaw. "Thank you."
I can feel him smile against my hair. "Don't mention it."
Yes, dear, safe Ryan. This is who I need to be with. No more dangerous guys and situations.
"Ryan?" I whisper.
"Hmm?" He's stroking my arm now and I'm getting goose bumps.
"Do you want to, like, go together? You know, see each other?"
I feel him tense slightly but then he grips me tighter. "Yeah, sure. That'd be cool."
I smile against his sweatshirt, inhaling his scent, a mingled mix of AXE body spray and that cool guy smell, whatever it is.
I'll be okay now. I'm going to be seeing Ryan. No one can hurt me now.
My eyes close and I drift off to sleep nestled in my new boyfriends' arms.
Chapter Fifteen
I slam my racket against the yellow tennis ball with an unladylike grunt. Tennis has been my salvation now that I'm not a cheerleader anymore. At practice today we're working on our return serves and I'm picturing Michael's smug face on each ball that comes my way.
"Whoa, Bishop, take it easy!" My coach, Miss Lansing scowls at me from edge of the court. "You'll throw your shoulder out and be no good for finals."
I grudgingly slow down but I'm still pissed. It makes me nuts that Michael is still walking around school and flirting with every girl he sees. He pays me no attention and I pay him no attention. Well maybe that's not exactly true. Maybe I shoot him my nastiness look when we pass in the hallway. And maybe I make it a point to kiss Ryan if I know he's around. And I might have sent him a text or two where I told him he could go fuck himself. But beyond that, I'm done with the bastard.
Prom is coming up anyway and after tennis practice Ryan and I go shopping for his tux. He's as goofy as ever as I watch him try on about a hundred suits. He keeps posing like a dork and doing funny dances. It's funny at first but after a while I'm getting a little irritated.
"Oh my God, will you just pick one already!"
"Hey, I gotta look good right?" He poses again and then pulls a funny face, like a monkey.
A bell rings by the door and Manny walks in. He nods at us and I leave Ryan in his monkey suit and go over to Manny.
"Here for your tux?"
A look of amusement passes over his handsome face. "Why else would I be here? I don't normally wear this crap."
I smile and gesture towards Ryan, who's now jumping around and pretending he's James Bond. "Yeah. Ryan is getting his too. It's taking a while."
Manny laughs and shakes his head. "Um, hey." He pulls me over to the side of the store. "I wanted to let you know, the office knows."
I stare at him blankly. "Knows what?"
"About that stupid crap on the internet, that web site. I turned those assholes in. So, they're getting busted by the principal and maybe even the police. I just wanted to let you know it'll be taken down so you won't have to worry about it anymore. Hopefully."
"Wow." I look at him, grateful. "You didn't have to do that. But, thanks."
He shrugs. "Well I was kind of waiting to see if you would handle it
