Corey's P.O.V
Surprisingly enough, I was excited for school to start. Well. Not excited, exactly, more like...I kind of wanted it to. Okay maybe that meant excited. But I would ever admit to that out loud. Especially to another person.
I checked myself in the mirror again, sweeping my hair over and pulling my hood up over it. The white really was spreading. I hated it. But Ryder liked it. And I believed that she really did like it.
"I'm leaving," I called up the stairs to my parents.
"Love you, Corey!" my mom called back.
I rolled my eyes, smiling a bit, and got in my car. Ryder had given me her number before she left for her camping trip, but she never texted me back. She was meant to be back today, though, since school started tomorrow. While I was typing, I unlocked my car.
you back from your gay/lesbian retreat yet?
I hit send, smirking. I had referred to it as a lesbian retreat when Kelsey mentioned it and she freaked out, so naturally I kept it going, but since Devon was going as well, I corrected myself to 'gay/lesbian retreat'. I twisted the key in my ignition and my phone buzzed a moment later.
yeah. we just dropped rider off. she should be sleeping though, don't bug her.
*rider
**rider
***RIDER
****R Y D E R
I shook my head, chuckling to myself. My phone did the same thing. Seeing as how she needed rest, I pulled my key out and headed back inside. There was no point in going over there when it would just cause her to lose sleep. It was late, anyway; already around nine at night. I should've been heading to bed anyway, I just wanted to check on her first.
The thought boggled me.
Me, Corey, wanting to check on a girl to see if she had come home yet, just so I could hear about her trip. What the hell?
I chuckled.
She was a nightmare, but she was also becoming my dream.
* * * * *
Ryder didn't come to class on Monday. I texted her.
where are you? -sent at 12:35 pm
Ryder seriously where are you -sent at 1:50 pm
this isn't funny, Kelsey doesn't know why you weren't here today. -sent at 6:02 pm
* * * * *
Ryder didn't come to class on Tuesday. I texted her again.
if you don't reply im going to assume your dead -sent at 12:30 pm
ryder where are you this is annoying -sent at 5:48 pm
I swear im going to kill you next time I see you, Kelsey said you wouldn't let her in her house and I cant come over tonight. what is going on. -sent at 10:59 pm
look if you need space just say it but stop ignoring me, seriously. -sent at 11:39 pm
you're seriously making me angry by not replying. are you okay? -sent at 11:50 pm
* * * * *
Ryder didn't come to class on Wednesday. I texted her yet again.
you're freaking me out, ryder. reply. -sent at 12:03 pm
come on, did I say something? -sent at 1:30 pm
you need to tell me if I did something or I cant fix it. stop being difficult or I swear im going to come to your house tomorrow. -sent at 2:19 pm
stop ignoring me, its scaring me. -sent at 4:17 pm
that's it, im coming over tomorrow if I don't see you in class. -sent at 8:20 pm
* * * * *
She didn't come to class on Thursday. I didn't text her this time.
* * * * *
She didn't come to class on Friday. I was angry now.
god damnit ryder answer me I haven't seen you in almost three weeks. fuck it im coming over right now, youd better be home or im calling the police and reporting you missing. -sent at 8:10 pm
I hit the send button angrily, pushing myself off of my bed. I was tired of waiting for her to contact me. Now it was time for me to go get her.
* * * * *
When I drove up to her house, her car was there. Good. I told her to be there. I knocked on the door loudly, but I was fully aware of where her key was if she didn't answer.
The handle turned and she opened the door.
I froze.
Her normally shiny golden blonde hair looked dull and unwashed, and her eyes were swollen and red. Her nose was red as if it was raw, and there was makeup trailing down her cheeks. Her golden eyes that so perfectly matched her hair were dull and sad, almost lifeless. "What do you want, Corey?" she asked quietly.
I stared at her. "Ryder. What's wrong? What happened?"
"I...um..." she wiped her nose and flinched. It must have been very raw. "Bear. He, um..." her voice cracked a little bit. "He was really sick when I came home. I tried to help him, but when I took him to the vet on Tuesday, she told me that I had to put him down. So...I...I did." Her arm flashed across her face, wiping tears away. "I know it's stupid to get this upset, but--"
I pulled her against my chest tightly. "It's not stupid Ryder. I'm sorry about Bear."
She shook a little bit and I pulled away, keeping my hands on her shoulders. "I was worried about you. You weren't answering your phone."
"I don't know where it is," she mumbled.
"Okay. That's okay, that's perfectly acceptable." What the hell was I doing? I was never this accepting of anything. She gave me anxiety for a week and I just rolled over and let her get away with it. "You are going to go take a shower," I directed. "Then you are going to wash your face, come down here, and talk to me until you feel better. Understood?"
She nodded numbly and I hugged her again, more gently this time. "I was worried about you," I repeated.
"Thanks, Corey," she said after a moment. "I'll go shower."
"I'll wait down here for you."
It was over an hour before she came downstairs again. While I did note that it was a long shower, I could understand why she would have taken that long. A lot of people did their best thinking and crying in the shower. It was completely understandable that she took that long.
Would you listen to yourself? You sound like a lovesick loser.
Shut up.
No, are you seriously going to let her do this to you?
...Yes.
Ryder cleared her throat, snapping me out my argument with...well, myself I guess.
I looked at her and smiled. Her long hair was falling in soaked waves, dripping on to her sweatshirt a little, and from what I could tell, she was wearing shorts under the sweatshirt that looked way too big on her. After a moment, I recognized the sweatshirt. "Is that mine?" I asked suddenly.
"Yes. It's mine now."
I laughed. "You think so, huh?"
"Yep. Just try to take it from me, I dare you."
I smirked. "I would love to." Slowly, I intentionally let my eyes go down her body, then back up to her now bright pink face.
"Stupid boy," she muttered, coming and sitting on the couch next to me. "I feel better after taking a shower," she said quietly.
I nodded. "Told you I know everything."
A smirk hinted at her face and I reached over, touching her cheek lightly. "I really am sorry about Bear, Ryder. He was a good dog." Her skin felt warm beneath my touch, but she was shivering. "You're freezing," I commented. "Come here."
Ryder slowly moved herself towards me, and I pulled her against me, laying us down a little bit. She was half on top of me, half on the couch, but she looked warm. My arm was around her shoulders and my hand reached her waist. I rubbed her arm lightly to generate heat, and I felt her settle her head against my chest eventually, clearly not having the energy to protest about her current placement. I held her there fore a while, putting my head on hers and continuing to stroke her arm gently. I really enjoyed having her like this with me. After a while, my arm began going numb a bit so I started to shift, but I realized she was asleep.
She probably hadn't slept very well in the past week. I for sure hadn't. So, leaving my arm where it was, I closed my eyes as well. She smelled a little bit like cinnamon and rain, and I realized that what I had been smelling the first time I entered the house was her. My arm lost a little more feeling.
The things I do for love, I swear.
Did I just... my final thought faded as I fell asleep, listening to the heartbeat of the girl with me and breathing in her warm scent.