Corey's P.O.V
Ryder had ended up staying at my house for dinner. My mom just kept insisting and insisting and eventually Ryder's will power was taken away. Not that I minded her being there; it was my family that I wasn't so happy about. The twins had joined up with my family and wouldn't stop asking Ryder questions.
'Why don't you want to date him?'
'Isn't he attractive enough for you?'
'Can I ship you two?'
'Which sounds better, Cyder or Rorey?'
'You're too pretty to even be friends with him.'
'If you have kids will you name them after us?'
As if anyone other than my parents would hate their children enough to name them Amber and Ruby. But she answered every question directly and smiled about it. I had been almost certain that Ryder didn't like children. Especially annoying fifteen year old brats like Ruby and Amber. I looked over to where she was laying on my couch, her shoulder propped up on the armrest and her legs pulled up to keep herself warm as she laid on her side. Damn she was beautiful.
Finally, I broke the silence. "I thought you didn't like kids." Smooth, Corey.
Ryder thought for a moment. "I don't hate them," she said finally. "Just because I don't like kids doesn't mean that I can't be nice to them. I remember how important I thought older peoples' opinions were when I was younger and how much it impacted me. So, yeah." She shrugged.
I smirked. "If you're nice to things you don't like, what does that say about me?"
She grinned. "I'm mean to you because I do like you. Therefore, I'm allowed to be as mean as I like."
I shook my head, chuckling, and looked at the TV. The news were on, as far as I could tell, and they were talking about politics. "So," I said eventually. "Prom's coming up. You gonna go? Have you been asked yet?"
"Prom is in May. It's not even April yet."
"So? Everyone's talking about it already. You didn't answer me."
"No one would ask if I paid them to do it," she replied with a snort. "Haven't you noticed that everyone at that school is kind of afraid of me?"
"Aiden isn't."
She started laughing, hard, as I suggested Kelsey's brother. He was a senior, and relatively good looking, but you couldn't have guessed it from how hard Ryder was laughing at the idea of him. Satisfaction swept through me and I couldn't help but smile as she sat there laughing.
Suddenly, she straightened up and stopped laughing. "Was that thunder?"
"Huh? No, I don't think so."
Ryder shot to the window. "Corey. It's going to rain. I want to go home."
"What? Why?"
"Just take me home. Please."
"What's wrong with rain?"
Ryder looked at me angrily. "I'll drive myself," she threatened.
I stood up, holding my hands up to show I meant no harm. "Easy, easy," I said to soothe her, "just tell me why you're so freaked out all of a sudden.
"No. Drive me home."
I sighed. She had been so great all night, and now she was back to...this. When she let her guard down, Ryder was funny, and kind, and smart. Almost philosophical or poetic in some of the things she said. But then something random would set her off again, and she would shut all of that down. It seemed to be some sort of self-defense, almost. "Fine, get in my car." I tossed her the keys. "I'll be there in just a minute, I want to tell my mom where I'm going real quick."
"Alright."
She left not soon after speaking and I ran up the stairs half way. "Mom!" I called. "I'm driving her home, be back soon!"
"You sure you're not going to spend the night with her and her parents again?" she called back.
Oh. Right. I hadn't told her about Ryder's...situation. I should probably fix that. "Maybe. I'll text you if I end up staying there tonight, alright?"
"Sure sweetie. Have fun with your not girlfriend," she called back, a hint of sarcasm. I snorted. She was great and all, but she was just as sarcastic as I was sometimes. I was halfway down the stairs when she called to me again. "She's a keeper, Corey. I just hope you pick up on that before someone else does."
I stopped. She wasn't wrong. If I didn't pick her, someone else would.
I'd made up my mind.
Author's Note:
Sorry this one was so short, the next one will be a lot longer.
Thanks for reading ^-^ <3