Chapter 55 - Just A Coffee - Part 2

"I'd like to say that I have a different experience with the people in this pack, but I know exactly what you mean," Ryan sighed. It wasn't the playful atmosphere anymore, and Evan sensed that Ryan had to experience first-hand how antediluvian their pack could be.

As much as he hated that something bad had happened to Ryan, though he didn't know what yet, Evan was selfishly glad that someone agreed with him. He never spoke to anyone about his decision to leave this place once, as he quickly learned that the wolves in this pack idealized life here, and his opinion would be misunderstood, to say the least. But it was different with Ryan, and he couldn't help but be happy about it.

"What happened?" he asked after controlling his expression so that the raven-haired boy wouldn't misinterpret it.

"It'll stay between us, okay?" Ryan leaned across the table to him, and although he didn't whisper, his grimace told him that what he wanted to say to Evan wasn't good. He immediately nodded in response, and since Ryan didn't return to his original position, he too leaned closer to him. He was showing him his support, although Ryan already knew about it since his fingers were still briefly touching his palm.

Ryan sighed again, his eyes reflecting an undisguised concern that Evan couldn't quite place. He couldn't imagine that anyone could be rude to him since he had long since convinced himself that Ryan was too good for this world.

"I don't like how some of the wolves treat Michael. Especially his peers. Like he has some kind of contagious virus that could make their mates disappear or something." He shook his head and his expression changed to one of disbelief and Evan's mirrored it. He never paid attention to Michael when he didn't have to, but he still thought that Michael had many friends among his peers and only teased him when he was very bored. He couldn't believe how far from the truth he was.

"I never noticed," he admitted quietly, suddenly feeling guilty. "They're idiots. I'm surprised Michael didn't say anything." Evan knew first-hand how Michael was able to say exactly what he thought without any filter.

"He pretends he doesn't mind or doesn't see it, but I can see it bothers him. He doesn't have a friend here to be close to. At least not enough to introduce me to him. So, I was surprised when he introduced me to you," he explained. Evan was also surprised. Not because Michael didn't have a close friend, since that position automatically belonged to Ryan, but because he was the first person Michael introduced as a friend. Sort of.

"Well, I can assure you that even if you do happen to leave," Evan didn't like the idea the moment he said it, "Michael will still have friends here. Angie and I will take care of it." And he meant it. If someone had once told him that one day he would consider Michael a friend, he would have laughed at him, but now he considered him a part of his life.

The grimace on Ryan's face finally disappeared and was replaced by a sincere smile. His carelessness returned, and he leaned back comfortably, and Evan automatically did the same.

"I'm glad to hear that. I promised my parents I'd come home for the holidays, and I knew Michael wanted to stay here..." he didn't finish the sentence, but he didn't have to. Evan understood immediately, even though he was focusing on the fact that Ryan was leaving.

"For how long?" he asked in distress. He didn't like the idea of not seeing Ryan every day. In addition, the aforementioned holidays were inexorably approaching, and in less than 2 weeks, Evan was supposed to have the long-awaited break from school. But now it didn't sound so amazing anymore.

"I should be back on New Year's Day," he revealed, and Evan immediately began counting in his head. Their Christmas break was starting on December 24th, and he assumed Ryan's was too, which would mean he wouldn't be seeing him for a whole week. He already didn't like this idea and didn't even try to hide it.

"I will miss you." As he promised, he was honest and did not hide anything from him. However, Ryan was surprised by his confession, but his shock did not last long and was replaced by a wide smile accompanied by a small blush.

"I'll miss you too," he admitted in a low but firm tone. Even though Evan might have expected his answer, his cheeks turned red, and he involuntarily ran his tongue over his lips. Although he saw Ryan's eyes follow this small movement, he decided not to comment on it, or he would probably collapse in embarrassment.

"Thankfully we can finally text," Ryan decided to turn the situation playful again, subtly reminding him how long it took him to confirm his friend request.

"I guess you're prettier in real life than in your profile picture," Evan immediately adjusted, shrugging his shoulders as if he meant his words.

"Oh, really? Tell me how very handsome I am in real life?" The black-haired boy rested his chin on his hand and stared at Evan, burning him in place with his eyes. Evan felt naked under his gaze, but he didn't flinch and instead decided to return it.

"I'm not going to tell you something that I'm sure everyone tells you," he protested weakly. He was sure that at this moment his cheeks were already burning bright red, and there was nothing he could do to extinguish this flame.

"You'd be surprised," Ryan countered, and Evan thought that anyone who thought Ryan wasn't absolutely gorgeous had to be blind. If he wasn't still in love with Kieran and a warning alarm in his head that was probably his conscience that still didn't understand that it wasn't cheating, wasn't going off, he probably would have reached across this table and kissed him without caring that they were in public. It was a dangerous thought, but unlike the others that had been in Evan's mind lately, he welcomed it with open arms.

"I'm sure at least at your former school you have a secret fan club that has all your pictures downloaded," he decided on an acceptable answer.

"I think you'd be disappointed," Ryan still didn't admit that he might be right. Evan thought he was just being modest since there was no way people could not notice how amazing he was. He was nice, funny, and even Rory agreed that he looked perfect.

"Remember my friend who dragged me away from the table at the Depot?" Evan asked suddenly, and Ryan seemed surprised by the question. His thinking didn't last long, though, and he attributed it to the fact that, unlike him, Ryan was sober that night.

"The one you dragged from the table by the sleeve?" Ryan laughed briefly, and it took Evan a moment to realize that he had actually corrected his statement. True, it was he who was pulling someone. He just hoped that Ryan, thanks to his wolf's hearing, didn't hear him offer to suck Rory off.

"Yes, him," he nodded, ignoring his laughter. "He described you as pretty hot with a charming smile. His words, not mine." To mark his words, he waved his hand away from himself.

"Did you talk to your friend about me?" Ryan, however, shifted his attention to something else, quickly forgetting the previous topic. It wasn't hard to tell from his expression that he was excited by this new information and wanted to know more.

"I did," Evan admitted without a problem, "Rory is one of my closest friends even though he moved away a long time ago." Like Ryan, he focused on one detail, and it was different from his. But this time, Ryan decided not to overlook it.

"What did you tell him about me?" he asked further. Evan immediately thought of the sentence about him being his mate but quickly dismissed it. It wasn't the right time to say it out loud.

"A lot of things. One of them being that you're my friend from North Hallson," he admitted. Lying was out of the question as he kept his promise and thus chose the most acceptable answer.

"Can I hear another?" The way he asked him suggested that he wouldn't mind if he refused. Maybe that's why Evan wanted to do the exact opposite. He just had to quickly remember another detail that couldn't hurt.

"I might have sounded a little jealous when he said you were hot," he admitted. Although it wasn't exactly what Ryan was asking, Evan knew it would make him happy. Wrong, it pleased him even more. His smile was almost smug, though Evan doubted Ryan could muster such a smile and he looked more than satisfied with his answer.

"I'm only yours." Evan felt like he was going to melt when he heard that sentence from Ryan's mouth and for a moment, he found himself staring at him with his mouth hanging open. Ryan completely disarmed him with his honesty and charm, and he was left in a daze.

The raven-haired boy gave him another one of his dazzling smiles, and Evan had to lower his head to collect himself. Even so, his face played all shades of red, and he couldn't control the satisfied smile that formed on his face.

"Shut up," he told him, though all he really wanted to say was that he was his too. But that wouldn't be true, as his heart was still fighting, and he couldn't give him all the pieces even if he wanted to. His tone was playful though, and he decided to raise his head so Ryan could see that his words had some effect on him, and he didn't mean his command, although he did in part.

"Friends, I get it," he assured him,and Evan was grateful. He couldn't have hoped for a more understanding mate.