Page 19 of Sever
Chapter Nine
2008
The First Date
I cannot concentrate on this stupid math. No matter how hard I try, it’s like all the numbers are growing wings and flying around. I hear heavy footsteps and look up to see Ryder.
“Close the books and come with me.”
He walks out of the room. I sit there, confused. I almost want to look around and see if anyone else is around because there’s no way he was talking to me. I close the book and get up, packing my books away neatly on my shelf, out of reach of the younger ones, then heading downstairs to find him in the living room. He has his jacket on.
And he’s holding mine.
“Took you long enough.” He tosses the jacket at me then opens the door and walks outside.
I feel like I’m in the twilight zone. The last time I had any real interaction with Ryder was the Twinkie incident and that was almost a month ago. The only good thing is that Alison and her friends have completely stayed away from me. I’m actually starting to like going to school again.
I meet him at the end of our walkway. “What is going on?”
“We’re going out.” He starts to walk, leaving me standing there.
I have to run to catch up to him and by the time I do, I’m out of breath. “You know, normally, you ask someone if they want to do something with you and then you make plans together.”
“I'm not a fan of normal.”
Obviously.
We walk for a few minutes in silence. When I start to hear music, I look up and see the annual carnival. I clutch at Ryder’s elbow, pulling him to a stop.
“I can’t go there.”
He furrows his brow. “Why not?”
“It’s Saturday night. Everyone will be there.”
“And?” He cocks his head to the side.
I groan. “And just because they’ve kept their distance from me doesn’t mean I’m stupid enough to go onto their turf.”
“Their turf? What is this, West Side Story?” He grabs my hand and starts to pull me toward the carnival. I look down at my ripped jeans and faded T-shirt. Ryder doesn’t miss it. “You look fine, now stop.”
He hands the cashier money and gets us two wristbands. Wandering through the crowds, I feel like everyone is looking at me. My eyes don’t leave the ground, I’m grateful for Ryder leading the way because otherwise I might have to look up and see them all staring at me. My feet catch on the ground as Ryder pulls me across the field, almost knocking into him when he comes to an abrupt stop and turns to me.
“You got two options tonight. You can have a good time, or you can spend the whole time worrying what these idiots are thinking about you. If you choose the second you’re letting them win. People will only hold you to the standards that you set for yourself. You accept the shit treatment you get, you’ll always be treated like shit.”
I look at him for a minute. An evening alone in my room with my books versus an evening at the carnival with Ryder. I smile at him before nodding. “What are we going on first?”
He grabs my hand and pulls me toward one of the rides. I've never been to the carnival as long as I've lived in this town. The lights flashing and the music playing makes me feel like a little kid. The grass has been trampled by hundreds of excited kids and teenagers, leaving a muddy path that makes my feet slush in my cheap tennis shoes. The smell of cotton candy is so strong that it almost makes the air taste sweet.
The ride is fun and I can't help laugh as it whips us side to side, each turn pressing me harder against Ryder. A warmth spreads through me and my stomach twists, and I know it isn't just from the ride.
When we get off the ride, Ryder takes my hand and I relax as he leads me to another. We climb into one of the spots and it is completely enclosed. I haven't seen this ride in motion so I have no idea what it does. When it starts, the car moves, almost like a Ferris wheel.
“This isn’t bad.” I glance at Ryder.
His blue eyes gleam with mischief as he smiles at me. His hand squeezes mine and it feels like a hundred butterflies are in my stomach.
I scream when the car does a complete circle. Ryder laughs next to me and I slap his chest. “You could have warned me!”
