Page 48 of The List of Things

I hold up a pair of white heels and the pair of Dr. Martens I wear with just about everything.

“Do the boots. I like it when you’re short.”

“Well I like it when you stop talking,” I tell him, frantically throwing the white heels on the floor.

I grab a pair of socks from the dresser in front of my bed and throw myself down on the mattress once they’re in hand. Bellamy closes the drawer, and I shove the socks, and shoes onto my feet. I watch as Bellamy holds his hands out, I kick one of my feet up, and he begins tying my shoe for me as I tie the other.

“Did you just use bunny ears to tie your shoe?” He asks me, and I ignore him, knowing he’s just going to make a joke.

I stand up, and he looks down at me, his eyes scanning my features. He looks like he’s in a haze, his mind lost as he stares at me.

“What?” I wonder what he’s thinking.

What’s behind those glossy eyes?He tosses my black hair behind my shoulder, and turns me slightly, walking me forward to the mirror that sits in the corner of my bedroom.

“You’re a dream in yellow, don’t you think?” He asks me, looking at me in the mirror as he stands behind me.

I look at myself, and up to him, feeling a smile creep onto my lips. He bends down, pressing the simplest kiss to my temple, and then he nods his head.

“Let’s go Ryn. Your room stresses me out,” He pulls me by my hand.

I follow along, grabbing my phone, and my bag with my free hand as we walk.

“My room isn’t any of your concern.”

“It is. I’ll even help you clean it... but dear god, please clean it,” He laughs, and I ignore him.

I like my mess because it’s mine.

We walk down to the car, and like a routine, he opens my door for me and helps me in. As soon as he climbs into the car, his sunglasses are on, and his hand is resting on my thigh, his fingers already twirling on my skin, drawing aimlessly. We drive for a while, and the city comes into view shortly, the heavy buildings starting to glow as the sky melts into the shoreline. I look at everything, watching as skyscrapers pass by, and people do the same. He drives closer to the coast, and then I figure it out.

“Ferris wheel?”

“Among other things... Yes,” He tells me finally, and I’m glad I didn’t go with the heels now.

He makes his way to the parking area and gets out first. He opens my door for me and helps me from the Jeep with ease. He takes my hand in his, and we walk together, our shoulders brushing as we walk. The closer we get the more the group comes into view. I see Griff with Jade, and Sienna with Lawson, the four of them socializing, their eyes on us as they talk.

“Finally!” Lawson calls out to us when we’re close enough to hear.

“Sorry, Cinderella wasn’t ready for the ball,” Bellamy jokes, and I shove him to the side with my shoulder, our hands still connected.

He doesn’t budge, just squeezes my hand one, two, and three times. I look up at him, and he’s already looking at me, smiling.

“Well, he never told me where we were going, so I was in a crisis,” I tell them. “Sorry,” I apologize and watch as Griff shrugs.

“Not a problem. Let’s go,” He nods his head, his arm slinking over his girlfriend's shoulders.

Jade wears a dress like me but hers is a pretty pink that compliments her skin well. Sienna is wearing shorts and a pretty white shirt that hangs from her shoulders. She and Lawson walk close to each other but don’t touch at all. I watch Sienna and Lawson, trying to decipher how untrue the friend comment was. They don’t seem friendly at all, to put it plainly they look like they dislike each other. Part of me wants to jump in a Ferris wheel pod with her and make her tell me, but my better judgment tells me to wait it out.

I look up at Bellamy, and he presses his lips together into a sweet smile. Even when I’m doing nothing Bellamy seems to always look at me like he appreciates me. He seems to always have his eyes on me. Even when he puts his attention elsewhere I can tell he’s still trying to focus on me, make sure I’m comfortable, or okay. Making sure I don’t need anything from him. He’s attentive and caring. He makes that obvious. He’s really, really good at faking it, and that makes me feel more comfortable to ease into this.

“We’re going to the Ferris wheel first?” I look in the direction of Jade who asked.

She and Griff are looking at Bellamy and me as we walk. I look at Bellamy too, not knowing the answer either.

“Yeah, if you guys are cool with that.”

Everyone agrees, and we approach the pier, all of us walking down, and passing people as they leave. We approach the line, and stand in it, waiting with one another.

---