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!”

“Where’s the fun in that?” He takes my hand just as the car flips again, this time leaving us suspended upside down.

I spend the rest of the ride screaming my head off while Ryder laughs uncontrollably, and by the time it’s over I can barely stand upright. I stumble and he catches me, holding my hips and guiding me off the ride.

He nods toward the bright flashing lights and buzzers going off. “Wanna play a game?”

“As long as they don’t go upside down.”

He walks up to a water gun game that is almost full of people. I sit down and he looks over at me. “I’m gonna play and win you something.”

“Really? Are you trying to say that I couldn’t beat you?”

He chuckles. “I’m not trying to say that, I’m saying there’s no way in hell you can beat me.”

I look at the guy and hold up two fingers. “Two please.”

The guy holds his hand out and Ryder drops some money into his open palm. “What are we playing for?”

I rub my chin, wondering just what I can get him to agree to. There are plenty of things that spring to mind, but I’m too chicken to say any of them out loud. “Hmmm, bragging rights?”

Ryder crinkles his nose, as if he’s just smelled something really bad, and shakes his head. “How about, if I win, then you have to wear that hat the rest of the night.” He points over to a top hat with fireworks coming out of the top.

“Okay, well if I win you have to wear that.” I nod to the collection of feather boas, my eyes zeroing in on the bright pink one. It’s the most flamboyant of the lot and would look perfect on him.

Ryder claps his hands, rubbing his palms together. “You’re going down, princess.”

The guy goes over the rules and then the buzzer sounds. My knuckles throb as I grip the water gun tight, not daring to look away from my target.

Please, please, please.

The winning bell sounds, I look up to see the light flashing above me. I jump up, launching into a victory dance to end all victory dances, then look over at Ryder. “You’re gonna look so pretty,” I say, hands clutched under my chin, my eyes widen. He scowls at me and I laugh. “One of the pink glitter boas, please.”

The guy hands it to me and I wrap it around Ryder’s neck, the cheap feathers tickling my hands and making my nose tingle. I stand back and survey my masterpiece. “If only I had a camera on me.”

Ryder’s eyes darken. “You're gonna pay for this one.”

He lunges toward me and I run. I’ve never been a fast runner so it doesn’t take him long to catch me, his hands wrapping around my waist, knocking me to the ground and tickling me until all the breath is squeezed from my lungs. I try to wriggle away from him but it's no use. He’s just too strong.

I’m about to pass out when his hands fall away and I stagger to my feet, trying to catch my breath.

I turn to look at him and the insult I had dies on my lips. His blue eyes bore into me and I’m frozen. His hand reaches up, pulling my neck toward him before our lips touch.

I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t for his lips to be this soft. I wrap my arms around his neck as he pulls me closer, and when I feel his tongue press at the seam of my lips, I open my mouth. His tongue slowly eases into my mouth. I’ve never been kissed like this and I let him take the lead, trying to mimic his movements.

As we pull away, fireworks start to go off in the next field and he turns me in his arms, pulling my back to his front, wrapping his arms around my shoulders, holding me close as the colors dance across the night sky.

I don’t think I could have asked for a more perfect night.