Chapter 5.

" Oh come on."

" No"

" It won't even take that long."

" I don't care."

" I'll be the one doing it, so I don't understand what you're so worried about." He sighs.

" I'll still be a witness and that says a lot." I point my finger at him.

" I just feel bad."

" Well get over it, now can we eat? I'm starving." I don't even wait for him to speak before I take a slice of pizza and start to eat.

So I stopped him from breaking into school, to retrieve my phone, I'm a good girl, shoot me. Though it was nice of him to try and get it back for me, the how, was what I had a problem with the most.

" You're such a good girl, it hurts." He mentions, sinking his teeth in his own piece.

" And I wouldn't change a thing, you should take note, it'll help in the long run."

" Yeah, no, I'm fine with the way I am."

" You mean pushing people away, isolating yourself and trying to be something you're not?"

" And what is this ' thing' ,you claim I try to do?"

" Trying to be a risk taker, which I doubt you are. Safe and responsible, that worked for you and earned you great spots, wherever your feet landed. For example, the basketball team, swimming team, and I heard from a little birdy that you can hold a note or two."

" I thought you didn't listen to rumours," he arches his brow.

" I don't, they come for me, and as much as I try to block them out, they get louder, demanding that you listen."

" Aka your ' friend?' "

" Why do you say it like that, are you trying to hint at something?" I question.

He shrugs, eating.

A moment of silence passes before he speaks up again. " I just don't see it."

" What?"

" This friendship, you two are too different. She's way out there in the mix with Amber and them, head in the clouds and you....."

" And me?" For some unknown reason, I want to know what he really thinks of me, not because I care, but just because I want to know. Simple.

" " He's just staring , not another word said.

" Well, are you going to tell me?" I give him an expectant look.

" I'll just keep it to myself," he says, moving his eyes away from me.

" I thought the whole purpose for me even giving you the time of day, was for you to spill your guts out and I listen, for free, might I add." I point at him at the last sentence.

" Well yeah, listen, and be honest, but not poke me for answers on what I think of you."

" I was not. Whatever." I mumble, leaning back on the seat, since we are in the booth at the back.

He shrugs, his own eyes dropping to his lap.

" And just so you know, I never agreed to anything, I didn't want to be here anyway."

" Why are you here then?" He has me speechless for a near minute.

His eyes meet mine.

" Why am I here really? Oh I know."  I tap my chin as if in thought. " I was hungry."

" Wow, I feel used. Are you sure you're not a secret admirer, who is bubbling in my presence right now?" He asks with a serious expression, apart from his eyes that dance in humour.

" Oh no sorry. I'm not one of your deary fans who would melt in the sight of you, you know ' Keeping up with Wesley, 'no. Though I must say, I have a few mentions of those who'd take my place in a heart beat." I wiggle my brows with the  last part.

" You mean Amber?" My brow rises a bit. So he knows about her  little crush on him.

I nod and he sighs.

" I've gotten an earful before, about her being in love with me, never took it to heart."

" Why not? She's an amazing girl." I wince at my own words, my eyes squinting. " Unique, that's the word." I correct myself.

" I'm the wrong type of person to even consider approaching, for any romantic topic, any girl would be wasting her time."

" Sheesh, you're that bad?"

"I wouldn't be able to offer anything or play a part in the relationship." He slumps in his seat, the acceptance in his voice just doesn't sit well with me.

It makes me shift uncomfortably in my seat.

" You never know till you are in one, you might just surprise yourself."

He shrugs his shoulders again, drinking his soda.

" Wouldn't bother, besides, I don't want anyone in my business, especially now." He mumbles the last part.

" Technically, everyone else seems to know your business, whether you like it or not." I tell him, twirling the straw in my half finished drink.

He curses under his breath. " They bloody have no right to poke into my business, I never bother with theirs." He grumbles, clenching his fists.

" It comes with the positions, being popular and all, they believe you're just going through a phase."

" Could you make it sound more worse?!" He snaps, earning us eyes from people sitting close by.

Instead of feeling angry at him snapping at me, I cover his fist with my hand. He tenses where his eyes snap to our hands.

I jerk my hand back, letting it fall back onto my lap, my eyes following. " Like it or not but your peers still see that star, the captain, the person with the bright future, the people's person and --------------"

" The responsible one, the parent pleaser, the one who could do no wrong, the admired, sure." He spits out.

Looking at him, I see his eyes conflicted, angry with a hint of sadness.

" You make it sound horrible, I'm sure there was a moment in which you appreciated being part of it all, at one time." I sigh, placing my hand over his fist again, my thumb making circling movements, this time, not removing.

" So tell me what ruined it for you, what changed?" I can't believe I just asked that.

I start pulling my hand back, realizing that I'm entering into dangerous lanes, poking at his privacy. His other hand covers mine, stopping my movements.

" Don't. It's calming." I freeze in place, looking everywhere else but him. That's when I notice the time on the big clock on the wall.

7 o'clock. Oh shit.

This time I succeed in pulling my hand back, his eyes watch my movements. " I should go home now, it's late, don't want to make my brother anymore pissed off." I slide out off my seat, standing to my full height.

He follows suit and the height difference between us now being noticeable. Damn basketball players.

He gestures for me to lead the way, and I do, only to regret it when I almost smack into a chest.

"Sorry," the person says, sidestepping me.

" It's okay." I tell the guy, my eyes trailing up to his face.

He's a tall guy with black styled, cut hair, light brown eyes, slightly crooked nose and a small nose ring. I watch his eyes move from me to Wesley, lingering more on Wesley and squinting a bit as if trying to figure him out.

" Wesley Adams?" He says, his tone surprised, eyes wide in recognition.

" Yeah that's me." Wesley trails off, uncertain.

" Damn, can't believe it, it's Ryan. The guy who actually taught you how to swim."

I fully turn to face the two guys.

Wesley's brows furrow before they rise up high. " Damn it, Ryan, couldn't recognise you with all that ugliness." Wesley teases.

" Yeah, yeah, keep the compliments coming. There's love in there." Ryan waves Wesley off, not taking him seriously.

" Oh pssht....You basically drowned me in the deep end."

Ryan opens his mouth to speak, when Wesley suddenly pulls me close and aside, for an incoming customer. My mouth parts in surprise and from the warmth of his hand on my arm. I quirk my brow at Wesley, making him jerk his hand back and take a step back to make space.

A clear of a throat snaps our eyes to a curious looking Ryan. His eyes darting between us.

" Oh um, Ryan, this is Chloe my classmate, and Chloe, this is Ryan, the guy who nearly killed me," he introduces us.

" Hello love. Don't listen to him, the love is just burning for me." He winks, raising my hand and placing a kiss on the back.

A blush warms my cheeks at his action.

Wesley scoffs beside me, earning our attention. " So how long are you here for?" Wesley asks.

" Not sure yet, just came to see my cousin. Hey, he told me you quit sports." I can feel Wesley tense up.

" It's complicated." He almost sounds inaudible, but Ryan is still able to catch it.

He nods as if understanding, not asking any further but moving his eyes towards me, his curiosity spikes up again. " So, why haven't I seen you around here or heard about you from my cousin?"

I frown at the mention of his cousin.

Who's this cousin he keeps talking about? " His cousin knows everyone in school."  Wesley whispers in my ear.

" Well my brother and I just moved here a few months ago." I don't continue, being cautious of how much more I say.

In our constant moving, my brother and I, believed it to be safe when we didn't mention the last place we stayed, for safety reasons.

Ryan's phone starts ringing, making me relax and thank God for the interruption. " Oh, must be my girlfriend, Lacey, asking about the pizza. Hey, we should hang out soon, you know, to catch up and all." He briefly glances at us.

" Um, we -----------"

" He'll see you there." I jump in before Wesley can finish his sentence.

Wesley shoots me a look but I ignore it, saying our goodbye to a very much distracted Ryan and getting out of there. Heading towards his car, I feel him follow closely behind.

" What happened to we? Because last time I checked, he was talking to the both of us." He says from behind me.

" Oh no, you are not dragging me to your friend's get together."

" They aren't......." He sighs. "You have to come with me."

I spin around to face him. " No, this is all wrong."

" What is?"

" This."  I gesture between us. " You are placing all your weight on my shoulders and that's not fair on me, I bloody don't even know you!"

" Then bloody get to know me!" He shouts back.

We stare at each other, eyes connected and chest breathing hard.

I break the contact when I turn around and continue on to the car, where he opens my door for me and closes it. He walks over to climb in his side, driving out of there without another word.

The trip is not awkward or tense, just being the needed silence for us now.

Arriving at my house, he parks the car and we both stay still, not even speaking a word. Looking at my house, I realize that my brother must be worried sick because of me, while I'm here trying to find the right words to speak.

I turn my head in his direction, his own facing forward where his eyes are focused on the road ahead. " Thanks for pizza." He nods.

I sigh." Maybe you shouldn't cast out everyone, Ryan seems like a nice enough guy."

He shrugs his shoulders, leaning his head back. His eyes close and he breathes out of his nose.

" Ryan spoke of his cousin, who is he?"

" Sean Grady," the name sounds familiar.

Where have I heard of him? Oh he is part of the basketball team.

" Isn't he part of the ------------"

He nods,  not even letting me finish my sentence.

" I should really go now." I mumble, turning to open the door. A hand on my wrist stops my movements.

I turn back to him. He's not even looking at me.

" Everyone else has had their share of opinion about my life, but never me. Maybe it's time to change that."

" What do you mean?" He turns to face me, just staring at my face before letting go of my hand.

" Nothing," he mumbles, looking down at his lap.

I don't question any further, but get out of the car with my bag, walking along the driveway. The urge to look at him again is pressing , so I glance over my shoulder to find him already looking at me.

His eyes are speaking but I can't figure anything out. I guess things will just have to end on questions, that may never be answered.