Chapter Five - Dreading It

Gracie 

I dread seeing Ryland after what happened last night. He saw right through my lies. It was written all over his face. I will need to make sure I convince him that I hurt myself. I don’t want or need him to find out anything else. I need to find a way to distract him from the topic. 

I finish getting ready and pull a baggy hoodie over my outfit. I can get away with it today because it is colder than it has been recently. I am trying to leave as quickly as I can. My dad is still passed out, and I would rather not be here when he wakes up. I grab my bag and run out of the front door. I am outside 15 minutes early. I take my cell out to mess around with it, sitting on my front porch and wait for Ryland. 

“Someone is eager to get to school.” 

Ryland! I turn to face him, smiling. He is standing in his garden. 

“Always, I enjoy school.”

“Weirdo,” he teases. 

I jump to my feet and go out to the front of the house. Ryland soon joins me. 

I got to my feet, going out to the front path, Ryland soon joining me. 

“Good morning, beautiful.” He chirps. 

I blush at him calling me beautiful. “Good morning.”

“We have a little time, do you want to grab a coffee before school?”

I nod, and Ryland gently rests his hand on the small of my back, leading us to his car. I am surprised when he opens the door for me. I turn to him, the look on my face clear to read. Ryland laughs and motions for me to climb in. Who knew he would be the opening doors type? Then again, I don’t know him that well. 

I smile. “Thank you.” I slip into the passenger’s seat. 

He closes the door behind me before he runs around to the driver’s side to climb in and gets us on our way. I suddenly become nervous. I am in a moving car with him, which means I can’t get away. I am not scared to be alone with him, it isn’t that at all. I am naturally anxious. I turn to stare out of the window, sighing. 

“Hey, are you okay?” Ryland asked, placing his hand on my knee. 

Ryland rests his hand on my knee. “Are you okay?” 

I refuse to look at him. “I am fine.” 

With his hand on my knee, a comforting feeling takes over me. 

“Gracie, I meant what I said last night. If you need to talk, I am here.” 

I manage to get a strained thank you out, hoping that if I don’t say much, he will leave it be. It works, he doesn’t push any further. He removes his hand from my knee. Not another word is spoken between us. I still can’t believe he is my new neighbour. Out of all the people in the world, he has to be the one who moves next door. What are the chances of that?

Ryland pulls up outside the coffee shop. It is the one which happens to be my favourite. Marco’s makes the best coffee in town. 

“Nice choice.” 

“Thanks. I saw you here with your friends one time and decided to come to somewhere I know you like.” He miles. 

“It is the best place in town for coffee.” 

“Let’s go then.” 

Ryland climbs out first, and I follow. He comes around to help me, but it's too late. His hand lands on the small of my back once again, and I shudder under his touch. I turn to look at him and find him watching me. A strange look in his eyes. One which I can’t work out the meaning behind. 

“I knew you were attracted to me,” he says, a smug look painted on his handsome face. 

I go to protest, but he doesn’t give me the change. With a loud laugh, he pulls away and heads into the coffee shop. I groan in frustration. Why does he need to be so smug all of the time? What makes him think I am attracted to him anyway? I have not given him any reason to think this. I don’t think. I don’t know anymore. I am tempted to run and go in the other direction. 

“I swear, if you run away from me, I will come after you. I will toss you over my shoulder and carry you in. Is that what you want, brown eyes?”

I use an eye roll to respond, no words. Why does he insist on calling me that all the time? I barge by him, heading inside. He follows, laughing. I swear I will end up slapping him one day if he keeps irking me. I take my place in the long line. It is the time of the morning when people are going to school or work. It is always busy at this time. 

Ryland comes up behind me and stands very close. I try my hardest to ignore him, but having him this close isn’t making it easy. The scent of his aftershave is strong. Not in the way he is wearing too much, but enough for the scent to follow behind him. He smells amazing! The warmth of his breath brushes against my neck, and his lips land on my ear. 

“Do you like me being this close?” he rasps. 

“Hmm,” is the only word I manage to get out. 

His hand falls on my hips. “I will take that as a yes.” 

I glance over my shoulder at him. “Are you always this annoying and arrogant?” 

A sweet smile grows on his lips. “Nope. I am a delight.” 

A giggle escapes my lips. He does have a good sense of humour. I like that in a person. 

“Much better.” He winks.

We are called forward to order. Both ordered the same thing, two vanilla iced lattes. I go to take my purse from my bag to pay, but Ryland stops me and pays for them. 

I kiss his cheek. “Thank you.” 

His smile seems to grow when I do. My cheeks heat. Why did I just do that? I could have said thank you like a normal person. There was no need for me to kiss his cheek. 

Ryland fights back a laugh. “You are cute when you blush.” 

A nervous laugh escapes from my lips, and I playfully push him. “Oh, hush.” 

I walk away, and he is quick to catch up with me. He slips his arm around my shoulder. “I am only messing with you, well, sort of. You are cute. I wasn’t lying about that.” 

I let out a scoff. Me, cute? I don’t think so. If Ryland believes that, then there is something wrong with him. I watch his features change when I scoff. He opens his mouth to say something, but I won’t allow him. I pull myself away from him and walk fast towards the car. I hope he doesn’t ask me about it once we are moving again, and I can’t escape. The anxious feeling courses through me, the same ones that had disappeared after being around Ryland for a little while. He unlocks the car so I can climb in, and he does the same. 

I expect him to start the car. He doesn’t. He turns to me. “What was that?” 

“Nothing. Can we please go? I don’t want to be late.” I say firmly and turn away from him. 

Ryland lets out a frustrated groan before doing as I ask. I watch the world fly by, sipping my coffee on the way to school. Silence fills the car. It must be too much for him because he puts on some music. I focus my attention back on him. He is so handsome. I study every detail of his face from his strong, sharp jawline to the small clutch of freckles he has on his left cheek and down to the tattoo on his neck, then the ones on his arm. I swallow hard. He really is so beautiful. 

“Are you enjoying the view?” he asks, not looking at me, but smirks. 

I quickly turn away, embarrassed. “Sorry.” 

I slump down in the seat, feeling both my face and neck heat up. It would be great if the ground opened up and swallowed me right now. My staring at him was more obvious than I thought. I need this car ride to be over so I can run away. I can’t run far since he is in most of my classes today, except one. There is no way to escape him. 

“I don’t mind, beautiful.” He chuckles, and his hand falls on my knee. 

Ryland squeezes it, and it is enough to make me shudder. I turn back to him. I can see he is watching me out of the corner of his eyes, a smile present on his lips, not a smirk. I shyly smile back at him. I can’t work out his interest in me. Sighing, I pull my attention away from him once again. 

“Gracie, what is wrong?” 

“Nothing, I am fine.” 

“I don’t believe you,” he says as we pull into school. 

Thank God! The moment the car comes to a halt, I rush out of it. I take a few deep breaths. Why is he doing this to me? I don’t act like this when it comes to guys. 

“Gracie, are you okay?” Lola asks as she approaches me. 

I nod and smile. “Yes, I am fine.” 

Ryland climbs out of the car and comes over to us. Lola smirks and gives me a nudge. She knows what is wrong. I glare at her, which makes her giggle. Ryland glances between us, baffled. He is trying to work out what is going on. 

Lola smiles. “Hello, Ryland.” 

“Hey! Did Gracie tell you I am her new neighbour?" he asks, a sly look on his face. 

“No, she never mentioned it,” Lola replies, with the same look on her face as Ryland. 

I groan, toss my arms in the air, and walk away, heading into school. I go straight to my locker to put everything in it that I don’t need until later.

“You enjoy it way too much running away from me,” Ryland says, appearing next to me and resting against the lockers. 

I let out a huff and close the locker, turning to him. “Whatever. Do you not have someone else to annoy for a little while?” 

“I could if I wanted to, but I don’t want to. We should get to class, beautiful. I don’t want you freaking out because you are late.” 

There is no point in denying it. It is the truth. I hate being late. We head to class and take our seats, ready to start our school day.