I didn't answer or reply to any of Ryan's calls or texts. I decided to pay him back for what he did I didn't answer or reply to any of Ryan's calls or texts. I decided to pay him back for what he did by playing his own game but with my way. While he kept his phone off, I kept mine on and straight out ignored his calls.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzft3A9Qkzb
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiayclKU69y
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokPDCIisr7
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIy79rqjpw
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9gvJW2EOj
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0D9j9lFhA
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfO0UnyWgOv
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKrauTydN8
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcvLQST9ef
It's Saturday, so naturally our usual coffee shop is hosting a karaoke night tonight. We'd often go there and conquer the place like it's ours. The guys suggested doing so tonight, and I couldn't agree more. It was a good distraction to lighten my mood a little. I invited Denise, who invited Charlotte and Veronica. I was a little surprised when Denise told me she's friends with the twins. Apparently, they all went to gymnastics classes together since the beginning of high school. They're really "dope" people, she told me. I didn't mind extra company anyway, and neither did the guys. They were actually pretty cool about it when I told them about the girls coming, especially Cody.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfFCflwuMJ
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTR5yOrDr3
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbzla55EyW
"It's good to have some femininity among the group for once," Cody said.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1SBOr8N8e
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRX5o3Ns37
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRruCGriH3
"Say that again and slit your throat," I reply with a sarcastic, sweet smile.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeQDIvgwQI
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLw7bhDPGy
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GDuufHqxM
We went and greeted the workers like they're old friends. The whole group was there, even Amber (yay!), but I didn't see Charlotte around. I asked her sister, who told me that Saturdays are anime marathon nights, in which charlotte and her boyfriend, Luke, would watch anime shows all night.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKZXmDedPu
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFF1JCsro8
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpGpqh13t0
"They're Otakus," Veronica said.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAkD87VnDw
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAvxaPbldJ
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtL6Fc8eIjm
"Oh-Tacos?" I marvel at the unfamiliar word.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjwsiBphRr
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvuyT1CJdA
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwArI29qwWb
"Yeah, I thought it was food, too," Denise said.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bNJmMdXRm
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovo9ZBOuMP
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzVXqFyp3I
"It means their strong anime fans," Veronica clarified.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3rwi2wF8S
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzawwrcXpp
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIUpa1bKnL
We started singing solos, duets, and even as groups. We didn't care about the people watching us as we sing unattractively. The boys would choose Taylor Swift or Katy Perry and sing along to the lyrics in their own girlish ways, and the girls would score their impersonation accordingly. I rapped along with Jordan and Cody a couple times and was crowned Queen of Rap by Denise, much to everyone's opposition.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWYK7CEH7M
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGC93ZhYQAp
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9rQec3j30
We disturbed a lot of costumers and workers, who kept telling us to keep it down. That only made us sing worse and louder than before, earning more complains as a result. One of us earned a few claps from the audience: Tyler. He surely can sing like a pro, and he never ceases to impress us every time we hear him. Of course, whenever he held the microphone, Amber would cheer for him dramatically as if he's singing in a concert.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsJGIavvPo
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzrZgqbvnA
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomAvTeJU49
I felt carefree, just doing what I wanted, careless of others' opinions and thoughts of me. I ignored everything else and focused on having fun. I pushed all the drama and troubles out of my mind. I didn't think of Ryan just once.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjbV66RIf7
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4NgTUnZ74
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeSSTg79uj
Denise invited herself over to spend the night, much to Cody's satisfaction. I didn't mind her at all. Although I only met her two days ago, she's treating me like we're old buddies. She burrowed a pair of orange shorts and a spaghetti white shirt from my wardrobe and made herself at home. We grabbed junk food and drinks before going to the living room to watch a movie. Cody and Will were playing FIFA before we turned it off to watch our movie. We settled on Magic Mike because why not? Cody and Will cringed from the thought, so they moved to Cody's room to continue their game there. Kat and Rosie went to sleep early tonight, saying that they're going house shopping tomorrow early for Rosie since Kat had no work.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQe8fbM1txJ
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV46nasCdE
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYYoEHyksT
My phone rang in the middle of the movie, lighting up with Ryan's picture. I silent it and go back to the movie.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYzipMF3Cn
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8mklLamAf
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoPokxO39n
"You still ignoring him?" Denise asks.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BbXQgeOe1
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJ4r2aMWkE
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JD3CLDNHO
"Kinda."1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2LG2I6Ouy
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMKZRG8AcP
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJfQINGHHh
"Kinda? Girl, you're totally shutting the poor guy off."1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1D199pfxiY
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PMxXAFGCC
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUOhhAuWVJ
"Well, he deserves it, "I shrug, sipping from my coke, "And are you taking his side?"1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJnGW9jbYl
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEwgH9UJD5
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoRVuqBVSl
"I ain't takin' nobody's side, sister. All I'm saying is give him a chance and listen to what he has to say, you know?" She answers, quickly taking defense mode.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVz3XLOmDzI
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kSKegn0Yd
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1P9uHVBtQ
"He's making me regret worrying about him," I explain, "Like it's my fault at the end."1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4KKYtSQgC
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpMYRxjiTy
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJtcAtz1iw
"Maybe he just needs time before telling you what happened to him."1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQ0K7r5BSD
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3VCD3z1mc
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh58MAwziSp
"How much time? He needs to know that I'm not a patient person."1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpDSipnzzR
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgrhQRNAHW
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Htgwveo7F
"Well, then be patient for, Nicky, and maybe he'll be patient for you when you need time one of these days."1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbhDMYmlmu
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZpdL7tlyP
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXzlUp8OkF
She rests her hand on top of mine and looks at me assuringly. I t feels nice just having someone like her to talk to when I need it. I never had a girlfriend before, so having Denise treat me like that is something new to me coming from a girl, yet it has some familiarity to it in some way.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa49oSv8FqT
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh56yUPMbGA
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYI8z2VWrh
"Maybe you're right."1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3dsr6WCvu
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoSwbKh6st
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQMTNwoAlS
"Like hell I'm right! I'm Denise McQueen, Nicky."1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8XJpJzzn3
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYT4jCPdOOf
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiDjQmwWwf
"What's up with the new nickname?"1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVldv755MvI
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvR5nCFdhQ
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0UGPyXFqs
"I just felt like it'd time I have a different name for ya."1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo494c0iXeK
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjdU1X5ca6
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6hUnVJTAw
After Denise left the next day, I spent my day in an inner battle with myself and debating whether or not to pay Ryan a visit to talk. Denise had me thinking about what she said all night last night till I came to the decision: I should go open up the topic with him. And yet I was never more hesitant about it. Even after getting his address from Dylan, who I figured would have it, I was still not close to decisive.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wmj4UjxNc
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKSi9YjFpn
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLe8SxlEQDY
I ended up taking Cody's car and waiting outside his house for 25 minutes, doing nothing. I took a deep breath before I left the car to walk towards his mansion. Oh, did I mention that he lives in a fucking mansion? The thing is so huge it can fit the whole school in it.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9gRhTXd8r
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2AgHPfKSc
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nzhYbZVCD
I pass by two guards, who don't bother to ask me who I am. They need to do something about their security. I mean, one of the guards just grinned at me like it's my place.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3nArKIWM6
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsfcD1NcKi
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhbX8dLD2V
I reach for the doorbell, and as I wait for it to open, I recite what I was planning to say one more time.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sPqkOjFnZ
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UbB41xoHX
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBQ86l8N4z
Ryan, I know that there are things you prefer to keep hidden from me, but I want you to know that I care about you because you're my boyfriend and I care about you...1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEHjB7P2NH
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ894vAzmbhn
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiop0Peb5k
Shit, I'm really bad at this!1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkVWJMUrBy
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDPKK5ynoH
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMpdUBZ9y3
The door opens, and I hold my breath in anticipation. A pretty lady in a maid uniform opens the door with a smile and my heart beats go back to normal. She asks who I am and I respond back, "I'm Nicole. Is Ryan here?"1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNghLGXCKRv
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizr1EdWPhI
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZS2XjrXfp
"Matilda, who is that?" A woman yells from inside.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbbfpnkay7
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpR42P6HYDE
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTw6D5wYKQ
"It's a friend of Mr. Ryan, Ma'am," Matilda calls back.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeA13OmUo89
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQm4M4TzjE
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SZZ1olyV3
Listen, Ryan, I get that you wanna keep things from me, but you need to know that I only wanna help you...1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaLhl37ysp
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8Va4BPpUj
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4hLVCHjpe
"I'll take care of it, Matilda. You can go now," Ryan opens the door wider. He was wearing a sleeveless tank with dark blue shorts and looked like he was in the middle of a tough workout session.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbKmjpZpF3
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwtoCcipNS
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3fHzySYMW
"Shadow."1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5Otjyyi6S
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKRUZxFmRf
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOHDggnTYE
"Ryan."1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkagoTpix90
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLi97ONzCf
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCeiNsVAWB
He waits for me to start, and for a few seconds, I forget why I came here in the first place. I guess it's because he looks like fucking beast with his muscles flexing and sweat dripping from his body that I got lost for words.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Tvn283Sgp
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bTXIxerpJ
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJ3rvP1tnA
And then I recall what I'd been reciting since yesterday.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡop84RNT5p2
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ac6HLgTCk
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4G0qXMYDVe
"Oh, you um...forgot you pen with me." That's it Nicole, smoother than silk. What the fuck is wrong with me?1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfLDH2d63k
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDqfFdkr0z
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjURRPyExx
I point the pen in my hand at him, "I came to return it." I try hard to avoid his hard gaze that's piercing through my body.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBexGEFovkS
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOlhpzr14g
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BC25BjWDj
"But this is not my pen," he raises an eye brow, humor and amusement simultaneously evident on his face.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzNURV0Gam
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxG8q7kd2f
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZfxEDM2bd
"Yeah," I lift my hat up, brush my hair to the back then put it back on—an action I unintentionally do when nervous—and mentally curse myself and my damn dignity. The whole thought of apologizing or even admitting anything I've done wrong is not exactly something innate in me. Yes, it's selfish and not right, especially when it's really me at fault, but I can't bring myself to do it.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSxlPw1oLO
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtxIHvqAHH
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAIKfOBYI5
Then again, for certain people in your life, you'd do whatever it takes to fix your relationship with them, even if it means bringing your stupid ego below their feet.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbuO0vRFGF
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdUI1pfPJ3
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYc4mzRfO3
"It's actually Cody's; I found it in his car, and..." I trail off and watch his expression getting more and more humorous. "Look, I'm really bad at this."1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOs0Zzh2GE
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3nIfndasq
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRcrEP3rex
"You don't say."1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzluxMTt1cd
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROBrnUGywW
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFidV0KY49F
"Please, just go with it as it is," I take a short breath. "I know I've been a little pushy lately. And I know that even if I'm you girlfriend, I shouldn't be like that. I also know that there are some things you don't want me to know. But I don't give a crap about all of this because I care about you. So can you just please let me in? I know I might be asking too much, but like I said before, I don't care about—"1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmo46wZ8dC
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrGvp7JSBe
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYde3I1FU2m
He cuts me off abruptly, holding my face with both his hands and kissing me intently. I kiss him back with similar affection, taken a bit off guard by the sudden gesture. He pulls apart a couple seconds into the kiss to look me in the eyes and say, "you know nothing, Shadow."1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyu3iwObvF3
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMNSMqZvuL
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKIktcm7Bz
"Huh?" I say, breathless.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDNCBOYDPQ
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYIaoZLJGJ
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGktbaDE6M
"I said you know nothing. All you said might be true to some other guys, but not to me. In fact, I wanna share with you everything about me—all my problems and stress. I was planning on telling you everything in the right time, but you never gave me a chance."1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQtlg7Po4Y
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vikZ1Onnh
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ324uoaP376
"I'm sorry, Ryan."1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lfe0ermHb
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCE1d0uHNr
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapUoyB7DQH
"There's nothing to be sorry for. We both just had to get each other better, that's all," he then pulls me into a hug. "I know I can be really understanding, babe."1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4P54rnGznr
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7cziNR7z1
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzUrYcYOu2
I push him away, "Don't get too full of yourself, Hastings." Then I punch his chest, "This is for interrupting me earlier," I punch him again, "and this is for hugging me while you're sweaty."1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncsKNQxYX0
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNrO91JQVE
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydxaG4N5Lx
"How sweet of you," he says sarcastically, rubbing circles around his chest. "Now, don't you wanna come in?"1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXM2sxCMlX
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYfDuXxnv4
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2u9gjsL9dT
"No, I better go back before Cody realizes I stole his car."1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNXUyKXWia
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURJ4d7HVYK
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1KXKuLc4O
Right on cue, Cody's stupid face lights up on my phone screen. Ryan leans against the doorframe while I answer, only to earn myself a shitload of yells from my dear friend.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUcmFrPyAN
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmj6vRVSWo
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtke6NxbWOh
"What the fuck, Nic? You stole my baby? Are you fucking me over, right now?! I told you I have a date tonight."1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkX7UNViGP
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1SVBCdtcl
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzFFUgmTuK
He did?1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObrx7r8GbK
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PXcrhLkL3
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU31GX2CWOT
"Calm down, bastard, I'm on my way back."1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeGM3c4pIv
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mPmh1XXJG
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjEygaTdTm
"You better be here before I tie my shoelaces," and he hangs up.1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtuSWvYG9r
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVI9k4Ha47Y
1042Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkMwjAZz0n
"He really needs to see a doctor," I sigh.
