Part Two
Silver absent-mindedly rolled her green peas around on her dinner plate as she attempted to keep a scowl from showing on her face. She couldn't believe her sister had the gall to invite him over for dinner. Silver knew Kelly had been seeing him, but to have their budding relationship shoved in her face in her own, well sort of own, home was appalling.
"So Silver," Ryan Matthews cleared his throat, attempting for the fourth time that evening to strike up a conversation with her. Kelly had gone into the kitchen a few minutes earlier to bring out desert and Ryan had finally gotten tired of the uncomfortable silence that hung between them. "How's school going?"
"Fine." Silver returned, meeting his gaze evening, her eyes icy daggers.
"Are you looking forward to the homecoming dance?"
"Why would I go to a stupid homecoming dance?" The scowl won as Silver retorted to Ryan's question. "Homecoming is for cheerleaders and football players."
"Oh." Ryan frowned, glancing away from Silver's direct stare. "I just assumed since you and Dixon are-"
"You know what the problem is when you assume things?" Silver interrupted him, flipping her long, dark-brown hair over her shoulders.
"What's that?" Ryan's tone finally began to reflect his annoyance with their banter.
"You make an ass out of you and me." She smiled smugly, glad she had finally gotten under his skin.
Ryan rolled his eyes but kept his mouth shut until Sammy came running into the dining room, a happy grin on his face. "Mr. Matt'ews?" He approached the table, his eyes wide.
"Yes, Sammy?" Ryan looked down at the little tyke with a mixture of apprehension and caution.
'Kelly's going to have to look elsewhere if she's trying to find a baby-daddy for that poor guy.' Silver thought to herself, her heart going out to her nephew.
"Mama wants to know if you want chocolate or vanilla ice cream."
"Chocolate, please." Ryan smiled, attempting to relax. "Just a little bit."
Sammy nodded, turning his attention to Silver. "You want vanilla?"
"Of course." Erin grinned. She couldn't help it when she was around her nephew. His charisma and darling personality was so infectious she couldn't help it. Too bad his father was a complete ass. "With sprinkles. But you've gotta put them on, not your Mama. She never puts enough."
Sammy shot her a conspirators' grin before rushing back to the kitchen, yelling to Kelly that Ryan wanted chocolate ice cream.
"Cute kid."
"Very." Silver agreed without really realizing she was talking to her English teacher again. She glanced up to see that Ryan's gaze had followed Sammy back into the kitchen. The strange look in his eyes made Silver very uncomfortable.
"You know, Mr. Matthews, it's not going to work between you and Kelly."
Ryan's attention snapped back to her, irritation apparent on his face. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It's not going to work. Just because you came to dinner and finally met Sammy does not mean you're in." Silver continued, enjoying the conflicted and confused look on his face.
"What's that supposed to mean, Silver?" He replied evenly.
"You're just a distraction. Kelly could never take a guy like you seriously. Her heart belongs to someone else."
"You mean Sammy's father?" Ryan leaned forward, obviously dying to hear her answer.
Silver let out a sharp laugh, shaking her head. "You are completely dense. Kelly cannot stand Sammy's father. Sure, there's a lot of history. A lot of very, very messy history, but that loser let Kelly down three too many times. She's never going to go back down that road."
"Then who are you talking about?" Ryan pressed.
Silver smiled a secretive smile, shaking her head slowly. "You think I'm going to tell you something that might actually help you get somewhere with my sister? Think again, you jerk."
"Where does all this hostility come from, Silver?"
"Don't think I don't know what happened between you and Naomi." Silver rolled her eyes.
Ryan paled. "What do you know?" He whispered.
"Enough to know that you are not good enough for my sister and if you don't break it off, I'm going to tell her all about your little fling with Naomi."
"I had no idea she was only fourteen!"
"You had no idea?" Silver snorted. "Every pedophiles excuse. It's disgusting, Mr. Matthews. Disgusting."
"How was I supposed to know?" Ryan exclaimed, running his fingers through his hair in exasperation. "It was summer. The beach. She wasn't even a student at West Beverly yet. She told me she was eighteen."
"Oh yes, because she so looks like she's eighteen." Silver shot back.
"She does and you know it."
"Whatever." Silver scowled. "I don't care what your lame excuses are. If you don't tell Kelly it's over, I'll make sure it is. And I'll tell Mr. Wilson. Let's see how much longer you're working at West Beverly after that."
"You have no proof."
"You really think I'd make an accusation like that without proof?" Silver once again rolled her eyes. Oh how he underestimated her. "Naomi and I were best friends, remember?"
"But not that summer."
Silver arched an eyebrow, but kept her mouth clamped firmly shut as Sammy and Kelly came back into the dining room. "Here you go, Ryan." Kelly put a chocolate sundae in front of the English teacher as Sammy brought Silver her vanilla ice cream with so many sprinkles she'd no doubt get sick afterwards.
"Thank you sweetie." Silver gave Sammy a quick kiss on the cheek. "You always know just how I like it."
"So, what were you two talking about while Sammy and I were in the kitchen?" Kelly inquired, pulling up her chair at the dinner table.
"History." Ryan shot Silver a dangerous look. "Ancient history."
"Yes. History." Silver smiled slyly back. "And how history has a funny way of repeating itself."