Heavenly Habits

I'm not paying attention. I'm copying the notes, but I don't hear a word. This doesn't faze me. I do this everyday. I always stare at Ryan when I am supposed to be learning about complex numbers.

His hair is all over the place, the static from the hood causing it too look all messy and disheveled. I want to run my hands through it. He sticks his tongue out a little, concentrating hard as he works an example on the sheet of paper that he borrowed from me.

He turns to me. I quickly duck my head down and begin working the problem. That was close, too close.

"Did you get 2i?" he asks me.

He leans over, looking down at my notebook. I can feel his hot breath on my hand. "You haven't even finished yet," he whispers. A wicked grin takes over his face.

I blush. I quickly finish solving the equation. "It's 2i." I inform him.

"Seriously?" he cries. "Wow, maybe I'm actually becoming smart! Highfive!" he says holding his hand up.

I roll my eyes, but secretly his actions are too cute. He still acts like he's five sometimes. It's beyond adorable. I let my hand collide with his and then our hands drop. I wish we could just hold hands.

The bell rings and I begin gathering my stuff together. He's waiting for me. I can see his white and orange striped sneakers tapping impatiently as I bend over to grab a folder off the floor. I stand up ready to go. He gives me a look, as if he's fed up with me and then teases, "Are you done yet?"

"Yes," I say huffily. Taylor catches my eye and smiles at me. She thinks that Ryan teases me because he likes me. But it's our relationship, brother/sister as he puts it. He considers me his sister. I am basically an Evans triplet. Sigh.

He impatiently grabs my hand and yanks me out the door. He pulls me down the ramp and I can' t help but giggle. He looks over at me and I cease my laughter. He gives me an evil look and then throws me a dashing smile. Its breathtakingly beautiful and its all for me. He pulls his coat off and drapes it around my shoulders gently. "There…" he says, making sure it sits just right.

It's such a sweet gesture, but I'd rather be sharing it with him.

We walk on. He's folded his arms across his chest and his hood is back up. He's removed his glasses. I miss them, but I can't deny that his eyes are even brighter without them.

"So you're still riding home with me, right?" he asks.

I nod. Today is one of those days that doesn't come around too often. We'll actually be using Ryan's car for once. Usually Sharpay, Ryan, and I would arrive to school and depart from it in Shar's pink convertible, but today Sharpay was going out with Zeke so Ryan's black sports sedan sat parked in the school's lot.

"Wanna hang out after school at my house?" he asks.

"Sure," I answer casually. Inside I am screaming. Its not too often we get the house to ourselves. It seems the quite large mansion is always overcrowded with Sharpay and her minions about. We almost never have our privacy. My house is out of the question after school what with Mom working. My mom doesn't allow boys in the house when she's not home, not even Ryan. As she says boys will be boys. I wish.

"Awesome. We'll order Chinese," he says.

"Ok, Ry, but we have to do our homework too," I warn.

"Sure, Gabs. " he says. Then he adds sarcastically, "Or we'll just kick our bags in the corner and play a rousing game of chess."

We have our own ideas of fun. I love to play chess. He prefers singing duets from various musicals with me. Not that I mind that either. Especially when the song is romantic…

"Haha very funny! How about a compromise?" I suggest.

"Fine," Ryan says faux exasperated. "I owe you one game of chess and you owe me a movie marathon. And maybe a song." He smirks.

"Deal," I agree. We both love movies.

We've reached the school. We duck inside from the cold and its time we head our separate ways. I hand him his coat. "Meet me at my locker after school?" I ask.
Ryan flashes me a smile and says, "Sure thing."

I hand him his coat and let my hand linger as his hand reaches out to take it from me. I pull back.

"Later," I squeak and race off to AP history. I mean seriously what was I thinking?

.o.

The final bell of the day rings and I start to speed walk to my locker, until I turn around the corner and then my pace returns to normal. I'm jittery with excitement. I spy Ryan ahead. He's all ready to go and is leaning casually against the bank of lockers. The sweatshirt is gone and peeking out from beneath his black coat is a flash of blue. He's wearing the polo I gave him for Christmas last year. It looks so good on him. His black messenger bag rests at his hip the strap crossing over his chest diagonally. He has yet to put on a hat and his hair is all spiky and sticking out at angles. His hair looks as if he meant to style it that way.

I walk up and open my locker trading various textbooks for others and he watches me. I glance over at him. His eyes dance. "What?" I ask.

"I have a surprise for you," he says mysteriously.

"You do?" I ask as if I'm really not that excited at all.

"Uh huh," he says and he pulls a DVD from behind his back.

"Funny Face! Another Audrey movie! Aw Ryan this is really sweet!"

"Another compromise," he begins, pleased with my reaction. "Seeing as it's a musical too."

"Thank you," I say smiling broadly.

"Well don't I get a hug?" he asks laughing.

I freeze a little. I want to hug him, I do. This shouldn't be such a big deal. I've hugged him millions of times. But it gets harder and harder each time. My love for him grows every second. It's so hard to just be friends.

He holds his arms out expectantly. I sigh and give in. I lean into him and wrap my arms around him, resting my chin on the soft suede surface of his coat. His arms encircle my waist and he whispers into my hair, "Your welcome."

He releases me and affectionately musses my hair. I pretend to be irritated and smooth my hair back down. He chuckles slightly. "You kinda messed it up even more."

I barely breathe as he reaches over and pulls strands of my hair around my face, rediscovering my part.

"Now you're decent," he says.

I give him a sarcastic smile and he laughs again. "Ready?" he asks.

He's grinning, key in hand. I can tell he's excited to have his car for once.
"Yep," I answer.

The corners off his luscious lips turn down and I can tell he's eyeing my thin shirt. "Aw, Gabs, you'll be freezing again," he says sadly. He throws his coat off once more. I swear Ryan is the most selfless person I know. He hands it to me and his firm, muscular forearms are exposed.

I ogle them as I slip his much too large for me coat on. Is it odd to be attracted to arms? I think it is. But they are so perfectly pale.

"Thanks Ry," I say remembering I should probably speak now. "But now you'll be cold."

"True," he says looking down at his short-sleeved polo. "But I'd much rather you didn't catch cold."

I just smile again, and wrap my hands into little fists inside the long sleeves of his jacket, resisting temptation. It would be too easy to kiss him now. And I can't. I just can't.

We walk towards the front doors of school and plunge through the heavy silver doors into the icy, bleak day. Ryan's ragged lips are trembling and I feel terrible. He's hugging himself and his nose is red. Yet, he just smiles at me, glad that I am warm. He is the best friend a girl could have. I should be happy with this. And I am. But I want to be more. So much more.

We veer right towards the parking lot and Ryan's car engine is already on. We slip inside and the car is toasty warm. I sigh happily as we buckle our seatbelts.

"I didn't know your car could start from far away," I say.

"But of course," he replies grinning with the notion that I am impressed.

"Show off," I mutter and he just laughs as we pull out of the lot.

He flips on the stereo and the new Angels & Airwaves record blasts from the high quality speakers. Ryan has the most eclectic music taste I have ever come across. He will listen to practically any genre except for rap, hip-hop, and country. Classical, pop, rock, indie, and, of course, he owns just about every musical soundtrack ever created. In fact, a room in the Evans house is completely devoted to music. Shelves line every wall and they are filled with thousands of CD's. And of course, the instruments, a grand piano, an electric guitar, and a drum set. Ryan can play every single one with great skill.

He starts to sing and I find myself fighting the urge to smile. His voice is so clear, so perfect. He hits every note with ease. I could listen to him all day. And I realize that's what I want this Christmas. For him to record all of the songs he's written. I would wear the CD out listening to it too much. Better make that a couple copies.

We ride in silence except for Ryan singing along to the music. Which is fine with me. His voice is so relaxing. It makes me feel calm.

We reach the Evans Estate and Ryan parks in the driveway. We hop out and walk inside. We are greeted by no one and my heart beats rapidly with excitement. To be alone…

.o.

Note: Thank you for all the reviews! I appreciate it! I'm so glad many wanted me to continue!