Chapter Twelve

The loud noise made both Marissa and Summer cringe; Ryan offered to take the girls home so he himself wouldn't have to listen to Kirsten. Never had he seen the kind lady so mad. However she was spitting random words of disgust and anger toward her son, Seth.

After the hectic evening, and even busier morning, seeing that Sandy conveniently found out about last night's events Seth and Ryan decided to go to school without speech. When Ryan saw both girls, Summer and Marissa at school not only did he question the major hangover, but he also was shocked. He wondered if they remembered anything that happened that night, but he chose not to ask about it nevertheless. Ryan and Seth trudged to the school hall, and back to their lockers to relinquish their homework books, and take out other books. Surprisingly, their day got about 2.5 better when Mr. Gomahon got the flu and stayed at home. However, he was replaced by a mime- and this was no joke.

Whatever this tall, scrawny, even pale woman would like to say, she wrote on the board. The class gave her the benefit of the doubt of having a cold. Marissa then flung a note toward Ryan, which landed neatly on the edge of his desk. Ryan raised his eyebrow, and he quietly uncrumpled the pink wad of paper.

'Thanks for taking my drunk ass home.' Ryan turned to look at her, but she was far too quick to look him back. She seemed to be listening to the teacher, which was highly unlikely. Ryan turned back around, only to see his supply teacher glaring at Ryan vividly expressing plenty emotions through her silent face. Ryan slouched down in his seat, and started to doodle whatever came to his mind. The day seemed to drift by endlessly, especially with the school's eyes on him. It's as if Marissa and Summer managed to tell everyone what a 'hero' Ryan was. By the end of lunch period, a small blonde approached him. He didn't quite know who she was, but she wore a mischievous grin on her face. When she noticed Ryan's confused look, she quickly answered.

"It's Jess." She said in a way, as if mocking Ryan for not knowing who she was. People like Marissa and Summer, he knew, but how was he supposed to know random individuals from the school?

"Ryan." Ryan nodded steadily.

"I know," Jess' eyes widened as if she had just been called an idiot or something, "I know you, Ryan." She smiled gently, "I've been hearing a lot about you, lately. I'd have to live in a rock to not know who the legendary Ryan Atwood who saves drunk whores from his friend's bedroom." Jess said deviously. She smirked in satisfaction when she saw Ryan somewhat angered by her words.

"Who are you referring to?" Ryan asked pretending to be dumb, which he was far from.

"Don't play dumb. Here's the thing, Ryan." Jess paused, as she toyed with her blonde hair, smiling at Ryan as she flaunted her almost fully exposed chest. She smiled frivolously, "I think we'd be good together, don't you?" Ryan paused for a minute. He needed to hear Seth's approval- he probably knew Jess better then a second's worth of discussion that Ryan had.

"Together? I don't know you. You know me for the rumours you hear. How can we possibly be any good 'together'?" Ryan asked her in disbelief. He couldn't quite comprehend why this stranger, Jess was suddenly so interested in him.

"We've got a lot of things in common, Ryan. Sooner or later, you'll find out." Jess smirked, and she turned on her heel, walking away mysteriously. Ryan tried to shake the thought of Jess away, when Seth approached.

"You were just talking to Jess." Seth said, in disgust. He knew nothing good washed in around Jess. She was a crummy imitation of a mafia member- always loaded and ready to kill her next victim brutally.

"I was hoping I'd hear your point of view when I told you she asked me out." Ryan said quietly.

"Run!" Seth shrieked in a completely opposite tone of voice. "Run faster then a freaking jet. If you get with this girl, your world will go out of control. All I have to say is run, man, RUN!" Seth gulped, "Run while you can, or I'll loose a good one."

"Why are you so beefed with this girl?" Ryan asked.

"Because everyone is." Seth then replied as if Ryan had just asked a very stupid question. Ironically, the two seemed to walk right passed Jess' locker, where she stood. When she looked at Ryan, she winked and she walked up to him- cuddling endearingly.

"Have you made up your mind?" Jess put on the sweetest puppy dog eyes, as she smiled gently studying Ryan's face. Seth glared at Jess, who was always in to screw someone over.

"Actually, yes." Ryan smiled quickly at her, when he noticed her hopeful eyes. When he was about to say no, his mind decided for him- it forfeited, showed the white flag, "I will go out with you." Ryan's eyes widened when he realised what he just said. He didn't want to say it. How did he manage to say it? Was something seriously messed up inside of him, already?

"Ryan, that's great." Jess said as she smiled. Seth was so shocked he almost fell over, multiple times. Jess hugged Ryan and she flipped out a piece of paper from her pocket, "You have a pen?" She asked.

"Yeah, uh, hold on." Ryan felt around in his pockets for a pen, when he finally found it he quivered but tried to hide it. What had he gotten himself into? Once he supplied her with a pen, she scribbled down her e-mail address, and phone number. "Call me." She said before taking off.