A/N: Hey guys! Sorry this took so long but don't worry, I am still updating it! I might try writing more from one character's perspective (maintaining the 3rd person narrative) and maybe alternate between them? Let me know what you think. I'm just trying it out because I think it allows me to write in more detail (e.g the second part of this chapter)

The school was buzzing as Halloween rolled around. The hallways and classrooms had been decorated and everyone was in a celebratory mood. The football team had won their local league so they were heading for a championship game, and there was a Halloween-themed dance to commemorate their rare success.

"So, what do you have planned for this weekend then Kit?" Ryder was painting some of the woodwork in the barn whilst she sat and cleaned her saddle. It was a sunny Thursday afternoon and the air was nice and crisp.

"Nothing much… riding mainly." She replied. It had been a while since her fall and her arm had now healed completely. She was determined to get back on track with her riding schedule.

"You not going to the dance? I mean surely you won't be riding on Saturday night?" Kitty looked up to try and gauge the context of Ryder's question. Was he hinting at an invitation or just being friendly? She decided to go with being friendly to be on the safe side as she couldn't tell exactly from his expression.

"No… I don't really know enough people who are going."

"You don't need a date to go!"

"That's not what I said. I'm not saying I need a date. If I were to go without a date, then I would want to be going with a group of friends? Well guess what, I still don't have that."

"Well just think about it. It'd be cooler to hang out with someone like you than the rest of the football team who will be drunk off about 2 beers and trying to hit on anything that breathes."

"You don't have a date?" Kitty hoped he wouldn't take it as a hint because she thought it would just make it awkward.

"Nahhh. I'll probably dance with a few of cheerleaders… if there are any of the nice ones there but otherwise I'm just gonna mingle with everyone."

"Nice ones or hot ones?"

"You're getting to know me too well Wilde." He laughed as he turned back to the woodwork.

xxxxx

Saturday arrived quickly and after spending the day at work, Ryder was now showering and getting ready for the dance. He hadn't seen Kitty since their conversation on Thursday as he hadn't seen her at school and they hadn't had a biology lesson on Friday. He had planned on trying to persuade her to go to the dance that day but she'd been out all day and her dad had kept him busy anyway.

He dressed in his suit, fiddled with his tie one last time before putting on his shoes and making his way downstairs. He double-checked his hair in the mirror by the door before grabbing his truck keys and heading out. He'd deliberately slipped out without saying goodbye to his mom because he knew she'd make a big deal out of him looking smart and he couldn't be bothered to deal with her now. He made his way to the dance before parking in the school parking lot and walking towards the gym. He really wasn't expecting much to happen because it was only a lame school dance. He'd rather be hanging out one on one with someone rather than going to a school dance but seeing as it was to celebrate the football team's win and he was the quarterback, he realized he sort of had to go. He pulled open the gym door and took in the transformation that it had undertaken. It wasn't much, on a strict budget like the rest of the school events but it was simple and effective. Orange and black streamers ran along the ceiling and walls and there were balloons everywhere. Fake cobwebs had been placed around, along with pumpkins and faked gravestones. He spotted the football team sitting around a table with lots of Cheerios and made his way over. He sat down next to Sam and took in the scene around him. Suddenly a pair of hands grabbed him and started pulling him towards the dance floor.

"Come on, let's dance!" It was Brittany. Ryder sighed as he allowed himself to be dragged to the group of couples that was gathering in front of the DJ. They danced for a few songs before a slow song came on. The pair jokingly began to slow dance, laughing at the awkwardness of the whole thing. As they turned so Ryder was facing the door, he saw a couple walk in the door. It was the last person he expected to see here, Kitty. She was looking right at him, confused. He would have waved but his hands were round Brittany's waist. What was Kitty doing here? And who was she with? His mind was now running through the questions and he wasn't even sure why. He tried to push them to the back of his mind as he finished his fake slow dance with Brittany. He then took a seat so he could easily watch what Kitty was doing. Ryder was now feeling protective and he had no idea why. Possibly because he knew how insecure she really was and he didn't want anyone to hurt her more or he just felt responsible for his friends' behavior. Luckily, they hadn't seem to notice as they were more preoccupied trying to spike the punch bowl. Kitty had come with… Jeremy, by the looks of it. He was her Biology partner after their teacher had ignored Ryder's requests to work with Kitty. He'd even promised to try extra hard to try and boost his grades.

Ryder waited until Kitty was on her own before he tried to talk to her. She was on her own at the punch bowl when he walked up behind her. "I thought you weren't coming."

"God Ryder, you made me jump!" Kitty's hand flew up to her chest. She glared at him as he couldn't help but laugh at her reaction. She found herself beginning to smile at his laugh but glanced down at the floor to stop herself. "A girl can change her mind, can't she?"

"What was your reason for changing your mind?"

"Jeremy may have asked me to come."

"I asked you to come"

"Yeah but that's not the same. Jeremy asked me to come with him"

"I had no idea you liked Jeremy." Ryder snapped almost accusingly. Kitty frowned at the thinly veiled anger.

"Woah, what is your problem? It's none of your business actually." She huffed before making her way back to Jeremy and making a show of taking his hand and cuddling up to him to piss Ryder off even more. Ryder took a seat once again and tried to make sense of what had just happened. Why was the idea of Kitty and Jeremy annoying him so much? Where had all the anger come from? He hadn't meant to snap at Kitty in the slightest. Oh and where were all his friends? He spotted Brittany across the room and made his way over to her.

"Hey, where is everyone?"

"Oh you must have missed it all! Coach Sylvester caught them trying to spike the punch bowl so they all got thrown out. Sam mentioned something about an after-party at his house though. I'm about to head over there." Ryder realized he must have been talking to Kitty when it all went down. He sighed as he decided he was probably better off going home. He found school dances lame as it was, but they sucked even more when none of his friends were there. He needed to figure out this Kitty thing as well. He looked around to see if she was still there but he couldn't see her or Jeremy. Great. He pulled out his truck keys and left the gym. He walked to his truck contemplating whether or not to go to Sam's party. Some alcohol would definitely help him forget about his problems for a few hours. He climbed behind the wheel and switched his headlights on. The lights highlighted a figure sat by themselves on the benches around the corner from the gym. It looked like Brittany, who had probably gotten confused when she tried to leave the gym. He got back out and began to walk over and help her. It was only when he got closer that he realized it was a different blonde in a black dress.

"Kitty?!" She glanced up but her eyes dropped back down as soon as she registered who it was.

"Oh… hi"

"Why are you out here on your own? Where's Jeremy?"

"Don't know, don't care." There was an extremely defensive tone to her voice, which even Ryder recognized as the cue to back off.

"Okaaay then."

Silence.

"Do you need a ride home?"

"Well I'm not exactly gonna walk."

"You're so charming sometimes. A simple, 'yes thanks' would have done."

"Sorry." Ryder could tell she meant it as she got up off the bench and followed him to his truck. The drive to the ranch was practically silent other than the radio playing and Ryder drumming his hands against the steering wheel in time to the music. The truck pulled into the drive and parked by the house. Kitty was climbing out when Ryder spoke. "I don't know what happened tonight Kit but I'll always be happy to talk to you about whatever."

"Thanks Ryder" All the defensiveness had disappeared from her voice.

"Oh, and you look great." He smiled as she closed the door. She tried to turn away in time but he'd already seen the smile and the blushes creeping up her cheeks. She quickly made her way into the house as he drove back up the driveway, unaware that he was also smiling to himself.