Thanks Kate for telling me the upload went wrong! I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hope that this time it goes right.
The reunion with my old…let's say acquaintances was one of the best things that had happened to me last week. I didn't feel so horribly alone anymore. Not that I would ever admit that to anyone, ever. Although I wasn't alone anymore my heart still ached and every morning I had to apply every piece of make-up I owned just to hide the evidence of the crying I had done.
A loud crash woke me out of my thoughts and when I looked up Ryder was leaning against the locker next to mine. "Daniels."
"West." He smiled a small, but slightly evil smile. "Whatcha doin?"
Groining I slammed my locker and it closed with a bang. "You know I hate that phrase."
Laughing he put his arm around my shoulders and ignored the elbow that landed in his stomach for that move. "Secretly you love it. But I'm not here to torture you with your love for Phineas and Ferb."
"Oh the joy." Rolling my eyes I pushed him away and started walking towards my class. "With what are you torturing me then?"
"You know I love your optimism." He had to increase his step to keep up with me. "But it could be possible that your right. If you consider it torture when I'm in the same stage fighting class with you this week."
"What?!" I stopped dead in my tracks and looked up with my most deadly glare. "Please say you're lying."
Ryder didn't seem fazed with the glare and leaned casually against a locker again. "That tone could hurt my feelings. Luckily I know that you also love me so I'll let it slide this time. And before you say anything; I'm not lying."
"Why, Daniels? Why?!"
He just shrugged at my outburst. "I like to learn more about stage fighting plus I've not been in the same class as you for two years."
"Right." Lying bastard that's what he is. Putting my hand in my sides I looked him up and down. "Is this about Beck?"
"Maybe."
He smiles the most innocent smile I had ever seen on anyone besides Cat. That and the fact that there was a small glint in his eyes told me he was lying yet again. But instead if freaking out I just sighed and walked further.
"Don't break him."
Daniels is so lucky I consider him an acquaintance and that I somehow missed him over the last couple of years.
"I knew you wouldn't mind."
Together we walked into class and almost immediately we saw Vega doing something stupid yet again. Seating myself on the last row I snickered a little. "Who knew Vega would have the balls to attack a teacher?"
"Hey!" Vega turned towards me. "That guy was beating up Beck!"
"Ow you poor thing." Putting on my most sympathetic face I stood and walked towards here. "You are so brave, Tori! Attacking a man who was just teaching poor little Beck to make it look like he's fighting without really hurting someone. He really needed your help."
"You can say that West!" Ryder pitched in from his chair. "I can see why Vega here felt the need to protect him. Oliver just hasn't got the strength to really put up a fight."
I opened my mouth to say something but closed it again. Beck doesn't deserve it that I defend him. Besides no one needs to know that he is stronger than he looks and that he always made me feel safe.
The bell got me out of my thoughts and I seated myself next to Ryder again. The rest of the class wasn't that eventful only at the end something interesting happened.
"Pairing are, Cat and André, Beck and Ryder, Jade and Tori, Jo-"
"Wait what! Jade and who?"
At that moment the bell rang again signaling the end of class and the end of me hearing Vega nag to the teacher about the pairings.
"So you and Beck?" Maybe it wasn't the most casual way to bring this up to Ryder right after class and in the middle of the hallway but I wanted to hear what is thoughts were on this.
"Stop being afraid, West. I won't hurt your precious little boyfriend."
"He isn't my boyfriend anymore" And it still hurt to say that out loud.
"Because he kissed Vega, I know. But you still act like he is."
"That's…Because…I…Ugh." I grabbed his arm and pulled him into the Janitors closet. "If you repeat anything about what I'm gonna say to anyone I'm going to kill you in a way that will hurt you the most."
"Got it. Now spill."
"I…" He looked me in the eyes and I just couldn't say it. Not this way. Without warning I flicked the light of and breathed in. "I still love him, okay? It's not something I can shut of although I wish it was possible. He… What he did hurt me in the most painful way. Not just that he kissed her but also the reason behind it." I fell silent.
After a few minutes of pure silence Ryder spoke up. "What was the reason?" For once his voice w lacked the usual edge.
"I…He…" Defeated I leaned against a wall. "He wanted to punish me for my reaction on her the day before."
"Just like your Dad always did to your Mom." Ryder came closer and pulled me in for a hug. At that moment I wanted to cry so badly. Instead I just breathed in his familiar sent. God, I missed him. "He's not getting away with that, Jade. I promise."
"Maybe it isn't his fault. Not totally. I tend to push people away."
"Jadelyn August West don't think that. This is not your fault. Just like it isn't your fault that your Dad is an asshole and your mother an ignorant bitch. You don't push people away. They just can't stand the fact that you're so amazing and wonderful and confident all on your own."
"You think so?"
"I know it's so. Don't ever doubt that."
We were alone in the Janitors closet so I hugged him back just this one time. "Thank you, Ryder Daniels. You're also quite amazing"
The rest of the week I didn't forget that conversation except for one piece. That one I remembered on Friday when Ryder 'accidentally' hit Beck during their stage fight. In the safety of my own home I laughed about that but right then and there I just snickered. It isn't that Beck couldn't see it coming from miles away. They've hated each other from day one. There was one thing I could say in Becks favor that day and that is that he took the blow with stride. He didn't complain or tried to hit back. He just nodded, cleaned himself up and looked at me with a certain amount of stubbornness in his big brown eyes. At night that look came back to haunt me. I dreamed about those eyes and how they looked when he told me that he loved me.