In 7 Days [Book 1]

Chapter 68 - DNA

The day had finally arrived. 

In our shoddy old car, mom and I pulled into the waiting bay at the airport. We had driven there in silence, the radio turned off and neither of us daring to say a word. As I opened the door and stepped out, I spoke for the first time in hours: "I'll be back soon."

Ryder was already at the airport, checked in and ready to go. He was expecting me... but he wasn't expecting the rest of the Glee club.

As I stepped into the oddly quiet airport, I spotted Ryder immediately. He was sat on one of the blue (stained) seats, head in hands, staring down at his bulky luggage beneath his feet. 

I tiptoed over to him. "Hi, Ryder," I whispered.

His head snapped up. "Oh, Marley," he sighed, exasperated. He patted the seat next to him. I fell into it, gripping his hand tightly.

We sat in silence for a moment, staring around the airport. I spoke eventually. "Where are your parents? And Adrian?"

"Complaining. They overbooked the flight, did you know they do that? But that ended up messing things up, so Adrian is now sat at the back of the plane without me or mom or dad, so they're trying to move us around." He sighed again. He looked over at me, with sad puppy dog eyes. "Oh well."

He patted his lap, signalling to me that I should sit on it. I sat down on his legs and buried my face into his silky, brown mop of hair. Another moment of silence passed. 

"I wish I didn't have to go." Ryder mumbled.

Tears prickled in my eyes. "I wish you didn't have to go, either."

More silence. 

"I have something for you, Mar," he dug his hands into the deep pockets of his sweatpants.

"Wait, I have something for you." I jumped off his lap, brushed down my skirt, and watched the doors to the airport swing open. Our friends from Glee club - past and present - barged into the waiting area and rushed over to us.

"You got them to come?" He laughed. 

"They love you!" I pulled Ryder out of his seat, to his feet, and ushered him to the group. Everyone greeted him with tight hugs and hearty handshakes.

Whilst he was distracted, Sam passed me the electronic keyboard over the seats. I hurriedly set it up at the right level, turned it on, and took a seat. 

Once Ryder noticed what I was doing, he sat down directly across from me. "This is for you." I tapped lightly on the piano keys, just as I had practiced, and it came out sounding just like the Little Mix song we knew and loved.

Does he tell you he loves you when you least expect it
Does he flutter your heart when he kisses your neck
No scientist, or biology
It's obvious, when he's holding me
It's only natural that I'm so affected

I couldn't bring myself to look up at Ryder. I kept my eyes trained on the keys in front of me, focusing so strongly on what note to make next and what word I had to sing out. 

And my heart won't beat again
If I can't feel him in my veins
No need to question, I already know

It's in his DNA
D-D-D-DNA
It's in his DNA
And he just takes my breath away
B-b-breath away
I feel it every day, and that's what makes a man
Not hard to understand
Perfect in every way
I see it in his face
Nothing more to say
It's in his D-D-D-DNA

I changed my mind; I looked up at him as I poured my heart out into the chorus. What I saw, broke my heart. He sat there, mouth twisted into a harsh frown and tears rolling down his cheeks.