Happiness [Book 2]

Chapter 7 - Price Tag / Don't You Forget About Me / Give Me Everything

As I drifted to sleep that night, I was scared awake by my phone's ringtone. With my eyes still closed, I placed it to my ear. "Hello?" I croaked out.

"Hey, Marley," I heard Ryder's voice on the other end, quiet but chirpy as ever. 

"Hey, babe," I sighed.

"You seem tired," he commented.

"You woke me up," I whined. Ryder just laughed. "But I guess I don't mind, because it's you." Even though I had very little energy, I still smiled.

"So, tell me about your day." This was how we always got the conversation started.

We talked about the new Glee guy, Travis, (and I omitted the weird, flirty vibes I got from him) and about the big group number we did. 

"That sounds awesome, Mar," he said with a smile.

"What about you?" I asked. "Have you... made any friends?"

I heard Ryder click his tongue, followed by a short and sharp, "No."

I rolled over, sighed, and hugged my pillow close to my chest. With my eyes still closed, I imagined it was Ryder. "You'll make friends soon enough," I comforted.

He quickly broke the fantasy. "I've been eating my lunch in the toilet," he said.

"Off the ground, or from the bowl?" I asked.

"I've been sitting on the toilet," he chuckled.

"Unhygienic." I scoffed jokingly.

"On the closed seat. You know what I mean." 

"I do. I'm just joking with you." 

We had a slight lull in the conversation. When Ryder spoke again, his voice was meek. "Why don't they want me?" 

It pulled at my heart strings. I opened my eyes, suddenly more awake. "Maybe they just... they just don't know you yet."

"I say really funny jokes in class." 

"I'm sure they're hilarious, Ryder." I knew they probably weren't that good. "But not everyone has the same sense of humour as you or me."

"I wish I hadn't moved." He said.

"I know." I felt my eyes filling with tears. Why did he have to do this to me?

Ryder's tone quickly shifted - he was trying to lift the mood. I still felt like I was going to cry. "My new school has uniforms, Marley. Uniforms. I would kill to wear a hoodie and track pants to school again... not a dress shirt and pants and uncomfortable shoes."

"I miss you." I blurted out. 

"I miss you too,"  he sighed. A moment of silence passed before he spoke again. "Okay, I probably should get to bed now."

I was disappointed he was leaving so soon. It was almost like... he didn't want to speak to me. But I let him go. It was best that I got some sleep, as well. Maybe I would think straighter about it all in the morning. 

***

It was finally time for our (probably dreaded) acapella performance. It hadn't exactly gone to plan just yet. Kitty had been so sure that she would head to the library for her free period, yet we found her outside in the courtyard wearing big sunglasses and sipping on a Capri Sun. Amy was a big girl, with smooth blonde hair and a big smile on her face. 

Kitty quickly thought of another plan. "Write down: Free burritos. Library." She instructed. I quickly jotted it down and ripped it off my notepad. Unique took it from me, slapped it on some stoner boy's back, and ran away. Just as we hoped, he didn't notice it.