Happiness [Book 2]

Chapter 9 - Cowboys and Kisses

As the clocked ticked later and later into the night, I was getting impatient. I was getting sleepy, but I hadn't had the chance to talk to Ryder that day, so I was waiting for that phone call. 

My phone buzzed loudly. I tapped the screen and Ryder's happy face appeared in front of me. His silky hair was ruffled and his brown eyes were red and tired. "Hey, Marls," he smiled, with a dreamy smile painted on his cute face.

"Hi, Ryder." I replied to him in a whisper.

"Tell me about your day," he said, as per usual. His eyes were not focused on the screen in front of hi, but far off in the distance. 

"Well, we're performing at the pep rally this week, and Mr. Schue picked me to sing the lead," I smiled sheepishly, "even though I'm so scared."

"That'll be exciting. What song are you doing?" 

"I'm Outta Love by Anastacia."

"Literally never heard of it." He sounded distant. 

"It's really cool, we've got it all sorted out."

"What else is new?" He asked.

I pondered about what else had happened that day. "Oh, yeah, the new girl told me that she has a crush on Kitty!"

Ryder raised his eyebrows. "Oh, she's gay?"

"She didn't exactly say that."

"That's weird," he said.

It took me by surprise. "Uh, what?" I snapped. 

"Oh," Ryder started laughing, "no, no, she just has questionable taste for liking Kitty, that's all. Who cares if she's gay?"

I laughed. "Hey, you can't talk. You got woo'd by her, too."

"Alright, alright," Ryder laughed, defeated.

"Tell me about your day," I asked, looking at his face on the screen, trying to convince myself I was really looking into his eyes.

"Nothing new," he replied, so matter-of-factly. "Right now, I'm actually just doing some homework that was meant to be finished by today but I forgot about it."

A part of me was hurt that he was multi-tasking. I wanted his full attention, even just for a minute.

He yawned loudly. 

"You tired?" I asked. 

"Oh, absolutely," he murmured, "but you gotta do what you gotta do." I wondered whether he was talking about me or about his homework. 

"Ryder!" His mom's voice echoed through the phone. I saw her entering the line of view. She looked tired and mad as she angrily wrapped the tie on her night gown. "Why are you still up?"

"Homework, mom." He spun around in his chair to face her. 

"Can't it wait?"

"No, it was due today. I just... forgot." He slammed his phone down on the bench. That was my cue to stay quiet. 

His mom spoke again, her voice full of spite. "You're talking to Marley, aren't you?"

"Mom..." Ryder sighed.

"That girl is a distraction. Turn off the phone and get to sleep." She snapped.

"Mom!" He was whining now.

I felt like crying; I missed him and now he was being told not to miss me back.

"Ryder, what's more important? Your grades and education, or your relationship?"