You Belong With Me (A Sequel to "What Once Was")

17 two and two together

With Thanksgiving break now underway, I sat atop Ryder's bed while he emailed some college scouts that he has been in contact with. When he finished, he turned to face me.

"Excited for the Thanksgiving party tonight?" asked Ryder.

I groaned and flopped back onto the pillows. "No. Remember what happened last year?"

Long story short, my dad is hosting dinner for the football team and their families tonight at our house, but when he did that last year, it was a disaster. It was the root of me having to move to LA because it was when he publicly found out about my relationship with Ryder.

"He likes me now. Besides, don't you think he already knows?"

"No, and let's keep it that way until I'm 18."

Ryder chuckled and climbed onto the bed beside me. He combed his fingers through my hair and dotted kisses on my head.

"I feel like he already knows. He let you walk with me on senior night after all."

"No, he doesn't. I would be in LA right now if he knew," I responded as I started to gather my things because I needed to go home and get ready for the dinner.

He pulled me into his arms and placed a soft kiss on my lips. "It'll be alright, though. He likes me now anyways."

"He will until he finds out you aren't with Ella anymore. That's probably why he didn't care about letting me walk with you."

"Whatever, I think he likes me."

-

I sat up in my room and watched as the cars began to flood into the driveway. I finished up my hair and then made my way downstairs and to where everyone had gathered.

Jane, my aunt, stood by the stairs, and so did Alice, my four year old cousin. She threw her arms around me when I stopped by them so I picked her up.

"Hi, Al," I said. "Excited for dinner?"

She giggled and wrapped her arms around my neck.

"I would say that's a yes," Jane said with a smile.

I also smiled and glanced across the room, just as Ryder walked in with Braxton. I literally just saw him two hours ago and I still can't help but go weak.

"Are you two back together?" she asked after following my gaze to Ryder.

I glanced at her and blushed. "Pretty much. We don't have a title or anything, but..."

She smiled and my mom stopped beside us. "Ains, Ryder is here."

"We were just talking about him!" Jane exclaimed.

"Jane, if only you could witness their relationship," my mom gushed, "they are so cute together."

I groaned loudly as she took out her phone and began showing Jane pictures of Ryder and me.

"Mom, can we not do this with Dad in earshot?" I hissed because my dad was just about to welcome everyone.

"Oh, right. Sorry, Ains."

My mom and I made our way over to my dad and stood beside him. With that, everyone seemed to take the hint to quiet down, so all eyes in the room went to us. My dad smiled at everyone before beginning to speak.

I basically tuned him out though because I was looking at Ryder.

"You look gorgeous," he mouthed, which made me smile.

"Love you," I mouthed back.

When my dad finished his speech, I made my way over to Ryder and Braxton.