I wish

Chapter two: It hurts.

Things were going quite well, they were both going easy on me and tossing it to me so I could manage to catch the ball. This was actually kind of fun, I see why my brother likes sports, that is until they decided to pick up the speed. I tried to keep up with them and talk with Rylie at the same time until. Crack. The ball was thrown from my brother at full strength directly into my nose. I let out a small yelp as I held onto my nose Rylie ran over to me and moved my hands which were now covered in blood. Marcus just glared at me as Rylie rushed me to the nurse and cleaned up the blood on my nose. My eyes filled with tears as he cleaned out the small cut on my nose. Once he noticed the tears, he gently wiped them away with the pad of his thumb.

"It doesn't look broken so that's a good thing," he smiles reassuringly while continuing to clean off the blood.

"Thank you for helping, you didn't have to," Rylie just gives me a weird look.

"Why wouldn't I help you? You're injured and I'd rather not just stand by and watch. That's not what friends do," he smiles again and puts a bandage on my nose. Friends. That hurt. But I expected that at least. I must've had a weird look on my face. But still. I'm a friend somehow. I'll accept that.

"What's wrong? Does it hurt somewhere else?" I shake my head in response and stand up.

"Thank you again and I'll see you after school," I say while walking out and to my locker for my lunch box.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Rylie asks and I practically jump out of my skin.

"Jesus, dude don't sneak up on me like that," Rylie chuckles slightly and that's when I see Marcus glaring at me from across the hall. I quickly look away and to my feet.

"Well, are you okay?" He asks again. I nod my head.

"Go enjoy your lunch," I say while grabbing my lunch and walking to the garden outside of the school. I feel like I'm gonna get a nice long lecture from Marcus tonight. Not like I want Rylie around me. He just keeps showing up.

I didn't even end up touching my lunch. As I head back to my locker, Marcus and Rylie are talking as usual so I just sneak by them to my next class. The rest of the day went by pretty fast and before I knew it, I was in the car with Rylie, heading to his house. So many thoughts running through my head but one above them all. I can't let him get to me so much. I can't let him see I have feelings for him. Just then he broke the silence.

"I was thinking about working on anatomy tonight," he says while glancing over at me. I nod my head and look out the window.

"Works for me," I say while trying to relax my mind. It didn't work. Why? Well, cause now we're in his house. Alone. His parents are out for the night and he's an only child. Rylie leads me to his room and holds the door open for me. His room is decked out with baseball posters and signed balls in cases. I can't help but chuckle to myself as I walk to his desk.

"What are you laughing about?" He asks while following me in and closing the door.

"Nothing nothing," I smile and he smiles back softly before grabbing his computer out of his bag and dragging another chair up to his desk.

"Okay then weirdo, let's just get this show on the road shall we?" He says while opening his computer to his anatomy assignment.

"So why do you need help with this?" I ask while watching him scroll to the document.

"I don't understand the regions of the body and need to study them more. Plus you took this class in the past and aced it so I could use your help," he says while looking at me.

"I'll help you but you owe me ice cream," I say jokingly but he just nods in response and smiles.

"So which ones do you struggle with most?" I ask while scooting closer to look at the screen.

"Mainly just the legs and abdomen area," he says while turning the computer in my direction. Well, this should be fun.

"Okay so what area do you want to start with first?" I turn my gaze to Rylie and he smacks his thighs.

"Legs? Okay then," I say while putting the computer on my lap.

"Ready?" Rylie nods in response.

"Um, Popliteal?" Rylie stares at me in confusion. I stand up and turn around and make it look like I'm trying to pop my knee.

"The back of your knee is only visible when you stand and try to pop your knee, get it?" Rylie nods as I hand him his computer back. Maybe he should look at them first and we can try again.

"Look over them again then I'll quiz you again," I say and he takes the computer and scans over all the words. After about ten minutes he hands me the computer back. I carefully take it.

"Can you stand up? It's easier if I have a visual," he asks and I nod while standing up.

"Femoral region?" Rylie scoots the chair closer and pokes my thigh, sending a shockwave up my body. I didn't think he meant a touching visual. I look at the next word.

"Patellar region?" Rylie slides his finger to my knee and stops. I nod my head.

"Popliteal?" He glides his finger around my knee to the back and stops.

"Do you have to touch me?" I ask and move the computer so I can see his face and he smiles.

"You react just like your brother does when I touch him, you get tense and short fused," he chuckles and I feel a ping of jealousy in my chest. At least my brother gets touched by him.

"Okay? Still don't touch me it's not necessary," I say while stepping back and tripping on my bag, causing me to fall on my back. As I try to get up, Rylie stands over me.

"Are you single?" He asks and I can feel my cheeks start to flush. Why does he want to know that? I nod my head and try to scoot out from under him.