heart strings♥

chapter eleven: Ryan

"So... tell me, how did you two know each other again?" Ryan asked while he picked on his fries. He was grinning like an idiot at Alex and Raysa as they sat at the lunch table. Kayla was beside Ryan talking to Hana.

"Like I said, we're childhood friends," Alex said firmly. He was glad that his cold was gone, but he beginning to worry that Ryan would give him a headache.

"So...where'd you meet?" he asked, "When, and how?" he added. Alex badly wanted to shut him up, but Raysa gladly answered. "We met when we were seven. Alex was waiting for his parents while I was waiting for my brother."

"Yeah! I remember Alex and Raysa were always doing this cute routine---" Hana said but Raysa and Alex covered her mouth with theirs. "No one needs to know that!" they said in unison.

The couple looked at them suspiciously. Hana groaned around under the two hands, so they released her.

"Fine. I won't tell them that," Hana promised rolling her eyes. She turned to the couple beside her, "Raysa used to sing with Alex as he played the guitar. They were really cute and amazi---"

Ryan coughed, "Alex, sing?" Kayla laughed. "You're kidding!"

Alex kept his expression blank. Ryan stared at him, "You play?"

"He never told you?" Raysa asked.

"No," Ryan said pouting at Alex, "He doesn't tell me anything..."

"Then why don't we perform for you?" Raysa suggested with a bright smile.

"Raysa!" Alex protested, he clearly didn't like the idea. Ryan put a hand over his mouth and said with a grin, "What songs can Alex play?" he asked happily while his prisoner struggled to get free.

"Um, I don't know... It's been six years since I've last heard him play, so I don't really have any idea which songs he knows now."

They talked a lot about songs and music. Raysa discovered that Alex never shares anything with anyone. No one knew he had five guitars at his house, two of them electric, and one bass. Not even the fact that he lives in a freakin' mansion was known. All they knew was how he acts  in school.

Ryan felt...sad, or was it hurt or annoyed? He didn't really know. It's just that, he was always watching his back... He thought he knew enough of his pal, but... apparently he was wrong. "I can't believe we've been friends for three years and you've never shared anything," Ryan told Alex. He had already released his quiet prisoner. He stopped complaining and decided to ignore the whole matter about him performing at school.

"C'mon Alex," Raysa said.

"No," he said firmly. "It's okay Raysa," Ryan said with a sigh. He folded his arms on the table and buried his head in and sulked.

Kayla faked anger and joined in, "Have you no shame Alex? Ryan has always been loyal to you. He bailed you out of trouble more than once, helped you skip class when you wanted to, and even covered for you whenever needed," she said with an exaggerated tone of accusation. "And what did you do for him?" she continued. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing."  She really wanted to make Alex reconsider 'cause having Alex Raven sing and play would seriously be a sight to see.

No matter how unaffected Alex looked as he ignored Kayla's accusation, Raysa knew he felt terribly guilty. She knew he was soft, always has been and always will be. Especially when it comes to friends. If Ryan was really an annoyance just like he says, he would've ditched him a long time ago, but to have him beside Alex for three years proves that Alex sees him as someone important whether he knows it or not.

Kayla's phone rang, "Oh... Trish needs me," she muttered. She turned to Ryan and kissed him before running off. Raysa and Hana's faces were totally flushed, while Alex gagged.