Finding the Balance

Chapter 3- Josie

I woke up the next morning with a killer headache and a nasty kink in my neck, my bed was brand new and the mattress had not been used before me so everything was too firm.

I looked around my new room as far as rooms went it was gorgeous the whole room was decorated in a turquoise colour scheme with one gorgeous feature wall on the right side of my bed. There was a white desk on the opposite side to the feature wall under the window which was already filled with stationary.

I felt a small pang in my chest at the thought that Annie had already been to the stationary stores, it was one of my nerdy habits but I just loved stationary stopping. It literally made me happy the whole week if I went. I rolled out of bed and made my way to the bathroom in the hallway opposite of my room, as I reached for the door it opened inwards before I could grab it and I came face to face with a barley dressed Ryan. 

His face went from normal to scowling in two seconds flat, his eyes narrowed on me taking in an assessment of my body. I was wearing tiny pyjama shorts that were at least three years old and a ratty singlet that had seen better days; I couldn’t make myself wear the new pyjamas Annie had bought me, I really did not want to be here with nice people. Nice people make you fall in love with them and then they leave, it’s always been this way for me and always will be so it’s better just to avoid getting attached.

Ryan’s gaze travelled leisurely along my legs not caring that he was standing there in boxers and socks with most of his body on display. Not that he had anything to hide he had a light layer of muscle all over him; however it didn’t make him look lanky because of his height instead it gave him a lean look. Ryan was really good looking and he knew it, I noticed some small black script on his left ribcage but because of the awkwardness of the moment I couldn’t lean in closer to inspect it.  

“Done with your ogling?” I smirked; glad to have been the first one to stop staring, unfortunately Ryan had the same idea.  

“Nah, give me a sec” His gaze continued to travel up my legs lingering on my chest and lips but completely avoiding in my eyes. His mouth turned down into a slight frown while I just stood there completely immobile silently fuming at his cruelty.  

“I need to use the bathroom so can you get the fuck out of my way? Some of us don’t enjoy standing in hallways in our underwear” I snapped. I always knew I had a short fuse Marlene liked to remind me every time she came to visit me at my foster home, she also liked to say that one day someone would match my temper; looks like the day had come. In an instant Ryan’s eyes were filled with a challenging fire that strangely excited me. He stepped out of the doorway mock bowing so low that his fingers grazed the ground. 

“My apologies the bathroom awaits” Ryan replied in a sickly sweet voice that really should not have been used by males. I stepped past him closing the door quickly behind me before he could ridicule me further. “Oh and by the way I was wearing socks so I’m not wearing only underwear because my feet were covered.” He yelled through the door before his footsteps retreated down the hallway.

What had I gotten myself into? Yesterday it seemed like a good idea to tell him where to shove it however I never expected him to start acting like this. At dinner last night he spent the whole meal scowling at his plate before throwing another hissy fit and storming up to his room, wisely I chose not to follow him this time.

Amy ended up in tears for a second time promising me that aliens had abducted her brother because he was not really like this, even Liam chimed in saying that Ryan normally behaved much better. Annie and Dave were appalled by his behaviour apologising, to me no less than six times before finally stopping when I told them that it was okay and probably a onetime incident. After this morning it was clear that this was not the case.