You Can Change

Chapter Nine

School. Chryss was interested to see how Cedric would act around her now. It came as a shock when he turned up to board the bus at exactly the same time as her, without Brandon and Jorgen.

"Stayed up to 3am?" she asked. She really hoped he hadn't. 

"4," Cedric grimaced. "But mom and dad were screaming the house down again, so what else? You didn't hear anything?"

Chryss shook her head. "I've slept with earplugs ever since your family moved in."

Cedric flushed. "Sorry."

"It's not your fault," Chryss waved an airy hand. "Since when have you taken the bus?"

"Well, I used to walk," Cedric said, "but I overslept, so I have to take the bus. Hope this doesn't impact finances too much."

"If anything impacts finances, it's you staying up to 3am texting. Wonder how much electricity that used?" Chryss asked.

Cedric shrugged. "Dad foots the electricity bill - which explains why my phone's dead half the time."

He was joking, but it was a worrying thought. If his dad couldn't even afford electricity, how bad were his family's finances?

"What if you need to contact your parents?" she asked, remembering he'd blocked them the previous night.

"I can always unblock them. But I won't be contacting them anytime soon," Cedric responded carelessly.

"And if they need to contact you?"

"I don't want to hear from them," Cedric said darkly.

"Mind if I play some music?" Chryss asked.

Cedric shrugged. "It's a free country."

Grinning, she turned on her music playlist. She didn't pick the Taylor Swift one, having been embarrassed after playing Enchanted the previous night. It started alright, with WYD Now by Sadie Jean, but the next song was one she'd queued the previous night, not that morning - You Belong With Me.

And while she hastened to change the song, Cedric stopped her.

"I like that one," Cedric said, his hand still on his arm.

Chryss didn't move her arm away right away.

❛❛Walk in the streets with you in your worn-out jeans

I can't help thinking this is how it ought to be

Laughing on a park bench thinking to myself

Hey, isn't this easy?

And you've got a smile

That can light up this whole town

I haven't seen it in a while

Since she brought you down

You say you're fine, I know you better than that

Hey, what you doing with a girl like that?❜❜

Chryss couldn't help but notice Cedric's jeans were worn out and hid her own blush as she looked away from him, her gaze fixated on the ground.

"Bus is here," Cedric said abruptly, standing up.

Chryss stood up in a rush. Fumbling with her phone, she slipped on a banana peel on the ground and sprawled on the floor.

"Hey, you okay?" Cedric reached for her hand and gently pulled her to her feet before picking up her phone and handing it to her.

Realizing she'd just made a fool of herself in front of him and everyone in the bus, Chryss nodded, her cheeks flushed crimson.

"Thanks," she said quietly.

"Anytime," Cedric responded. "Is that bag too heavy for you?"

It was very heavy, actually. But while it was nice to see Cedric's transformation into a gentleman, it would be embarrassing to just hand it to him like that.

"No, it's alright," she lied even as her shoulders burned from the weight.

Cedric shrugged, not seeing through the act - or maybe he did, only be wasn't saying so. 

But he took her bag as they got off the bus and slung it over his shoulders, leaving her bag-free and feeling a lot lighter.

"Thanks," Chryss murmured softly, for the second time that day. This time, he only smiled, taking her hand in his. And when she stared into his eyes, clear and happy for once since she'd met him, she smiled back, realizing she'd been right to believe in him all along.

Cedric's transformation from a terrible bully to a kindly gentleman showed how anyone could change, no matter what the circumstances. They just needed someone to believe in them.

Someone to give them a chance.