Can You Fight? [ON HOLD]

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

"Ryder? Ryder, is that you?" said a voice. 

"Ms. Suzie! I haven't seen you in a while!" Ryder exclaimed as he stood up and hugged the old woman, who I assumed to be "Ms. Suzie," tightly. 

"Ryder! It is you! You have grown so much! You were barely up to my waist the last time I saw you," Ms. Suzie exclaimed. "Why haven't you come to see me?" 

"I'm sorry?" Ryder said sheepishly, but it sounded more like a question. He let go of her. Ms. Suzie turned her head, and finally noticed me. 

"And who is this young lady? Is she you're girlfriend? Hmm? Is she?" She asked looking towards him, waggling her eyebrows. Ryder blushed (again?!). Is it the end of the world? 

"No no no no!! We're not dating; we're just project partners!" We denied simultaneously, and a bit too quickly. Ms. Suzie eyed us suspiciously, but before she could say anything, Katie came in with the bill. 

"Oh no. this is on the house," Ms. Suzie said, smiling sweetly. 

"Why?" Ryder asked skeptically. 

"I haven't seen you in a while," the old woman said. "Think of it as my 'Welcome Back' gift." She seems to be up to something, I just can't be sure of what. After she paid for us, we just stayed a bit longer and talked, well mostly Ryder and Ms. Suzie with me answering questions here and there, about mainly the good 'ol days. 

"Ms. Suzie, we have to go, it's getting late," Ryder said. Ms. Suzie nodded. 

"Okay, fine, but you both better come back to visit me, or else," she warned in a sing song voice. 

"I'm not making any promises," Ryder joked as we walked out.

As we got in his awesome car, a sudden look of confusion befell his face. 

"What's with the face?" I asked him. 

"I just realized something, if you're one of Gary's best fighters, then why don't you defend yourself at school?" He asked. I widened my eyes. Oh shit. I have no idea how to answer his question. 

"Uh, um, I guess I’m considered to be the stereotypical nerd. No one would ever expect me to fight back, right? There are so many idiots at our school, and it will just baffle them to see a super nerd being able to kick ass," I said, proud of my answer. Ryder just nodded, believing me. Too easy. I suddenly smiled at how different Ryder is. Ryder noticed my smile as we drove down the long stretch of empty highway. 

"What are you smiling at?" he asked me. I shook my head. 

"Nothing, it's just, I've never seen you like that" I admitted. 

"Like what?" 

"Like you." 

"What does that mean?" 

"You act like all high and mighty and like you're PMSing 24/7 at school, but you're clearly not that. You're childish and actually kind of... pleasant. You actually seemed like an actually human being." 

“Thanks. That’s so nice," Ryder said sarcastically. I smiled and punched him lightly on the arm. 

"Why do you do it?" 

"Do what?" 

"Why are you a huge asshole at school, when you're not? You actually have a soft side," I asked him. he didn't respond. 

"Answer me," I ordered. Silence. I almost punched him, when we suddenly pulled up in front of my house. 

"How did you know where I live?"