Finding You

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I went for a walk again the next day. Gabrielle had texted me saying she was sick and couldn't come over. I was dissapointed but also a little relieved. I wanted to be alone with my new found resolve to feel better. Halfway down the trail who do I see but Zeke.

"Fancy seeing you here." I said sarcastically. He laughed.

"Hello Ryan. Why weren't you in school?" He asked turning to walk with me. Oh God.

"I got suspended."

"Wow really?" He sounded surprised. "What for?"

"I punched Jake in the face." I said avoiding eye contact.

"Nice job dude! High five!" He held up his hand. "No? Ok that's fine too." I tried to hold back a laugh, but it didn't work.

"Aha!" Zeke said triumphantly "I made you laugh!"

"Yeah so what?" I said looking at him. "That's nothing special."

"It is to me..." He said sincerely. Weird. I'd never talked to this kid in my life and he thinks making me laugh is special.

"Uh...I've gotta go." I abruptly turned around toward my house.

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"Dammit Gabrielle pick up the phone!!" I muttered as it rang.

"Whaddya want?" She asked seeming very pissed off. I had to laugh at her.

"Do you know Zeke?" I asked nervously.

"Yeah he's in my art class. He's a great artist. Why?" 

"I keep running in to him on walks and I think he's into me." I whispered. Gabrielle snorted with laughter.

"INTO YOU?!" She screeched. "Ryan I love you but not every guy likes you if he looks at you. Maybe he just wants to be friends." That made sense.

"Yeah, OK." I said smiling.

"You should talk to him when you get back. When is that exactly?" She asked

"Monday." I replied. "I gotta go but I'll talk to you tomorrow." I sighed with relief. I should't worry so much, I guess I was just paranoid because I hadn't been single for two years. I didn't feel single though, I felt tied to Luke in a way. I couldn't just leave him behind.

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The next day I was back at school. I was not very happy about this.

"Hey asshole." Jake said as he pushed me past him in the hallway.

"Nice to see you too..." I muttered.

"Hey toughboy welcome back!" Gabrielle said as she hugged me. I laughed and we walked to my locker. 

"Glad to be back?" She asked teasingly. I shoved her and we were just standing there grinning like idiots. People were staring but we didn't care. I almost looked around for Luke, but I didn't. Gabrielle realized my laughing was no longer genuine. Without asking what's wrong, she just hugged me. I don't know what I'd do without Gabrielle.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------My first class of the day was calculus. I walked in and noticed there was an empty seat next to Zeke. I took it.

"Hey." I said a little nervously. "I'm really sorry I ran away yesterday." It felt good to apologize. Now that I know he doesn't have a thing for me, I could imagine is being friends.

"It's fine." Zeke said smiling at me. "I probably came on a little strong, I've wanted to talk to you for awhile but I was to shy." He pushed his hair back in the most adorable way. NO. This is not happening. Well, I thought, thinking someone is attractive isn't the same as LIKING them. Yeah that works.

"Why?" I asked jokingly "Do I intimidate you?" We laughed.

"Alright class today we're going to review for the midterm." The teacher calmed the class down. "Please take out your textbooks and tun to page 121."

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After calculus I had to make up the exams I missed while I was suspended. Then it was lunch. Before Luke died me, him, and Gabrielle sat in a circle table in the corner. Sometimes a few of our less relevant friends would sit with us but it was usually just us. Well I walked into the cafeteria and Zeke was sitting at the table with Gabrielle.

"Zeke?" I asked surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"Gabrielle invited me to sit here. If you want me to leave I will." He started to get up.

"No no stay!" I said frantically. "I'm just not really used to other people sitting here." He smiled and took a seat.

"How were your exams?" Gabrielle asked me.

"Fine, I guess, I mean they're exams." I shrugged. I picked up my sandwich and was about to take a bite when the last person I wanted to see showed up.

"This your boyfriend Miller?" Jake pointed at Zeke.

"No." I said dryly. I wasn't about to get suspended again.

"Oh really? Are you hiding something from me Miler?" Jake sat down next to me and put his arm around me.

"My name is Ryan."

"Don't care."

"Leave him alone Jake." Zeke? Oh no, I don't want him to get bullied by Jake because he stood up for me. Gabrielle looked nervous.

"Aw Zeke do you have a little crush on our friend Ryan here?" Jake cackled. I didn't think guys could cackle, but he did. He walked away softly cackling. It was weird. The rest of lunch passed peacefully. Zeke pulled out a book and started reading. Gabrielle looked at me with her eyes wide and excited. I looked at her questioningly and she pointed at Zeke. He was reading 'World War Z'. My favorite book. I smiled.

 “The monsters that rose from the dead, they are nothing compared to the ones we carry in our hearts” I quoted. Zeke looked up, eyes shining.

"You've read this?" He whispered reverently. Gabrielle snorted.

"Only like 10 times!" She said. We all laughed. It was true, if I ever ran out of books to read, I read World War Z.

"Well," Zeke began nervously. "The movie premieres this Friday night. Wanna go?" That was unexpected. Then I remembered something. I had planned to go with Luke. We were gonna go to the midnight showing. I looked at Gabrielle.

"I mean I understand if you don't want to..." Zeke sounded flustered.

"No. I'll go."  

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*AUTHORS NOTE*

So? Chapter 3! We're moving along quite nicely if I do say so myself. 

Quick Shoutout!!

Go check out my friends story Classified. It's excellent, its all secrety and crap. GO READ IT.