Everything Changes

Chapter 10: Stanger Danger

                                               Ryders P.O.V

I'm about to open the beer in my hand when my body twitches as a pair of arms suddenly wrap around me. I look down to see Cindy Laurence looking up at me, biting her bottom lip.

"Lucky boy, Alison finally let you out tonight? Did you come to play with the big girls?" I snorted at her comment. I knew what she was trying to suggest. And Cindy wasn't anything remotely close to my taste. Alison doesn't stop me from doing anything. But I guess Cindy thinks she's in a position to tease me. Time to shut that down.

"I don't need her permission, Cindy, and I'm not your plaything." She bats her eyes at me, her eyes glossy. She must be too buzzed to realize how repulsed I was by her.

"You're always playing hard to get. How about I show you how fun being my plaything can be?" Cindy wouldn't be saying any of this to me if Alison were here. Since they were best friends and all. I'll never understand why those two are friends. Cindy has been trying to hook up with me since day one.

"Yeah, not tonight and not ever, Cindy, why don't you go find someone who's interested. 'Cause I'm not." I removed her arms away from me and walked away.

Alison and I might not be dating and I can see whoever I want on the side, but one girl is enough for my mental energy. I turn to see an open mouth Cindy offended at my remark. I take my beer and try to walk away from her but she grabs onto my arm a bit too forcibly.

"No one, and I mean no one walks away from me. I could have any guy I want. And for your information, I was just making out with one of the hottest guys in our school." My eyes went wide, a memory from my youth tried coming back up. I swatted her hand away instinctively.

"Don't ever think for one second that you can put your hands on me like that again. I don't care about some guy's sloppy seconds." I stare her down, masking my internal conflict with intimidation. I turn to leave and all I hear from her is this god-awful screeching noise.

I needed this night to be better. Fast. I head for the back porch to get some peace and quiet. Just as I step out, enjoying the fresh air, I hear the sound of crying. For a moment I thought I saw my shadow, but when I further investigated, it turned out to be a girl.

Realizing that I've just walked in on someone crying, I froze. I would usually have no issue and be on my way, but part of me empathized with her. Strange, considering the types of girls here are mostly superficial and will take any excuse to cry. Just never alone. Which is the only reason I didn't turn around and leave.

I clear my throat and make my steps easy for her to hear. Before I could speak, her hand moved away from her face and I recognized her immediately. It's the girl from the mall, and Andrew's sister, Aria. "Yo... are you okay?"

                                       Aria's P.O.V

"Yo... are you okay?" Was I okay? No, I feel like my heart has been shattered into a million pieces. I just can't understand why Zack would do that to me... After telling him everything I have been through and all the pain I am feeling. I thought he respected me as a person, as a possible crush. I guess that's the meaning of a 'crush'. They come into your life and make you feel special for one second. Then the next second they leave you with this tight feeling in your chest.

Like you can't breathe and the more you think about it, the tighter the constriction around your chest feels and you're just left utterly crushed. I mean, look at me! I am hiding in Chris' backyard while there is a house full of people. And here I am crying my eyes out over a guy who doesn't seem to care about me, and now some stranger is trying to talk to me.