An Accidental Murder

Chapter 19

Ryan met me at my locker after school with a large bouquet of roses and a handsome smile. "What's up, beautiful?" he said, reaching around my waist and kissing me on the neck. "It's nice to see you looking somewhat like yourself again," he whispered cunningly into my ear.

I turned around and rolled my eyes. "You were doing fine at first, now you're just annoying me. Thanks for the backhanded compliment."

"Sorry for trying to be romantic. What's wrong with you now?" he asked.

"Are you really asking or just being facetious?"

"Neither...it was a rhetorical question; I wasn't really looking for an answer because I already know. Let's go," he said, grabbing my wrist roughly and all but dragging me outside to his car.

"Get in, " he told me as he opened up the driver side door and got in himself.

I slid into the passenger seat and scowled.

Shifting the car into reverse, he uttered, "Really? You're getting shitty at me? I should be the one glowering at you. I heard about your stupid act in trig today."

I turned away, embarrassed. He put the car back into park.

"The whole school is talking about it, Amber. Everyone thinks you're on drugs or something. You're making yourself look like an idiot."

I bit my lip, hesitating. I wanted to say things, but I didn't dare.

"So that's your response?" he asked. "You sure seemed to have more to say this morning. But hey, I'm not surprised. It's so like you to cave under pressure, or really any weight at all, because you're weak."

I rolled my eyes and gathered my will as I prepared for the continuous onslaught of mean, angry words I expected to come. Surprisingly, they didn't this time and as Ryan pulled away from the school and we headed to my house, everything was suspiciously quiet.

We pulled into the driveway and I opened the door to get out when Ryan grabbed my hand and told me to wait.

"I need you to know that I love you, Amber," he told me. "I need you to know that I'm on your side and that we will make it through this. You think this is easy for me, but it isn't. I don't know anything about how to handle this. I feel bad sometimes too, but the bottom line is that telling the truth at this point isn't going to bring him back or save his life... It's only going to ruin ours."

I put my head down as a tear trickled down my cheek. This was the Ryan that I knew and remembered. Where had he been? I felt so relieved. Things had been the absolute worst the last few days. I needed him to be the guy I loved if I was ever going to try to make it this weekend with my parents being home.