It's Terribly Perfect.

4. It's Terribly Perfect: Confronted.

“That doesn’t make any sense,” I objected quietly. "He didn’t even want me to go to school in case people somehow found out.”

“He told me this morning, he said it was some sort of payback for what you did. For getting… you know.”

“It’s not like I wanted this,” I whispered, my eyes starting to sting.

“I know. I didn’t get why he was so pissed off. I’m sorry I just blurted it out in class, it’s just the way that asshole was talking to you. I didn’t think you deserved it.” My anger at Drew quickly melted away. He said it because he thought it’d help me. I couldn’t be mad at him, he wasn’t trying to do any harm.

“No, it’s fine. Thanks, for trying I guess.” I stared at the floor, my head stirring.

“I really am sorry, Kasynne. I’ll see you later.” He walked off then, leaving me to myself, standing completely still.

A hand pressed against the small of my back as I jumped, turning to see Ryan looking at me with a concerned expression spreading across his face. I shook my head, saying I didn’t want to talk here.

He guided me through the side door and outside into the cold air. Tears began to fall down my cheeks as I buried my face into his chest, his arms closing around me. He leaned his back against the wall, staying silent and just allowing me to cry. He rubbed circles with his thumb on my back and brushed through my hair with his other hand, trying to sooth me. My palms rested on his chest, feeling his heartbeat thud against them. I felt safe in his warmth, even more so when he took his jacket off and wrapped it around my shivering body.

“It was Tyler,” I uttered finally.

“Your brother?” he questioned quietly, his breath blowing against the top of my head.

“Yeah. He’s the one who told Drew. Drew said he wanted some kind of revenge for me getting ra…” I trailed off, avoiding the word. Ryan just nodded his head. “Why do you think he’d do that?” I asked, looking up at him through my lashes.

“I honestly don’t know. But you don’t have to worry about it right now,” he smiled gently at me. “Everything will work out for itself. You just have to let it.”  I nodded, guessing he was right.

Thinking about the hatred in my brother’s eyes this morning forced a shiver down my back, making Ryan hold me closer. I felt protected, warm. As I closed my eyes, it seemed like everything wrong just faded away. How cheesey.

***

We pulled up in front of my house, the stars shining high above our heads. He stopped the truck and looked at me, smiling.

“Thanks for coming with me today,” he said, his voice tired.

“Thanks for asking me. Sorry I had a bit of a fit,” I laughed stiffly.

“Nah, you had every reason to,” he replied, looking down into my eyes. “I had fun, loser,” he mused, a smirk crossing his face.

“I get a rematch,” I challenged him, referring to our unfinished pool game. He laughed, winking at me as he nodded. I opened the car door, beginning to shrug off his jacket before he stopped me.

“Keep it. Gives me a reason to bug you again.” He gave me a crooked smile as I blushed slightly, hopping out of his truck and heading to my front door.

“Kasynne,” he called behind me. I turned to face him, the wind blowing my hair back.

“Yeah?”

“Sweet dreams,” he said quietly in a gentle voice. I grinned softly at him.

“Good night, loser,” I mimicked his tone from before, causing him to chuckle.