Borderline

Chapter 19

"Ryder!" Joshua announced, rushing toward me.

I waved at him, smiling. "Hey, Josh. What's up?"

"What's up?!" Oh, shit. He's mad. "Why the hell are you in here, R?!"

"Who might you be?" The headmaster asked.

Joshua shook his hand quickly. "Joshua Morgan, sir." He turned back to me. "What were you thinking, Ryder?!"

I shrugged. "She was being a little bitch."

Eli looked confused. "Wait...what's going on here?"

Joshua turned to him. "She's in here because she didn't want to participate in gym class, then beat up another girl."

I defended myself. "They wouldn't let me play sports! It was a disgrace to the class title!"

Joshua ran his hands through his hair and sighed. Then he addressed the room. "Can Ryder and I have a minute alone, please?"

The headmaster nodded and gestured for everyone to leave. Once the doors closed, Joshua slapped me across the face.

"What the hell, man?! What was that-"

I was cut off by a pair of lips on mine. My eyes widened in surprise.

The kiss was short and to the point. When Joshua pulled away, he pulled me into his arms and squeezed me tight.

He spoke against my neck. "Don't do stupid stuff like that, Ryder. That's a red flag. You might not think it is, but people talk. This is probably going to be all over social media within the hour. It could lead Carter right to us."

I hadn't thought about it that way. I clutched the back of Joshua's shirt and pressed my face into his neck. "I-I'm sorry, Josh...she just-"

"I don't care what she did, R. You've gotta control your temper."

I nodded, not able to say anything else.

"Promise this is the last time you're in here?"

I pause before answering. "Yeah. I promise."

We stayed there, hugging each other, for a few more minutes before Joshua opened the door to the office again.

Eli came over and hugged me. "You scared me, Ryder!"

I laughed a little. "Yeah, I think I scared that other girl, too."

The headmaster looked at me sternly. "I don't want you in here again, Miss Morgan. Now, go, before I change my mind and give you a punishment."

I nodded quickly, grabbing Eli and Joshua and tugging the, out the door.

***

There she is.

He could see her through the window. She looked a lot different than he remembered. She had cut most of her hair off and she was actually wearing a skirt.

He laughed at that. The Ryder he knew would never wear a skirt.

We watched her for a little longer, planning his next move.

One of his friends had told him she might be there, and he had laughed it off. But now, he was thankful for that friend.

He'd have to remember to send him a thank you card.

She grabbed two boys and exited the room. He smirked.

So, she's got some friends.

He figured that they were a weakness for her.

He smiled as a plan formulated in his twisted mind.

He was going to strike tonight.