Friendzoned

Chapter 18

Rae

            Its 12:32 AM and I am in Ryder’s room watching Corpse Bride. Coming here tonight was probably the weirdest and best idea I have had in a long time. I forgot how easy it is for him to cheer me up. The movie was half way through when I felt Ryder shift around on the bed. He cleared his throat. Then he cleared his throat again so I would look at him.

            “Hmm… so listen, I kind of have something on my mind that I wanted to say.” He said.

            “Shoot.” I replayed.

            “I... I just wanted to say sorry.” He paused. “For acting like I have the past few years. I have been a real jerk; ignoring you and not acting like a real friend. You know the whole reason I started acting like a “player” was because I just wanted to make you jealous. It didn’t really work though. Then the girls just never stopped bothering me and all of my friends were telling me that I was on top and that I shouldn’t change anything because it might mess it up. Except it always felt like something was missing and sitting here tonight with you pointed it out to me. It was our friendship. This is what has been missing and I want it back.” He said. I was speechless. Never in my life would I ever think that Ryder felt that way. Why would he want to make me jealous? None of this made sense.

            “You know, I still have my friendship bracelet that you gave me.” He added. I had totally forgotten about that old thing. He got up and rushed over to his drawer. He opened the top one and started digging around.

            “I don’t even know what to say Ryder.”  I finally answered. He found what he was looking for and came back the bed. It was the leather bracelet I had given to him on his 10th birthday. He put it on his right wrist.

            “The only thing you have to say is that we can be friends again. I want it back to our old ways.” He said smiling. I nodded my head yes.

            “I have been hoping for you to say that for years now.” I answered. He pulled me into a hug that I wasn’t expecting. He wrapped his arms tightly around my middle. Finally he let go and pulled back moving next to me and we continued watching the movie. The last thing I remember was the undead starting to sing about a wedding when my eyes started to get heavy. Just like that I was asleep.

            I woke up to the sound of Ryder typing. Somehow in the middle of the night I ended up under the covers. I looked at the clock. It was a quarter after 1. I wonder what time we went to bed last night.

            “Hey, you’re up!” Ryder said from across the room. “How did you sleep?” he asked.

            “Great! Slept like a baby! What are you doing?” I asked while stretching.

            “Oh, I’m typing up a paper for biology. It sucks but I have to get it done to pass the class.” He explained. I didn’t know Ryder did homework anymore. I got up and went to the bathroom. Ah! I look horrible! My makeup is smeared all the way down my face! Ryder probably thought I was crazy. I tried to remember how our night ended last night, but I couldn’t remember.

            “So… Are you coming back to school on Monday? Everyone thinks you’re in the hospital really sick with pneumonia. I hear Jake is worried sick. I don’t think he ever got over his crush on you.” Ryder yelled from down the hall.

            “He doesn’t like me anymore! He has been done with that for a long time now. But yeah I will be back at school. I didn’t even know you noticed I was gone.”