Heartbreaker [Ryden] [BOOK ONE]

- one -

I slid my tray onto the cafeteria table, dropping my bags down beside my chair, then sat down. I stared at my food; the school food usually taste like shit, I was unsure whether to try it or not. 

Josh was already seated beside me, hard at work. I gave him a confused look, raising an eyebrow. Usually, he wasn't working so hard. 

"So," Josh began, setting his pencil down. He turned to look up at me, "Did you finish your homework?" I frowned, shaking my head. "We had homework?" He groaned, throwing his head back.

"Ryan, I reminded you yesterday!" He said. I cocked my head to the side, pursing my lips. I was playing stupid, of course I knew we had homework. I didn't get it done, though, and I had my reasons for not getting it done.

---

Josh stood up, grabbing my backpack to shove it at my chest. I had to leave his house early; his parents decided they didn't like me today. I didn't know exactly why, but it wasn't the first time. Many times they'd rejected my request to stay for dinner. Josh was pissed about it- I was his best friend!

"Remember, Ryan, homework. I want you to pass this year's class." He raised an eyebrow, gently pushing me towards the door. Over his shoulder, I could see his mother, her arms folded across her chest. She was shaking her head in disappointment. 

Shaking it off, I nodded, "Homework, right. I'll be sure to get it done." I promised, whirling around to take a step outside. I had just enough time to blink before the door was aggressively slammed. The impact surely scared the shit out of me- I jumped, before scurrying off down the sidewalk.

---

"You did, didn't you?" I cracked a smile, this was all a game to me. I could care less about school work. Josh sighed, turning to dig in his bag. It were days like this where I felt sorry for Josh, he didn't deserve to have a friend like me. Especially with how utterly hopeless I was.

"Sorry." I quickly added, looking down, my smile had disappeared. Josh shoved a folder over to me, then stuck his pencil in my hand. "Don't worry about it, I'm just stressed. I want you to pass, Ryan, being your best friend I want the best for you." 

"I know, I know, I'll try harder," I quickly cut him off, pulling my own folder out. I began looking at his homework sheet, to mine, copying every answer exactly as his was. I stuck my tongue out as I concentrated, occasionally glancing up at Josh. He still urgently jotted things down on a piece of paper. 

"Did we have more than one assignment to finish or...?" I asked, frowning. Josh looked up, pulling a confused expression. Slowly, it dawned on him, and he widened his eyes, looking down at his paper. He shook his head.

"Oh, no, not at all. This- uh, it's for Tyler.." He admitted. I smiled, poking him with the eraser of the pencil. He swatted me away, pulling the paper to his chest, with a sharp inhale.

"Cut it out, Ryan, you wouldn't understand, Tyler's absolutely perfect to me.." Josh trailed off again. I rolled my eyes, looking back at my assignment.

"You gonna stick that note in his phys. ed. locker like last time?" I asked. Josh only nodded, again back to work on the note. I looked away from him, around the lunch room. In the distance, at the "popular" table; I preferred calling it the table of assholes, Brendon and his little squad of friends could be found.

Brendon was the first one to catch my eye, the way he was crawling across the table to slap the soccer ball from Dallon's hands. He backed across the table, just as Dallon let out a surprised cry and lunged at him from across the table. I smiled softly, they were basically just a bunch of children.