Stand By Me

I slammed the car door shut and pulled on my Tory sandals. Rehearsal started ten minuets ago and I didn't want to get in trouble. Again. Running up the gravel driveway, I yelled for my sister, Leah who was lagging behind me.

As soon as I turned around to look at her, my basket full of clothes and makeup that I needed for the show fell to the ground.

Shit. I though. Everything was spilled out on the driveway, and I didn't have time to clean it up. My blush was broken in little pieces, my tights dirty and to make it worse Ryan saw the entire thing happen.

How do I begin to describe Ryan. He's just... Ryan. He's tall and strong and gorgeous. But there's more to him. He's different. And I know that's cheesy or whatever, but honestly it's true. I've known him for what seems like whatever. We both go to Young Actors, and he's just always been there.

Ryan was standing on the porch when he saw my downfall in the driveway. He walked down the gray stairs with beanie on head and eyes cool as ever.

"Need a hand?" He said and bent down to help me pick up everything.

"Thanks." I mumbled. What else could I say?

"So I just wondered-" He began to say.

Just then, Leah walked by and saw what happened. I gave her a look of 'help me now!!!' But she just hissed and ran up the steps and into the building.

After an awkward minute making small talk with him, we walked into rehearsal together.

~

As the day goes on, I keep remembering what happened this morning with him. Usually things aren't awkward with us like that. We were pretty good friends in fact. So why were things so weird?

During our lunch break, I was heading out with my best friend Phoebe to grab a bite to eat at the Whole Foods across the street.

As we entered the building talking about some stupid Gossip Girl episode, I saw a couple of the boys from Young Arts sitting at a table in the corner, Ryan being one of them.

"Hey guys!" Phoebe yelled over to them.

Why would she do that? I definitely didn't want to sit with them. Okay, maybe I did just a little bit. I grabbed a Diet Coke from the freezer, and followed Phoebe reluctantly over to the guys table.

"So Sky, Phoebe, what are you guys doing tonight?" one of the guys, Chase asked.

I put down the fork with my salad on it to answer.

"I dunno. Why?"

"I just wondered if you were going to the party at Carah's tonight? Everyone's going." Chase asked with a smile. He was a cool guy, but kind of annoying.

If everyone was going did that mean Ryan would be there?

"Well I don't think-" Phoebe started to respond hesitantly.

"I think we are actually!" I cut her off. Phoebe and I weren't the type to get wild, and knowing a party at Carahs we would be pretty wild.

Phoebe shot me a confused look from across the table. I just raised my eyebrows and smiled.

I guess we were hitting up Carah's tonight.