Heartbreaker [Ryden] [BOOK ONE]

- eleven -

I don't know why in my right mind I'd invited Jon over- but I was now stuck with the boy, at my house, at five pm. It would've been less awkward if Jon would've just shut the fuck up instead of starting up a conversation with my Grandma. Really, though, I was third-wheeling. My own grandmother, and a friend I invited over. 

They shared jokes, talked about how shitty society was, and even gossiped about random kids at school! Me? Well, desperate times called for desperate measures. I got up and left. I made an excuse to use the restroom, but while they weren't looking, slipped right out the door.

I didn't need Jon. Fuck, I didn't need friends, nor did I need Brendon. I didn't need anyone at all! It began as a silent jog down the sidewalk, but after a few blocks I found myself yearning to detach my lungs from my chest. Instead, I walked, I walked until I stumbled upon a clearing I'd never seen before.

It was in front of this big, brick, abandoned building, which I had no interest in exploring. I would've simply passed it, but the thing was..right in the middle of the clearing was a fountain, a pretty fountain with a white light lighting up the area around it. 

It hadn't felt like I'd been walking for very long, but when I pulled my phone out, it was apparently past ten. Nearly eleven. So how long had I walked? like six hours- which was strange, because I rarely ever walked anywhere AT ALL. Still, I was proud I'd gotten the exercise. The only thing was, now it was dark...and a little chilly.

I pulled my arms around myself, gathering any warmth I could fine. I decided to walk over to the fountain, to check things out a little bit. It definitely was a pretty fountain. A pretty area. I smiled softly, approaching the fountain. 

I rest my hands on the edge railing, leaning over to peer into the water. There, I saw my reflection. I couldn't help but smile- what I saw wasn't my mother. It wasn't my father. It was me, myself, and I. I didn't need anyone in this world. I didn't need anyone but myself. Well, that and gummy worms.

I smiled again, running my eyes over all the coins. It was common that others tossed coins into fountains, waiting for their wishes to be granted. I fished a coin from my pocket; I never believed in these things actually working, but I decided it could be worth a try. Maybe I'd get my wish granted after all. Maybe.

I closed my eyes, holding the quarter firmly pinched between my thumb and pointer. My wish? Well...that was something I'd need to check back in on. I didn't exactly have anything I wanted. Except, of course, for the obvious. It'll sound cliché, but what I wanted was that one that would prevent me from walking the roads, and dancing beneath the streetlights alone.

A small part of me whispered, saying Brendon was the one who'd been doing all of that. But then again, it was just a game. It was all just a game. Brendon was included in this game, therefor he didn't care about me, he was simply trying to trick me into thinking his arms (and heart) were a safe environment. There was no way in hell I was gonna fall for it.

Then again, that tiny part told me he'd already won. That I was already crushing on the attractive, young, talented man who had interest in actually considering me. The boy with the dark chocolate eyes, the perverted remarks, and confident strides.

The pig with the hate for dickheads, but a love for being a dickhead. The boy who'd called me out on being a twink. The boy I was determined to make fall in love with me. It was all platonic, really. And since it was, I decided to drop the coin. I opened my eyes as it sank into the water, and eventually, rest upon the bottom of the fountain.

Right there and then, my phone went off. I nearly did a summer salt into the fountain before yanking the phone out. Brendon. It was scary, really, how I'd just made a wish for someone exactly like Brendon to cradle my heart with an ever-lasting love, and then out of nowhere he calls me.