Twins With the Queen Bee

Chapter 6: Love or Blindness

"You're back."

"Yeah after about an hour of looking for where you live." I say, exhausted, collapsing on the couch.

"Why didn't you look at my address when we were leaving this morning?"

I lift my face from the couch and give him a death glare. Ryder's just sitting there in his little corner chair. No expression, only tiredness. His legs crossed, arms on the armrests. I kind of want to strangle him a little bit. But I'm too tired to.

"Because your best friend was so fascinated with me that I never got a chance to look at the address!" I'm not too tired to yell though. There's no reaction coming from him so I drop my face back into the couch. Eventually I roll to my side realizing how gross it is that my face is planted on something that people's butts have been on.

"So it's Friday night." Ryder states after a long moment of silence.

"Yeah and?"

"You want to do something." He says it like he knows I want to do something but really I don't.

"Yes... sleep."

"Close enough. How about Netflix and chill?"

What! He can't be serious. Who does he think I am? I'm not just some dumb blond slut. I thought he knew that.

Ryder laughs at my reaction. "You're one of the sick minded ones."

What the... I'm so confused right now. What does that even mean? Isn't everyone sick minded? We all think things the wrong way. Especially when you grew up with a sister that made it easy.

"All I wanted to do was do what simple, pure minded people would think. Which is just sit down, chill on the couch–fully clothed–and watch Netflix."

"Is there even a pure minded person on this Earth?" I snap. He smiles nonchalantly.

"I try to be but on this Earth in this century and not to mention being a member of the male species, it's very hard."

A smile creeps on my face. It turns into a giggle. Ryder may be a smart ass but the accent makes it a little cute.

"Okay watching Netflix I can do. I just need to change." I haul myself off the couch and head towards the kitchen to get my bag when he says...

"Why would you change? I admire you just the way you are."

I look back at him and roll my eyes. This is gonna be a long night if he's in this mood.

I retrieve my bag and head to the bathroom, changing out of my ripped jeans and t-shirt to sweat pants and a very baggy t-shirt. My reflection stares back at me. She's concentrating, looking hard to see what makes her seem slutty to people. Maybe it's the blond hair, maybe it's the fact that she's skinny, maybe it's the fact there's just that kind of aura around her. But I don't see it. This girl looks pained, rejected, worn out. She looks like she wouldn't hurt a soul. She looks like she'd take all the bullshit in the world and wouldn't break. "Really strong." Jay's words echo. By challenging Bethanie I showed him I was strong. I guess I am, but I challenged her cause I had nothing to lose and I craved her words. Is that strength or am I messed up?

A loud knocking interrupts my search for that answer.

"Belle are you okay in there?" Ryder asks.

"I'm fine." I say, still looking at my reflection for the answer of my question.

"Well as everyone knows 'I'm fine' means the person saying that isn't fine at all." He pauses, waiting for my response. "May I come in?" A nervous chuckle escapes my mouth. The door knob turns slowly and in comes Ryder, looking very concerned and serious.