Please Don't Set My Heart Aflame

Chapter #24: Fighting The Friend

Ryan POV

"Hey, man! Haven't seen ya in a while!" Danny exclaimed as he hit my back a little too hard.

"Yeah, I've been... Busy..."

"Really, now? You've been picking up other girls besides Ashton, haven't you? Does she know yet? Are you gonna..."

I'm not okay. Jessica scarred me for life... My insides are burning with anger for whoever caused the fire, even if it was an accident. That's not acceptable... It really isn't. Boy, would I just love to hunt them down and ki–

"Ry? Ryan... RYAN!!!"

That finally got me to snap out of it. "Y-Yeah...?"

"The hell is with you lately? Not showing up to lunch, zoning out, hanging with that Jenny chick or whatever her name is..."

This struck me by surprise. How would he know? "Um... It's Jessica."

"Really? You're crushing on that dork?" Isaac chimed in.

"I-It's not like that! She isn't a dork..."

"What's with you, man? You're all over the place. What is this chick to you?"

"Um, this chick has a name."

"Yeah, yeah. I don't care. What is she to you?"

"She's my tutor!"

"Woah! You have a tutor??? What's your girlfriend gonna think when she finds out about this tutor of yours?" He laughed at me.

My best friend laughed at me. Wonderful.

"Well, she better be supportive of it! It's her fault if she wants to break up with me because I want a better education."

Hell, I'd love it if she were to break up with me! I'm sick of her! There's also Jessica...

"Whoa! Smart guy on the loose! Here's a tip, Ryan. Don't become a nerd like her. It sucks for your reputation. I didn't even know her until you brought her to judgement at the table!"

"You're making this sound like medieval times or something. Stop."

"Geez, I think you're not thinking straight. Go get some rest."

"No, I'm functioning perfectly fine, thank you." The more he spoke, the deeper my glare became.

"Really? It's not like you to fall for a whore like her."

"She's not a whore, and it isn't like that. She's my tutor."

Whoops.

"A tutor? Haha, Ryan, quit playing with me. What is she to you?"

"She's my tutor!"

"Psh, you don't need a tutor. All you need in order to be successful is a rich girl at your side!"

"That's not how it works, and you know it."

"Seriously, dude? You've changed. I remember when you used to be... Fun. Now, you're just boring."

"Well, I assure you... I haven't changed!"

"Oh, yes you have. It's been what... Six months since you met that chick? Yeah, I blame her."

"She's got no reason for blame."

"Really, now? Yours just assume that a whore would try to manipulate a guy... A guy like you!"

"Don't call her that..." I was shocked by how deep my voice went as I looked down at my clenched fists.

"Oh? Or else what?"

I'd had enough. I violently grabbed his shirt collar and slammed him against a nearby wall. "Try me, Sanders."

"If you insist, Taylor," he replied with a smirk. How I would love to smack that look off his face...

"She isn't a whore... Understood?"

"You're right, Ryan. She's not a whore... She's nothing but a slut," he finished with his infamous smirk.

What'd I do? I punched him square in the gut. Gasps were heard around our apparent crowd along with people chanting for a fight as I further beat him up.

I stopped when I heard Jessica's ringtone from my back pocket. The chanting stopped as well. I had to pick it up. "Hello?"

"Help me..."