An Exchange

Chapter Twelve - Ryan's Date

Penny

Ryan had dashed off into the change rooms well ahead of the rest of the team, but as I waited with Maria and Marty, most of the team came and left and Ryan still hadn’t emerged. I sent Marty in to see where Ryan had gotten to. He came back out and told me Ryan and a few others were getting fixed up from some injuries. Maria and I then hugged him goodbye and he left.

I took advantage of the alone time with Maria to ask her about what happened during halftime when she left. She folded her arms and leaned against the wall, pouting. “It was nothing. I’m just tired of being called a… you know.”

“Why do they call you one?”

She huffed. “Because I am! The only three guys in our grade who aren’t Mormon that I haven’t slept with are Ray, Ryan, and Marty.”

“Even Spencer?” I let slip.

“Even Spencer.”

“But I don’t see you like that.”

“But I am! I get drunk and I lose control.”

“Then don’t get drunk.”

She furrowed her brows. “But, it makes me feel better.”

“For a couple of hours maybe, but then you feel like crap about yourself afterward.”

She sighed. “You don’t understand.”

I grabbed her wrist. “Then tell me so I can.”

She bit her lip and avoided eye contact with me. “I… I can’t.”

Ryan burst out of the change room. He wore jeans, a white T-shirt, and his school jacket. The sight of him excited me. He looked so hot. How could a guy who looked as incredible as Ryan pay any attention to me? I shifted uncomfortably. I must have looked pretty plain beside him. I wished I could look as amazing in casual clothes he did.

He greeted us both politely before suggesting for us to leave. I said goodbye to Maria and we went our separate ways.

Ryan drove us to the cinema where we agreed on a comedy, and inside only three other people watched. To my surprise, the cinema looked just like the ones in movies and TV shows, with low chairs and a wide room. I gazed around trying to hide my giddiness.

About halfway through the movie, Ryan rested his arm over the back of my chair. I leaned against his shoulder and he stroked my hair. Chills ran down my spine at his touch. His fingers were very distracting. I glanced at him. He looked at me, smiling. I just about melted in my chair.

Afterward, we stopped to get ice cream. We both bought the biggest ice creams available and sat and talked as we ate. He watched me as I devoured it. “Wow, that’s amazing.”

“What?” I giggled, shoving a spoonful in my mouth.

“I’ve never seen a girl eat like that before.”

I whipped the spoon out of my mouth, my cheeks burning.

He grinned. “It’s hot.”

My cheeks could probably light a fire.

He chuckled. Our conversation was pointless, but amusing. Ryan played with his food and explained to me animatedly all his ‘sweet moves’ in the game.

As we finished the ice cream, he asked, “So what’s it like living with Jonas and his family?”

“They’re cool,” I answered with a shrug.

“Do you go to church with them?”

“Yeah, that’s one of the reasons I was put with them.”