They Weren't Kidding

Chapter 7

Times were still difficult whenever I would see Ryan. She was still dating Mordy, and, as far as I was aware, was still straight. It was painful the times I would see the two of them together. Although, I got to flirt with her from time to time. The reason I thought it was okay to do this was because from the time she and I got close, I would play flirt with her and I figured it would be better to continue to pretend that it was fake to not seem suspicious. The major downside to this was, when I would flirt with her, she would always tell me she was straight. Before, I would just laugh and say that I wasn't into her. I would still say the same thing, although it began to hurt to hear her say it so often. I was certain I never had a chance with her.

There were more things than merely that which hurt me. For example, seeing her with Mordy was more painful than it had been before. Every time I would see Ryan, Mordy was not far behind. They seemed like they had to do everything together. I watched them talk every day during practice and performance for praise band. They would always talk about each other.

Finally, I had to watch her go to the dance with Mordy which hurt the most. I was invited to go with them which I agreed to because I wanted to hang out with Ryan that night and I figured being with her would make the normally drab and boring dances which that school would put on more enjoyable.

I showed up at Ryan's house about an hour or two before the dance started. She wanted me to get ready with her beforehand so, of course, I obliged. I wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to spend more time with Ryan. I sat in her room for most of the time as I waited for her to get ready. I had only to change my shirt and put on a tie as I was going for more of a masculine look.

I had taken a nice button-up and a tie in a bag which I set on the floor. Ryan had spent almost the whole time, getting ready. When she was in the washroom, putting on make-up, I stood in the doorway as she had requested me to do so I could keep her company as she got ready.

Once she was getting ready to change into her dress, I was sent back into her room to get changed myself. I wasted a bit of time as I figured it might take Ryan a bit to get into her dress. After a few minutes of looking through my phone, I decided it was about time to change into my outfit for the night. Thanks to my immense lack of luck, Ryan walked in the moment my t-shirt was off and I was putting my button up on. My heart began to race as it did New Years' night. Ryan didn't seem to care too much about my lack of clothing. She was more focused on the red lines on my shoulder.

"What happened?" were the only words that came from her mouth when she had seen me. I had forgotten that I had caused them the day before and they were still very visible.

I looked at my shoulder and my heart sank, "Oh...that." I sat there, a bit stunned for a moment. "Well, my mom noticed the ones on my ankle so I needed somewhere else."

We didn't speak of it any more after that. We finished getting ready for the night before heading outside in her back yard where her parents decided to take pictures. Initially I thought it would just be her getting pictures taken. However, after about three or four pictures, Ryan grabbed my hand and pulled me to where she was standing to where she was so I could take pictures with her.

Ryan was already taller than me, but because it was a dance, she wore heels that gave her another three inches on me. I felt quite small next to her as we were taking pictures. She laughed at our height difference. I was not amused.

After we had taken a few pictures together, Mordy had shown up at her door. Ryan took two pictures with him before the three of us walked out to Ryan's mom's car where we would be driven to the school which was where the dance was going to be held at. Ryan and I sat in the back while Mordy was in the front seat next to Ryan's mom. The ride was pretty short.