Unexpected

[8] Taking Chances

Hope you enjoy the next chapter. Votes and/or comments are always appreciated. :)

Clara.

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"Do you really think being around this guy is a good idea?"

    I sighed in exasperation at the concern in Jake's voice.

    "Not you, too." I complained. "I thought you would understand. I'm just trying to give the guy a chance. Is that so wrong?"

    "No, I'm not saying that. It's admirable. Really, Kodi. But you need to be careful. What if this is just some game to him, you know? I don't want you to get hurt."

   "I get that, but he's not my type. I know better than to get involved with someone like him, it's just..."

    "What?"

    Shaking my head, I sighed again and picked at my bedspread. "I don't know, there's just something about him."

    "He's a charmer, Kodi, that's what he does."

    "No, it's not that." I scowled, biting the corner of my lip. "There's this look I catch sometimes, like he's hiding something. And those scars on his back—I know they aren't from some accident."

    "It's none of your business, Kodi. I get why you want to help him, but has it ever occurred to you that he doesn't want help? Besides, you don't even know if he needs help. All you have is a few odd looks and a 'weird feeling.'"

    I laughed in defeat. When he put it that way, I suppose it did sound silly. Jake was right; I didn't even know if Ryan needed help. From what he'd told me he lived a normal life: his dad was a carpenter and his mother worked part-time as a secretary. He had a younger brother and an older sister who was away at college. I didn't know how much more normal he could be. Yet I couldn't deny the veiled pain in his eyes I'd seen more than once, when he thought I wasn't looking. It made me curious to know what caused it, but I knew it wasn't my place to pry.

    "I guess you're right." I finally admitted to Jake. I could practically see him grinning, laying back on his bed as I'd watched him do a million times.

    "Well, I'd better go. Mark wants to meet Dean for lunch before he goes down to Long Beach for the night. Keep me posted on the potential girlfriend situation, yeah?"

    It was my turn to grin as I heard Jake laugh softly. 

    "Yeah, okay. But only if you promise to tread lightly with this Ryan guy. At least until you know him a little more."

    "Alright, I promise. Bye Jake."

    "Later."

    I ended the call and stood up, slipping my phone into my pocket. Just as I grabbed my purse Mark knocked on my door and stepped inside.

    "Are you read—? Oh. Perfect."

    Smiling, he gesturing for me to go first. I took in a deep breath and headed downstairs. I'd been doing good dealing with the changes recently, but now with junior year approaching fast the panic was starting to creep up on me again. I would be starting school in two and a half weeks, and I was far from prepared. At least I knew I would have a few friends already and wouldn't have to start completely at the bottom all over again. Starting at a new school could never be easy, but knowing that I would have to graduate in two years without my mother there to watch only made it harder.

                                                                              ~*~