Reaching for Rebecca

Chapter 38

REBECCA'S POV

"Becs wake up! The alarm didn't go off!"

I woke up and became aware of my surroundings because of Ryan gently shaking me. Once he noticed my eyes were finally open, he stopped and smiled.

"Hey cutie," he pecked my nose swiftly; "our alarm didn't go off."

"What time is it?" I asked groggily with sleep still evident in my voice. I felt his weight lift off the bed and turned to see him slipping yesterday's shirt over his broad shoulders.

"Ten to eight." His response was so nonchalant that I had to repeat it in my head to process it.

"What?!?" I leapt out of bed and whipped my shirt off, replacing it with another and stepping into a pair of jeans. I had slept in only a large t-shirt and underwear so at least I could dress speedily.

"Alex actually ran in here like two minutes ago freaking out. I can't believe he didn't wake you," Ryan shouted from across the hall in his room where he was probably getting dressed. "He's downstairs throwing together some lunches so brush your teeth and let's go."

After frantically tying my hair into a pony, I ran into the bathroom where Ryan already was.

"Brush my teeth? Why do you say it like I don't do that every morning anyways?"

His mouth was foaming from toothpaste yet he still chose to spoke around the toothbrush.

"Your breath is so bad in the morning," spit and rinse, "just wanted to make sure you didn't kill anybody at school if you forgot." I elbowed his side and he kissed my cheek. "Hurry up, we'll be in the truck."

I quickly finished my teeth cleaning but took the time to use some mouthwash since my breath was 'so horrendous' and rushed out to the idling truck.

"I got a can of Dr Pepper and cold pizza leftovers for us to eat for breakfast. All I could grab," Alex explained and passed out the food while Ryan tore down the road. It was currently two minutes to eight and we weren't going to make it in time but it was a good effort nonetheless.

"If I knew we would be late anyways I could have at least showered," mentioned Ryan while lifting his right arm. "Do my pits stink Becs?" He leans towards me and I shrink back against Alex in disgust.

"You always stink," Alex retorts with a chuckle and wraps his arm around my shoulder. "That's why she likes me better."

"Psh, yeah okay," Ryan says and puts his arm down tightly against his side.

We all jog into the school after parking the truck and head straight for the office. Alex and I get after school detentions while Ryan schmoozed the vice principal to give him lunch detention so he wouldn't miss any practice. Of course, they gave in because he's the star player.

Once we had our late slips, Ryan and I took our time at our shared locker before heading to Chemistry.

"I don't actually smell do I?" he asked while blushing.

I grinned. I could lie and give him payback for what he said about my morning breath but I was too nice for that.

"No, Ryan. You don't smell bad."

"So, I smell good then?" He smirked, trying to get me to compliment him but I just chuckled and opened the door to our class.

We handed in our passes and quietly took our seats as Mr. Monty proceeded with his boring lecture. I still had to tell Ryan about Kirk's text from last night since we were running so late this morning and now I wouldn't be able to tell him at lunch either. It would have to wait until tonight.

~~~

I sat alone at the lunch table and pulled out another can of Dr Pepper and two pieces of leftover pizza. Good thing Alex wasn't in charge of packing lunch every day or I'd weigh three hundred pounds! The table slowly filled up with Mason first, who gave me a polite smile, then Mel and Izzy, who obviously glared at me, and finally Kate and Landon, who both grinned at me.

"How's your lip feeling?" I asked Landon as soon as he sat down.

"Much better. Doesn't feel hot anymore."

"Landon!" I scoff and smack his arm, "When cuts are hot that means they're infected! What if I didn't clean it out!?"

He shrugs and responds: "Guess it's good you did then."

We eat in silence for a little while and I observe what's going on around the table. Kate and Mason are in their own little world, as usual, but I can't blame them at all since that's what happens when I'm with Ryan. Mel and Izzy are whispering back and forth between laughs with the occasional look at me. I try not to let it bug me, but after what she said at movie night, it's hard not to.

Landon's hand suddenly snaked around my shoulders and gave me a slight shake.

"Ignore them remember?" he spoke quietly to keep our conversation away from prying ears; specifically the ones across the table.

"How do you ignore someone when they whisper and laugh while looking at you after purposefully calling them a slut days earlier?" My voice came out strained and I couldn't tell if I was sad or angry.

"Becca, it doesn't matter what they think okay?" I snap my head towards Landon and discover that the emotion I'm feeling is definitely anger.

"She asked if you were both 'wetting your dicks' in me. Who the hell does that?!" His hand that was holding my shoulder became more firm and gripped tighter.

"I didn't like what she said either but you can't let it get to you. She's trying to get in your head."

Releasing a huge breath of air, I nodded and went back to my soggy pizza. My stomach was churning as I washed it down with Dr Pepper but at least I wouldn't be hungry all afternoon. I was lucky Alex even packed anything at all.

The rest of the lunch period went the same: I got angry because Mel and Izzy were talking about me and Landon had to calm me down. Finally, the bell rang and I fled to biology class with excitement of seeing Ryan.

"Hey how was lunch?" he said before looking at my face. "What's wrong?" he asked once he did.

"Nothing. Just annoying people at our lunch table," I mumbled under my breath.

"Oh," he nodded in understanding. "Mel and Izzy. Hey what did she say at Mason's?"

Just then, I was saved by Mrs. Pollens as she started on a big speech about how much she appreciated us working with the substitute last week and how great our homework turned out. Then she showed us pictures of her and her husband on the beach in some very revealing swimsuits. It was something you hope you never have to see.

After biology class ticked by slowly, I quickly hugged Ryan goodbye in plans to see him later tonight. I really had to tell him about Kirk's text.

~~~

Landon partners up with me in gym class since it's a weight room day. It really doesn't make sense that he partners with me because I wouldn't be a good spotter for the amount he lifts but nobody dares to say anything. I stand above his head basically doing nothing while he benches over twice my body weight with ease.

"Are you feeling okay Becca? You look pale," he mentioned between sets.

Simply waving him off, I continue picking at the chipped nail polish while he starts another set. The rest of the class goes by with Landon and I comfortable with our silence with history going the same. Just as the final bell rings, I am walked to my locker by Landon where Ryan is waiting.

"Jesus Becs are you okay?" Ryan asked, eyes filled with concern and worry.

Although I was starting to feel more and more queasy, I just shrugged and said, "I feel fine; why is everyone saying that?"

"You just don't look right," he answered before placing a hand on my forehead to feel the temperature but there wasn't one.

"I think it's just a stomach ache from our choice of breakfast and lunch cuisine," I joke, finally getting Ryan to relax and crack a smile.

"Alright," he enraptures me in a tight hug, "if you need me to pick anything up on the way home just let me know," and with that, he fled down the hall in a rush to get to practice.

"Coming?" I whirl around to find Alex leaning against the lockers. He must spot my look of confusion. "We have detention remember?"

"Oh! Yeah." Slumping my shoulders, I swing my backpack over one and nudge the locker shut with the other. "I just want to go home."

Alex chuckled. "At least it's only a half hour detention since we weren't that late. It will go by quick."

We walked into the spare room right next to the office that had faded lettering spelling 'detention' across the door. It smelled musty with a tint of body odor - wonderful. I'm sure this will help my nausea. There weren't many other students in the class, thankfully, so Alex and I sat completely opposite of everyone else.

"God dammit why does it smell so bad?" he murmured while pinching his nose. I just pulled the collar of my shirt over my nose in response and kept it there for the next half hour.

When we finally got released, Alex and I booked it out of there faster than I ever thought imaginable. Usually detentions weren't so bad; however, I would rather do literally anything else than be stuck in that horrid room for another half hour again.

As soon as we got home, I bolted upstairs to the bathroom, feeling my nausea start to overtake me. Before I even got a chance to close the door, I leaned over and retched in the sink. After the first wave was over I moved to lean over the toilet as everything I'd eaten in the last twenty-four hours was expelled.

"Are you okay Becca?" Alex asked cautiously while standing in the doorway.

I felt as though I was done being sick for a little while so I cleaned up and sat on the bathroom floor, leaning against the tub, and gave Alex a tired nod. He came in the bathroom and sat next to me, attempting to be comforting but I could tell he was thoroughly disgusted.

"I know it stunk in that room but I don't think it was that bad," he joked. Cracking a small smile, I leaned my head against his shoulder. It was much bonier than Ryan's beefy one but Alex was still good looking, he just had a runner's body while his brother was more muscular. That's all I remember.