You Saved Me

CHAPTER FIVE: NICKNAMES AND STORIES

I learned a lot about Dylan and his life. I wanted to help him with his father's affair but I just didn't know how. I wasn't a very helpful person. In fact, I was basically helpless. "My mom is probably worried." I said looking over to Dylan. "Oh okay well I will give you a ride." He stood up and held out a hand to help me up. "I should probably change." I smiled. "You can keep the shirt if you want."

"Ok. Thanks." The car ride was pretty quiet. I was still processing what Dylan had told me. "Dylan?" I asked looking over to him. His hair flat on top of his head, rather than the slope I had gotten used to. "Yeah?"

"You know, if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. I'm always here." He nodded and continued looking at the road. "I know you are. Thank you. And I'm sure I'll be fine." We got to my house and sat in the driveway for a few minutes and talked. When it was time for me to leave, I leaned across the center console and hugged him tight. "Bye, Dyl."

"Dyl? I have a nickname?" He asked smirking. "Yeah, I guess you do." I tucked my hair behind my ear. "Ok. Bye, Ry." He winked and I went inside my house.

"Ryan Paige Summers! Where in gods name have you been?!" My mother yelled as she rushed to the front door. "I was with a friend."

"Was it Dylan?" She questioned raising one eyebrow and smirking. "N-no. It wasn't." I pushed past her and began to go upstairs. "But mom?" She turned the corner. "Dylan and I are studying tonight..."

"Here?" I nodded and but my lip. "We'll be out of the house than." She winked and kissed my forehead.

"I have a slight issue." The phone was between my chin and my shoulder. "Oh god. What now?" I could hear the agitation in Ariana's voice. "I don't know what to wear."

"Naturally. Go casual, you don't want to look like you're trying to hard." She said. "Okay. Well thanks."

"No funny business, Miss Summers! I mean it!" She laughed. "Yes mom." I giggled and hung up.

After getting ready, I saw headlights pull into my drive way; Dylan's headlights. He stepped out of his shiny blue jeep, looked at his reflection in the window and started towards the door. I was down there before he could ring the doorbell.

"Hey!" He stepped inside and pulled me into a tight hug. "Hey!" We pulled away. "Let's go upstairs." I grabbed his hand and pulled him behind me to my room. Dylan sat on my bed looking at the posters that covered my walls. "Do you want some water or something?" I asked. "Sure. Water would be great." With that, I left to go to the kitchen.

When I got back upstairs, Dylan was looking at a leather bound book; one of my stories. "Nobody's supposed to look at those." I rushed over spilling some of the water. "I'm sorry. I didn't know....you're an amazing writer though." He closed the book and gave it to me. "Thanks." I ran my fingers through my hair. "Should we start with English?" I tried my best to change the subject. "We shall." He smiled pulling out his binder. Dylan and I were sitting on my bed listening to The 1975 when my phone rang.

"Hello?" I asked standing up. "Hey it's Ari. How's everything going? Good? Okay well I have a bit of an issue." She was speaking fast and panicky. "What?"

"My ex is at this party and he's like harassing me and I've had a few to many yo drink. Can you pick me up? Please?" Ariana's voice rang with desperation. "Be right there." I hung up and saw Dylan with a puzzled look on his face. "Would you mind driving me to pick up Ariana from a party?"

"No. Not at all." He put his sweatshirt on and grabbed his keys. "What's going on?" He asked as he followed me down the stairs. "Ariana is drunk off her ass and is being harassed by her ex boyfriend apparently."

We pulled up to the party. Cars were parked in every direction and music blared from the house. "I'll be right back." I said. "Let me come with you." Dylan put the car in park and we went up to the house. The first thing I saw was Ariana hanging upside down above a keg of beer with two taller guys holding her ankles. "Is this a keg stand kind of party?" I asked Dylan. "Well, it is a Saturday." Ariana saw us and directed to be put down. "I thought someone was hurting you!" I yelled. "That was an excuse to get you here." She laughed. "Well, that's not something to joke about!" Tears filled my eyes and Dylan and Ariana looked confused. I turned out the front door and sat outside on the front step. I heard the door open behind me. It was Dylan. "Are you okay?" He sat next to me and put his hand on my back. "No. Not really. It's a long story." He picked up my chin and looked me in the eyes. "I'm all ears." I sat there looking him in the eyes wondering if I should tell him about Jacob. "Maybe another time." I stood up and pulled him up with me. "We should probably get Ariana home." I wiped aways my tears and went inside to collect my intoxicated friend.