Decoding You *Watty Awards 2012*

Chapter 10

I was mixing very berry vanilla and blueberry frozen yogurt in a cup when Audrey pinches my side, "I think you've lost weight."

I shrug, "I guess. You know how I'm always on the run. I never get time to eat."

"It doesn't help that Ryder is always sneaking her out of lunch to makeout," Harper grins.

I roll my eyes and put cherry syprup and sprinkles on the yogurt, "It's not like we makeout the whole time."

Harper rolls her eyes back at me, "Uh huh. Sure."

When we sit done at a corner table Audrey says, "So how's it going?"

I shrug and stab the yogurt with my spoon, "I don't know if I can do this to him."

Audrey's face falls, "Rory you have too!"

I bite my lip, "All he's been is nice. Maybe he changed on his own."

Harper shakes her head, "Rory is it just the guilt eating at you or what?"

I shrug, "I don't know, but I can't help think that if he found out he'd hate me and he'd never do anything like this. I think him being away from Sammi and coming back to see her dating really changed his perspective. He's not the fifteen year old boy he use to be. He's changed."

Audrey nods, "But what about our project?"

Harper looks at her, "Audrey if she's uncomfortable hurting him then she shouldn't do it."

Audrey sighs, "We can ask other girls for their opinions without telling them what we're doing. But it's not like you like Ryder and he won't find out. You can end it before the time capsul like the weekend we're at the cabin. Perfect material then. He'll never know you have nothing to worry about."

I gulp and chew on my spoon as Harper says, "But if you don't want to then don't. But it would be awesome if you could. It's only two more months. That's like eight dates."

I nod, "Yeah I guess."

Only two months. I could it. I had too.

***Ryder***

Preston hands me a beer as we start playing a game of pool, "So how are things going with Rory?"

I sigh, "I don't think I can do this guys."

Trace frowns, "Ryder you have too. It's for the book."

I shake my head, "It's wrong. She's nice. I know she's messed up but she made mistakes. And we've all made mistakes. You can't punish her for it. Plus she cuts. What if she finds out and it hurts her even more?"

Trace shakes his head, "She won't find out. No one but us knows."

Preston eyes me, "Does it make you uncomfortable? I mean you guys haven't slept together right?"

I shake my head, "No. I told her I wasn't going to ruin things by screwing her. That was on new years. It's been almost a month. We've only gone out a few times. I don't even know how she sees things. But knowing that I'm lying to her is uncomfortable. I mean if I'm doing this to her what kind of guy does that make me? I'd kill the guy if anyone did this to my little sisters."

Trace shakes his head exasperated, "It's for a good cause though! Look you know I like her, she just needs to learn not to hurt people."

I shake my head, "I don't think she hurt you on purpose Trace. I met that cop, he's friends with her step-dad. There is something not right about those two."

Preston nods, "So what happened with that whole thing that night? I mean you took her and Izzy back to her dads place right?"

I nod, "Yeah. He was drunk and I really thought he would have hit her if I hadn't been there. But she stood up to him."