Best Friends With Benefits: Anthony Ramos

One: The Girl Next Door

Anthony's P.O.V-

I was finally done moving into my new house. I took a deep breath and smiled. Around 3:10 I decided to go sit under the tree and see how many cars or people would walk by. After a while, about ten minutes, I saw a school bus. A girl got off. She began to sing as she got off. I recognized the song instantly. It was Burn from Hamilton.

Sadly, I could relate to it. My ex girlfriend cheated on me.

The girl stopped singing but started talking. To a dog. "Koda!" The girl said and the dog looked as if dancing. Then, they went inside. For some reason, I couldn't get her out of my head. Beautiful, dyed red hair. A natural red. Not fake. I sat up, hoping she'd come back out. To my pleasure, she did.

I crossed the road. She was sitting in her driveway, eating an apple and reading a book. Gently, I tapped her book and she looked up. "Oh my goodness, you're from Hamilton." She says. "Did you move in next door? If so, is Jasmine inside? Oh my gosh, I love your voice! And your freckles are even cuter in person." She says, giggling.

"Thanks. Um, Jasmine cheated on me." I inform.

"How dare she cheat on such an amazing guy?" She asks.

"Haha, thanks."

"Anthony Ramos..."

"Yeah, I know who I am. Who the fuck are you?" I ask, joking.

"I'm Ryeli Blackwood. Your new neighbor."

"Do you wanna hang out later?"

"Sure." She says. I smile.

"Cool. See you at seven?"

"Sounds good Ramos." She says this as if we've been good friends for the past ten years.

I let her get back to her book but sit in her driveway with her. Her dog sits next to me. "I bet you would love Nala."

"She'd tear your French bulldog to pieces." Ryeli says, not looking up from her book.

"There's only one way to find out!" I go and get my dog and set her down in front of Ryeli's.

The two dogs run around, Nala barking, Ryeli's dog making a sound I can only describe as yodeling. "Um, my moms are here. I gotta ask you to leave pal. See you at seven." Ryeli walks inside, her dog following at her heels. I carry Nala inside and think about Ryeli some more.

She's a light skinned, teenage girl with long hair, mature in the body, like woah. I stare out my window. Seven o'clock just will not roll around fast enough.

I eat dinner. I take a shower. It's only 5:30. I go for a walk with Nala. Who I can only assume are Ryeli's moms, walk up to me. "You the new neighbor?"

"Yeah. Anthony Ramos. I was in Hamilton."

"No wonder Ryeli took a liking to you."

"Is it okay if I take her to Rutland? To get ice cream?" I ask.

"Go for it. Ryeli needs friends. And trust me, if you want to date her at any point, we don't mind. Just don't break my kid."

"I wouldn't dream of it." I say and give a smile.

~~~

Finally, seven o'clock. I walk to Ryeli's and pick her up. She's wearing a grey sweater with white lettering that spells out "sparkle" with gold glitter. Her jeans are severely ripped but they look good on her. Her makeup is done flawlessly. She almost looks like...no, Anthony don't even say her name.

"Hey Ramos." Ryeli says and grabs a small bag stuffs a wallet into it.

"Hi ba- I mean Ryeli." I say and Ryeli giggles.

"I'm destined to be a single Pringle forever. So, don't try it." She tosses her hair over her shoulder. I mentally slap myself.

"I'm sorry. I'm still not quite used to being single. And I have been for two months."

"If you don't mind, who'd she cheat with?"

"Her high school boyfriend." I sigh. "Can we not talk about that?"

"Sure dude. We don't have to talk about it."

"Thank you Ryeli."

"Please, call me Rye."

"Okay, Rye." I smile.

~~~

After ice cream, Ryeli takes me to the fair. Odd, she just wanted to see the Demolition Derby. But I made her go on all the rides with me. Every single one. She laughed at all the dumb jokes I told her.

"Hey, Ryeli, because I'm...famous...I've never really had a best friend. Do you think that maybe, you could be mine? I know that we just met and in three weeks is only your 17th birthday. I'm 25, older than you. But I, I really like hanging out with you."

"Sure. I could use a best friend too."

"Cool. Thank you."

"Of course." Ryeli smiles and her eyes squint, a lot like Pippa's.

How do you like it? Ryeli and Anthony are so cute. Don't you think? Lol, I am gonna go now... bye!