After Hannah Baker- Zach Dempsey's New Life

24: Formal

Ryan and Mercedes got ready in Ryan's room while Ethan and I got ready in my room. 

"Ryan's really excited," I chuckled fixing my burgundy tie and white jacket. 

"It's the first dance she's gone to with anybody," Ethan chuckled lightly, "And she's wearing a dress. She doesn't wear dresses for anyone," he laughed. 

"Why do you know so much about Ryan?" I asked with a chuckle. 

"I'm her best friend," he laughed lightly then shook his head. "She likes to play it off like she doesn't have friends but I'm seriously her best friend," he chuckled then sat on my bed. "She tells me everything," he smirked then slowly scratched his nose. 

"I thought Ryan and Mercedes were best friends," I mumbled. 

"Where ever I go Mercedes goes," he chuckled, "Especially now," he smiled lightly. "No, Ryan's mom use to bring Ryan over all the time when we were little. Her mom was my mom's best friend until like a year ago," he nodded slowly before Mercedes peaked her head into the room. "Are you two done putting on makeup?" he asked slowly standing up. 

"Possibly," Mercedes said then moved away from the door frame and walked back down the stairs. "Are you done putting on make up?" Mercedes shouted when she got to the bottom of the stairs. 

"No I forgot my lipstick at home," Ethan answered when he got to the bottom of the stairs and wrapped his arms around Mercedes. Ryan was standing quietly in the middle of the kitchen. 

Her hair was curled tightly and she was wearing light make up. Ryan smiled at me lightly when I walked over to her. "You look beautiful," I whispered when she blushed lightly. 

"Thanks," she whispered looking at her feet that were in gold high heals. 

"You're also like three inches taller," I chuckled then slowly wrapped my arms around her. 

"It's four," she smiled then kissed me lightly. 

"Let's go," Ethan spoke up making his way to the door with Mercedes. 

When we walked into the formal. Ethan and Mercedes went right to the dance floor while Ryan slowly wrapped her arms around me. 

"You really do look nice," I whispered putting my hands lightly on her waist.

"I know," she giggled then kissed me on the cheek before pulling me over to where Mercedes and Ethan were dancing like no one was watching. 

After half an hour, Mariah walked over to where Ryan and I were slow dancing. "There's a rumor going around that you're pregnant," she laughed lightly, "Granted I started it but," she smiled when Ryan slowly pulled away from me. 

"What's your deal?" I asked with a sigh.

"Why else would she move in with you," she chuckled when Ryan turned and started walking away. I sighed then followed Ryan who went and sat down at a table slowly. 

"Babe," I said then sat next to her before Ethan and Mercedes walked over quickly to us. 

"I'm about to kick her ass," Ethan said sitting down across from us. Ryan slowly put her head on the table with a sigh. I slowly rubbed her backed while Ethan and Mercedes talked quietly. 

"Ryan?" I asked slowly leaning over a few minutes later. Her head was still on the table and Mercedes and Ethan went back to dance on the floor. 

"What?" she mumbled slowly. 

"Let's go take a walk," I suggested slowly taking her hand. She nodded then stood up slowly. I stood up then followed her when she slowly pulled me out of the gym. 

We walked a few feet down the hallway then Ryan stopped and leaned against the wall. I slowly wrapped my arms around her then rested my head on hers. 

"Are you okay?" I asked kissing her on the forehead. She shrugged slowly. 

"It's just a rumor," she whispered. 

"That doesn't make it okay," I said slowly rubbing her side. 

"Talking about it is just going to make it worse Zach," she pulled away and looked at me slowly. 

"You need to talk about it," I mumbled slowly. "Get it off your chest," I whispered. She sighed slowly then leaned her head back against the wall. 

"Okay," she mumbled looking back at me. "But I don't want to talk about it here," she said when I nodded slowly. 

"Let's go back," I said then took her hand again. She smiled then lead me back into the gym. 

When we walked in Mercedes and Ethan were making their way to the door. "Where are you going?" Ryan asked when Mercedes groaned lightly.

"To the hospital," Ethan said slowly while leading Mercedes down the hall. "Can you two find a way home?" he asked over his shoulder. 

"Yeah, no problem," I said just before they walked out. "Come on let's go," I slowly pulled Ryan back into the gym. 

After a few minutes, Ryan and I were dancing with some guys from the basketball team and their dates. 

The last dance was a slow dance, I walked over to Ryan and wrapped my arms around her slowly. She smiled then kissed me before I rested my head on her shoulder. "Did you have fun?" I asked when people started leaving the gym before the song ended. 

"Yes I did," she smiled wrapping her arms around my neck. 

"Good," I slowly leaned down then kissed her before Mariah walked over to us again. Ryan kissed me back then slowly sighed when Mariah gagged before she laughed. 

"Let's go," Ryan grabbed my hand then walked to the door of the gym. 

"Is it too cold to walk?" I asked when we walked to the doors. 

She shrugged slowly then smiled, "We can warm each other up when we get home," she said with a small smirk. I hummed lightly then leaned down and kissed her slowly. 

"Here," I took my jacket off and slowly put it on her shoulders. She slowly put her hands through the sleeves then smiled when I took her hand again. 

We walked home talking quietly. "We should call Ethan and Mercedes in the morning," Ryan said when we got home. 

I nodded then slowly put my hand slowly on her hips. She smiled then grabbed onto my arms. I smiled then leaned down and kissed her lightly. 

"Let's go upstairs," she whispered when I pulled my lips away. I smiled letting her lead me upstairs to my room.