I'd Never Expected

Chapter 15

When the last band had finished placing their stuff away, everybody in the venue began to drift away.

After talking and playing around (we found out that the guys had given us some form of wheat drink) for the last two hours, we all realized it was time to call it quits.

"Yeah, it's a school night and I don't want my parents beating my ass for coming home late again," added Max with an unhappy sigh.

When Ronnie went to retrieve his backpack, we used the side exit door of the pit and headed back into the parking lot. We stopped by the van, joked, and laughed a bit more before Max offered to give me a ride home in their SUV.

I declined and told them I arrived in my dad's car.

"Oh, then Ronnie, you can go with her," Max suggested.

Ronnie nodded slowly. "Yeah, I guess." He appeared somewhat reluctant.

I objected. "Oh no, you probably want to go with the guys-"

"No, it's alright, I don't mind. Plus, this saves them gas, anyways." He gave a crooked smile then quickly turned to his band members. "I'll see you guys tomorrow then."

"Yeah, and remember, band practice at 6," Bryan reminded him.

Oh, band practice? I inquired.

Ronnie nodded and I went over to say my goodbyes and thanked Max for inviting me.

I went off on the other side of the parking lot and Ronnie followed from behind with his hands in his pocket.

I stopped walking and asked, "What are you going way the hell over there?"

He shrugged when reaching my side.

I decided to make some small talk on the way to the car. "So, you're going to practice on last time before the show?"

"Yeah, over at Robert's house."

"Huh." I gave a response of interest.

We stayed silent for the rest of the walk.

It began to feel like this whole night of laughs never happened as the mutual feeling of awkwardness returned to the air.

When we entered the car, I decided to turn on the radio to make the mood feel easier.

Ronnie was busy staring out the window not bothering to make any knowledge of his surroundings so I don't think it would have mattered whether the radio was on or not.

I decided to leave it on anyways.

I began to pull out of the parking lot and hit the streets and drove for a good few minutes before Ronnie unexpectedly lowered the car radio.

"I need to talk to you," he unexpectedly said.

My eyes slightly widened. "Uh… Yeah?" I asked.

"I've been thinking about this almost the whole night… About our relationship," he let out.

"What?" I asked, almost letting go of the wheel.

"I noticed how well you get along with my friends - actually, how amazingly well you get along with them… and-and it made me realized about that past conversation I had with you…"

I quickly turned my head to him then back at the road. He was staring straight ahead at the windshield.

"Yeah, I remember that," I informed him so he would continue.

He nodded. "It's not that I don't want to be friends with you, it's just that I thought it wasn't such a good idea."

"Yeah, I got that last time," I informed him again.