You again.

Chapter 3

I slowly pulled the car over next to the curb, in front of the dark house where Ryan directed me, putting the car in park.

"I don't mean to pry," I started turning slightly in my seat to face Ryan who was unbuckling himself, his eye looked up to meet mine almost instantly.

"But...." He hurried me to my point with a small smile.

"But," I chuckled slightly, "Is anyone home?"

"Uhm," he turned his upper body towards the window to look up at the house, "Probably not." He shrugged causally as he reach for his door handle. "Thanks for the ride Sophie, I guess we're even now." He smiled back at me one last time.

"Wait!" I rushed reaching for his arm.

He turned back around to me, wide eyed, obviously shocked at my sudden raise of voice.

"Oh... Uhm... I-I'm sorry." I sputtered quickly, removing my hand from his arm. I coughed out awkwardly before trying to continue. I glanced in the review mirror to see Jordan and Haley, Ryan's little sister, playing with each other not paying attention to me or Ryan. "If no one is home why don't you and Haley come over to my house for dinner.? Tonight's taco night!" I nudged him slightly with my elbow as I grinned widely at Ryan.

After a little more convincing on my part the four of us were pulling up to the very brightly lit building I call my home.

***

After a very filling Taco dinner Jordan and Haley ran off into the "playroom" to watch some Disney Channel Christmas movie or something while my Mom, Grandma, Ryan, and myself helped clean up the now grimy kitchen.

While I washed the dishes, Ryan dried and put them away. My mom was busy cleaning and washing the table and counter space. Grandma scooped leftovers into separate bins and placed them in the fridge, before getting out the ingredients needed to make a surprise desert which she informed us about no more than twenty minutes earlier.

"Excuse me!" Ryan gasped out loudly making me jump through my skin. Once I caught my breath I slowly turned to face him.

"What?" I asked out slowly.

"You. Missed. A. Spot!" He lashed out pointing to a spec, may I add, a tiny spec of crumb left of a plate. I glared at him before responding.

"Are you joking? Just wipe it off with your rag."

"No can do. You're going to have to rewash it." He inspected the crumb further.

"Rewash it my ass. Just wipe it off unless you'd like to take over washing all these dishes." I challenged not expecting him to actually switch with me.

"Well someones gotta get this job done right! Now scoot, scoot, scoot!" He femininely squealed while also shooing me away with the flick of his rag.

My Grandma gave us an amused smile before she exited into the study to join my mom to do who knows what.

Keeping in my laughter had become too much of a hassle at this point as he washed the dishes with more sass than probably half the girls in my school would be able to produce themselves.

Afetr some time i guess he noticed my subtle snickers as he cracked a small smile before over dramatically turning to me with a scowl.

"What are you laughing at?" He butted his hip out and rested his free hand on it while his other was submerged in the sink.

"N-n-othing." I choked out laughing. I'm sorry but if you could only see him you'd see why I would be laughing at something that probably doesn't sound too funny.

"Oh you think this is funny." He raised his eye brow slightly before pulling his hand out of the sink, throwing water on me. Dirty dish water.

"Ewe! Ryan!" I jumped back slamming into the cabinets behind me. "Owe!" I complained rubbing the back of my head. His deep chuckles filled the kitchen only stopping when the oven timer went off followed by Grandmas feet quickly shuffling into the room.

After she removed the scrumptious looking pie from the oven did she turned to us.

"Are you kids still washing dishes?" She asked in mock horror.

"Yes ma'am but we're almost-" Ryan started only to be cut off.

"Nonsense! Get out of here go party or smoke some pot or soemthing, don't tell your mom I said that, but get out now!" She motioned us out of the kitchen into the foyer.

"Well I guess I should be getting home with Hailey now.." Ryan awkwardly took a step back creating space between us.

"Oh no you don't! You have to wait until after desert!" Grandma narrowed her eyes at Ryan before returning to making her desert.

"I should probably advise you to listen to her." His shoulders bounced slightly as he laughed. I smiled at the thought of what grandma would do if infact he left before desert. Oh gosh was she crazy.

To pass the time Ryan and I made our way upstairs to where Jordan and Hailey were watching the movie only to be shushed every five seconds because according to our siblings we were too loud even though the two were only half paying attention to what was on the screen since they were quite the chatter boxes anyway.

***

After desert I drove Ryan and Hailey home only to find the house still dark.

"Are you guys gonna be okay here alone?" I asked truly concered, where were their parents?

"I'm seventeen, Sophie. I can take care of the two of us until the morning." He gestured to himself and Hailey as she dozed off in the back seat.

"Okay, but if you need anything don't be a fraid to call or come over." I shushed my voice glancing back at Haley careful not to wake her.

"Don't worry we'll be fine. I promise." He smiled carefully opening his car door, "Oh and thanks for tongiht I had fun, looks like now I'm the one who owes you one... Goodnight, Sophie."

I smiled as he gently picked up Hailey and rushed into their home. Although it didn't look much warmer than the brittle winds outside.  

"Goodnight, Ryan."