Reasons Unknown (On Hold)

Ch 3 - Bonding and Stories

A/N: Go check out "I Want" on the side. I love it so much and I think it (kinda) went okay with this chapter because it involves shopping and materials . . . kind of. Just listen to it! I command you!

Chapter 3

"Ryan Anderson!" I called out again, nearly two feet away from him.

"What?" he asked angrily while turning around.

"I - uh," I stuttered. Was Ryan Anderson really being a mean, rude jerk? That's a first. I guess I understand him though. I would be pretty pissed too if I gave someone their belongings and saved them from almost being drugged, and then getting yelled at by a horrible jerk in return.

"Well, what do you want?" Ryan snapped.

"Um . . . ." I was so shocked with his reaction, but I did understand it.

He raised his eyebrow.

I shook my head, trying to remember what I was going to say.

"Nicole," he looked at my eyes, his blue ones filled with anger, "if you have something to say, then say it already. I have a life to live, you know? I can't just stand around and be your personal punching bag."

I opened my mouth and closed it. "Ahem, um . . . I - I'm sorry. I didn't know you were bringing my -"

"Nicole," he said, ignoring me, "do you think I was in on the arranged marriage?"

"Well, I -" I started, but he wasn't looking for an answer.

"No, I wasn't. Do you think I wanted to be forced to marry a girl that I barely knew - or didn't even know at all?" As he said all this, he seemed uncomfortable, like he didn't like sharing his feelings with others.

I was filled with guilt. Once I found out about the marriage, all my thoughts were of me. When I ran away, I didn't think how my dad would feel. When I snapped at Ryan all those times, I never even gave a second thought about his feelings.

Well, I am officially a jerk, I thought.

He sighed. "Anyway, do you plan on going back to your house?"

"Honestly . . . no," I answered.

Ryan looked at me wide-eyed. "So when you left our family beach house, you didn't even know where you were heading?"

"No," I admitted. "Wait . . . that's just your beach house?" I asked incredulously. And all that time I thought it was the manor. If that's their beach house, I wonder how big their actual house is.

"Yeah," he said with a nod.

"So . . . ." I said uncomfortably, looking at my feet.

"Hey, do you want to go to my house - well condo? It's not as big as the beach house, or any of our other houses actually, but it's pretty cozy of you ask me," he said. Then after a second's thought added, "It's only, like, a ten minutes walk away from here."

"Um, no," I replied. "Thanks for the offer, but . . . ."

"Really?" Ryan questioned, raising an eyebrow.

I sighed in defeat. "Okay, but only until I find a place of my own."

"Of course Finch," he said.

"Oh, so we're on a last name basis, huh, Anderson?" He nodded. "Well, Anderson, lead the way!"

He started walking and I followed him. The first couple of steps were spent in awkward silence - well, maybe it was comfortable for him, but any type of silence for me is awkward. I don't like quietness when I'm around other people.