Summer Doesn't Last Forever | ✓

Chapter 14: Okay, I Can Do This

Author's Note: This update is a few days late. Sorry, I couldn't really think of what to write. But here it is. I know it's probably shorter than usual, but hopefully it's good! I know it kinda has like a cliffhanger-y ending, but yeah, the next chapter will pick up right there! (:

I wake up the next morning all of a sudden. I glance over to Ryder and see that he’s still asleep. He can’t seriously like me can he? I mean, I’m not saying I’m hideous or anything, but you know what I mean. Nah, I’m probably just over thinking it or something. Yeah, that’s it. I reach down into one of the pockets in my pajama pants, and pull my phone out. I look at it and see that the time is only 6:54 a.m. I see that Matt did indeed call me last night like he said he would. I think I must have been asleep when he called. He’s probably still asleep; so I don’t call him, instead I send him a message saying, “Hey Matt, I was asleep when you called. Talk later?” I’m sure he’ll know it’s from me, I mean, he does have my number. I shift in the bed, lying back down on my back. The position isn’t too comfortable though, so I move again. This time I lie on my side, facing Ryder’s sleeping body.

          “McKenna.” He groans.

          “Yes?” I reply.

          “Please.”

I wrinkle my eyebrows in confusion, “Please what?”

          “Please stop moving.”

          “Oh, sorry.” I say, willing myself not to move again.

I don’t feel sleepy anymore, but I don’t think I can get out of the bed without disrupting Ryder. So I lie there in the bed for the next ten minutes trying to occupy myself. I try counting sheep, saying the alphabet backwards, reciting the states in alphabetic order, but they don’t work. So then I decide to count down from one hundred.

          “….seventy-nine, seventy-eight, seventy-seven, seventy-six, seventy-five, seventy-four, seventy-three, seventy-two-seventy-o-”

          “McKenna, what the hell are you doing?” Ryder asks from beside me.

I look over at him, and see that his eyes are open, “I’m counting backwards from one hundred.” I explain.

Ryder props himself up on his elbows, and looks back at me, “Why?” He asks in an exasperated voice.

          “Because it’s like seven in the morning, and I can’t sleep.”

          “Well why can’t you sleep?” He asks, sitting up completely in the bed.

I shrug, “I dunno.”

          “Are you going to work today?”

I shake my head, “No. I go back tomorrow.”

Ryder is quiet for a moment before he says, “Come here.”

          “What?”

          “Come here.” He repeats.

Luckily, outside, it’s daylight. The sun isn’t up, but its daylight. I hesitate for a second before I crawl over closer to Ryder. He lies back down on his back, and pulls me down with him. I curl up next to him, lying on my side, while I rest my head on his chest. This is kinda strange, because Ryder’s so introverted. He doesn’t let people in, like ever. I think the only person he even let remotely close to him was that Scarlett girl. The hair on his leg tickles my leg and I have the urge to laugh, but I don’t. Ryder pulls the cover back over us, and slips his arm around my waist; gripping it lightly and holding me in my place.