An Exchange

Chapter Forty-Seven - Dylan

Ryan

The rest of the week, rumors spread like wild fire about what happened. Most were so farfetched I couldn't believe people actually thought they could be true. But some rang true, like the one about Giles. It said that he had thrown himself over Penny to protect her, and, with just a few words, stopped her from almost killing Dylan. That rumor concerned me the most. He still cared about her, even though he had backed right off, but what made me worried was how he could speak one sentence to her and calm her raging soul.

So, after shop, I pulled him aside to speak with him. His back injuries had forced him to limp all week, so he made his way over to me slowly. "Is Penny all right?"

"She's fine," I answered trying to get to the point quickly. "What happened out there, with you?"

"You mean the fight?"

"Yes."

He shrugged. "I dunno, I just did what I had to."

"What was that exactly?" I struggled to keep my voice from rising.

"What have you heard?" He stepped back slightly, his eyes narrow as he looked me over.

"That you threw yourself over her to protect her."

His gaze dropped. "It's nothing you wouldn't have―"

"And that you said something to her that stopped her."

He leaned against the wall facing me, his gaze returning to my face. "She stopped herself. I just reminded her that she wasn't like them."

I tapped the wall with my foot, fighting back jealousy. The influence he had over her and their connection made me crazy.

I punched the wall, and, ignoring the pain in my knuckles, pointed at him. "Giles, I'm grateful that you protected her, but I can't take this thing you have going on with her."

He folded his arms and scoffed. "You can't take it? How do you think I feel about your thing with her?"

"We have more than just a thing," I said fiercely. "I'm going to marry her."

He winced, pursing his lips. He turned side on to me with his back against the wall. "You want to marry her? Why? To get her in bed?"

"Shut up, Giles. It's not like that with her."

"Then what is it like, Ryan?" He met my gaze, his eyes narrow. "Will you join the church for her and give her everything she needs in this life and the next?"

I raised an eyebrow. "I'll give her everything she wants, no matter the cost."

He rolled his eyes, pushing off from the wall. "I'm done talking to you."

As he walked away from me I said, "Back off, Giles."

He turned, and walking backward he responded, "Go to church with her, Ryan, or just shut up."

*

Saturday morning. I stood on the front porch of Dylan's house and rang the doorbell. Her mom answered and smiled at me warmly. "Ryan! It's been a long time since we saw you. We thought something terrible had happened between you and Dylan."

"Ah..." I rubbed the back of my neck.

"Come in, come in." She waved me inside. "Dylan is in her room. Do you know about this suspension she got? It's the second one this year. We don't understand it."

"She's been getting into some fights," I responded. I really didn't want to talk to her about it.

"So it seems. It's that exchange student, isn't it? I thought they were supposed to screen the students who do those things."