I stared at my dinner plate not having much of an appetite. It was defiantly stress causing it. Ashley looked over at my untouched tacos and then looked at me.
"You okay? You've been quiet since you got home."
My mom nodded in respond signaling that she felt the same way.
"I'm good, I just have a test I'm worried about." I pulled a basic teenager move by lying and I know. Though to be fair it would be kinda hard to explain to my parents that I was in this bet thing.
"Well, my son is genius so I know he'll do great." My dad boasted.
Ashley looked skeptical but turned back to her food.
I put my food away and helped my dad with the dishes while my mom lectures Ashley about how her makeup was too dark for her age and it drowns out her features. Ashley has always been the one to express herself from art. She said her plain black hair and green eyes were boring and how she wanted people to remember when they looked at her.
"So anything interesting going on at school?" My father asked.
"Can I ask you something that may be a little weird?"
"Sure you can."
"Okay, well there's this kid at my school named Ryan. He's getting picked on and I tried helping him today but he kinda just told me off. So what would I do?."
My dad's face fell. "Ryan? As in Ryan Ross?"
I scrunched up my eyebrows, "Do you know him? Because I didn't even know he went to the school which I find weird."
"Uh, I've heard Dallon mention his name before."
That didn't surprise me. Dallon knew everyone and I honestly didn't know how. And Dallon was the one that old me who he was.
"Oh?"
He didn't say anything of it and just kept washing the dishes.
Dallon was supposed to come over but I guess Patrick needed a study partner so he ditched me. That's fine it's not like I asked first or anything. I'm not upset. But I did call Josh who of course was at his sister's basketball game because he actually participates in family time. I guess that's what happens when you only have three friends.
I was just going to work on my presentation about schizophrenia until Ashley walked in. ¨Can you drive me to seven eleven?¨
¨You know I'm highly offended that the only time you want to hang out with me is when you want me to drive you somewhere.¨
¨Well I was going to ask if you wanted to come with because I got twenty dollars from babysitting.¨
¨Sure you were. Who else am I picking up?¨
¨Melanie and Hayley?¨
I rubbed my eyes, ¨Fine go get ready.¨
She smiled and ran out as I got up and shut my laptop. I yelled out to the house that we were leaving and got in the car.
Both of Ashley's friends lived about ten minutes away so there goes my gas money.
The fifteen-year-old drama bunch went into the Seven Eleven. I got a slush but didn't stay there for very long.
There was a bench set outside the place with my name all over it. It was cool but not freezing. Perfect weather in my opinion. No one asked though. I felt someone sit down. I had my face so close to my phone I thought I was going to fall into it so I didn't see them.
I guess at first they didn't see me either because when they found out who I was they didn't seem pleased.
I looked up quickly from my screen seeing dots of white everywhere. Turning my head slightly I saw that (of course because my luck is so amazing) Ryan was sitting right next to me.
He went to get up, "Stay?" I asked not knowing what else to say.
The way he looked at me was confusing. At first, he looked shocked but his eyes looked alarmed and the way that he was trembling also show that he was scared. "Why?" Was all he managed.
"Because you sat here for a reason why leave?"
He didn't answer me, I knew he wouldn't.
"I can leave if you want." I needed to be nice. He needed to know that I was not going to hurt him.
"No...its fine." He sat down and stared at his lap.
"You sure?"
He gave a small nod.
It was awkward. I mean of course I try to make it not awkward by starting up small talk but he would only give three-word answers and then shut me down. It was my choice to pick him though so I can't really get frustrated.
His phone lit up and I got him to finally soften when his face went tensed again. To think I was finally starting to warm him up. He didn't look at me but I could tell he was frightened. Before I could even ask if he was okay he was gone.
