Stargirl

9

Two weeks went by and not much changed between Ryder and I.

No feelings were confessed, but we did manage to squeeze in one late lunch before I left for Charlotte.

"When are you coming back?"He asked as he ate the garlic knots

"Well, I have a job in Malibu on the twenty-something of April and I haven't been home in a while. My sister had her baby late last night and I kinda just wanna get away from life in the fast lane until Malibu." I answered as I ate my own garlic knots

Ryder looked at me with narrowed eyes, "That's three weeks and you're leaving tonight, right?"

"Yes at five thirty." I confirmed

"That's a long time." Ryder added

I rested my chin on my hand, "Don't act like you aren't gonna be busy with your album coming out."

"Yes, I know that I will, but I wanted you with me. But I don't want to hold you back from your family, I refuse to be that guy. You deserve to get away, I see how hard you work." Ryder spoke as he unfolded his arms

"Why do you want me with you?" I asked him curiously

Ryder and I rested our hands on our cheeks at the same time.

It was kinda freaky.

We didn't say anything about it, just a small laugh.

"I haven't really figured that out yet. Maybe it's the fact that you're down to earth, or you laugh at my stupid jokes, maybe it's because you always know what to say. You're like my b-f-f."  Ryder explained to me

He opened his palm up on the table and he fumbled with his nails.

"B-f-f?" I questioned him as I ran my fingers across his palm

"Does it ever freak you out how close we've gotten in what? Almost three months?" I wondered

Ryder crinkled his nose, "Not to be cliche, but it's felt longer than that. Maybe I knew you in a past life."

"Maybe, so." I spoke lowly

Ryder and I got our pizza and started to eat while holding small talk.

"Are you gonna call me while you're in Charlotte?" Ryder wondered

I looked up and smiled at him.

"Yeah." I laughed

"What's funny?" He wondered

I wiped the tomato sauce off of his face with a napkin. 

It reminded me of the time he was wiping my mouth when I was drunk.

"You eat like you're four." I commented

"My Mom says the same thing." Ryder added

I glanced out of the window of the restaurant to see paparazzi lined up.

"Someone must have tipped them off." I sighed

"I hate paparazzi." I went on

Ryder raised his eyebrows, "Seriously? You handle them so well that I'd never know."

"In paparazzi pictures, I'm almost always fiddling with something because I'm nervous. If you say one wrong thing they can use it against you." I went on

"I feel the same way, that's why I always look pissed off." Ryder informed me

That made a lot more sense because I've seen Ryder go from being bubbly to being dead in an instant after he saw paparazzi.