Unexpected

[21] On the Edge

I'm so sorry I haven't updated in forever!! Life has been a little crazy for me with work and school and trying not to stress out too much. Hope you like it! Let me know what you think. :)

Clara.

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By Friday the rumors had died down for the most part and things were finally getting back to normal. Dean hadn’t even mentioned Ryan in the past two days, so maybe there was hope in that aspect as well. I was at my locker when I heard the click of high heels, then a pair of arms grab my waist. Letting out a startled yelp, I turned to see Katie grinning at me.

    “Don’t do that!” I slapped her arm, but then laughed as she let me go.

    “I can’t help it,” she shrugged innocently, “I feel like I haven’t seen you in days.”

    “I know, I’m sorry. Why don’t I make it up to you and we can go out to dinner? Hue can come too.”

    “Where am I going?” Hue asked as she approached from her own locker.

    “Kodi’s taking us to dinner because she’s a bad friend.”

    “Hey!” I protested lightly, but I knew she kind of had a point. She just grinned at me as Hue shook her head in amusement.

    “What do you feel like?” I closed my locker and we all started down the hall together.

    “Chinese!” They both chimed. I laughed, shaking my head in amusement.

    “Alright, then.”

    “First, we need to go wish the boys good luck.” Katie stated, slipping her arms through mine and Hue’s.

    Hue frowned at the girl between us. “What are you talking about?”

    “The game tonight, silly! The soccer team is heading to Thousand Oaks, and I for one have to say goodbye.”

   The entire varsity soccer team was outside in the parking lot, sporting their matching blue-and-white tracksuits. Katie released me and Hue to run up to Kellan, throwing her arms around him. He laughed and pulled her close, leaning down to kiss her. There were a few guys scattered around in groups of twos or threes and I couldn’t help but search for Ryan. He was standing a little ways away from the group, rolling a soccer ball back and forth under his foot. I gestured to Hue that I was going to talk to him and she nodded.

    “Hey,” I smiled and lifted my hand in a wave.

    Ryan looked up at the sound of my voice and gave me a distracted smile.

   “We just wanted to wish you guys good luck. I’m sure you’ll do great, though. You always do.”

   “Yeah,” he nodded, lifting his hands and pressing the tips of his fingers to both of his temples for a moment. He seemed distracted, but I didn’t know why. It was almost like he didn’t want to see me, but I’d just talked to him in art class not even thirty minutes ago and he’d been fine.

    “Are you okay?” I asked with a slight frown. Ryan met my gaze and smiled, but it was tight and clearly forced.

    “Fine.”

    “Nervous about the game?”

    “No, Newbury sucks. We could beat them with our eyes closed.”

    I nodded, but couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Now that I thought about it, he had been acting kind of strange all day. I reached out to touch his arm, startled to find his skin felt cool and damp.