Unexpected

[23] Pleasant Surprise

Time had always seemed like such a weird thing to me. It could pass quickly or drag on endlessly. It seemed impossible that it was already December, but the proof was in the looming school holiday. There was only a week left before we were released for winter break and everyone was dying for time to hurry up and pass. After my date with Ryan things had changed, but not as drastically as I’d imagined they would. We were still friends, still joked around and had fun together, still had the occasional heart-to-heart talk. The only main difference, really, was that now we held hands and I could kiss him anytime I wanted.

    We never actually spoke about it, but Ryan and I had made a sort of unofficial, silent agreement to not advertise this new development in our relationship. At school we acted the same as before. I wasn’t exactly sure what we were anymore; we definitely were passed the “just friends,” but were we technically “dating”? I hadn’t put much thought into it, because it made no difference to me, but I felt a little guilty not telling Katie. She was my friend; she deserved to know.

    “I need to talk to you,” I told Ryan after art class. The other kids around our table all stood up as soon as the bell rang, but we took our time packing our bags.

    “Okay. What’s up?”

    “I’m going to tell Katie about our date.”

    “Okay,” he repeated with a nod. “Why did you need to tell me that?”

    “I don’t know, it just seems like we’re sort of keeping this on the down-low, you know? I wasn’t sure if you wanted to, you know, not tell anyone or something.”

    Ryan laughed and held the door as we left the classroom. “Kodi, I never said I wanted this to be a secret. I’m sick of lying. You’re important to me and I don’t care who knows it. I got the sense that it was you who didn’t want anyone to know, so I haven’t said anything.”

    Did I want us to be a secret? Ryan made me happy and I wasn’t ashamed to admit that. I wasn’t ashamed to be seen around him, either, but I realized with a jolt that I was a little scared. Scared of what would happen when Dean inevitably found out. And, yes, a little scared of what people would say.

    “I understand if you need some time to think about it. I don’t exactly have the best track record, I get that you’re weary of people knowing just yet.”

    I shook my head. “No, Ryan, that’s not it. Well maybe a little bit, but…honestly, I think I’m just worried about Dean.”

    “Dean?” He frowned, glancing over at me as we headed toward the boys’ locker rooms.

    Stopping, I let out a big breath and nodded. “Yeah. I mean, he practically hates you. And it’s no secret that he doesn’t like me being around you. How’s he going to react to me dating you?”

    “I don’t know,” Ryan shook his head. “But honestly, Kodi, I don’t really care. I don’t need his permission to date you. Besides, if he doesn’t like me that’s his problem, not mine. And it shouldn’t be yours, either. ”

    “Yeah,” I nodded thoughtfully. “I guess you’re right. I’m just not really ready for him to find out. But I’m not saying we should hide out, or anything. I don’t want you to think I’m ashamed of being with you.”

    Ryan smiled, the gentleness spreading all the way to his eyes. I loved that smile. He reached out and hooked his index fingers through the straps of my backpack, pulling me closer.

    “Well, in that case…”

    Grinning, he pressed his lips to mine and I took in a deep breath of his cologne. My heart raced as I kissed him back.