The Empire Of The Rose

Sweet Despair [III]

His answer was definitely not what I expected to hear.

"No." Ryder simply said.

I didn't know why I felt so disappointed by hearing this, but I managed to smile at the end.

"That's such a relief; you know that everyone is rooting on us to get together. It's so silly; I believe that something like this couldn't set out fate." I told him.

Ryder clearing his throat and looked at me, why did things suddenly feel so awkward?

"I thought you knew how to skate." Ryder told me with a low chuckle.

I fought the urge to snap at him or simply roll my eyes.

"I do but it's not my fault that the blade fell off one of the skates." I told him.

Ryder laughed at this out of nowhere.

"Yeah, I shouldn't have given you my sister's old skates; she hasn't used them in years." Ryder admitted.

I glared at him.

"You set me up, that isn't quite fair if you ask me." I told him as I shook my head.

"Do you know how to get back to the house?" Ryder suddenly asked me as he met my gaze.

I looked at him puzzled.

"Yes, why do you ask?" I told him.

"I have to go now, see you later Doll." Ryder said before he turned around and started to walk away.

"The name's Alice." I told him.

Ryder stopped walking and looked at me with a smirk.

"I know, it's supposed to be a compliment, you look like a Doll. You're very beautiful despite what I always tell you." Ryder told me.

I looked at him shocked.

"What?" I asked taken back.

"Just treasure this moment, okay? Because it's pretty much the only compliment you're ever going to get from me." Ryder said before he left.

I watched him leave and finally broke into a smile, he sure was something.

When I got back to the house, I found Mason sitting on the doorsteps.

"Hey, where were you, sis?" Mason asked me.

"Ryder took me ice skating." I said softly still trying to replay the way his brown eyes gazed at me.

What was wrong with me?

Mason looked behind me.

"Where's Ryder?" Mason asked snapping me out of my daydream.

I shrugged.

"I don't know, he just took off and told me to get back here." I said as I rubbed my hands together to create some heat, I wasn't cold, but it was still a little habit I did unconsciously when I was nervous.

I didn't want Mason to see through me, to see what I was thinking.

"Alice, someone came looking for you." Mason said grabbing my attention.

"Who can be looking for me?" I asked him as I looked up to meet his gaze.

"Hi Ali, it's good to see you." Someone said behind me.

I turned around quickly and stared at him shocked.

"Pete, what are you doing here?" I asked him.

I really couldn't believe that he was actually in front of me.

"Isn't it obvious? I missed you Alice." Peter told me.