Crossing Lines

The Unwritten Rulebook

    I’m not even sure what just happened. How could a guy like him think I was pretty let alone popular? He was the kind of person who knew how to be swift in the worst of situations. Basically, the opposite of me. His smile lit up the room. He was awfully persuasive though, not to mention his charming smile so it was difficult to understand, but I didn’t mind.

    I put a hand to my cheek. It was burning up.

    I tried to ignore it and listen to his answer. I wasn’t sure how to respond, though. I’ll admit I was surprised. The way he spoke. It had a regretful tone almost. As if he had done something way worse than what he suggested.

    “Ryder and I were never friends." he started, "I only knew him because he was my lab partner and he dated my older sister Brooke.” Brooke. Why did that name seem so familiar? “Ryder pushed me around and made me do all his lab work for him and I couldn’t tell him to do his own work because then, I would get a bad mark, but I could at least deal with that but then-” he sighed. I could tell he hated telling this story. “Then, word got around that Ryder was cheating on Brooke with another sophomore, Rachel. At first, I didn’t believe but- well you know how I work at Taco Bell for the extra cash? I was working one day and Rachel was there with this other girl talking about Ryder’s “smoking hot body”.”

    I made a gagging gesture. Disgusting. It was like the girls these days had nothing better to do. They didn’t think reading was cool, they probably didn’t know where the library was. Trust me, I love the internet but not the ugly corner where teenage girls go to obsess over gorgeous guys.

    “I was ready to puke as well, but in that moment, all the pieces clicked, and all the rumours, I knew by then were true.”

    Fear surged through me. His one secret he hadn’t shared with anyone? What if it was too much? What if I couldn’t treat him the way I’d been treating him because I was uncomfortable?

    “But then she realized that- uh nevermind, that doesn't matter. Anyways, me being as protective as I am, I got angry and told Ms. Brown, our science teacher, that Ryder had cheated on multiple lab tests and he got suspended for a week.”

    I couldn’t help but feel relieved.

    “That’s it?” my voice came out sounding painfully surprised. “Not that it is a bad admission but, when you spoke, it - you sounded so intense.”

     “Did I?” he asked, trying a little too hard to sound curious. “I didn’t mean for it to, maybe it’s because i’m so protective.”

    “Maybe…” I said, feeling doubtful. “I just- You know what nevermind. So, what’s next?”

    “Well, I tell you my plan. First thing’s first, Ryder has a huge crush on you.”

    “Wait, what? Ryder has a huge crush on me? We don’t even talk. And how do you even know these things? You're joking, right?"

    “Let me correct myself. Ryder has a thing for you. Everyone knows it. He gives you these flirty stares but you don’t even notice. I think it has soething to do with the fact that you are one of the only girls who doesn’t trip over her own feet when he passes by. Don’t worry, that’s a good thing."

    “There is no way Ryder has a thing for me. And besides, my friends don’t trip over their own feet.”

    “Maybe, but all your friends are taken.”

    “Avery isn’t.”

    “Oh, please.”

    “What is that supposed to mean?” I snapped back.

    “We all know who likes Avery. It would be breaking guy code. That’s a line even Ryder wouldn’t cross.”

    “No, I don’t! Please, do enlighten me.”

    “Can’t, sweetheart. That would also be breaking guy code.”

    “Did you just call me sweetheart? Do not call me sweetheart. Where is this guy code rule book? I would like to go set it on fire.”

    “Can’t let you do that, sweetheart. Either way, it’s unwritten.”

    “How can half of the world’s population follow an unwritten rule book?”

    “It’s ingrained in our minds.”

    “Shut up, Pinocchio. Your nose is growing.”

    “Now you wouldn’t want that to happen, would you sweetheart. It would mess up my beautiful face.”

    “Why would I care?”

    “You’re blushing.” he smirked.

    “You’re - you’re,” I struggled to find the right words.

    “Indescribably handsome?”

    “I was going to say pathetic.”  

    “Now, now. There is no reason to be mean, sweetheart.”

    “Don’t. Call. Me. Sweetheart.”

    “Fine, pumpkin."

    “Oh god no. How did you get so cocky?”

    “I didn’t, I just tell the truth.”

    “The truth? Be careful, you’re treading dangerous waters. Your ego is much too large. One wrong move and your head might explode.”

    “You’d still love me though?”

    “Well, you do have a gorgeous smile. Who likes Avery?”

    “Aiden.”

    “Thank you!”

    “Oh, shit. Why did I say that?”

    “You tell me.”

    “You told me I have a gorgeous smile! I got distracted.”

    “Who’s smitten now?”

    “Shut up.”

    “You’re blushing, cupcake.”

    “Only I get to use pet names!”

    “The tables have turned.”

    “So, can we meet tomorrow? I have to get to dinner.”

    “Sure. Text me?”

    “Okay.”

    “Bye.”

    “Bye.”