Robyn

~Chapter 10~

"I have a proposal," Ryland begins as he slides himself onto the seat in front of me. I look up from my tray, suspicious of what this proposal may be. "And what is that?"

Ryland laughs, bringing out the small dimple beneath his bottom lip. "Don't give me that look. I was just going to ask you a question."

"So--" I trail, wondering exactly what he's trying to get at.

"Thanksgiving is coming up, and I know it's a time to spend with family, but I was wondering what you'll be doing."

"Working," I reply.

Just as he takes a bite of his chicken tender, does he raise his brow in shock. "You'll be working on Thanksgiving?"

I shrug. "Yeah. From one to six thirty."

"Well then, I guess you can still come if you want," he says more to himself than to me.

"Come where?"

"Well, every year two of the older kids in my family take the younger ones to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It's supposed to be me and my sister but she's not coming in until later and none of the others in the family want to do it, so I was wondering if you'd like to come with me?"  He asks, his eyes widening into his natural puppy dog plea.

"You have a sister?"

He nods. "Yeah she's a junior at college. Her flight plans changed but anyway can you come?" I'm not sure how, but his irises somehow widen even further.

You'd think I'd become immune to it, his puppy dog face, but it seems like I'm only becoming more susceptible. "What time?"

Ryland's eyes light up with a twinkle. "The parade starts around ten so I'd come to pick you up around nine twenty."

"Well--"

"Come on pige, please?"

Does he even realize that he's giving me those damn puppy eyes? Sighing as I look into his warm umber irises, I give in. "Sure, I'll come."

He lets out an enthusiastic yes to my answer, and I watch as his grin grows, threatening to take over his whole face. I smile softly unable to protect myself from how contagious his happiness is. Hopefully I won't be too much of a downer.

*********

Soon after, Thanksgiving arrives. I wake up early and prepare for the long day ahead, filling my knapsack with all the neccessities. I'm careful not to stir anyone in the apartment, certain that if I do, I'll get quite an earful of ungrateful obscenities. As I'm walking out of my room and toward the front door, I sense someone watching me. Turning toward the kitchen, I see Nacy leaning on the counter with a cup of coffee in her hand. "Where are you going so early?"

Slinging my knapsack onto one of my shoulders, I shrug. "No where, just out with Ryland."

"You've been hanging out a lot with him recently," she says.

"I guess. It's whatever though," I reply shifting my weight uncomfortably.

"Remember be home on time," Nacy states, giving me what alomst seems like a forced smile. "Have fun."

Something about the way she looks at me causes a fraught feeling to fill my stomach. It's like she knows a secret but doesn't want to share. All in all, I'm very uncomfortable and so I give her a small nod deciding to get out as quickly as possible. Once I'm in the lobby, I'm thankful to be free of the awkwardness that was present in that moment. Still I cannot resist wondering what it is she knows.

Hit with the frigid air of late November, I decide to let the feeling go for the time being so as to be in the highest spirits for Ryland and his family. I glance down the street, looking for Ryland's car. A car does honk its horn but instead of the BMW I expect, I see a large dark green minivan  with Ryland at the wheel. A small chuckle rumbles in my throat as I open the passenger door.