Remember, I told you

Everything before

Recap:

I pulled the case off the counter and looked him square in the eyes. His green eyes were sparkling as I looked back at him. Ryder Blake Daniels, my old high school crush, was standing in front of me, and without saying much of anything, I could feel the old feelings flutter back.

I felt a slight giddiness erupt in the pit of my stomach, as I said "Thank you," as his smile widened.

I was walking out the door as his smooth voice reached my ears, barely a whisper, "Now was that so hard..."

I was halfway down the block when I heard quick thumping from behind me.

"Rosie!"

"Ryd-" I questioned as his green hoodie came closer into view until he was standing in front of me.

"Now you owe me."

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This kid just couldn't leave well enough alone. "I owe you," I coughed out, "for what exactly?"

"For fixing your guitar," Ryder quickly answered, "And since I did you a favor, you can do something to repay me..."

"I see..." given that I didn't have any plans, I was curious as to what Ryder was trying to spin, teasing "Well I did say thank you, if you recall, though I'm not sure you heard it over the roar of the nonexistent audience painfully victim to your guitar solo."

He quickly parted his lips ready to retort back, "Don't even start-" before pausing, "You know what, I'm gonna let it go cause we're starting over, today's a new day." He gestured to the sky, arms wide suggesting that this whole world was ours for the taking.

I laughed at his exhilaration as I began walking along the sidewalk, Ryder easily keeping up as he turned to walk backward, tripping over small cracks. "So what exactly do you need from me?"

"Favor for favor, after all that's what friends do," Ryder said as he regained his footing, reminding me of the new terms of our relationship.

"My understanding is that friends don't keep score," I countered.

But Ryder was unfazed. "Semantics." I rolled my eyes as he continued, "And the favor I ask is a small one..."

His eyes grew wide a slight glint causing them to shimmer, his eyebrows furrowing in seriousness. He stopped his backward gait, causing me to abruptly crash into him. Ryder held me firmly at arm's length as he gently carried my hands. Nervousness and anxiety rushed through me as tension replaced the lightness that I wanted back so desperately.

"Rosie..." he whispered, as I closed my eyes, worry replacing my curiosity, fearful of his next words. "Will you spend the afternoon with me?"

My eyes quickly shot open to find a silly grin plastered across his face. Irritation was beginning to supersede as I shoved Ryder and his deep chuckling far away from me.