Unexpected

[29] Homecoming

Hey Everyone! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I thought I'd sit down and do a quick update while waiting for the pumpkin pie to bake! Hope you all have a wonderful time with family and friends, whatever you may be doing!

Clara.

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Forty days. It had been forty days since Ryan left to “visit his grandparents.” Not that anyone was counting. It hadn’t taken long for the rumors to start. He was so heartbroken he couldn’t even stand to look at me anymore; he’d transferred schools but didn’t want to tell anyone; he had cancer and was dying. It was almost amusing to hear the far-fetched stories some people came up with, but I was too worried about Ryan to pay them much attention. Despite my many attempts, Chad refused to tell me where he’d really gone and no matter how many times I tried Ryan wouldn’t answer my calls, texts, or emails. He’d been gone so long people were starting to doubt he was coming back. If he really was gone, for good, Chad would tell me, right?

    I kept my head down as I walked through the hallway. Dad was coming home this weekend and Dean and I had about a million things to do before then. Of course he couldn’t resist throwing a party a day beforehand, so now I was stuck helping him set up and clean everything before Dad’s flight came in at LAX Sunday morning. I was going through a mental list of groceries I needed to get later when my body collided with something solid.

    “Umph!” I stumbled backwards and did my best to keep my balance, trying not drop my books everywhere. A whiff of familiar cologne assaulted my nose and my gut tightened instinctively. Honestly, I was losing my mind. There was no way that Ryan was—

    My train of thought derailed as I looked up and my lips parted in a silent gasp. A look of surprise filled his face as Ryan realized who I was.

    “Kodi…hey.” He really was here, in the flesh. What was he doing here?!

    “Uh…hi. What…why are you here?”

    I felt my breath stop somewhere between my lungs and my mouth. Ryan looked like he always had—form-fitting jeans, T-shirt, hair lightly styled—but something about the way he carried himself spoke of change. He glanced behind him and then gestured toward the administration offices.

    “I was talking to my counselor, figuring out what I have to make up before graduation.”

    “Are you back?”

    “I am,” he gave a curt nod, smiling and slipping his hands into his front pockets.

    No. No, no, no! He couldn’t do this to me. I’d just started getting used to not having him in my life; he couldn’t just waltz back in and flash that smile around! I could feel the awkwardness sparking the air between us, all the words left unspoken. What were we now? I didn’t think either of us knew. I managed to take in a deep breath, nodding and swallowing against my suddenly dry throat. He’d been gone for over a month, and purposefully left me out of the loop. What did he expect me to do, welcome him back with open arms?

    Ryan shifted his weight uncomfortably and stared at the grimy linoleum for a long moment. He cleared his throat, looking back up. I wanted to be angry at him, but honestly all I could feel was relief that he was here, and alive, and apparently happy.

    “You look good.”

    It wasn’t even a compliment, really, but I felt my cheeks heating in blush.

    “Thanks.” I let out a nervous laugh and twitched my hand in the general direction of my next class. “I should go.”

    “Of course.” He nodded and stepped to the side. I gave him a tight-lipped smile and a curt nod as I forced myself forward. My heart started to race when he called out a moment later.