21

Chapter I

My names Cole. Ryder and I are best friends. I would do nothing to change that! He's been there since we were born. his birthday is on February 29th, and mine is on December 31st! He's two months younger than me, but we both have pretty cool birthdays if you ask me.
Ryder is very tall, he's 6'1. He has dirty blonde hair and green-hazel eyes. He has dimples and a missing tooth in between his K9 tooth and his front tooth.
I had curly brown hair and brown eyes. I'm short. I just hit 5'9! I just got my braces out but... I mean I have freckles! Ryder's mom says they are my best feature.
Our parents were best friends, or from what I was told. My parents aren't alive anymore, in fact I moved in with Aunt Sarah when i was only 2 days old.
My mom died while giving birth to me. My dad committed suicide when he heard what had happened that night with her. But, my aunt introduced me to Ryder when he was born. His parents were like kids to her she had always told me.
When we were 5 we started pre-K together. We have been in the same classes until high school.
Our teachers always had to separate us, we were always double trouble.
We are 21 now. I haven't drunk my first alcoholic drink yet. I was waiting for Ryder. Yesterday was his birthday, and today we are going out to celebrate. Maybe even meet a few girls.
~
I called Ryder. He said he'd be here to pick me up in a few.
I didn't know what to wear. It was chilly outside. I wanted to wear jeans with brown boots and a white shirt with a jean jacket but I'm not sure. I'll call Emma, Ryder's sister.
I pick up the phone, go to her contact and call her. It takes a few seconds before she picks up the phone.
A cheerful "Hello!" comes from the phone. "Hey sis, Ryder and I are going out tonight and I have no idea what to wear." She chuckles "What are y'all doin? Going on your first date?" I blush. "No! I just don't know what to wear. I have too many clothes and I can't pick!" She sighs. "Hm..." It's silent for a few moments. "Wear black jeans, ripped, with those high tops that Ryder bought you and a Lil Peep hoodie." He shuffles. "I wanna dress nice, though!" She sighs again. "No, you want to wear what I said, it's something you'll be more comfortable in." He chuckles. "Yeah, you're right. You know me so well... Wait!" "...Yes?" "Should I wear my halloween socks or my Nike socks?" "You are such a dork. Where the Nike socks. Don't make it weird." She laughs and hangs up the phone.
I walk over to my walk in closet and turn the light on. Right away I see the hoodie and look down at the floor to grab my vans. They're there, but right next to the shoes is a picture of Ryder and me on his 13th birthday. There's cake smudged all over his face. I remember his mom giving me a piece of cake to shove right on his face. And when he turned around trying to find me his mom was right behind him, and smashed strawberry ice cream all over his face.
It was a good night.
I pick up the picture and put it in my nightstand drawer. I go to my dresser and pick out my pants and get dressed.
My phone dings. "Hm.." I look over and it's Ryder. "Bring ur I.D.! Also don't forget to bring me a birthday present u loser. I'm at the bar downtown, next to that new clothes store. Be there in 30."
"Gotcha."
Shit. What will I give him for his birthday?.. Well I mean I could give him a new hoodie. I think he's like that.
"Wait!" I run to my closet to the bag on the floor. There's a green hoodie. I forgot! I got this for him a couple weeks ago. He'll love it. I grabbed the bag and grabbed my keys, phone, and wallet.
I go to lock the door and walk to my car. "It's not as cold as I thought. Thanks Emma." I get into my car and connect my phone to bluetooth. The first song that comes on is Teen Romance. Not to be gay, but this song reminds me of Ryder. Like... a lot.
There is a light snow. Ryder calls me when I get towards the bar. Literally, a street over. I answer. "Hey what's up?" "Be careful on your way here apparently there is drunk drivers everywhere and they are crashing. On purpose." I nod and agree. "Yeah I'm on the bar's street now. And don't worry. I have your fucking present." We both laugh. I can see him smiling, too, if I'm being honest I love his smile. "Alright. I'm here. Bye." He hangs up and I turn the keys and grab my stuff. The bar has a pride flag. I giggle. "Gay rights!" I whisper to myself. I walk in and there's a lot of dudes. I look around and I don't see Ryder. "That loser... I'm gonna kill him!" I run out laughing. He sent me to the gay bar. "Nice prank." I chuckle.(But seriously, gay rights!!!)
I call him. "Hey, Douche, Where in the fuck is the actual bar?" He laughs like a tea kettle that is finished. "You aren't funny." He laughs some more before he speaks. " I'm actually at home. We're having a sleep over, dude." I pump my fist up. "YES!" I exclaim.
I get back into my car and turn the keys and I bolt to his house. I pull up to his house. It was quite large, a tan color, and a decent front yard. There he was, in the door way. He was wearing a blue hoodie, and holding a puppy. My favorite color.
I grab his bag and my keys and run up to the door. I hug him and squeal as I hand him his bag. He hands me the puppy. To be honest I didn't even watch his reaction to the hoodie, I liked the dog. He opens the bag and yells "TAKE THAT BITCH!" It scares both me and the puppy. He throws off the hoodie he's wearing and puts on the one I gave him. "Keep the puppy. It's for you, his name is Rider." I blushed and watched as he puts 'my' hoodie on himself. It looked amazing on him. I was quite jealous too. "Hey, we drinking alcohol tonight or what?!" I exclaimed. He looked the hoodie up and down then ran inside, to a counter with wine, vodka, rum and coke.
"So you're trying to get fucked up, huh?" He jumps up and down. "Yes!" I grab the rum and he grabs the coke. "CHEERS!" Emma is at the top of the stairs. Giggling. "Have fun..."