I didn't answer or reply to any of Ryan's calls or texts. I decided to pay him back for what he did I didn't answer or reply to any of Ryan's calls or texts. I decided to pay him back for what he did by playing his own game but with my way. While he kept his phone off, I kept mine on and straight out ignored his calls.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjsGk4lLpq
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiHVDpzVQZ
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkjfVF8EHG
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbN9wYDoegE
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrT1MKj0rkL
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMALnnJAT4
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOayq4UW7v
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwndRwDNYVL
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCY2kQtERMk
It's Saturday, so naturally our usual coffee shop is hosting a karaoke night tonight. We'd often go there and conquer the place like it's ours. The guys suggested doing so tonight, and I couldn't agree more. It was a good distraction to lighten my mood a little. I invited Denise, who invited Charlotte and Veronica. I was a little surprised when Denise told me she's friends with the twins. Apparently, they all went to gymnastics classes together since the beginning of high school. They're really "dope" people, she told me. I didn't mind extra company anyway, and neither did the guys. They were actually pretty cool about it when I told them about the girls coming, especially Cody.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclOxuHriDE
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXf6AmzUV0
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWEphHOWj1
"It's good to have some femininity among the group for once," Cody said.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QzM9TrR3Y
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGMRpCTydC
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEDxQ5INOY
"Say that again and slit your throat," I reply with a sarcastic, sweet smile.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQO9gBWobiO
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15wHMGRc9v
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQQJ9Kwpj7
We went and greeted the workers like they're old friends. The whole group was there, even Amber (yay!), but I didn't see Charlotte around. I asked her sister, who told me that Saturdays are anime marathon nights, in which charlotte and her boyfriend, Luke, would watch anime shows all night.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEUSl4NdmW
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjLzi4VJ5t
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8TRskU3Lc
"They're Otakus," Veronica said.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZqnCrU3JQ
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21gOpjUJZZ
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqdtUcf7bM
"Oh-Tacos?" I marvel at the unfamiliar word.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJ1g7v32O5
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCJFyspZ7J
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AHeJNAmjZ
"Yeah, I thought it was food, too," Denise said.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvXfwM8xcA
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiBch9e5sz
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7dbHnCrCX
"It means their strong anime fans," Veronica clarified.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruS0PzudP6
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPQppJSgbt
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgkRxIu0wX
We started singing solos, duets, and even as groups. We didn't care about the people watching us as we sing unattractively. The boys would choose Taylor Swift or Katy Perry and sing along to the lyrics in their own girlish ways, and the girls would score their impersonation accordingly. I rapped along with Jordan and Cody a couple times and was crowned Queen of Rap by Denise, much to everyone's opposition.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ljyyBIs2L
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfQ9keIEkR
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBxhIwhI5q
We disturbed a lot of costumers and workers, who kept telling us to keep it down. That only made us sing worse and louder than before, earning more complains as a result. One of us earned a few claps from the audience: Tyler. He surely can sing like a pro, and he never ceases to impress us every time we hear him. Of course, whenever he held the microphone, Amber would cheer for him dramatically as if he's singing in a concert.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg80TuAZ3OK
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHqbHPiIwk
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm691dUd2uH
I felt carefree, just doing what I wanted, careless of others' opinions and thoughts of me. I ignored everything else and focused on having fun. I pushed all the drama and troubles out of my mind. I didn't think of Ryan just once.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYULOqNS1R
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERqTCKYLhK
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVVTwadcYL
Denise invited herself over to spend the night, much to Cody's satisfaction. I didn't mind her at all. Although I only met her two days ago, she's treating me like we're old buddies. She burrowed a pair of orange shorts and a spaghetti white shirt from my wardrobe and made herself at home. We grabbed junk food and drinks before going to the living room to watch a movie. Cody and Will were playing FIFA before we turned it off to watch our movie. We settled on Magic Mike because why not? Cody and Will cringed from the thought, so they moved to Cody's room to continue their game there. Kat and Rosie went to sleep early tonight, saying that they're going house shopping tomorrow early for Rosie since Kat had no work.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW53ungEJEm
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPBpkh0gZ7
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH086a1DtpH
My phone rang in the middle of the movie, lighting up with Ryan's picture. I silent it and go back to the movie.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9yzk4mJhn
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4l82UTiaRQ
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB9moFm6dM
"You still ignoring him?" Denise asks.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9bBVCpKYs
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDPhZ2tyXN
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSfX5kz5kV
"Kinda."1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkoNNKRHFL
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MRYS3n2fq
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHhXE4tk5S
"Kinda? Girl, you're totally shutting the poor guy off."1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHvBZWWVy5
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyjADUGCLD
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rk8a1AQEo
"Well, he deserves it, "I shrug, sipping from my coke, "And are you taking his side?"1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqB9D8ucnkp
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pmgEq9SEV
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCQolGGqSf
"I ain't takin' nobody's side, sister. All I'm saying is give him a chance and listen to what he has to say, you know?" She answers, quickly taking defense mode.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfrzmhmBVb
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrzyJbt6TT
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEavLxpjhOP
"He's making me regret worrying about him," I explain, "Like it's my fault at the end."1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiawRAFCmRU
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OPK5V7B3G
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVzzzNOHlR
"Maybe he just needs time before telling you what happened to him."1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4Kpd7OTPZ
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nBC8jYngG
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2Rpv3pq2x
"How much time? He needs to know that I'm not a patient person."1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBng4YQ1Wt
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0j6gTHEyTe
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcs8PuwLOZx
"Well, then be patient for, Nicky, and maybe he'll be patient for you when you need time one of these days."1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyNzUtltcN
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrLQYuzN2s
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KazGnjrfL
She rests her hand on top of mine and looks at me assuringly. I t feels nice just having someone like her to talk to when I need it. I never had a girlfriend before, so having Denise treat me like that is something new to me coming from a girl, yet it has some familiarity to it in some way.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNipzfQNF0
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5YrP2LGN1
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAJ4Q0Nu5W
"Maybe you're right."1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfg0yQgZvNO
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHByLnH6tLR
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtliqCj7Xys
"Like hell I'm right! I'm Denise McQueen, Nicky."1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkimh9IZrNl
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DL0NUbBFf
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvtQuCsjnT
"What's up with the new nickname?"1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8Y917DFJG
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Bu7ZzO2GQ
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0N0poBO67
"I just felt like it'd time I have a different name for ya."1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZlI42S3v1
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9CkXimAJJ
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RUaKWf2eg
After Denise left the next day, I spent my day in an inner battle with myself and debating whether or not to pay Ryan a visit to talk. Denise had me thinking about what she said all night last night till I came to the decision: I should go open up the topic with him. And yet I was never more hesitant about it. Even after getting his address from Dylan, who I figured would have it, I was still not close to decisive.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdqE0guFc9
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMk7XFkiTEC
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQioZ54yaU0
I ended up taking Cody's car and waiting outside his house for 25 minutes, doing nothing. I took a deep breath before I left the car to walk towards his mansion. Oh, did I mention that he lives in a fucking mansion? The thing is so huge it can fit the whole school in it.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2SA4zKh4P
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyAwbVtp8V
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGmoPy0hpg
I pass by two guards, who don't bother to ask me who I am. They need to do something about their security. I mean, one of the guards just grinned at me like it's my place.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeaJEE5864
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGomKZBpWcb
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHfvIOI6au
I reach for the doorbell, and as I wait for it to open, I recite what I was planning to say one more time.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDHSndgxJ9
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywU1KI0CdU
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeWZ5R2ntX
Ryan, I know that there are things you prefer to keep hidden from me, but I want you to know that I care about you because you're my boyfriend and I care about you...1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6drUF9Yw70
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviunqyvqjc
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqntRagZxG
Shit, I'm really bad at this!1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQBgepBBD5
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeblpygQaN
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIR2iEIuxDY
The door opens, and I hold my breath in anticipation. A pretty lady in a maid uniform opens the door with a smile and my heart beats go back to normal. She asks who I am and I respond back, "I'm Nicole. Is Ryan here?"1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfQIQNuffm
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mDvg8nq2a
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSzZPsDgAR
"Matilda, who is that?" A woman yells from inside.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKTMmPYdPr
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeB0HNBw4D
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaq5RizPIxg
"It's a friend of Mr. Ryan, Ma'am," Matilda calls back.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwUsRObGO3
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIHjw6A9zo
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7Vgfa611e
Listen, Ryan, I get that you wanna keep things from me, but you need to know that I only wanna help you...1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUVTqf0B2b
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKinGkLp18t
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs99gPs0RGX
"I'll take care of it, Matilda. You can go now," Ryan opens the door wider. He was wearing a sleeveless tank with dark blue shorts and looked like he was in the middle of a tough workout session.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98P8HhBtz8
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqlmNFjkvX
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIIlYu1n20
"Shadow."1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNitcyc2WZg
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJZYwNZNBG
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTOqX4xhM7
"Ryan."1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4Pz0nVz3I
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSAv5cfOin
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKs1CO2r6SZ
He waits for me to start, and for a few seconds, I forget why I came here in the first place. I guess it's because he looks like fucking beast with his muscles flexing and sweat dripping from his body that I got lost for words.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09U9UkmPK2
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyRBIqKEee
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30kv3FSHNR
And then I recall what I'd been reciting since yesterday.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zPwVBc0xA
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KVKXjStpZ
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFnQ2KePdK
"Oh, you um...forgot you pen with me." That's it Nicole, smoother than silk. What the fuck is wrong with me?1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKN5oZyurj
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWM83bjA9U
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtY0G5pX5P
I point the pen in my hand at him, "I came to return it." I try hard to avoid his hard gaze that's piercing through my body.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLWGGarYF5
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIjxG6D3Gu
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDfxeGbJVM
"But this is not my pen," he raises an eye brow, humor and amusement simultaneously evident on his face.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pYJEuiNOo
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodZp45FZSJ
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeWgMQmSoY
"Yeah," I lift my hat up, brush my hair to the back then put it back on—an action I unintentionally do when nervous—and mentally curse myself and my damn dignity. The whole thought of apologizing or even admitting anything I've done wrong is not exactly something innate in me. Yes, it's selfish and not right, especially when it's really me at fault, but I can't bring myself to do it.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6jhlE64Xe
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCpIly9oA0
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZL0A5jz5hF
Then again, for certain people in your life, you'd do whatever it takes to fix your relationship with them, even if it means bringing your stupid ego below their feet.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzukrhYLLkl
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXeQMvlW7b
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRkyEZnZ6Z
"It's actually Cody's; I found it in his car, and..." I trail off and watch his expression getting more and more humorous. "Look, I'm really bad at this."1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnkH1ZL2FH
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIr9pSmLyG
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdv1LNcLOeo
"You don't say."1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPw1G19fmQ
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlsSyAsg7j
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvE76QMLZhh
"Please, just go with it as it is," I take a short breath. "I know I've been a little pushy lately. And I know that even if I'm you girlfriend, I shouldn't be like that. I also know that there are some things you don't want me to know. But I don't give a crap about all of this because I care about you. So can you just please let me in? I know I might be asking too much, but like I said before, I don't care about—"1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngwJQEutgA
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehp1pXRTCJ
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gw3PvFhQV
He cuts me off abruptly, holding my face with both his hands and kissing me intently. I kiss him back with similar affection, taken a bit off guard by the sudden gesture. He pulls apart a couple seconds into the kiss to look me in the eyes and say, "you know nothing, Shadow."1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKk6dCeonS
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPe3LfkOL2
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCPwOiaPf1
"Huh?" I say, breathless.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUVjKXE3eU
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJpZ13h2lr
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSTJbP33VX
"I said you know nothing. All you said might be true to some other guys, but not to me. In fact, I wanna share with you everything about me—all my problems and stress. I was planning on telling you everything in the right time, but you never gave me a chance."1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHnbnFxn5E
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGeaabCD75
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWoCyCnm9p
"I'm sorry, Ryan."1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr78r02v0Kz
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSLD6KBrrI
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3Xo6wJKva
"There's nothing to be sorry for. We both just had to get each other better, that's all," he then pulls me into a hug. "I know I can be really understanding, babe."1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tNYBddWV4
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSf0i8r8jFm
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3Wxuj3w0c
I push him away, "Don't get too full of yourself, Hastings." Then I punch his chest, "This is for interrupting me earlier," I punch him again, "and this is for hugging me while you're sweaty."1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVqIfsrvGK
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jRAd1qcE2
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgLg9BhhRe
"How sweet of you," he says sarcastically, rubbing circles around his chest. "Now, don't you wanna come in?"1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8u9Q5Y7mPL
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxm7P22pAam
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8LFTAMDi1
"No, I better go back before Cody realizes I stole his car."1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqLrxSPLJB
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQShPzqDYi9
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ma6vjUB4c
Right on cue, Cody's stupid face lights up on my phone screen. Ryan leans against the doorframe while I answer, only to earn myself a shitload of yells from my dear friend.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeye1Gd4DvQ
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtwVmg6ZNB
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxgNWhOD2W
"What the fuck, Nic? You stole my baby? Are you fucking me over, right now?! I told you I have a date tonight."1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf81ZL72zLn
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8v7g4FRxiI
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERmA2laCBr
He did?1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6G4Y5km4w
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXlTCq5v2L
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7s9hAH0Np0
"Calm down, bastard, I'm on my way back."1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQmg9k9gPw
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5CY0W0pHJ
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ13UetwpnR
"You better be here before I tie my shoelaces," and he hangs up.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKg28HLp99N
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22De4rEXTt
1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1sDSPd4zn
"He really needs to see a doctor," I sigh.
and then Add to home screen.