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.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfFTWzjCtn
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqN6O3rgGu
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyh0k4zInDf
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ik7h6SMDt
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXrmsuhavI
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAdwLaAL6E
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1oUuwnIvT
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdac0mqKrzK
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyJ8Ywevep
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.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1biJJiiO9y
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyaNnONM8L
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKLxbbGQ72
"It's good to have some femininity among the group for once," Cody said.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0d9m08DxHt
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2j6zTbdhFs
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjOXkxPhIL
"Say that again and slit your throat," I reply with a sarcastic, sweet smile.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvJ2aghsqw
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Eu1Ein6Q2
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3DggJflBr
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.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10sYPLKYM7
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqDjf7JlTT
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCxpG32e33
"They're Otakus," Veronica said.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhW9winLF7m
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZJml7QKhM
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUIX9UNdHc
"Oh-Tacos?" I marvel at the unfamiliar word.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmK3FElBT1
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiACX3EfEs
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNvwj3JsMz
"Yeah, I thought it was food, too," Denise said.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDE3txkhN4S
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdHYrYWIkN
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrVPGSRxCM
"It means their strong anime fans," Veronica clarified.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGhsGG2leI
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Tzcfe3agG
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8EiY0R7Uv
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.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYn5pVuzL6
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE80HketdmU
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5RePQXxlY
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.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMZqlAWTvD
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqzhhIxgCn
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4AizbeeU0
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.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59himu3XLC
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNU8ftLuCh
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KUNsWWn3B
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.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAaTveEdPv
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1gIx0mbTy
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMJ5WSVAQL
My phone rang in the middle of the movie, lighting up with Ryan's picture. I silent it and go back to the movie.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5czUMW7Db
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfk4GeBQGD
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7j6O6Dl6z4
"You still ignoring him?" Denise asks.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAm5qZZm4d
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiTEeqh9KU
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFc8RL3CRmw
"Kinda."1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48LBMvdkHu
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYQh6Y963l
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEb0cBqFXT
"Kinda? Girl, you're totally shutting the poor guy off."1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2eeX5xX3g
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS53EzFldP4
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIG1j6EUA5O
"Well, he deserves it, "I shrug, sipping from my coke, "And are you taking his side?"1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56OF3gGoU6
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IqJNxUaiB
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlifNhG6tO
"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.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUAO9VlP00
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FrmTJOUu2
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKB66Cffqu
"He's making me regret worrying about him," I explain, "Like it's my fault at the end."1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3z3Bb2YwR
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe12yYcUxaA
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwaXTJ4GPL
"Maybe he just needs time before telling you what happened to him."1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3wqxwA9KD
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMOefptdnu
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblb9RjUWsX
"How much time? He needs to know that I'm not a patient person."1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjMkpCNDTp
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvflIKB5Fl
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWlijTUaXt
"Well, then be patient for, Nicky, and maybe he'll be patient for you when you need time one of these days."1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgIkJibw3c
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WEgxXuSXJ
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKgDLg1qjw
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.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOfXgew6K5
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZ14HcMu70
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89LLcIturm
"Maybe you're right."1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kZtCaHQWd
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1hXLBQuF9
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukFeEWFGqh
"Like hell I'm right! I'm Denise McQueen, Nicky."1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHJf9bkYky
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UCEr8tWI4
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgvKpGGT5m
"What's up with the new nickname?"1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgK2scEJx4
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2VgMmRLeX
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKRnyuY2zE
"I just felt like it'd time I have a different name for ya."1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJo3AkptH4u
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqIlutuXuG
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5yjhrbFBT
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.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWGVJz3VFq
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lY3E4U46h
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxVgToWGAt
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.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5nihugIIl
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNOOJaAwuL
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECArSe8qOE
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.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rhignk5HO
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yFpbj0m93
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoowiwpSsv
I reach for the doorbell, and as I wait for it to open, I recite what I was planning to say one more time.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYE7JO7OalQ
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUt4otmYB4
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeB2ZmBhAgM
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...1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqujiR8b33t
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR72MLefNVd
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaAAYPrJv0
Shit, I'm really bad at this!1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw96D9ciKaX
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAJMu5YBY8
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FCuEjFVcu
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?"1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaFBrZd8XI
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaT7pAP1SCN
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKzcsWlnjI
"Matilda, who is that?" A woman yells from inside.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGlGuYtYtD
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1JqLso7Zf
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61GgiJ7PQg
"It's a friend of Mr. Ryan, Ma'am," Matilda calls back.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkUTtb3GSO
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHVr8LkzPw
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25qqhGBBFd
Listen, Ryan, I get that you wanna keep things from me, but you need to know that I only wanna help you...1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypuD9N4aC8
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHT1F0PvYy
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ416q2QAVtH
"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.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQe9dKrl67
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3k0DWmPvY2
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJhMK30dNU
"Shadow."1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13UNdiGf7J
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBM9cMlhe0
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMZ0mQf0OY
"Ryan."1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KJfwF8fXy
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPQOSadBjQ
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtZWa6YOVh
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.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMBtF0kaSg
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKnnaTiNIG
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGKi7ZHuzD
And then I recall what I'd been reciting since yesterday.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdM8obhN7vE
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LiTskSy5V
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Eg3Sy2oJT
"Oh, you um...forgot you pen with me." That's it Nicole, smoother than silk. What the fuck is wrong with me?1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIan1gSdE4
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHMF68oC5f
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aCtr0I398
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.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBh5bfLM3D
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DGLyqlW8s
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYRBVjlMh9
"But this is not my pen," he raises an eye brow, humor and amusement simultaneously evident on his face.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWVmQeH6f4
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG98Fpx5lrB
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNaqT54jbc
"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.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxINYyapmeW
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVx1lCqgf5o
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzFG5aFbqO
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.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJbwSswf1A
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYalJL7JzGB
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAiTChWXSE
"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."1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60pnVfPug3
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFy7rhiPZVl
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzE1he15v7V
"You don't say."1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdYpXgr6pW
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsO7s8gwnk0
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6EDkcQmRq
"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—"1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Qu6gznoL9
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyg1Lxosbr
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFjQy7zGkM
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."1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQD3RNyafaN
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5GFdnVtzw
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfg0VQhXznc
"Huh?" I say, breathless.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyLPVtOAcN
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6lrFOXc6I
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgqmDhUmVd
"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."1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiUweZMgUa
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasJD6TBkIv
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7S7Juae6T
"I'm sorry, Ryan."1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzv3ddVqIWS
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRGl4tGVxp
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs29pssq0qL
"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."1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgHQv3eok8
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2R8gjClSc
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7eUOWg1tS
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."1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH23FDhuqFa
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7UpVdjjFy
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkJot4arz6
"How sweet of you," he says sarcastically, rubbing circles around his chest. "Now, don't you wanna come in?"1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94QLP2FX8p
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyh3huTMUXn
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCCqAswScY
"No, I better go back before Cody realizes I stole his car."1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnXm2KTuW9
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37jI4Bcz1A
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9M3LcjXiJ8
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.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uobdY4eUD
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVu3XLupiUo
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvBb11fN1G
"What the fuck, Nic? You stole my baby? Are you fucking me over, right now?! I told you I have a date tonight."1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8E9zpBeJsC
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CVJxF6bDn
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxzbf0jRji
He did?1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ma83Vzd1k
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOxs3gzM5X
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7A1cjqzpb
"Calm down, bastard, I'm on my way back."1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDv3zwCxsW
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFcA1M5GzD
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZv2uTRjrg
"You better be here before I tie my shoelaces," and he hangs up.1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0Ddm9eBTh
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQdu8vCw57
1023Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JK3QT3XdD
"He really needs to see a doctor," I sigh.
and then Add to home screen.