REBECCA'S POV

Waking up, I felt completely refreshed yet utterly disgusting. I guess that's what happens when you're puking your guts out for an entire afternoon and then completely pass out for like ten hours. Needless to say, I need a shower and I need it now. I surprisingly didn't realize the fact that I was in Ryan's bed and that he was next to me until I tried to sit up and yelped in pain. Ryan bolted upright with wide eyes and reached out to steady me.

"Hey, take it easy," he whispered and gently laid me back down. "How are you feeling?" He sweetly brushed some stray hair away from my face and started playing with my hair.

"Great actually, except for that piercing pain in my ribcage but that'll go away," I said, trying to bring some humor to the gorgeous guy next to me. He just looked so worried and needed a smile but my attempt failed. Instead, Ryan remained serious and looked at me with those intense gray eyes.

"Do you want some ibuprofen or anything? I can get some water."

Just as he was about to leave the bed I pulled him back down.

"I'm feeling better Ryan. I mean it." Once he seemed satisfied with my answer, I continued. "If you must know, I feel absolutely disgusting and would really like to shower."

He cracked a smile and it made me wonder if I looked or smelled as disgusting as I felt. If so, I was glad he was keeping it to himself.

Ryan helped me get out of bed even though I told him multiple times that I am able to do it myself. He just chuckled and pecked my forehead before heading downstairs so I could go shower.

As I'm rinsing my shampoo, I try to get the thoughts out of my head about being upset that Ryan wasn't there. It was completely irrational of me and I realized that so I was pushing the thoughts out of my mind right now. I finish up my shower and see Ryan waiting in my room patiently with a bagel, two ibuprofens, and a glass of water. How could I possibly be disappointed in someone who was this thoughtful?

"Thank you," I mention sweetly and kiss his cheek before plopping on the bed next to him in only my towel.

He lazily draws circles with his fingers on my towel covered thigh and asks: "Are you sure you're okay to go to school today?" Leaning into his side while munching on my bagel, I sigh and nod my head. "I'm sorry if I'm being annoying," he mumbles sadly. "I just feel really bad that I was at stupid practice so late instead of with you."

I look at the sweet boy next to me and smile.

"Ryan, it wasn't your fault okay?"

"I know it wasn't my fault but still..." He huffs and lies back on the bed with his legs still over the side from our sitting position.

I follow suit and turn my head only to find I'm eye level with his bicep, just above his elbow. Giggling, I scoot my way a little higher so we are face to face. He's smiling when I finally get there.

"You look ridiculous."

"Na-uh!" I exclaim and he bursts out laughing.

"Look!" he points to my legs which are sticking straight off the bed instead of bending at the knees and touching the ground like his. It's not my fault he's so goddamn tall!

Rolling my eyes, I laugh along with him until Alex knocks on the open door of my room. When I glance at him, he has both hands covering his face.

"Uh Becca, I didn't see anything but there's a view that goes straight up your towel."

Before I could even react, Ryan flew off the bed and stood in front of me; glaring at his younger brother while I silently died of embarrassment.

"I just came to tell you guys we have to leave in like ten minutes," Alex mumbled from behind his hands and quickly turned to flee down the hall.

Ryan turns around to face me and puts his hands out so I can grab them. "You should probably get dressed and I didn't shower yet."

"Yep," I say with deep pink cheeks. I can't bring myself to form a complete sentence.

"Okay," he chuckles and kisses the top of my head before leaving me alone to die in peace.

~~~

The drive to school is just plain awkward. I'm too embarrassed to speak, Ryan is angry even though Alex didn't see anything, and Alex seems uncomfortable and won't stop fidgeting. Nobody says a word for the entire drive and we all hop out of the truck at record speed once it's parked. Alex speed walks away and I smack Ryan's arm.

"Hey! What was that for?" he whined.

"Leave Alex alone will you! He said he didn't see anything."

"Becs," he grabbed my hand and started walking towards school, "he obviously saw something otherwise he wouldn't have noticed it."

I shrug at his logic and grab my books for chemistry which Ryan immediately takes from me and adds to his pile. When I shoot him a look, his head sweeps down to give me a quick kiss.

"Don't argue with me Becs."

Rolling my eyes, I shut the locker and grasp his free hand before we walk to class.

Mr. Monty wastes no time telling us to grab our laboratory goggles and set up some unknown experiment. Had I known it would be a lab day then I would have worn my hair up or at least grabbed a hair tie. Working with what I had, which was nothing, I braided my hair and just left the ends loose. It would fall out every ten minutes probably but it was better than setting myself on fire accidentally. As I was doing this, Ryan ran around the room to collect all the supplies from the list on the board. Mr. Monty hadn't put out the chemicals yet so the entire class patiently waited until he finished what he was writing. Nobody was talking but I saw Ryan pushing a piece of paper across our table.

___
Did you get any texts recently?
___

I blanched immediately and remembered Kirk's last text. Ryan must have noticed because he loudly moved his stool next to mine and laid a hand on my thigh. The gentleness of him massaging my leg helped me relax. He leaned down to whisper in my ear.

"Show me at lunch okay?"

I nodded and then directed my attention to Mr. Monty's booming voice while he explained what we were supposed to be doing today, but all I could think about was how many minutes there were until lunch.

~~~

I sat at the usual table and saw most of my new friends already there, including Ryan.

"Heyyy babyy!" he said in a cheery tone, obviously forgetting about the conversation we needed to have. "How were your classes?"

"... okay... yours?" I asked skeptically.

"Great," he started with a beaming smile, "I got a test back! 98%!"

I attempted to smile as wide as him.

"Wow! Good job!"

Ryan then went off in a tangent talking to Mason about how their practice better not be a repeat of yesterday's, so I just picked at my food. Landon noticed my sullen mood and nudged my shoulder.

"You alright?"

"Yeah," I answer truthfully. "Hey thanks for everything yesterday."

"It was no problem Becca. I'm assuming you have to take it easy yet right?" He grabbed a second slice of pizza and went to town.

"Yea that's what Matt said. Why?" He wiped his greasy pizza hands on his dark jeans and smirked at me.

"I was thinking we could go to the library then instead of the warehouse." I agreed, grinning idiotically. Libraries were much more my speed than working out in a sketchy makeshift gym. "Did you get a note for sixth period?" he asked with concern in his eyes.

"Yes so I get to be lazy the whole hour! Plus, no gym time with you! Best. Day. Ever!" I over-emphasized.

He fake laughed a "hardy har har" and went back to his beloved pizza. How does someone that eats so much end up looking like him? Laughing at my thoughts, the shrill bell rang to signal the end of our lunch period so I made my way to my locker.

"Hey why didn't you remind me about the text?" Ryan whispered from over my shoulder and I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly.

"You seemed busy. We can talk about it after school though. It's not like it's going anywhere."

Pulling me into a crushing hug, Ryan spoke softly: "Just interrupt me next time. I didn't forget but just didn't realize I spent the whole break talking to Mason."

I smiled into his chest and wound my own arms around his midsection.

"Let's get to class."