RYAN

For the second day in a row, I slept in, tired from my late night texting with Becca. Alex barged into my room just after seven, and I had to run around like a madman to shower and grab my stuff. We hopped in my old, red, pick-up truck and sped down the streets. Practically sprinting down the hallways, I snuck into chemistry right before the bell.

I knew Becca wasn't going to be here today: she let me know this morning. That, and my level of exhaustion, meant this would be a very long day.

~~~

I trudge into lunch and sit at my usual table. Mason and Kate are trapped in their own flirtatious world and thankfully Melissa and Isabelle are holding an animated conversation about some party this weekend. Landon saunters over, wearing his signature dark jeans, black tee, and black leather jacket.

"What's up?" he asks and sits next to me like always.

"Nothing much. Do you have a 'meeting' this weekend?" I use the code word we decided on for school. You see, Landon's badass looks are accompanied by his rebellious decisions. The only people who know about his 'meetings' are Mason and myself.

"Yeah, on Saturday. The opponent doesn't look too promising though. Only five-foot-ten and one-eighty, so I'll be good."

"When aren't you?" I joke. "I might stop by. I was hoping to hang out with Becca this weekend too," I mutter the last part and feel my cheeks warm.

"Shit Ryan, I've never seen you blush this much. It's almost embarrassing."

"Yeah."

Landon eats his pizza, pepperoni today, before asking: "Did she text you last night?"

"Yeah, but she didn't text me until like eleven."

"Night owl?"

"I'm not sure. She just asked me about the chem and bio homework, which I know she didn't need because she has the schedules."

Before I know it, I'm spilling the whole conversation to Landon. I mean we've shared everything since kindergarten so why not? He's positively someone I have full trust in.

"She's afraid of you?" he questions.

"I think she was initially, but I hope she's not anymore. We spent a lot of time getting to know each other so maybe that's going away. If not, I don't really know what to do."

"So, you've come to the man who's clearly good with the ladies," Landon says sarcastically. He's never had a girlfriend but I know that was purely by choice.

I just stare at him until he realizes I'm deadly serious.

"Ryan, I don't know. Just keep getting to know her. I mean she's obviously opening up to you more than anyone else. The text I sent you was the most she's ever talked to me and she doesn't talk to anyone in the classes I have with her."

It's relieving to get some words of reassurance from my closest friend. He jokes around a lot but knows when to get serious, and he never judges me or tells others about our talks. I would honestly trust him with anything and I know he feels the same.

"I still feel like something's wrong though and she's not telling me about it. However, we just met and it's freaking me out how much I care."

Landon tries hard not to grin at my confession.

"I get that vibe too, but you have to let her open up to you in her own time."

"I know, Lan. I'm just worried."

~~~

Right when I get home from practice, I shoot Becca a text before hopping in the shower.

|Ryan Bradley > Becs - 6:07pm|
Sent: Hey Becs :) how was your day?

Twenty minutes later, she still hasn't responded. I walk downstairs, disappointed, and find Alex boiling some pasta for dinner.

"What's got you in a mood?" he asks.

"Nothing."

Alex pushes some tomatoes, mushrooms, and onions toward me with a knife and cutting board. He's a decent cook, much better than me, but he doesn't enjoy it. I suspect the only reason he's putting forth the effort tonight, is because he's sick of frozen pizza.

"Becca wasn't at school today," he states and I glance at him peculiarly.

"I feel like a freak," I admit.

"Probably because you are one," he jests, laughing immediately.

"No, I'm serious Alex. I just met her on Monday, but I feel this incessant need to protect her and it is really weirding me out. There's this nagging feeling that something's wrong and it won't go away."

We finish making dinner in silence and carry it to the living room before booting up the next episode of Friends on Netflix. What a classic.

~~~

A few hours later, I'm lying in bed when my phone rings.

|Ryan Bradley > Becs - 10:12pm|
Received: It was fine. Yours?

I released a huge sigh of relief and replied. Our conversation continued rather slowly.

|Ryan Bradley > Becs - 10:31pm|
Sent: Mine was alright - will you be at school tomorrow?
Received: Yeah.
Sent: What's wrong?
Received: Nothing, I'm just pretty tired. I'll see you tomorrow okay?
Sent: Okay.
Sent: Goodnight Becs.
Received: Night Ryan.

I tossed and turned for the next few hours, worrying about Becca. What was going on with me?

"You just need to see her tomorrow and you'll feel fine," I say out loud, trying to convince myself of my own thoughts.

~~~

I sleep off and on throughout the night before deciding to just get up early. I shower, pack a lunch for Becca and myself, and clean up my room while Alex gets ready. My sour mood slowly becomes less apparent the closer we get to school.

When I get to Mr. Monty's chemistry class, I'm ecstatic to see her at our lab table. She's wearing her hair down so it's covering part of her face, and her gray long sleeve shirt and black leggings hug her tiny figure as she slumps over the tabletop.

"Hey," I rest my hand on her upper back, "are you feeling better?"

She clearly wasn't expecting the contact and flinches to the extent of falling off her stool.

"Geez, Becca!" I react fast, catching her by her waist and sliding her back to a sitting position.

"Ouch!" she cries out as her face pales. She wraps her arms around her rib cage and runs from the room while everybody stares.

"Uh," I clear my throat, "Mr. Monty, I don't think Becca's feeling too well. I'm going to make sure she makes it to the nurse's office."

He nods his approval and simply starts his lecture about the different types of chemical bonds.

I sprint down the hallway in a panic when I can't find Becca. Rounding the corner with wide eyes, I end up at the school entrance where Landon's walking in, late.

"Where's the fire?"

"I can't find Becca." Landon looks at me like I've grown a second head, so I explain. "She ran out of chemistry and I can't find her." I don't like the alarm I hear in my own voice but it's irrepressible.

"Okay, did you check the girl's bathroom by your class. I doubt she would have outran you."

"The fucking bathroom," I roll my eyes at my own stupidity. "Thanks."

I spin around, taking off in that direction with Landon hot on my heels. Roughly flinging the door open, I hear restrained sniffles.

"Becs?" I say in a voice so soft that it surprises me.

She becomes completely silent, not even sniffling anymore.

"Becs, please answer me," I plead.

I've looked in every stall and there's only one left so I know she's there. Opening the door gently, I find her sitting between the toilet and the wall, in the corner, with her knees pulled to her chest.

"Hey," I attempt to crouch down to her level.

"Hey," she whimpers while tears continue falling down her pretty face. We stare at each other for a few seconds before I hold my hand out and she finally takes it.

Pulling her towards me, I lightly embrace her and run my hands up and down her small back.

"Shh, it's okay," I attempt to comfort her and she just breaks down. "Want to get out of here?"

Becca nods into my shirt, still in my arms. I easily pick her up bridal style and she moves her face into my shoulder in an attempt to hide from Landon. He opens the bathroom door for us and we all exit.

"I'll catch you later," he says quietly before leaving down the hall.

I turn and walk straight out of school to my pick-up, climbing in the passenger side of the bench seating in my truck with her in my arms. I move her hair away from her face and brush some tears away with my hand but let her continue crying. After a few minutes, she calms down and moves to get off my lap, but I don't let her.

"I'm okay Ryan," Becca whispers softly, causing my arms to automatically loosen their hold. Her watery blue eyes peer into mine and she wiggles out of my embrace. We sit in silence for a bit before she reaches for the door handle.

"Becca," her head swivels back towards me, "Let's just skip today. Yeah?"

She nods slightly.

"I'll be right back. I left my truck keys and coat in my locker. Do you need anything?" She shakes her head no, so I head back to the school.

I make a quick pit stop at chemistry class to pick up our books and state that Becca's ill so I'm driving her home. Then, I drop all of our stuff off at my locker and grab my coat and keys. Lastly, I stop in the office to repeat the fib I told Mr. Monty before jogging back to the truck. Without asking Becca, I start driving until we end up at a wooded park where I'd planned to take a walk; however, it just decided to rain so we stayed in the warmth of my trusty, old truck.

"Thank you," she whispers, gently setting her petite hand on my solid forearm. I sit silent for a while and then clear my throat before speaking.

"Did I hurt you?" I ask, regret in my voice.

"No! It's an old injury," she reassures me.

I don't fully believe her. I mean she basically shrieked in pain when I grabbed her waist.

"Ryan," she sets her tiny hands on either side of my face. "It did hurt, but it wasn't your fault. I promise."

She smiles, thumbs stroking my cheekbones.

"I still feel like shit. I made you cry Becs, and I'm so sorry," I pull away and hang my head shamefully.

Becca slides over next to me and rests her head on my shoulder, well bicep since she couldn't reach my shoulder.

"Ryan, if anything, I should be apologizing. You're missing school because of my overreaction. None of this was your fault at all."

I move my arm around her and carefully pull her into my side. We sit in a comfortable silence until I eventually feel her body sag. She fell asleep, and being too afraid to wake her, I lean my head back on the seat and close my own eyes.

~~~

"Shit!" I curse, suddenly waking and seeing that it was a little after three o'clock already.

"Becs, wake up hun. We fell asleep."

She stirs a little but doesn't open her eyes.

"Becca, we need to get you home."

Her lashes fly open to reveal sultry blue eyes. She moves back to her side of the truck groggily as I start the engine.

"Where do you live?" I ask stupidly.

She points out the turns when necessary until we arrive outside a small, ranch style home. Just before she hops out, I grab her elbow.

"Can I see you tomorrow?"

"Okay," she says, flashing her dimples. "I'll text you."

I don't even get a chance to say goodbye when she hops out and slams the truck door behind her, quickly disappearing into the house. Since I missed classes today, I can't go to practice, so thank the Lord we don't have a game this week. I drive straight home and wait for the beautiful Becca Hanson to text me to make plans for tomorrow.

(Final - 8/22/19)