“I am. He’s new. I mean a new friend. He comes to Maurice’s. I gotta go. I’m going to be late.” I kissed her cheek and turned to the door.
“Okay, sweetheart. Have a good day. Try not to let them get you down.” She smiled at me and closed the door when I stepped out. I quickly threw the apple over the fence into the neighbour’s rose bushes, feeling too nervous and sick to eat. It could fertilise the garden or something.
Taking a deep breath, I turned to see Ryder staring at me through the windscreen of his early model muscle car. Walking slowly toward the car, I couldn’t stop the nerves. My hands were shaking, and I felt like I was going to pass out or throw up or something equally embarrassing. I paused for a moment and closed my eyes, trying to rid my mind of unwanted thoughts before opening the car door and sliding in beside him.
“Hi,” I said, my voice a whisper as I avoided looking at him.
“Ah, hey.” He cleared his throat, but his voice sounded all gravelly as he backed his car out of my driveway. Was he sick? He didn’t look sick. He seemed fine the other day when I saw him. Maybe he was nervous too. Ha! Who was I kidding? This was Ryder. He didn’t get nervous.
“You look hot. Chace is gonna kick himself when he sees you.” He smirked at me and began chewing on his lip ring.
“Uhm, thanks.” I was twisting my hands nervously in my lap, wondering if the whole plan was a bad idea. Maybe I should have just changed schools instead. No, that was ridiculous. I could do it. I could walk into that school with Ryder with not a care in the world. I had to do it.
“We are going to make a huge entrance. You ready for that?” He grinned, but I shook my head at his question. No way was I ready for that. I wanted to tell him to take me back home, but that would have been stupid. I had to get it over with. It would be like ripping off a Band-Aid. Once it was done, I would wonder why I ever freaked out.
I hoped.
“It will be okay. Trust me. I got our class schedules already, and we have homeroom with both of them,” he said. How did he get our schedules? We didn’t usually get them ’til we got to school.
“How did you manage that?” I asked him.
“I charmed the administration lady early this morning. She gave me yours, mine, and both of theirs.” Of course he charmed the admin lady. He could charm anyone. I wasn’t ready for this. I didn’t want anyone to see me yet. I hunted around in my bag for my sunglasses. They would at least shield part of my face from the stares I was sure to get. I needed to pull myself together.
Ryder pulled into the parking lot, the engine rumbling. Everyone stopped to stare at him like always. You’d think he was a freaking celebrity, the way the girls drooled and the guys glared. Feeling self-conscious, I put my head down and willed myself not to throw up. Ryder rubbed a comforting hand over my back as I moaned into my hands.
He pulled into the parking spot reserved for him by the front gate and told me to wait in the car. The spot wasn’t officially reserved for him, but everyone knew it was Ryder’s spot. You only parked there if you wanted your tyres slashed or something.
I waited in the car while Ryder got out, unsure of what he had planned and hoping that it was nothing too crazy. I could feel people staring and trying to sneak a peek while I kept my face as hidden as possible. My fears were confirmed. Everyone was staring and pointing and whispering. I was grateful for the tinted windows and my new makeover because it seemed no one was quite sure who I was yet.
I suddenly wished it was still the summer holidays and I’d had more time to prepare for this. All that time Ryder and I spent together in the store didn’t seem like enough. I wasn’t even sure I could act like his girlfriend. Maybe we should have practised more.
I was yanked out of my thoughts when my door opened and Ryder leant in to see me.
“Ready?” He smiled softly and brushed a curl out of his face.
“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. I swallowed the lump in my throat and slowly dragged my eyes up to meet his. They were sparkling with what was unmistakably mischief.
“Come on, Bailey. I got you. Let’s teach that little bitch a lesson he deserves.”
I still didn’t understand why he wanted to do this. To help me? No, I didn’t think so. Well, not entirely. For his own selfish reasons? Yeah, probably. But surely there must be a better way for Ryder to get back at Chace than pretending to be my boyfriend? I just didn’t get why he would go to the trouble.
“Come on. Get out of the car. We’ll wait until everyone has gone in before we go in, okay? Just get out of the damn car.” He held his hand out to me politely, but he was anything but. Hesitantly, I placed my hand in his, and he pulled me out of the car, bringing me to his chest. He pressed me against the car and put his hands on either side of my body, caging me in but also blocking half the school’s view of me.
“Thank you,” I whispered as I leant my head on his chest, hiding further and trying to control my breathing, which was now coming out in gasps. I was beginning to panic again. My chest felt tight, and I couldn’t see properly. Oh God. I felt like I was going to pass out.
“Hey, it’s okay. What is wrong with you?” Ryder asked, leaning in to speak quietly in my ear.
“Panic attack,” I gasped.
“You’ll be okay. Just freakin’ relax.” Ryder brought his hand up and cupped my face, making me look at him while rubbing soothing circles on my cheek with his thumb. “Just breathe, Bailey.”
I began to relax at his gentle touch and harsh words, taking deep breaths in and out. “See, it’s not so bad, is it?” he asked. I shook my head, letting it fall to his chest again.
“I don’t like the attention. So many people are staring,” I mumbled into his chest. He surprised me by letting out a loud laugh.
“Of course they are. You are the smoking hot mystery girl who just showed up to school in my car. Everyone wants to know who I’m screwing.” He smiled momentarily while I cringed at the thought of people assuming we were sleeping together. I didn’t want people to think that I was just another one of Ryder’s girls. Suddenly his body stiffened.
“Damn, here they come,” he mumbled. They who? They them? Oh no. I couldn’t do it yet. I still wasn’t ready to see them. My breathing started quickening again, and the queasy feeling in my stomach returned. I didn’t want to see them. I should have just told Ryder to take me home. I felt hot.