I tapped my fingers as I waited for Ryan to come out of the school so I could talk to him. I needed to at least get his number.

Finally, he came out with his two friends at his side. I mustered up my courage and stepped in  front of him. He halted in his tracks and burnt holes in me. He whispered something to his brawny friend who said something in return to the leaned friend and they both left.

He cocked his eyebrow as he waited for me to speak. 'I ... 'I fumbled for words. Gosh, I don't want to do this. 'I'm sorry for behaving to you like that.'

'And?'

'And?'

'That's it?'

'Yeah. Do you want me to write you a whole speech?'

'I was just expecting more.' He smirked.

'Excuse me?'

'You're excused.' He took his leave as he walked to his car while I followed him. I yelped as my bruised hand scratched itself to a wall I couldn't put enough distance between.

'Hey listen!' He threw his bag in his car and closed the door of the car, waiting for me to speak again. 'Okay, I'm sorry I spoke to you like that. You were being nice and I shouldn't've spoken to you like that.'

'Uh huh.' He still didn't seem satisfied enough. I balled my hands into fists to control myself. 'What do you want?'

'Your number.' I stated and he bursted into a loud pit of laughter. I tapped my foot on the ground as I waited for him to finish his laughter.

'What?' He wiped fake tears from his eyes as he looked at me, still chuckling to himself. 'Really? I offered you last night but you straight forward rejected me. Now what's gotten into your head?'

His words damaged my ego. 'I don't want it for myself. My friend needs it.' I decided not to ask about his girlfriend. If I get his number, Mia would ask him whatever she wanted to.

'I don't trust you.' A smirk played on his lips and I lost it right away.

'Okay fine! I don't give a damn either. You don't want to give me your number? Don't. Stay in your cocky attitude being a freaking dick like you are.' Just when I was to turn away, hands were on my wrist and I was turned around.

'Stay.' He ordered as he opened his door, bent down, did something in his car and got out. He moved towards me but I stepped away.

'What are you doing?'

'It's bleeding.' He acknowledged as he moved forth in a long stride, took my bare arm in his and wrapped a handkerchief around it. Just as he was typing the handkerchief, he looked up at me and my breath hitched. He had brown eyes, unusually usual with warmth and gentleness swirling in it. 'There.'

'Thank you.' I murmured.

'Yeah.' He said as I began to walk away.

Sitting in my car, I drove back to my home helplessly trying to forget the sensation of his touch on my arm and his eyes that warmed me from head to toe.

I shook the feeling away as I reached my home and opening the main door, went straight to my room. I placed the bag down and stared myself in the mirror, pushing my air aside. I had no idea but his kindness had shaken me to core. He noticed it, obviously he would. It was blood. Everybody notices blood but no one helps.

I untied the handkerchief slowly off my arm. Just as I placed it on the dresser, my eyes caught some digits scribbled at the corner of the handkerchief.

He had written his number.

***

I decided to give Mia the number the next day. the handkerchief had dried as I washed it. I folded it and placed it in my jacket so i'll remember giving it back to him.

After studying for what seemed like hours, I stretched my body and went in the kitchen to eat something.

'Hey kiddo.' Ian ruffled my hair. He picked up the apple from the basket , tossed it in the air for his little spectacular show and took a monstrous bite from it.

'Ian!' I exclaimed and straightened my hair from the top. 'How many times do I have to tell you—

'—Even when you're crying you're beautiful too.'

'Seriously Ian? You'd have to get addicted to All of me by John legend aren't you?' I mocked him.

He narrowed his eyes in slits. 'No I'm not.' He dragged the chair backwards and settled himself on it. Just as he lifted up the apple to his mouth, the unanswerable question was asked. 'You good?'

I nodded but then I asked if I really were. How ironic had my life became. My days were a constant cycle of doing what I never wanted to and being what I could never be.

I looked at Ian. His dirty blond hair side parted messily. His blue eyes and a scared shape birth mark that ran down his cheek from his eyes had displayed him more powerful. Even  though he never joined gym, he had possessed quite a good body.

But I hate to admit it, I had envied my brother a few more times. He had had a chill life. He was popular back in school too but never had stressed upon it. The only thing he sucked at , was grades. He'd have to work quite hard to keep up his grades and that explained his dark circles.

He slid a stack of papers towards me. 'Would you read it?'

'Another story?'

'Yup. I think it will work out. I mean, I'm still confused.' I was to read his story when a car horned outside. 

'Mia? What is she doing here?' I looked at the time only to see it has struck nine o'clock. Either Mia was here to take my homework or to take me to a party. I didn't want the latter.

Ian opened the door and a squealing Mia jumped right in. 'Jane! Jane! Come on!' She dragged me towards the door by my hand.

'What is it? Mia I'm not properly dressed.' I stated before she stopped, turned around, look at me from up and down then nodded.

'You look fine.' She kicked my shoes in front of me and my jacket. 'Just wear these.'

'Where are we going?' I put on my shoes and wore my jacket as I followed her to her car.

'There's a party—' I turned around as I walked into the house. 'No wait, listen, it's not like a usual party. It's just really different.'

'I'm not going either.'

'Please Jane, Ryan's gonna be there, actually the party's for him so, please. I really want to date him.'

'I'll give you his number.'

'Yeah but I want to talk to him. Please.' She pleaded and I gave in.

'Just for an hour.'

'Deal.'

Ian, from the door, threw me my phone and gave me a thumbs up. A sign of warning rather than assurance. My devil brother was enjoying it. I sat in the car. Mia walked on the opposite side and sat in driver's seat. She started the ignition and off we set.

During the whole journey, she blabbered about Ryan and how handsome he is while I half listened and tried to find excuses to stay away from him. I won't look in his eyes. I decided.

Mia parked her car on the side of her road as we both got out. I breathed in and tried to keep myself steady as we ambled in the house bugger than mine.

Instead of loud music and obnoxious drunk behaviour from drunk people, I earned a melody being played loudly from the house and that was enough to earn my interest. I casted Mia a confused look but she just grinned. She knew I love these kind of things.

I entered and someone greeted me but I didn't greeted back. A soft, deep singing voice sounded from right within the house.

I stood on my tip toes to see the person singing. He had a good pitch, his voice was balanced and controlled. He sang slowly and the crowd danced around while cheering at the same time.

Lately, I've been, I've been thinking
I want you to be happier, I want you to be happier

I wanted to see the singer. The people cheered when there was a compression shift, when the singer went from lower to higher pitch and my eagerness grew. Mia took my arm and dragged me to a spot where the singer was clearly visible.

When the morning comes
When we see what we've become
In the cold light of day we're a flame in the wind

My breath hitched as Ryan turned around, singing beautifully. 'He sings.'

'He does. He has so many of his singing videos on his Instagram.' Mia told me but I was hearing him.

Not the fire that we've begun
Every argument, every word we can't take back
'Cause with the all that has happened
I think that we both know the way that the story ends

'He's good isn't he?' Mia asked me as she clapped with the crowd.

'He is but he needs more practice.'

'Oh I almost forgot I'm talking to a vocalist here.' Mia stated and I rolled my eyes. 'Seriously Jane, you should open up a Coaching centre.' Just as she say it, a smile drew on my lips. I always wanted to have my own coaching centre. It was my dream but I still had a long way to fulfill it.

Lately, I've been, I've been thinking
I want you to be happier, I want you to be happier

Ryan did a run that took my breath away. His run was so smooth and at a perfect speed. Not too fast but certainly not too slow. He ended the song and people cheered while he beamed at them. His eyes swept the crowd looking for someone but they stopped just as they landed on me. Don't look in his eyes. But I couldn't help. His eyes were so usual but looked so beautiful on his face.

A few people patted him on his shoulder as he jumped off a table and walked towards me. 'He's coming towards us.' Mia said.

'Yeah,' I stepped back. 'Good luck.' I was to flee away but Mia held me mid way.

'I'm gonna wet my pants if you don't stay with me.' She hissed and gave a big smile to Ryan who stopped in front of us.

'You don't seem like a party type.' He commented as he looked at me.

'I'm not. I was just leaving.' I made an attempt to but Mia won't let me go.

'You sang beautifully.' Mia commented while I looked around to see something of my interest but there was none. My eyes caught Abigail's extra glamoured nails and I was glad Mia hadn't let me go.

'Thanks.' He gave her a small smile and looked at me expectingly. 'What about you?'

'Why does it matter?' I said. 'I mean, it was good.'

'Just good?' How much does this boy needs praise?

'Yeah it was just good. You need more practice.' He furrowed but I just stated. 'Your pitch was not perfect, it was shaky and you need to have more control on your voice. Your compression shift wasn't smooth either but your run was pretty good.' I expected a rude comment from him saying I don't know a thing like all the people do whenever someone corrects them but rather he smiled.

'You know a lot about singing. Do you sing too?' He tucked his hands in his pockets as he cocked his head to his side. I didn't dare look to his eyes that seemed so appealing.

'No, I just know.' I answered. I wanted him to talk to Mia but he won't until Mia would make any other comment and she couldn't as I could feel her shaking against me.

'Hey bud!' Someone slapped Ryan hard on his back. He was his brawny friend I saw in the parking lot before. 'It's time for some drinks.' He was an Asian boy only he was muscular and had long hair. His eyes flicked to Mia and scanned her from up and down. 'Hey, beautiful.'

Mia blushed and waved back at him. 'Hi.'

'Wanna grab some drinks?' He outstretched his hand to her and surprisingly, she gave in. I rolled my eyes at her and almost was ready to bang my head against the wall. I desperately needed to go back to my home.

Ryan was still standing there, probably the reason of my fast heart beat. 'I need to use the restroom.' I excused myself and went in the bathroom. I took a deep breath. Suffocation had clawed itself up to my throat. All I needed was to leave the party.

I ran my hand through my hair as I paced back and forth. Suddenly the bathroom door opened and Abigail walked in. She smirked at seeing me. I walked around to save the restroom but she pushed me back hard against the wall. 'I see how Ryan's drawing to you.' She gripped my throat. 'You know you can't date anyone. Stay away from the boys Jane, you have a bad history with them.'

I tried to push her away but she dug her nails in my neck instead. 'Remember Logan?' I could feel blood rushing up to my face as her grip tightened and her nails dug deep. 'He's gonna destroy you to pieces if he ever sees you with anyone else.'

I tried to breath but my knees gave in. I tried to push her hand away and I almost succeeded before she dug her nails more. Tears prickled my eyes and a warm blood dribbled down my neck to my chest.

'Hey leave her!' Someone yelled and air was knocked back in me as she left her grip on me.

I coughed and dropped to the floor. Blood covered my fingers as I closed my eyes. 'Get the fuck out.' Abigail bellowed but her heels were the ones that clunked out of the bathroom.

I coughed again and trie dot get as much oxygen in me as possible. 'Are you okay?' I cringed as I heard Ryan's voice. Why the hell he was here? 'Oh God, it's bleeding.' He touched my neck but I slapped his hand away.

'I'm fine.' I tried to stand up but I tripped and Ryan caught me.

'You are not.' He tried to steady me. 'Let me see.'

'I said I'm fine.' I pushed back the tears but few had already stained my cheeks. 'I don't need your pity.' I already felt helpless enough.

I touched my neck and grimaced. Bitch. 'What the hell is wrong with you? I just want to help.'

'I said I don't need it!' I yelled at him and he blinked. 'Get the hell out of here!'

He stared at me for a second, his eyes burning with raging fire as he clenched his jaw but left anyway. I didn't need him.

Just as I was washing my neck, Mia walked in. 'Oh my God! What happened?'

'A beast clawed me.'

She helped me clean my neck and remembering his handkerchief in my pocket, I took it out. She wrapped it around my neck. 'How have you know I was here?'

'Ryan sent me here. He said you need help.' Mia answered.

Sure he did.

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I'll see you again soon. Love, huz