The break was over and so was the rest of the half of school. Mia sat in Shania's car while I sat in mine and went back home.

Ian was not home so I ate his pasta he had leafy for me as I laid down on the couch and scrolled through my Instagram. After few minutes, I found myself watching Ryan's videos. I had grown a crazy obsession with his singing and I needed to get rid of it so I did what no one does when in this situation: homework.

I was in the middle of my homework when my phone rang. 'Hey baby.'

'Hey mom.'

'How're you honey?'

'I'm great.'

'How is school?'

'It's going good mom.'

'Are you meeting new people?'

'Yes mom. I am.'

'Did you make friends with someone?'

'It's only Mia yet.'

'Baby I want you to move on.'

'Mom I'm trying.'

'Good. Okay I think I mighta go. I might visit you guys on Saturday. I'll catch with you later.'

'Bye mom.' I slid the phone down my ear. I heaved a long sigh before falling on my bed facing the ceiling.

'Did you talk to mom?' Ian leant against the door frame tucking his hands in the folds of his pants.

'Yup.' I answered the most obvious and briefest answer.

'Did she ask you to move on?' He asked again. He didn't seem like enjoying it, rather he spoke out his questions cautiously, afraid I might break.

'Yes.'

'And what did you say?'

'I said I am.'

'Can you at least talk in sentences?'

'Nope.'

Ian huffed. 'Do you want me to drop you to work?'

'Why would you?'

'Because I have a meeting with a magazine's editor and let's hope he accepts my work. Now tell me do you want to go or not?' Although I didn't react, the news was quite good to hear.

He discovered his love for pouring his feelings and emotions into words when he just got in high school that he wanted to do something worth acknowledging only Mom didn't like it. She wanted him to work with her but things changed after dad's death.

'Definitely.' I answered at last but didn't budge. Staring at the ceiling with my mom's words roaming in my mind like they owned it, seemed nothing but all I wanted to do.

What the world would be like if we could really travel in past and undo our deeds that brought us here? If we could just do it for once. Not more. Neither less.

'Elle you gotta move a muscle for it.' Ian reminded me of his presence again as I refused to.

'You would treat me an ice cream?' I asked him hopefully.

'Why on earth would I?'

'Because . . . ' I trailed off. 'I beat you in Tekkan.'

'Tonight, if my meeting with a magazine editor goes a successful one, I'll buy you a whole bucket of ice cream.'

That was enough for my muscles to get the necessary adrenaline and off I set.

***

'Thank you for choosing Joe's.' I waved the customer who just went off.

Elijah turned the steamer off while I ducked down to fill the tissues. 'It was busy.' Elijah stated.

'Having three customers in a row is not what you call busy.' I told him as I stood back up and refilled the tissue box.

'Yeah,' Elijah readjusted his glasses when his eyes focused on something I was not so happy to be acknowledged. 'What is this?' He pointed at the side of my neck.

My hand instantly shot up to my neck and I rubbed it. 'Nothing.' I said.

'It's looks,' He leaned in. A little too much. 'It looks old.'

'HELLO BEAUTIFUL WORLD!' I jumped back up as a voice startled both me and Elijah who collided with the steamer that was just turned off. I rushed up to him.

'Are you okay?' I asked Elijah completely ignoring the person who gave such a pathetic entrance. His elbow was burnt. I lifted off his sleeve a bit more. 'Do you have anything you could put on?'

'I might have a bandage or something,' Elijah murmured. 'I should check.'

He went to check his backpack. He took his phone out and stared at it for a while longer. 'Is everything okay?' I asked him.

'Yeah,' he murmured. 'Hey Jane, is that okay if I go home early. My mom's gotten ill.'

'Sure.'

'You'll take care of it?'

'I would.'

'I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you.' Mia apologised to Elijah.

'Nah, it's fine.' He picked up his bag. 'I'll be going. Bye.' And off he set.

I finally addressed the person who caused such commotion.

'I am so sorry I didn't mean it like this.' Mia bit her bottom lip.

'It's fine...' I waved it off.

But then, the storm came. ' I spent whole evening calling you! Where the fudge were you?'

'Er. . .'

'I was so damn fudging worried and I called Ian like thousand times.' At Mia's remark, I reached for my phone in my bag pack . Taking it out, I saw my screen filled with notifications of missed calls and text messages from Mia and three Text messages from Ian.

'Mia he had his meeting with a magazine editor.' I told Mia partially scared about Ian's meeting and slightly amused at Ian's reaction.

'That's why!' Mia snapped her fingers. 'He was so rude and I thought it's because I asked him to pick me up from here.'

'You asked Ian to pick you up?' I was so damn shocked.

'Yeah,' A new voice sounded as the bell chimed for Ian entered. 'And here it is. Ian The Driver.'

'How was your meeting?' I asked him.

'The same.'

'Not a chance?' I said.

'Nope.' Ian replied popping the 'p'. My sadness was not only for that I won't get ice cream but I really wanted Ian to get some success. He had been trying so hard. 'And thanks to this lady right here who made the editor more furious.'

'I am really sorry.' Mia bit her bottom lip again.

'Why you guys are here by the way?' I interrupt the series of apologies about to be erupted from Mia's mouth.

'We're—basically I'm here to pick you up home. I figured its too far from here to home while Mia wanted to be dropped somewhere near the town.' Ian spoke casually or tried to but he was unable to hide the disappoint in his voice and the bags he had gained for he couldn't sleep the whole night. His hair was a mess atop his head and his eyes begged for least minutes of sleep that were certainly trained on the phone he took out as he settled himself on the table at the far end of the cafe.

Mia leaned in as she spoke. 'There's a party around the corner. Wanna come?'

'I can't. Elijah just left and I'm the only one here. I'm sorry.' I had rejected Mia way too much these days but I couldn't help. The work was exhausting enough.

My phone beeped.

Unknown: Get my latte ready.

I rolled my eyes. 'I'm having my next customer now.' I coerced her.

'How do you know?' I turned my steamer on and grabbed a cup.

'Because he is The Customer.' I exaggerated and Mia's eyes twinkled. One similarity I had found between Ryan and Mia was their emotions were pretty obvious. Sadness and amusement was like a wave of light of different colour in their eyes.

'Oh, is he hot?'

'What? No. He's not hot. He's fine-looking.' I had no idea why was I discussing Ryan with Mia or Ryan at all.

'You won't find yourself a man if you stay like this. Hot people are hot.'

'He's not to me though.' I added the chocolate syrup in the cup.

'Mia you wanna come with me? I'm going home.' Ian called out from the corner.

'I ... ' she looked between me and Ian deciding whether to see the "hot" person or go with Ian who seemed so tired he was yawning. 'I'll come.' She smiled at me and I returned. 'My mum asked me to come back early too. Take his picture and send it to me.' She winked. Bidding me goodbye, she went with Ian.

Just as they left, bell chimed as a door opened and someone walked in.

'Hello there.' Ryan waved walking in his camouflage trousers and his black shirt. His hair were ruffled on his head like he just decided to change his hairstyle.

'Hi.' I had no idea why my stomach flipped when he sat on the bar stool and smiled. I added in the vanilla extract and milk with a stick for stirring.

'Did I mention you look hot like a barista?' Ryan remarked. I almost laughed. I knew I was a good mess.

'I don't believe you.'

'You will someday.' Ryan slid the cup towards himself. 'So you'll take the Wandering Train tonight?

His unexpected question almost caught me off guard. 'No. Not tonight.'

'Why not?'

'I'm tired.' I stated and wiped the counter. 'Maybe some other day.'

'Okay.' He sipped his latte. 'Can I ask you a question?'

'Ooh, you know manners.' When he deadpanned, I said. 'Yeah go on.'

'How do you know so much about singing?' I bit my bottom lip.

'I just ... know.'

'No one just knows. Do you sing too?' I looked in his eyes and curiosity had taken the amusement's place.

'No I don't. I don't like singing, I like teaching. You know like some people don't like riding cars but they like building cars. I'm a part of that 2 percent population.'

'I get it.' He sipped again while I stepped out of the counter to pick a glass and tray from the table. 'Who taught you?'

'My Dad.' I replied. 'You?'

'Same here. It's in the genes.' He smiled sadly probably remembering a memory. 'I'm going to sing in party soon. Would you come?'

'I don't know.' I remembered my last party and I cringed. Memories of Abigail digging her nails in mine and of Ryan helping me while I behaved with him rudely flashed before my eyes. 'I don't party much.'

'It will be fun.' He insisted as he drank the last sip of his latte.

'Not for me.' I almost said it to myself as I came around the counter and washed the last plate and glass.

'She won't be there. I'll make sure of it.'

'It's not her.'

'I know it's her. She's the one you're afraid of right?'

I snapped my head in his direction. 'I'm not afraid of her. I just don't party that's it and you don't have to insist all the time.' I took out three dollars from my pocket and placed them in the cash register locking it. 'I just don't want to come.'

'Why do you get so snappy whenever I talk about her?' He furrowed. 'I'm just trying to have a decent conversation here.'

'Look Ryan, wherever  you are intending to take this, it's never going to happen.'

'I'm not taking this anywhere.' He raised his voice. 'I'm just trying to talk to you and inviting you to a party. You don't have to be edgy all the time.'

I gritted my teeth. 'I am freaking moody and edgy so don't try to play nice. I know what your intentions and it will never happen. Like all the other boys, you're gonna use me and dump me like I never existed.'

'What are you even talking about?'

I scrunched my face as fire blazed in front of my eyes. 'Just go Ryan. I'm sorry but just go.'

He stared at me for a second before he stomped his fist on the counter and left. Just as I asked him to.

oOo

Halo! How are you my readers?
This chapter took me so long to write and I have not even a single idea why.

Tell me what do you think about Ryan till now?
And Jane?

Reviews and comments, not only make my day but also help me improve.

Thanks for reading.

I'll try to post the next chapter ASAP.

See ya!
Love, huz