After spending the entire day outside, I finally walk inside with Nicole as we get ready to go out to dinner before the bonfire. As I slap on some makeup, I hear Nicole leaving to go outside again with Jack. They can't stay the hell away from each other and it's kinda sickening the way they keep sucking each other's faces off.

I was getting hangry again and I needed food. I couldn't wait on their hormones any longer. Walking out to the porch I see them finally separate from sucking each others faces off.

"Don't stop on my account." I laughed out.

"Hey Charlie." Jack said smiling.

"Jacky. Are y'all done sucking each other's lips off so we can eat Nic?" I asked sighing.

"Shut up dick licker." Nicole muttered and I howled in laughter.

"Come on heifer. I'm hungry." I whined quickly.

"About that...the guys invited us to dinner and I said yes." Nicole said smiling mischievously.

I hate her guts at this moment. Best friends my fat ass. No way in hell am I going to eat with Ryder. I'm trying to have a peaceful vacation.

"Ok. See you later. I will order in." I shrugged not wanting to spend any more time with Ryder than I had to.
Especially since now I had to see him at the bonfire and now for the rest of my vacation. Ya know because HE'S RIGHT NEXT DOOR.

"Charlie. Come on. It's a big group of us. He won't bug you. Nicole and I will keep you company if he doesn't leave you alone." Jack said trying to convince me.

"Jack. I know he's your buddy and the only reason I am tolerating you is because of my girl here. If she wasn't so into you, we would not be having this conversation." I explained.

He nodded and stared at the back porch leading out to the beach. I followed his gaze up to only see someone walking into house.

Fucking Ryder. Of course his small dick was listening in on this conversation. Which I really don't know if it's small. I would have remembered seeing my school girl crushes dick. I would have told my only other friend....my dog. Spencer. A black lab who still to do this day has my heart.

"Have fun and I will see you tonight Nic." I said and waved as she just gave me a small sad smile.

Since I would be alone tonight until the bonfire I could chill, grab some takeout, and listen to some Dance Gavin Dance.

I know I saw a Chinese restaurant down the street so this might just got even more easy. When I walk outside everyone is getting in to the cars and I wave at Nicole.

Ryders dumb ass stares at me from the drivers side of his Jeep like I just sucker punched his Grandma.

Thank God, a few hours without him. I'm about halfway there as I heard heavy booted footsteps behind me. I turned only to see Ryder standing about a foot away from me.

He was wearing dark jeans and a white t-shirt that showed off all the tattoos on his arms. And his muscles. God those muscles.

STOP! I yelled to myself. I wanted to rip my hair out of my head with all these thoughts of him.

Breaking me out of the spell he had me under, he huffed and looked confused when he stared down at me with his dark green eyes.

"Your ride is leaving you." I whispered softly as I tucked a brown strand of my hair that had fallen in to me face.

Where did my voice go? I need to be confident and not falter when a sexy dude is right in front of me.

God, Charlie stop calling him sexy or think about all his delicious tattoos. I thought to myself.

Fuck.

I quickly looked over Ryders shoulder as Jack was already pulling out of the driveway.

"I didn't want you to be alone." He stated. His deep voice made me snap back my attention to him.

God, he looks amazing....fuck...stop.

"What did you want to eat? There was a Chinese place down the street if you still like Crab Rangoon." He smirked.

"You are so damn weird." I mumbled.

"Yeah, but you like it." He said and I chuckled. I turned and started walking in the direction of the sidewalk only to turn again to see him staring at me with a small smile on his face.

"Come on stalker boy. You're buying." I said and he chuckled and began following me down the side walk.

"Why that nickname?" He asked softly as we walked side by side. The restaurant was about a 15 minute walk so we had time to talk.

"You following me. Even though you treated me the way you did..." my voice softly cracked and when it did his hand immediately found mine and squeezed it softly. I could feel the rush of sadness and regret just from his touch. He confuses me even more every time I see him. "I saw you everywhere and I mean everywhere. I thought I was going insane but then when I confronted you....you literally flipped out on me. Do you even remember that day?" I explained.

He nodded, "You were wearing my favorite t-shirt on you. The blue one with our old handprints on the back. You bought it extra big so you could wear it. I thought I was doing the right thing by pushing you away. There are so many things that you don't know about. Even now. Especially with my family. I had to go away, I had no choice. I wanted to come see you right away but my father told me I wasn't allowed too. Then when I saw you at school, I knew I had to push you away. I should have done better....by you. You didn't deserve any of the shit we put you through." He explained taking my hand with both of his hands are rubbing it.

I stopped walking. "You were my best friend Ry. When you came back you broke my fucking heart." I whispered looking up at him.

"I know Bambi. I will always regret that. I don't think I could ever forgive myself the way I treated you. I want to put it behind us because I don't have to protect you as much as I thought I did. I heard about you beating Westley's ass after he tried to kiss you." He smiled and pushed my shoulder.

"That dick munch had it coming. He tried to use tongue and I wanted to vomit in his mouth. So I kneed him in his family jewels." I said kicking a rock on the sidewalk.

"That's my girl." He barely whispered.

"Wh-" I started before being interrupted.

"Come on. We are so close I can smell it." He interrupted me quickly. I don't think he knew that I heard him clear as day.

As we entered the small Chinese restaurant, the hostess met us behind a dark green and gold stand. She led us to our table as I looked around the restaurant. It was very quiet with dark green paint and old maps of China gracing the walls.

As the girl was handing us our menus I interrupted her.

"We know what want already, but thank you. I will have the Chicken Lo Mein, Chicken Fried Rice, an order of Fried Dumplings, 2 spring Rolls, an order of Crab Rangoon, and a Sweet Tea. He will have a Beef and Broccoli with pork fried rice, 4 spring rolls, egg drop soup, and a Dr. Pepper." I said raising my eyebrow at Ryder.

"Damn Bambi." He said under his breath.

"Yes ma'am. I will get that out to you quickly." She said with a smile.

"You remembered." He said.

"I did. I remember a lot of stuff." I said with a smirk.

The rest of dinner went by smoothly. No awkward silences. It was an amazing feeling. But I couldn't stop that tiny voice in the back of my head that screamed that I needed to remember what he did.

But this felt right. It felt good.

We made small talk and updated each other on our college majors, our spring break destinations, and as nightfall came we were walking back to the houses.

"I've missed this." He said as we walked along the sidewalk.

"Chinese food? You know Chun Fo's is still open in town." I said.

"Smart ass. No. You and I." He said rolling his eyes.

"You can work on getting back to any resemblance on you and I. I mean you are following me to UW." I said accusingly.

"They offered a good scholarship." He offered.

"Bull shit they did Ryder James Galento." I said roughly.

He smiled and chuckled. That chuckle could bring a woman to her knees.

Not me though.

That chuckle made me want to jump his di.....I did it again. What the hell is wrong with me? Why do I keep feeling these feelings around Ryder? I hate him....right?

This bonfire is going to suck in a major way or I'm going to be making some pretty poor decisions tonight. As we got to the houses no one was back yet but we could hear yelling coming from the beach.

"You wanna head back there with me?" I asked, trying to be brave.

He looked over at me and his eyebrow shot up as he took in my face. "Hell yeah Bambi." He whispered.

As we walked to the back, I heard a huge commotion coming from Ryders vacation house. His whole entire body tensed and he stopped abruptly which made me run in to his back. Which actually felt like a wall of steel. I couldn't tell the difference in all honesty.

"Bambi. Go find Nicole. I will meet you out there in a minute." He ordered.

"Uh like fuck you're going to tell me what to do." I said and snorted as I walked around him to get a better view.

Scotts back was to us as a dude I had never seen before was yelling about tearing apart every virgin on the beach tonight. Good thing I'm not a virgin. He looks like he needs a shower - he looked greasy as hell.

"Bambi." Ryder gritted through his teeth again. I turned to look up at him as he slowly turned to me.

But I didn't feel like I was looking at him. His eyes became black. Like completely black. No room for his normal green or the whites of his eyes.

"Ry? What's wrong with your eyes?" I asked. My voice quivered at the end but what the hell. I was scared. Like actually scared something was wrong with him.

He quickly slammed his eyes shut and he shook his head and his head fell down like he was staring at the ground. After a moment or two of silence he finally raised his head and stared at me. His eyes were back to green.

"Bambi. I don't want a fight to break out and you get hurt." He whispered hoarsely ignoring my question. I nodded my head, almost too afraid to speak. Or maybe I lost my will to even stand my ground anymore and be brave.

I needed a drink and I needed one quick. I turned on my heel and walked very quickly to the beach ignoring my name behind called me.

About an hour had passed and I had found Nicole and Jack. They were all snuggled up near the fire. Scott was sitting across the fire singing and playing his guitar. A few people threw him requests even though the speaker system was blaring out tunes.

I took another swig of the drink I had in my cup. I think it was Jack and coke, but the shots I had consumed earlier kind of killed my taste buds. At least it was going down smoothly.

The bonfire raged in front of me as I kept staring at the flames thinking about tonight and Ryder. What the hell was wrong with his eyes? Maybe I saw something or maybe he was so pissed his eyes just got darker?

I hope it was all in my head and I'm not going crazy. I don't have time for that. Not with my life just really starting. My freedom is right in front me. I don't have time for drama.

As I stared at the flames I saw movement near Scott and as I look up I see Ryder crash down next to his brother. A beer in his hand and a few stumbled words come out of his mouth. Scott laughs loudly and looks over at me. He nods in my direction as Ryder turns quickly to look at me.

His face hardens when he sees mine. I have no wanting to deal with whatever drama he is bringing down on my drinking parade, so I'm out of here. I pour myself yet another drink and fill it to the top with Jack and coke. Mostly Jack but it's ok.

I'm already walking down the beach when I realize how quickly I have walked down the beach. Well maybe weaved, as I noticed the footprints behind me I laughed. They zigged, zagged, and made some circles.

I walked down to the waters edge and my feet curl in the sand as the water hits my ankles. I drink another swig of my drink as a feeling overwhelming presence rushes over me.

Ryder.

"Hey Ryder." I said loud enough for him to hear me.

"How did you know it was me?" He asked gruffly.

"I could always tell Ry." I whispered not knowing if you could hear me. I shivered from the breeze from the ocean as he came up behind me. He didn't wrap his arms around me but he stood right up against his back.

I could feel every muscle in his chest and the warmth radiating from his body. I sighed and leaned my back against him. As I brought my cup up to my lips his hand grabbed my cup and poured it out over the sand.

I grumbled a moment before he grabbed my hand and led me somewhere. He was probably leading me to my death.

Meh that's ok. He's pretty to look at.

I sighed and leaned in to his touch. Too far drunk to care about my past with him or to care about what the morning would bring.