Chapter ten

The next day, Andrea was looking through her closet trying to find the perfect outfit for the day. She didn't really know where Steven was taking her so she didn't know what to wear.

Her clothes were literally everywhere. She groaned in frustration getting tired of looking. When she gave up on finding the perfect outfit, she decided to wear a sundress since it was warm outside. She curled her hair and put a dab of make-up on. Then she put a black cardigan on with her sandals as of course, her glasses.

When she was satisfied with her look, she smiled at the mirror and let out a relieve sigh. Suddenly, her phone started ringing. She looked at the caller and it was Steven. She saved his number right after their conversation last night.

"Hi." She answered.

"You ready?" He asked excitedly.

"Yeah." She replied sheepishly.

"Great, I'm already here outside." He declared.

"Alright, I'll be right down." She said hanging up the phone. She glanced at the mirror once again and ran downstairs. She took her purse on the way out and called out to her mom.

"Mom, I'm going." She yelled from the front door.

"Okay, honey. Call me if you need anything." She yelled back from the kitchen.

Andrea opened the door and got out shutting it behind her. Outside the gate, she could see a red sports car parked with a man leaning on it.

As Andrea got closer, she saw Steven's warm smile. He had his arms across his chest checking her out making her feel self conscious. Andrea checked him out as well. He was wearing a black t-shirt that has a print on it, khaki pants with combat boots with it, and to top it all off, his leather jacket.

"Are we done checking each other out?" He asked making Andrea blush and look away from him. But she nodded in response anyway.

Steven opened the door for her like a gentleman. "Let's go, kitten." Her smirked as she slowly slid in the passenger seat putting her seatbelt on already.

Steven ran to the driver's seat and slid in. He buckled his seatbelt shocking Andrea. She was use to Ryder not putting his seatbelt on, she thought everyone was like him now.

"Is something wrong?" Steven asked snapping her out of her trance.

"Wha-"

"You've been staring at me for like a minute now. Is there something wrong?" He asked again.

"No, no." She answered shaking her head. "It's just that Ryder doesn't usually wear his seatbelt, I thought all of the guys don't put their seatbelt at all." She explained.

"Well first of all, I'm not Collins. Secondly, I'm not stupid. And thirdly, safety first, right?"

"Right. Sorry." She mumbled.

"It's okay." He smiled starting to move the car. "So, where do you want to go?" He asked glancing at her then back on the road.

"I don't know. I'm not really an outgoing person. You decide." She admitted.

"Alright, how 'bout lunch and a movie?" He suggested and Andrea thought of it. I guess lunch and a movie wouldn't hurt.

"Sure." She nodded shooting him a warm smile.

When they arrived at the mall, they went to the theatre to buy some tickets. They decided to buy two tickets for an action movie. Andrea didn't really know much about movies since she was more of a reader so she let Steven choose.

"Since it's only twelve thirty," He said looking at his gold Rolex watch. "And the movie won't be starting 'til two, why don't we go grab some lunch first?" He asked and Andrea nodded.

Steven placed his hand at her lower back and led her to the food court. A lot of girls they passed by either tries to flirt with Steven or dart her a killer look. Andrea felt so self conscious around him. Every girl were practically drooling over him and there she was looking as plain and boring as ever.

When they were at the food court, Steven turned to her. "What do you want to eat?" He asked.

"Um... I'll just buy something later. Why don't you buy first?" She urged him but he just shot her a disappointed look.

"Andrea, I'm buying your lunch. I want to know what you want to eat."

"But you already paid for my ticket. I'll just pay for my food and -"

"Andrea!" He said cutting her off. "I'm paying for you and that's that." Steven declared.

"I'll just have some salad then." She said hesitantly. Even though she was starving to death, she didn't want Steven to pay too much for her so salad will do.

"Just salad? I know you haven't eaten anything since you woke up." He said shocking Andrea. How did he know that was beyond her understanding. Her eyes widened in astonishment wondering how he knew.

"Andrea," He started holding her by the shoulders. "I don't want you being shy around me. Just be you, okay? Don't be nervous. Just... think of this as two friends hanging out on a Sunday afternoon if you feel weird around me."

"I'm sorry." She apologized sheepishly. She didn't feel weird around him. Maybe she just felt uncomfortable since she never really hang out with anyone but her parents. She didn't usually go out with friends since she never got any.

"Fine, I'll just have Chinese." She answered shooting him a smile as Steven chuckled.

"Alright, Chinese it is. Now was that so hard? Why don't you go find us a table as I buy our lunch?" Steven suggested as Andrea nodded.

She looked around the food court and found a table in the middle. She sat down and waited for Steven.

After he ordered the food, he looked around trying to find Andrea and he quickly found her in the middle of the food court.

Steven couldn't help but think how stunning she looked in that dress. She looked as amazing as ever. Ever since he laid eyes on her at the party, he knew she was beautiful.

He made his way towards her with a tray of food in his hands. He settled the tray down at the table and sat across from her. He gave Andrea her food and took his.

They ate together having small talks every now and then. Every time the atmosphere gets a little awkward, Steven would come up with a different topic and chat again. They laughed the whole time though, so he knew Andrea was having fun.

~ * ~ * ~

"I'm glad we're having a day off, bro." Scott said sitting across from Ryder. He took a bite out of his Subway sandwich and Ryder stared at him disgustedly.

"Do you always have to eat with your mouth open?" He asked making faces.

"I'm a guy. It's normal." He shrugged and answered with his full mouth.

"You're disgusting." Ryder announced.

"You sound like the girl I last slept with." Scott said making Ryder laughed. Scott was 'The Player' of Richmond High. He must have slept with the whole grade 12 girls and some grade 11's just by the past two years. No doubt girls would think he was disgusting.

"And when was the last time you slept with someone?" Ryder questioned.

"I don't know, maybe two weeks ago." He responded bluntly until it all downed on him. "Oh no," He said freezing on his spot.

"What?"

"I haven't slept with anyone in two weeks. I have to find someone, bro." He said panicky.

"Relax, I haven't slept with anyone for about, I don't even know how many months now." Ryder said trying to calm Scott down.

"How do you even survive, man?! I need my manly needs. At least, once a week."

"Sorry I'm not into sex as much as you do." Ryder said taking a bite out of his pizza.

"Hey, isn't that Carson from school?" Scott suddenly asked catching Ryder off guard. Ryder glanced over his shoulder and surely Andrea was sitting there eating with a guy. He couldn't really see him since his back was facing him.

"Who is that guy?" Scott questioned eyeing the guy suspiciously.

Ryder kept staring at them and when the guy turned his head, Ryder saw his profile and he was completely astounded. Didn't he just warn her about him? What was she doing flirting with that guy?!

"It's Sanders!" Ryder scowled.

"No way!"

"Come on!" Ryder commanded standing up from his seat. He was determine to go there and take Andrea with him, but Scott had other plans.

"Are you really gonna go there?"

"Scott, I warned her about him. Doesn't she ever listen to any of the words I say?" Ryder asked unbelievably.

"Bro, you know I'm on your side. But give the poor guy some break. I bet he just miss hanging out with friends." Scott reasoned.

"Don't you ever pull that card on me!" Ryder warned him sending him daggers through his eyes.

"I'm not pulling any card, Ryder. You know sometimes, you have to stop thinking about the past and start moving on." Scott retorted.

"I did move on!"

"Then what's your problem with Steven?"

"He's just using her!" Ryder said silencing Scott. "Scott, I know him, I know what he's capable of."

"And you think he wants to be close with Andrea just because of you?" He waited for Ryder to answer but he never did. "I thought we were having a day off to forget about everything just for one day. But I think you have other plans so I'll just leave you to it." Scott said standing up and taking his sandwich with him. "Call me when your head is not mess up anymore!" He said over his shoulder walking away from him.

~ * ~ * ~

After they finish eating, Andrea and Steven decided to go to the theatre. They watched the movie and when they're done, it was past four o'clock.

"So, did you like it?" Steven asked her.

"Yeah, but the explosions are so overrated." She commented making Steven laugh.

"I agree." He nodded. "So, where do you want to go now?"

"Well, I was thinking maybe we can -"

"Isn't this nice?" A husky voice said sarcastically interrupting her. They both turned around finding no other than Ryder.

"What are you doing here?" Andrea had the guts to asked.

"Aw, no hello. Well, isn't that a nice way of saying hi?" Ryder teased. His gazed was focused on Andrea but he felt another presence staring at him. He looked to his left and his eyes landed on Sanders.

"You again?" Ryder smirked as Steven send daggers at him. They had a staring contest and Andrea could feel the tension between the two.

"Ryder please, go away!" Andrea pleaded pulling him away from Steven to have a private chat with him.

"Didn't I warn you about him?" He growled taking her left wrist and squeezing it. She let out a yelp of pain. Her bruise hasn't completely healed yet.

Ryder was surprise and narrowed his eyes at her. His gaze dropped to her wrist again and pulled the sleeve of her cardigan up. Ryder's eyes widened seeing a purple bruise around her wrist.

"Who did this to you?!" He asked dangerously. He thought that Steven might have done it but he remembered what happened on Friday night at the party. She was pleading him to let her go but he didn't. He might have tightened his grip a little too hard leaving a bruise.

"Why didn't you tell me?!" He hissed gently rubbing her wrist.

Andrea pulled away her wrist and glared at him. "It doesn't matter! Look, just please don't make a scene here!" She pleaded. She didn't want them punching each other like last time.

"I won't! If you come with me."

"I'm not going with you!"

"Then prepare to watch the best show you'll ever see in your life!" Ryder smirked turning his back away from her.