{Thursday 6 July}

~ Charlie's POV ~

I had another good sleep last night. I didn't wake up to a horrible nightmare and I was actually starting to believe my PTSD was getting better, maybe I wouldn't have to see Dr. Parken again. 

I woke up this morning and had gotten ready for school, as usual, choosing to wear my dark blue denim dungarees with a white t-shirt and a grey cardigan with my hair in a half-up-half-down hairstyle, before eating breakfast and getting Adette ready for school. 

Mum had left early this morning but would be back later tonight, which meant that she probably wouldn't have a business trip this weekend as she would have left today as it is Thursday. We were on our way to Adette's school when I heard my phone go off. 

I ignored it until we got to her school, parking the car and saying goodbye to her before picking up my phone and looking at the screen. It was a text but not from a number I recognised. I unlocked my phone and looked at the text. 

It was from Ryder. I read the message, heat rising to my cheeks while doing so. 

Fuck, he can be a prick. I reread the message again and grow more and more curious about what he might want to ask me. I started my truck and headed to Eden's house, lost in my thoughts. 

The name Angel was starting to grow on me slightly but I still found it weird because I hardly knew him. Maybe I would get to know him more soon.

I park my truck and Eden and I head to our lockers. I grab out my work for stats and health before linking arms with her and walking to our spot. We sit down and I turn to her. 

"I got a text from Ryder this morning" I start but am quickly cut off by Eden. 

"Omg, you have his number! You cheeky devil, I knew you'd be into him" she says squealing. I blush and punch her lightly on the arm. 

"He asked for my number, not the other way around and that's not the point of this story, so let me continue child," I say, trying not to smile. I watch as she pretends to zip her lips shut and then hands the invisible key to me. I laugh and pretend to take the key between my fingers. 

"Anyway" I continue. "He told me that he would be here today and that at lunch he was going to come and sit with us because he needs to ask me something". Eden flaps around and wiggles a little happy dance before snatching the invisible key from my hand and unlocking her mouth. 

"Omg Charlie! Are you excited? I bet you he's going to ask you out" she says squealing. I blush and punch her again. 

"Pfft, why would he want to date a girl like me? I will admit that he is the hottest guy at this school but he could have any girl here and I'm definitely not the hottest one so I don't think that's what he's going to ask. He probably just needs help with health or art or something" I say nervously, my blush disappearing when I say the words about me not being hot. 

Then it hits me hard. I was starting to have feelings for Ryder. I'd only known him since Monday and yet I felt like I'd known him all my life. It was a weird feeling and I liked it but knowing that I would never have a shot against any of the other girls at this school made me sad. 

Eden gave me a small smile while rubbing my back. 

"Don't say that Charlie, you're beautiful. So what if you don't look like the other girls at this school. You're still incredibly beautiful and have just as good as shot as anyone else does" she says, her smile warm. I smile back and hug her. 

She always knew what to say when you were feeling sad.

The bell rings and we head off to tutor, heating up as we get closer. We walk into class and sit down in our usual seats. Ryder turns to us, smiling. He looked slightly pale like he was sick or something. 

"Eden, Angel," he says happily, nodding to us in acknowledgment. I blush while Eden replies a good morning. Far out Charlie, pull yourself together! I breathe and smile back at Ryder. 

"And how are you two lovely ladies doing this morning?" he asks warmly. 

"I'm great," Eden says giggling. 

"I'm good" I manage to say, blushing harder than before. Ryder laughs and runs his hand through his hair. 

"That's good" he replies. 

"How are you, Ryder?" Eden asks happily. 

"I'm alright, a little tired to be completely honest with you," he says, his smile disappearing slightly. 

"Why'd you come to school today? You're looking pretty pale, should've stayed home and slept?" I ask quietly. 

"Because I wanted to see you Charlie," he says, flashing his signature smile. Heat rises to my cheeks and Eden pokes me in the side. 

"And you said you didn't have a chance" she whispers to me grinning. The bell rings and I race out of the room pulling Eden in tow. I walk her to her business class before walking to my stats class. 

Stats class drags on for the next hour and before I know it, I'm walking to health class. I sit down in my seat and get my stuff out, not noticing Ryder slide into the seat next to me. 

I look over and see is Ryder watching me, a lazy grin plastered on his face. I smile at him, blushing once again. He laughs strokes my arm teasingly. 

"Do I make you nervous Angel?" he asks smirking. I gulp and blush hard. 

"N-n-no, w-w-why would you say that" I stutter. Wow, well done Charlie. I look down at my hands, mentally facepalm myself and then look back up at Ryder. He chuckles and brushes away a strand of hair that had fallen from my half-up-half-down hairstyle. 

I shiver when his fingers brush against my skin, leaving the place when he touched me burning. Fuck, it was a nice feeling that made something stir inside of me. I smile at him and look at Coach as he starts the class. 

Health flies by and Ryder and I make small talk. I found out that he moved here the day after my dad died and that his favourite colour is navy blue and his favourite food is chicken and mushroom fettuccine and he asked me about my dad and family and Eden. 

It was nice, comfortable. The bell rings and he walks me to my locker before saying goodbye and walking away. 

"You two are so cute!" Eden squeals, scaring the living daylights out of me. 

"Geezz Eden! Don't do that!" I yell at her. 

"Sorry. But seriously, you guys would make a cute couple. Who knows, maybe you will end up being a couple after all" she says giggling. I scoff and get my stuff for English and art. Morning tea and third-period fly by and soon I'm making my way from English to art, the butterflies returning. 

I slide into my seat and soon after Ryder drops into the seat next to me. He grins at me and I smile back. Miss Oscar starts the class and then walks over to Ryder and I. 

"Seeing as you two have already finished and the rest of the class hasn't, I need you to come with me. Oh and Charlie, bring your art stuff" she says smiling. I look at Miss Oscar and she just winks at me. I get up and follow her and Ryder into the small photography room. I give Miss Oscar a confused look and she grins at me. 

"Now seeing as you two finished so quickly, I thought I would start you guys on drawing full figures this week. And seeing as I've only hired the models for next week, Charlie, I want you to draw Ryder" she says, flashing me a wicked grin. Fuck! Is it that obvious that I have a crush on Ryder. 

"Oh umm okay," I say nervously. 

"Ryder, I will need you to take your shirt off as we are studying the human torso and it's ways of movement for this next part of the unit" she continues, grinning. "It's the closest thing the school lets us get to naked models so we have to work with what we have" she adds before explaining what I need to draw and then leaving us to it. 

I stand there awkwardly, looking down at the floor. 

"Don't be nervous Angel" Ryder says chuckling while turning on one of the spotlights. I look up at him, nod and then put on my glasses. 

He walks back into the middle of the room and flashes me another signature grin before pulling his shirt off. My jaw drops. 

Fuck, his body is amazing. I instantly notice the tattoos snaking up his arms and across his chest and down the side of his torso as well as his muscular arms, and washboard abs. 

"Angel" Ryder says chuckling. I snap out of it and look at his, our eyes locking. 

"You might want to close your mouth" he continues. I shut my mouth instantly and blush hard. "S-s-sorry. Ummm, ummm, how do you want to pose?" I ask stuttering. He grins at me and puts his hands in his pockets. 

"Like this" he says, smiling. I nod and start to draw shakily.

"I'm finished," I say nervously, giving Ryder a small smile. He smiles and pulls his shirt back on and walks over to me. I show him and his jaw drop. 

"Shit, it's amazing" he whispers. 

"Thanks" I reply, smiling at him. Suddenly I feel his fingertips under my chin, gently guiding my head to look at him. I meet his gaze and the nerves kick in. He takes his fingers away from my chin and smiles at me, leaving my skin burning. 

"I was going to ask you this at lunch" he starts huskily. He smiles and brushes some hair from my face. 

"Charlie?" 

"Yeah?" I ask. 

"Would you let me take you on a date tomorrow night?" he asks quietly. I mentally squeal and the butterflies squirm in my stomach. Eden was right, then again, she always is. 

"I'd like that," I say with a small smile. 

"Perfect. I'll pick you up at 7 pm. Text me your address yeah?" he says smiling. I nod and pull out my phone from my pocket and give him my address. 

"Thank you Angel," he says quietly. I blush and look at Ryder. Suddenly, Miss Oscar walks in and I squeal. She laughs and walks over to us. 

"Sorry I scared you, hun. The bell is about to go and I thought I'd come check on you" she says. 

"That's okay," I say embarrassed. 

"So did you finish?" she asks. I nod and show her my drawing. 

"Wow, I'm very impressed," she says grinning. 

"Not that I expect anything less from either of you". I smile at her and pack up. We all walk back to the classroom together as the bell rings. Ryder and I say goodbye to Miss Oscar before heading to my locker. 

"So you're staying with us at lunch?" I ask Ryder, locking his gaze and smiling. 

"Yeah" he replies grinning as I exchange my English and art for my PAT kit. I then turn to Ryder and we walk to Eden's drama class.

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Hey Guys,

I hoped you enjoyed that chapter!! I had a lot of fun writing it and I am becoming very invested in this story!! I promise the next chapter will be for Repeat but I just wanted to do one more chapter for this book as I got so into writing the last chapter and couldn't stop. Please vote and leave a comment down below letting me know what you think!! 

Thanks,

-Allamy xx