“McKenna.” I hear a voice say, shaking me.

          “What?” I groan, turning away from Ryder.

          “Get up.”

          “No.” I say grouchily.

          “Wake up.” Ryder says, as he grabs my shoulder and shakes me violently.

          “No, I don’t wanna.” I moan, pulling the cover over my head.

          “You’re gonna be later for work.” He tells me. “It’s 8:30.”

          “I don’t even have to be to work until 10.”

Ryder sighs, “McKenna get up, or I’ll pick you up.”

          “Sure.” I say sarcastically, as I keep my eyes clamped shut.

Suddenly I feel the cover being tore away from my body; and then I feel myself being lifted from the bed. I shriek, and open my eyes to see Ryder holding me in his arms bridal style. “What are you doing?” I ask clenching onto his shirt for fear that Ryder may drop me.

          “I told you that I was going to pick you up.” He says.

I scoff, “Well yeah, but I didn’t think you meant it.”

          “I’m a man of my word Bryant.”

          “O’Connor; please. Put me down…Gently.” I add.

          “You’re lucky you added that gently. Else I would have just dropped you.” Ryder says, as he puts me down.

          “That’s because I know you so well.”

Ryder runs his fingers through his long brown hair and says, “Right. Go get ready for work.”

          “Why’d you wake me up so early?” I wonder.

          “So we actually have time to eat today.”

I raise my eyebrows, suspicious of Ryder but I say, “Okay.” Then I walk out of his room, heading down the stairs.

I go down to the laundry room which is conveniently located between the living room and the kitchen. I pull the door open, and step into the large room. I open the dryer; and pull out my khaki short and the blue shirt which is my uniform. Helen said she’d order me some more uniforms, so hopefully they’re there today. I bound up the stairs, to the bathroom, and just as I’m about to walk in, Ryder comes out. Again, he’s wearing a towel wrapped around his waist, and his hair wet.

          “See? Short shower.” Ryder says smirking as he walks past me.

I roll my eyes and go into the bathroom. I lock the door behind me and take my clothes off. I get in the shower; determined to show Ryder that I can take a short shower if indeed I wanted to. I quickly shower; and shampoo my hair. Ten minutes later; I’m out. I get dressed quickly and then brush my teeth in the sink. I run the towel through my wet hair and then pull it into a low ponytail.

I go back in my room and put my pajamas in the dirty clothes hamper. I put on a pair of flip flops, and then walk back into Ryder’s room. “See? Short shower.” I say, mocking him.

Ryder’s sitting on his bed; fully dressed. He claps in mock appreciation. “McKenna Savannah Bryant, I have never been more proud of you in my life.”

          “You’re so melodramatic.” I tell him as I pull my fingers through my wet ponytail.

          “Sure I am. Now it’s 9:04. Let’s go.” Ryder says, getting out of his bed.

          “Have you seen my phone?” I ask him, patting my pockets.

Ryder produces my phone from his pocket; and hands it to me. “It was under the bed.”

          “And you found it how?”

          “Your mother called.”

          “Did you answer?”

          “No.” He tells me, as he usher’s me out of his room.

Outside, Ryder unlocks the doors; and we get in. I pull the seatbelt over my chest; clicking it into place. “So when are you gonna take me to Shriner’s?” I ask him.

          “I never told you I would take you to Shriner’s.” He points out, as he checks his rearview mirror and backs out.

          “Please? I really wanna go.”

          “Why?”

          “Because it seems interesting.”

Ryder doesn’t say anything in response for about two minutes. When he does he says, “One day.”

I groan, “That isn’t specific”

          “Are you always this eager?” He asks.

          “Let’s play a game.” I say, disregarding his comment.

          “I don’t like games.”

          “You’re so not normal.”

          “I am normal. You’re the abnormal one.”

I shake my head, and then decide to change the subject, “Do I snore?”

          “What?” He asks, looking over at me briefly.

          “Do I snore, like when I’m asleep?”

          “Oh right. Yeah; you snore really really loudly.”

          “Liar.”

          “I’m not lying.”

          “Yeah; you are.” I argue.

          “Okay, I’m lying. You do snore though.”

          “Nun uh.”

          “Yeah huh. You do snore. You just snore really really lightly.”

I raise my eyebrows, “Do you like saying that word or something?”

          “What word?”

          “Really.” I say.

          “Do I like to say the word ‘really’ a lot?”

          “Yeah.”

          “Um no more than the average person.”

As we arrive in L.A. a few minutes later, I look over to Ryder, “Can I ask you something?”

          “I already told you that you could ask me whatever you want. Doesn’t mean I’m gonna answer it.”

          “Right,” I say, fidgeting with my fingers. “It’s kinda personal though.”

          “How personal?”

          “Not very.”

          “What is it?” He asks, looking over at me for a second, before turning his attention back to the road.

          “Was Scarlett your last girlfriend?”

Ryder looks back over at me and I say, “You don’t have to answer if it’s too personal, but I w-“

He cuts me off by saying, “Yeah; she was.”

          “How come you haven’t dated anyone else?”

He shrugs, “I dunno. As much as I’d like to think that I’m over her death; I’m not. I think about her a lot.”

          “But you’re gonna date again like in your lifetime?” I ask.

          “Eventually.”

I nod, “Oh.”

          “Why?”

          “Why what?” I ask.

          “Why’d you wanna know?”

          “Just…curious.” I say.

Five minutes later; we arrive at a breakfast place. Not the one we came to last time; but a different one. Ryder and I get out and walk up to the door. I pull it open, going in, Ryder behind me. He orders us both breakfast platters; mine-a small, his- a large. Despite my attempts to pay, he says that he doesn’t want my money. I swear Ryder’s so self-righteous. By the time out breakfast gets to our table; it’s 9:26.

          “So let’s talk.” I say, as I eat my ice cream. Yes, I told Ryder that if he insisted on buying me breakfast, then he would have to get me ice cream instead of the orange juice that comes with the meal.

          “About?” He asks.

          “Anything.”

          “Let’s talk about why you suddenly wanna be all friendly.” He says, drinking his juice.

I scoff, “Suddenly? I’ve always been friendly towards you.”

          “You pushed me in a pool.”

          “You put itching powder in my clothes.”

          “Like nine years ago!”

I shrug, “Still did it. Making you the mean one.”

          “I’m not mean.”

          “Okay, of course you aren’t. You are the nicest person I’ve ever met in my life.”

          “I knew you’d think so.” He replies, chuckling.

---------------

So while we eat breakfast, we talk. I expect him to be all stubborn and what not, but he isn’t. He’s actually, dare I say, cooperative. This is saying something for Ryder. While we’re talking I find out that his favorite color is red. To which I replied with, “Red? How badass.” I also found out that he wants to live in New York or Florida when he graduates from college and jumpstarts his engineer career. [At the moment; I laughed, because engineer and career rhyme.] I find out that Scarlett was the first girl he ever…did, and that was three years ago when he was he was sixteen, like a couple of months before they started dating.

---------------

          “Are you ready to go?” Ryder wonders.

I nod, “I’m ready.” I stand up and grab my platter and throw it away. I only ate like half of it, though I did try to eat it all because I didn’t want to feel like I was wasting his money. “Let’s go.” I say, standing up. I pull my phone from my pocket, and see that it’s 9:51.

          “Will I be late?” I ask him.

          “No.” He says, getting up, “You’ll be there with time to spare.”

As we get back in Ryder’s car, he speeds down the road towards the beach. His phone beeps and he looks down at it. He doesn’t pick it up though; and I guess it’s because he doesn’t wanna text and drive; which is good. When we arrive at the beach, Ryder parks. I pull my seatbelt off and thank him for bringing me. “Yeah, sure.”

          “See you later?”

Ryder nods, and I start walking down the pier.

---------------

Work is actually really easy, and as 2:00 comes, I grab myself a soda and walk out of the booth. I hope Ryder’s actually here this time. I walk down the pier up to the parking lot. I don’t see Ryder’s car though. I pull out my phone to call him; but just as I’m about to dial his number; I hear a honk. I look up; expecting to see Ryder but I don’t. Instead I see Jacob in his car. He puts down the window and waves me forward.

          “Coming?” He calls.

I move my feet; and go get in his car, closing the door behind me. “Hi.” I say.

          “Hello.”

          “What are you doing here?” I ask him.

          “I’m picking you up from work.” He tells me obviously as he merges onto the main road.

          “Well yes, but why?” I wonder, “Where’s Ryder?”

          “Your boyfriend is at home, he’s sick.”

I roll my eyes, “He isn’t my boyfriend, and what do you mean he’s sick?”

          “So you both say, but it’s pretty obvious you two like each other. Anyway, yeah he’s sick.”

          “What’s wrong with him?”

Jacob shrugs, “I don’t know. He’s throwing up everywhere and what not.”

          “But he took me to work this morning and he was fine.” I tell him as he gets onto the freeway.

          “Well I don’t know; but he’s like lying on the couch with a bucket throwing up.”

          “Are you sure you didn’t give him your sickness?” I wonder.

Jacob looks over at me and then says, “You know what? That may be a possibility. I sneezed in the bathroom; and he probably like touched where I sneezed or something.”

          “Ever heard of Lysol? And why were you in the upstairs bathroom? Your room is downstairs.”

          “It was occupied.” He says simply.

          “Don’t you feel guilty for getting your brother sick?”

          “Not exactly. You seem to be pretty upset though. Why? Because you can’t kiss him now?” He asks, laughing at his own joke.

Again, I roll my eyes, “Ryder and I have never kissed.”

          “Right, okay.” He says. Even I can tell he doesn’t believe me.

Ten minutes later or so, Jacob parks his car in the driveway. As we get out he says, “I wouldn’t recommend you go near him.”

          “Are you sure you aren’t being overdramatic?” I ask, as Jacob unlocks the door.

          “See for yourself.” He mutters; pushing the door open.

As we walk in, my eyes fall on Ryder who’s lying on the couch with an ice pack on his head and a wearing a pair of black sweatpants. I feel kinda bad for thinking about how good he looks without a shirt on since he’s sick. As Jacob and I walk in, Ryder doesn’t look up. Instead he groans, and turns over. As he turns over he lurches forward; sitting up. He grabs the bucket resting on the floor and vomits in it. When he’s done, he looks up at us. Then he groans again but mutters out two things; “Hey Mick.” And “Jacob O’Connor, I’m gonna murder you.” Jacob whispers in my ear, “See? He’s all hormonal.”

I laugh lightly as I say, “You’re really dumb; you know that?”

          “Of course I am.” And with that Jacob walks past Ryder; patting him on the shoulder before he goes up the stairs.

I know I probably shouldn’t get so close to him; unless I wanna get sick, which I don’t. I walk over to the couch and Ryder moves his legs. I sit down and look at him. “How’re you feeling?”

          “Like someone is in my head hitting me with a hammer.”

          “That’s very descriptive.” I note.

          “Isn’t it?” He says sarcastically. “You don’t have to stay here, you’re gonna get sick.”

I shake my head, “No I won’t.”

          “I have like a cold…magnified by like two thousand.”

          “But it’s not airborne.”

          “True; I guess.” He says, putting his towel back on his face. “I’m going to go to sleep now.”

          “Okay.” I say, grabbing the remote from him.

          “Hey!” He whines.

          “I thought you were going to sleep.”

          “I am.” He says, as he sneezes.

          “Do you want a blanket?” I ask him. He nods and I get up. There’s a hall closet which is where the O’Connor’s keep their spare blankets and things of that sort. I go and get one, then spread it on top of Ryder’s body.

          “Thanks.” He croaks.

          “You’re welcome.” I say. Soon after; like five minutes after; I hear Ryder’s breathing slow, and I know he’s asleep.

I go into the kitchen, and sit down at the table. I hear someone, two someone’s actually, outside. The back door opens and Todd walks in with a blonde girl behind him. He sits down at the table parallel to me and grabs an apple from the fruit bowl. He bites into it and chews as the blondie sits down next to him. When it’s obvious he’s not gonna introduce us, I clear my throat.

          “I’m McKenna.” I tell the girl.

          “Chastity.” She replies, smiling.

          “This is my girlfriend.” Todd says between bites.

          “Someone’s actually dating you?” I ask in almost disbelief.

Todd mimics me and then takes another bite of his apple, “And you’re one to talk. Speaking of which; are you aware that your boyfriend is in there nearly dying of like the flu?”

I roll my eyes at him, “Ryder doesn’t have the flu. It’s a cold.”

          “Same difference.”

          “Not really; big difference.”

Todd smiles at something, put doesn’t reveal what it is. “What?” I ask.

          “Oh nothing.”

          “Tell me.” I demand.

          “It’s nothing.”

          “Then tell me.”

Chastity excuses herself to go to the bathroom; and I continue to pester Todd. “Tell me!”

          “You didn’t deny it.”

          “Didn’t deny what?” I ask, wrinkling my forehead in confusion.

          “That Ryder’s your boyfriend.” He says smiling mischievously.

          “Why does everyone suddenly think Ryder is my boyfriend?”

          “Because he is.” Asher says, walking into the kitchen with Sierra-his girlfriend.

          “You people are insane.” I say, taking a banana from the fruit bowl and peeling it back. “Insane, I tell you.”

          “If I had to make an educated guess,” Jacob says, coming in. What is with everyone in the kitchen? There’s like six people in here! “Then I’d say you and Ryder will come out with your relationship by June 30th.”

          “That’s like a week from now.” I tell him.

          “I know that.”

I shake my head at the complete and utter ridiculousness that’s apparently going through everyone’s heads.

I do not like Ryder O’Connor like that.

Right? Right.