The string of bad events didn't seem to stop when Ryder came up with the third date. He threw the paper at me in the library and took off before I saw him. 

I was reluctantly getting ready for my third day of disaster when Abby stumbled into my room. Past these days, our intimacy wore off. We were casual but didn't have one to one catch ups. 

It was killing her not to talk to me but she wasn't budging and I was very upset that she put Dustin before me.

"Hey", she said shyly avoiding my eyes and sat on my bed. 

"Hey", I replied tying my black hair in a high bun. 

"Are you going somewhere?", she asked scrunching her eyebrows and looked at me through the mirror. 

"Yeah somewhere", I half-heartedly replied. 

Before she said anything I bid my adieu and went out. Right now, Abby was my least concern. Seeing Ryder, sitting with him for hours while replaying every horrible things happened because of him was going to my torture.

The uber took me to a small restaurant nearly run down but still in the downtown. I had been calculating my time and distance the whole ten minutes by instinct. I was grateful that he tried less cruel by choosing another place.

I pushed open the door. Unlike outside the inside was pretty decent, not about to run down any minute. I scanned through the crowd and spotted the familiar dirty blonde. 

I walked along the tables and threw my bag, that Luke prepared for me -- where I didn't look past a pocket knife-- next to the chair and pulled my phone. I didn't bother looking at him and if he dared to utter a word I was going to swing. 

I never knew Candy crush was this stress busting. Damn, I should play these more. My eyes started burning and I decided to put some time off tuning myself to the reality. It hit me, the crawling feeling.

My eyes immediately met his green orbs. His facial features were different, busted lips and swollen cheeks. A different emotion took over as my hand reached for cheeks. Our eyes locked and my mind was lost in his eyes. His eyes were pulling me but I could feel the walls in him. He was leaning into my hands, eyes slowly closing. 

The moment burst when the waiter cleared his throat. My face flushed by the position I was in, totally leaned on the table and hands on his cheeks while he mirrored mine. 

He was as embarrassed as I was, unsettled in his chair. The waiter placed the pizza and a coke with a smug look. 

No other go, I dived into the pizza even if I wasn't sure that was for me. I wanted to forget past two minutes. That was so unlike me. Maybe I pitied him or maybe I thought him as Luke or Matt. Why?. 

If it wasn't the pizza in my hand, I would've plucked my hair in frustration. A sly hand came in view of the pizza. I followed the trail to its owner with green orbs avoiding my eyes.

Every girl has a fantasy,  green orbs and dirty blonde were the perfect match for it and that being splayed across his forehead was picturesque. 

"You are making me uncomfortable", he said looking down at his phone. 

"I know", I said curtly and surprised that he didn't say anything about it even if I kept studying his every feature.

After much contemplation, I threw the question, "What happened to your face?"

The silence hung in air. I knew there wouldn't be any answer as he kept going on with his phone. It was totally time waste sitting here doing nothing.

I took my bag and went to the counter.

"Hi. I want to pay the bill", I asked the cute waiter who served us. 

"Your boyfriend already paid for this", he said with a smile. Wrong move but I was experienced. Being with two boys really helped me play the trick. 

"He is my brother", I said sounded a little offended and angry. The waiter's face turned into shock and he kept apologizing for the mistake. I burst out laughing when I came out the door. That was the first time I pulled a prank on some one and I was very proud that it did work.

I texted Luke about my whereabout after his tenth missed call. The night was still early and the area was pretty crowded. Five favorite songs and I could reach my apartment. 

A warm hand enclosed mine and turned towards Ryder. "Where are you going?", he asked knitting his eyebrows. I raised my eyebrows, "My home".

"Get in the car", he ordered.

"I am not your hoe", I spat and turned around only to be pinned between him and car. He blocked when I tried to find the gap.

"Leave me", I struggled in his trap.

"Get in the car and we'll leave", he said much nicer than before that wasn't gonna change my mind. 

"I am not getting in your car", I challenged him holding his eyes. He broke the contact and sighed.

"What should I do to get you in the car?", his question took me off guard. Like literally, I was about to faint in shock.

He fed my curiosity, "Answer my questions"

"Then you'll get in?", he asked and I nodded.

"Shoot it"

"What happened to your face?"

Gears were changing in his mind and he was clearly hesitating to answer. I wasn't guessing his answer nor trying to judge.

"I got into a fight"

"Clearly", I scoffed. " Why did you get into the fight?", I asked pointing my finger to his swollen cheek.

"He pissed me off", he answered and his eyes trailed to my shoulders. My eyes widened in realization.

"You went to police station?", I asked him holding his hands.

He was flabbergasted by my actions which I corrected immediately. "Yeah. Son of bitch deserved it", he spat angrily.

"Why did you go there?", I asked in a low tone.

"For you", he replied running his hands gently along my shoulder. Moments passed without a word and finally I burst laughing confusing him even more.

"I almost believed you. This is how you are gonna break me? To fall for your tricks and take video of me too", I mocked wiping my tears from laughter. 

His face went blank and jaw set, "Get in the car"

I complied settling in the comfortable cushion laughing my way home. 

I got out of the car and next moment I heard a loud thud. I turned other side to see, Luke tackled Ryder against his car with his elbow on his neck.

I rushed to Luke trying to remove his hands from the firm grip, while he was glaring at him. My heart was beating fast that Luke was going to mention about the video but I managed to drag him before a word.

"What the hell Luke?", I asked throwing my hands in the air.

"I'm sorry. I snapped when I looked at him", he said slumping his shoulder.

"Please don't do it again", I said as I hugged him for comfort. He was fit of rage, I could feel the heat radiating off him and before that, I should hit the gym. Pulling Luke I almost broke my hands and backbone.