ICE

13|Dissociated

Ryleigh's POV:

While walking to the auditorium, Toni's voice is echoing across the air. Looking back or answering her calls are not top priority right now.

*You're dissociating Ryleigh*

I move quickly and I'm not sure if I'm now out of distance or if she stopped ringing my name.

While descending the steps to the auditorium entrance, I spot Dalani talking to Ghale, I pause for a second and the image of her disappears.

*She's still there Ry'*

Not to me...

Not after I told him I'm not comfy with their lil relationship.

My feet finishes the journey of the short steps to the entrance of the auditorium and I move towards him grabbing his wrist to pull him up from the lunch bench.

He's saying something but I can't hear it right now.

*Ghale is saying something as well girl... get out of your head and listen*

I can't...

"We're going to the dungeon" I say calmy and he replies but I don't hear him.

We make it the dungeon entrance and start moving down the steps to a tiny classroom that overlooks the field.

I sit down and take a breath, only then do I hear what Dalani is saying.

"Babe say supm nuh... yuh good?" he's genuinely concerned isn't he?

*Just get it over with smh*

"I came to be honest with you and to give you a choice of moving from exclusive dating to relationship or to stop completely" I blurt out. My eyes are glistening but I catch myself and they dry within seconds.

Dalani moves closer to me, his eyes meet mine and he holds my hand.

"Go ahead Ryleigh" he whispers.

"So... the summer after 6B... last year.. I... well Jordanne and I had sex. It was my first time and if I could understand why it happened I would explain that to you but I don't. I say that to say it happened again when Nolan broke things off with me and I went to Jordanne for comfort." I manage to get my load off.

He looks at me quizzically and I don't give him a chance to share his thoughts, instead I continue.

"In January it happened again..with proper reason that time..we were discussing becoming...uuhhh...'friends with benefits' and... yeah" I mutter.

*You know for somebody with a distinction in Comm Studies you can't talk tho*

"It..." I continue when I see him try to speak "It probably would've happened at Mariah's party when he brought me upstairs but it didn't because he said he didn't want to cause problems for us" I whisper pointing back and forth between him and I.

I feel when he pulls his hand from mine.

*Seet yah now*

I look up at him trying to read his face but nothing is there.

"D'?" I mutter

"Do you love him?... and not as a friend Ryleigh.. mah be serious now" and his eyes have a hint of hurt.

"I.... don't know" I say while trying to reach for his hands

Standing to his feet he stares at me almost as if I've betrayed him.