Just a Simple Touch

31

*****A picture of Ryder is above*****

Emma, Maddie and I got ready together in the dorm room I share with Emma. We blasted music as we helped each other with hair and makeup, the whole time we were getting ready Emma and Maddie were dancing and singing, I just smiled at their craziness. I couldn't get myself in that type of mood I was too hung on the fact that I might face Houston today, one part of me doesn't want to see Houston, but the other part of me does. I just want one glimpse of his beautiful face and then I will be okay.. I know I will be. I know this sounds crazy and weird but I just need to see him, but I know he doesn't want to see me I wish this wasn't so one sided.

"So Maddie are you looking to get laid by Caleb tonight !" Emma says laughing

We were in Emma's car driving to the frat house, this time I decided to sit in the back and scroll through my phone.

Maddie lets out a big laugh "Emma shut up ! No I'm not trying to get laid I am a lady"

"Doesn't mean you don't have needs!" Emma defends herself

Maddie continues to laugh and cover her face "I can not talk to you anymore !"

"Oh come on ! You know he's dying to get his paws on you !"

Maddie removes her hands from her face and shakes her head "So what he's not getting anything"

I shut out the conversation between Maddie and Emma I couldn't stand the talk about Maddie and Caleb without feeling a hint of jealousy. Of course I am happy that Maddie is happy I just wish I was happy with Houston. Minutes later we finally arrived to the over packed frat house and just like last time the three of us hung to each others hip making sure we didn't leave each others side.

"Lets go look for Caleb !" Maddie yelled over the thundering rock music booming through the house

I couldn't help but scan the area to see if I spotted Houston anywhere to avoid him seeing me but also to see if he was even here, but he was nowhere to be seen.

"Oh wait I see him !" Emma yells and begins pulling us both over to a little living room area to see Caleb sitting on a couch with a red cup in his hand talking to people around him. The minute he saw Maddie he got up from the couch to run over to her and kiss her on the cheek, I couldn't help but smile at how cute they looked together.

"Aww ! Maddie you're turning Caleb into a softy !" Emma teases

Caleb rolls his eyes playfully at Emma "Nice to see you too" Then he eyes darted at me and waved to me and I waved back

"Um, I'm gonna grab a beer you want ?" I ask Emma

"Yes please !" She answers

I laugh at her excitement and start pushing my way to the kitchen when I finally made it I grab two cups and begin to pour a cup for both Emma and I.

"I thought that was you" I hear a familiar voice say

When I turn around to see who was talking to me I was stunned to see who was standing in front of me with a mysterious smile on his face "Ryder" I say

"It's good to see you again Valentina" He says digging his hands in his pockets

I don't remember Houston ever telling Ryder my name "You know my name ?"

"Yeah my mom told me, she really likes you by the way"

I smile and look around Ryder to see if Houston was anywhere in sight but he wasn't "That's sweet I really like your mom too"

"Too bad you couldn't stay for dinner that day I know my mom wanted to get to know you better but I know how Houston can be" Ryder explains

I looked back at Ryder when he mentioned Houstons name and what he said about him, I wanted to ask what that meant by that, but I didn't want to make it into a big deal "So what are you doing here ?"

He's obviously here for the party like everyone else here, I just didn't know what else to say to him

Ryder steps closer to me "I should be asking you the same thing babe"

I was thrown off by what he called me but made a mental note to just ignore it "Well I go to school here what's your excuse?"

Ryder let out a deep laugh "How do you know I don't go to school here"

I remember Ryder telling Houston that he was only staying for a few weeks when I first met Ryder

"Houston would have told me if you did"

"I see.. well I have friends who go here so.. where is Houston by the way ?" Ryder asked

I wish I knew "I was wondering the same thing"

Ryder narrowed his eyebrows "Hm I'm surprised he isn't with you he seems extremely over protective of you"

Ryder is right about that but then I remember the incident between Houston and I "Not really" I say taking a sip of my beer hoping to forget about last night with Houston.

"I have never seen him act like that with a girl before" Ryder says with a smirk on his face

"He's been with other girls ?" I say before thinking

I mentally slap myself for saying something like that, of course he's been with other girls before, Rebecca is a perfect example.

"Of course I mean haven't you been with other people?" Ryder asked

My stomach began to turn, how could Ryder act so causal knowing that Houston has been with other girls when he clearly knows that there is something going on between Houston and I. Well at least there was something going on. Houston and Ryder are alike in the sense that they are both unemotional people and have a lack of sensitivity they say whatever is on their mind. 

"I should go" I say and as I start walking away Ryder gently places his hand on mine

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that I'm an ass" Ryder admits

"You think ?"

Ryder runs his free hand through his brown hair "I say whatever comes to mind and so does Houston that's why we clash so much"

Go figure. 

Ryder has been talking to me for two seconds and he openly admits to how him and his brother are, that's more than what Houston has told me. I mean I figured they didn't get along because of how Houston is towards Ryder, but still he has never admitted it to me, all he says is that Ryder is a bad person.

"Do you guys get along much?" I ask already knowing the answer

Ryder sighs "I mean we use to when we were younger but the minute we left high school things changed for the both of us"

Was Ryder going to spill everything between him and Houston? "How so?"

Ryder looked up while slowly licking then bitting his bottom lip before looking back at me "Maybe I shouldn't say"

"Please tell me" I sound desperate

"Honestly there's not much to know people change all the time" Ryder is defiantly back tracking

"I know but I-"

"There's nothing to know" Ryder said in a sweet tone cutting off my sentence

I sighed "Fine"

"Don't be mad at me now"

I shook my head "I'm not its just Houston isn't open with me like I am with him and it bothers me"

Why am I telling Ryder this? I don't even tell this to Emma and Maddie "Yea my brother isn't an open book but he will open up when he's ready give him some time"

Give him time.. I think our time is up, the painful though makes me take a large gulp of my bitter beer "Houston wants nothing to do with me"

Ryder laughed "That's bullshit"

I shook my head "It's not we kinda got in some type of a fight and now he's not talking to me"

" Houston is a hot head he acts before he thinks he doesn't mean half the shit he does or says I can promise you that"

I didn't know what more to say to Ryder, Houston tells me his brother is a bad person but honestly I don't see how.