"Don't you get it mom?! You bought food over a month ago, it ain't enough." at first I was screaming, then my voice started to break
"Fuck's sakes, Phoebe. You have a job, no? Use that money" she said in a calmer manner, that was worse than if she had been screaming at me because after all, it proves that she doesn't give two fucks about her daughters.
"Unlike you, I'm responsible. I'm saving my money for me and Sophie's college. That way we don't end up like you, a useless, drunk--"
She slapped me, lately I had been getting used to that.
"You're a failure and you're gonna die alone" She spat, I had to pretend like that didn't absolutely destroy me. "Yeah, yeah, whatever" I spoke, was it possible to care any less?
-
I was walking the halls, there were bags under my eyes, my arms were thinner and I had been avoiding Ryle. I had too much going on to think about tutoring.
Anyway, I was walking to my class and West spotted me. "Shit." I mumbled, I turned around and started to walk very fast
"Pho, come here" Ryle muttered through gritted teeth.
Just when I thought I had out-walked him, he grabbed me by the arm and pulled me into the janitor's closet.
"I'm worried, Phoebe. Please tell me what's going on" he practically begged, desperate. "Nothing" I tried to get to the door but he blocked me.
"Do you really think I'm that stupid?"
"Well, yeah" I shrugged, I went for the doorknob but he pushed my hand away and I scoffed.
"Are you at least coming tonight?" he sighed.
Shit. His game's tonight.
"Oh... right. Your game. Yeah, yeah I'll be there" I said as if I had not totally forgotten about it. "You forgot" he sighed, disappointed.
And a part of me absolutely hated that look on his face, it's important for him to see me there. The question is why.
"I told you I'll be there, it starts at six, right?"
"Mhm" he hummed, disappointedly.
"Is that all?" I asked, he moved, letting me go through. As soon as my hand was on the doorknob, he spoke up.
"And Phoebe?" he called out, I turned to him and he was awfully close to me, my hands started shaking and, as silly as it sounds, I started to breathe funny. "yeah?" I breathed.
"You can't push me away, because, as strange as it may sound, I care about you. I'm not gonna let you shut me out."
I was mesmerized, I couldn't think straight, hell I couldn't do anything but look right into his grey eyes. He smelled like him and that was awfully comforting. I felt him breathe in and out and he felt me do the same.
I couldn't speak, all I could do was bask in his presence, I couldn't even start to process what he had said, all I wanted for him to do was... I don't even know, I am so conflicted.
I could never romantically want him, he's hot and all but he's a snob. I could never fall for a snob... right?
He took a step forward and I closed my eyes, I opened my eyes at the sudden light of the hall invaded the small dark room, he had opened the door just as the bell rang.
"See you tonight?"
"Yeah" was all I could mutter out
TEXTS BETWEEN RYLE AND PHOEBE AT 4 PM (AFTER SCHOOL)
After school all I could think of was Ryle and what he had said to me;
What did it mean? And why would he wanna be friends with me after I constantly try to shut him out?
I didn't let that bother me for too long, I had to do some grocery shopping, Noah had lent me money and yesterday I babysat the twins, with that and some coupons we had food for the month.
Of course when I say we, I mean Elijah, Sophie and me. My mom was not gonna eat or use any of the things I had bought, she didn't deserve it.
-
Ryle and his team won, I don't really understand how the scoring system works but I do know that they beat their asses. This old Grandpa next to me kept talking to me about the game as if I was his best buddy, he made my whole day
Everyone left the auditorium to meet with the players outside, as soon as Ryle saw me he came over to hug me, at first I was a bit weirded out but soon relaxed into the hug. We heard a grunt that made us break out of the hug.
"You coming with to celebrate?" Oliver asked. "Sorry, got plans boys. Y'all did a wonderful job though."
"C'mon cap! You're gonna ditch us for a girl?"Avery chuckled, he thought he was hilarious but everyone stared at him in pure horror. I stared at him in disbielief.
"Say that again?" Ryle walked towards him, Avery's hands started to fumble and he, too, had that same look of pure horror.
I then realized that I knew a side of Ryle most people didn't know, most were scared of him but I knew... a glimpse of his real self.
"That's what I thought. All talk." Ryle scoffed.
"Let's go guys, this dope bar opened just around the corner"
Soon enough, it was just me, Ryle, and a bunch of NPCs. "Why did you want me to be free after the game?" I asked. We started walking towards his car
"I have something planned out"
"I'm starting to freak out, wanna elaborate?" I chuckled
"do you trust me?" Ryle opened the passenger door of his car. "Sorta"
I shrugged and got in. What did I have to loose?