—
"Ryder!" A voice shouted, "Hey, Ryder!"
The mentioned girl turns, sighing softly before slowing down her pace so the person can catch up.
"Hi, Austin."
"Hey." He smiles, "Um- I wanted to ask you something."
"Okay?" She said, waiting for him to speak.
"It's about the party that everyone's talking about. Well- not really everyone, just mostly people in our grade. Then again, the freshman's and seniors are also talking about it—" He shakes his head, getting back on track, "Anyways, I wanted to know if you'd go with me?"
Ryder could hear the nervousness in his voice but thought it'd be best if she didn't mention it.
"The last thing i want to do is go to a Lydia Martin back to school party."
"No, yeah- of course. I get it, completely understandable." He stammers out, his happy expression falling from his face.
He held the door open for her as they walked out, Ryder thinking over her words before glancing over at him.
"I'll go for an hour." His eyes light up, "Only an hour."
"Only an hour, got it."
"And it's not a date." She squints at him.
His heartbeat speeds up at the word, "Definitely not a date."
The girl smiles softly at him, the two walk in silence to the field. Her eyes moving between people before deciding that she wanted to avoid Lydia today. She gestures to the lower bleachers, Austin getting her hint and sitting down.
The two watch as Stiles Stilinski frantically follows Scott, the buzzcut boy saying something that looked to be important.
The could fairly hear Scott brushing off his words.
"Stiles, I gotta go."
"Wait, no! Scott! You're not gonna believe what the animal was! It was a wolf." His words trail off.
Ryder frowns, Austin glancing over at her.
"I didn't there were any wolves in California."
She shakes her slightly, "There aren't."
Her eyes meet Stiles' the boy swallowing before averting his eyes. He can feel her stare on his back as he moves to sit on the benches. He can't help but fidget, hoping that she didn't catch on to what was said.
—
Watching lacrosse practice was probably the most boring thing Austin has ever done in his life. However, he had taken a small liking to the girl he met only two days ago, which resulted in him doing whatever she liked to do.
It seemed that she felt calm watching a bunch of teenage boys ram into each other for sport.
"You enjoy this kind of stuff?" He asks, startling the girl who didn't expect him to talk.
"You don't?"
Austin shrugs with pursed lips, "Not really."
"I only watch it because of Coach. It's fun to hear him degrade these idiots." She says, pointing to the man who's yelling.
"McCall! Get over here! What in God's name was that? This is a lacrosse field. What, are you trying out for the gymnastics team?"
"This school has a gymnastics team?"
"No." Ryder scoffs.
"What is he—?"
"It was a rhetorical question. He's trying to make Scott feel bad about himself before he tells him he's on the team." She explains, her attention turning back to the field.
"What the hell was that?" Coach asks, the frown on his face only making Scott more nervous, much to Ryder's amusement.
"I don't know. I - just trying to make the shot."
"Yeah, well, you made the shot. And guess what? You're startin', buddy. You made first line."
Austin nods to himself, "So is that what you do?"
The Miller girl turns to him in confusion.
"You observe people." He elaborates, "That's your thing, isn't it?"
"I guess so." She shrugs.
"Observe me." He insists, he shakes his head slightly, "I probably should've worded that differently."
Ryder chuckles, "You're smart."
"Is that it?"
She shakes her head, "You're smart. You probably know more than you let on, which will more than likely get you in trouble some day. And you seem like you'll do just about anything for the people you care about."
Austin stares at her, his eyes narrowed before he nods, "Nice."
—
"Ryder Miller."
Sighing softly she turns, "Lydia Martin."
"A little birdie told me you'd be making an appearance at my party. I can't wait." Her enthusiastic smile has Ryder cringing internally.
"Okay." The girl shrugs, the confusion painted clearly on her face. "Is that a problem?"
"Not at all." The strawberry blonde shrugs, "I just want you to know that water is going to be an option. And i'd prefer it if you didn't smoke in my house."
"Ah." The Miller nods in understanding, "I'll make sure to put my cigarette out in your finest plant."
Lydia scoffs, walking away. Allison sends the two a polite smile before following.
"What's her issue with you?"
"Seriously? You've been here for two days and haven't been told anything."
"We'll, yeah, but i'd prefer to hear it from you."
The brown eyed girl can't help but raise her brows in shock. No one had ever took the time out their day to ask her about her side of the story.
"There's really nothing to it. Her boyfriend, at the time, he practically harnessed me and she took it the wrong way. They thought it'd be best to ruin life for sixth grade me. Ever since then, i've been spending majority of school by myself. Other than the time i spent with Isaac and Erica, of course."
"Who are Isaac and Erica?"
"The other two people Lydia got a hold of." She says, "They're a lot more understanding when it comes to the whole bullying thing."
"Right." He nods, "I'd love to meet them."
She chuckles.
"A friend of yours is a friend of mine. Id love to meet me best friends other friends."
"Me and you aren't friends."
"You and I." He corrects.
Ryder side eyes him, sighing softly before standing up.
"I'm going home."
"I- wait."
The girl ignores him, continuing her walk to her car.
"Ryder! It was a joke." He yells out, "Technically it wasn't, it's just proper grammar."
He sees her shake her head, smiling to herself.
"I'll see you at the party, Austin!"