POV: Savannah
Everything finally made sense in the world. Tony was showing all the signs, but he just didn't seem like the type... He talked about girls like any other jock would, he hung out with the football players on the weekends, true he was never in any relationships, but he sure flirted like hell with every cheerleader that came within a five mile radius of him.
Colin stood in silence, not knowing what to say next, or how to even begin apologizing.
"Tony I'm sorry I–"
"It's ok," Tony laughed, "I understand, you don't want anything to happen to her... Ryan wasn't always the best guy he could be, and I know you're just looking out for Savannah..."
Tony was such a good sport about the whole thing
"You just don't seem—"
"Good. If I did, my dad would kill me. He's an avid homophobic..."
"Tony," I began, "You didn't even tell Ryan?"
"No way," he smiled, "That's a full proof way of getting things spread around the school. Ryan may have been my friend, but he couldn't keep his mouth shut to save his own life. You should know, have you not heard the rumors about what you two have done together? Those things don't just form out of thin air..."
I blushed and avoided making eye contact with both Colin and Tony. No wonder people would say certain familiar things when I was in class with Ryan.
"I mean I even know what you call out when—"
"I GET IT "
Colin smiled at Tony as he began speaking once more.
"Anyway, my father is probably gonna dictate what I do for the majority of my life... Maybe some day when I'm old and can barely walk he'll accept me, but for now, I'll stick to seeming like I'm just hard to get... Don't beat yourself up about it Colin, it's not your fault Ryan's gaydar is more fine tuned!"
"Shocker," Colin laughed, "I should get going... I need to go pick up Callie—"
Colin was cut off by the awe sounds coming from Tony and I. He smiled and grabbed his keys from the table next to the door.
"The event ends at nine, so I should be back around ten-ish —"
"Take your time Colin! I won't wait up!"
He let out a slight laugh and turned around to walk out the door.
"Unbelievable..."
"What?"
"Number one, the fact that you let him go out of the house with those shoes on. Number two, Ryan was right, you guys are hopeless."
"What are you talking about?"
"The way he's willing to protect you. The way he judges any guy that comes in contact with you... The way he looks at you in general... He's obviously still into you!"
"We're just friends Tony... He has Callie now, and she seems amazing—"
"The only reason he went with Callie tonight, and probably the only reason he even contacted her was because of you!"
"Yeah but—"
"You're the one pushing him away... Don't get upset when Colin and Ryan get married, and you're left alone with me... Maybe we can grow old and bitter together"
I turned my attention to the TV.
"I'll always have Ryan—"
"That's what you think," Tony laughed, "Apparently girls are already flocking over him..."
I kept my concentration on the television and pretended Tony's words didn't hurt. I guess I should've known he'd move on, but I didn't know it'd be so fast...
"Excuse me for a second," I insisted, getting up from the couch and walking outside to make a phone call.
The phone only rang once or twice before picking up.
"Hey Savannah," Ryan panted, "Now isn't a good time—"
"Okay, um... When would be a good time to talk?"
I decided it'd be best not to ask what he was doing.
"Actually, I think I can talk," Ryan insisted, "What's up?"
"Are you sure? I can call back later—"
"Wait, hold on..."
There was crackling on the other end, followed by a brief silence, and an beeping sound. I figured he really couldn't talk, and was about to put my phone up when I felt my hand vibrating. I tapped the accept call button and held out my phone.
"What's up with you and FaceTime?" I joked, surveying the environment around him.
"I dunno, I guess I just like seeing your face," he smiled, "and I like to see where you are to make sure you're ok... Why are you outside in the middle of the night?"
"I needed to call you in private—"
"So private even Colin can't hear? Well hey, do I need to get out of the gym for this because we can—"
"That's not what I meant Ryan"
"Worth a shot," he claimed, shrugging his shoulders.
"Colin isn't even here right now, he's on a date—"
"Really? I figured you two would be all cozy with each other again... I'm actually shocked..."
I rolled my eyes and looked at the ground below, "Speaking of dating how's your love life going? Anyone in particular I should know about?"
"Nope"
He was quick to respond, but his eyes told the truth as they wandered around the room.
"Really? So Tony just told me a lie?"
"Tony who? Acker? I told you not to hang out with him. That kid is nothing but trouble. Is he the one you needed to get away from to have this conversation? I'm telling you Savannah, he's the spitting image of me before I got my life together, and whatever he's out for, isn't good... If he tries anything, you tell me and I'll come break off whatever he came at you with—"
"Easy Ryan! I think you have to worry anout anything happening between Tony and I... Tony said he isn't much for having a 'girlfriend'..."
Ryan took a moment to let what I told him sink in, and a big smirk appeared on his face, "So I was right? See, what'd I tell you, I'm always right!"
"Yeah, yeah," I agreed, "but seriously Ryan, we were never really dating, and I don't want you to feel like you need to hide things from me, so if you are seeing someone—"
"Fine," he sighed, "Since Tony can't keep his mouth shut, and I mean that literally now that I know he's gay, I did meet someone... She's a teacher at the school I was transferred to in Seattle, and she helped me get accustomed to the lifestyle here. That's all that happened, we talked, had dinner, and I came to the gym—"
"You had dinner? Sounds like a date to me," I insisted, pressing my lips together.
"I dont know... Part of me really likes her, but the other part of me knows I need to do what best for Ella and Grace... Not to mention the fact that you're always on my mind twenty four seven."
I blushed and looked away from the camera.
"Ryan, I just want you to be happy, and if happiness is with her, then so be it—"
"Yeah, but see, here's what you don't understand... I love you. Yes that's something all guys say to get women to like them at some point, but I really mean it with you. When I tell you that I love you, it isn't just a word, it means so much more than words can explain... I'll never be happy without you in my life, and that's just the way it's going to be. If you want me to be happy, marry me... We could run away together, live in a nice house, I could teach the girls, and we could drop off of the face of the earth..."
I looked down at my feet and thought about what Ryan suggested.
"If it were only that simple..."
Ryan sighed and sadness overcame his face as he spoke.
"That's what I thought you'd say... Worth a shot though!"
He put on a fake smile to mask the hurt, and I couldn't bare to look at him. A tear rolled down my cheek as I sat down in a rocking chair, and laid my phone in my lap to wipe my face.
"Please don't cry... I can't bare to know that you're crying and I can't be there to comfort you—"
"I'm sorry," I replied, "it's just... The thought of you with another woman....The thought of you kissing... touching... holding her... Sometimes it's too much for me to handle..."
I picked up my phone again, and held it to my face.
"There's that pretty face," he smiled, "Savannah, I wish I could tell you that I would never hold another woman's hand, or tell another woman how nice she looked, or even tell her how much better her dress would look on the floor, but I will. There's no doubt about it. There is one thing I can promise you though... This whole 'moving on' idea you have stowed away in your mind, it may work for Colin, but it's not gonna work for me. I will never get over you. I will never see another woman or love another woman in the way I love you. You are my everything, and I plan to wait for you..."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means that I love you, and you are the only woman I ever want wake up next to naked ever again... I don't care if I'm not single. I don't care if you're not single. Hell, I don't even care if either one of us is married—"
"Ryan that's terrible—"
"I know, but I love you. I dont know how else to say it... We will always be friends with benefits, and I will never break that pact..."
"You're all the way in Seattle with a girlfriend, Colin is on a date right now, and it looks like I'm gonna die alone... Wishing I was there with you..."
"You won't die alone, you'll have Tony and forty cats!"
"That isn't helping," I laughed.
"In all seriousness, I won't let that happen, don't worry..."
I stared at the phone in silence as he walked out of the gym, and out to his car.
"I need to go, can't FaceTime and drive!" He joked, "I'll just go ahead and say goodnight on behalf of Ella and Grace... Ella is probably gonna throw a fit when she finds out that I talked to you without her, but I'll have to deal with that later"
"Ok Ryan," a smiled, "Tell them I said goodnight. I can't wait until Saint Patrick's Day..."
"Same here babe, goodnight..."
He hung up the phone and I felt alone once again. I walked inside the house, and saw Tony sitting in the same place on the couch, indulging himself in some cartoons.
Maybe growing old with Tony and adopting 40 cats wouldn't be so bad after all...