UNEDITED
You know when you get stung by an insect and, when the first pain of the sting is gone, there is this heartbeat that resides inside; reminding you that you were just stabbed. That is how River was feeling about being called the sister of the man she was in love with. Ana and Ana were both still watching the cars circle around the track. She already had her fix of the view, actually, she wasn't registering anything she was seeing. She was burning on the inside with how stupid she is for having feelings for Ryan. Obviously, she's not able to tell the difference between romantic, and brotherly ones. She needed to get a grip of herself and her emotions, and how else better to get rid of them, than to rub her nose in how in love he is with his fiancée. "Umm.." She swallows any hesitation."Landen told me, this is where you and Ryan met."
"Actually, yeah," Ana seemed surprised but also to get comfortable. "Right over there." She points to a spot high up in the stands that weren't too far away from where they were. "It's actually a funny story."
"Tell it to me." River hoped she didn't sound too desperate.
"Well, um...Ryan was standing over there, in the last row leaning up against the wall, and I was standing right there by the door." She points out two spots that were approximately fifteen to twenty feet away from each other. "And," she continues. "There was this couple sitting there in between us in that seat making out." She points to another spot. "I mean, they were going to vomit if their tongues were any deeper." She makes a revolting expression. "Anyway, I noticed him looking at the couple the same way I was but, I didn't think anything of it. Two weeks later, Landen won third place in the finals. And we always throw a massive party for the winners. So, midway through the evening, I was running around like a chicken without a head; trying to make sure the night continued to go smoothly when I noticed him waiting in an odd place. He wasn't partying with one of the winners; his brother. He was standing between a set of glass automatic-sliding-doors near the entrance of the building. I must have walked by him three times before he said 'Excuse me'. Our eyes connected a few times that day so I assumed that he was going to hit on me. He walked towards me and I got so nervous that I blurted out 'I'm asexual.' " She laughs subtly.
"What's that?" River had to interrupt the story.
"By definition, it's a person who has no sexual feelings, or desires but, it's different for everyone. Some people like kissing, but don't like sex, some people like sex, but not kissing; which is the situation for Ryan and me."
"Ryan is asexual?" River was astonished.
"You know, I don't think anyone has ever asked me about this story. I should have thought before I said anything." Ana regretfully bows her head.
"I won't say a word. I promise." River reassures her.
"Thank you."
"So what happened after that?"
"Well, since you know already'; and to make a long story short, he wanted to know when the party would be over." She rolls her eyes in amusement. "I felt like an idiot. Anyway, he did the same thing you just did. He asked me what asexual was, and I told him, and he opened up to me about feeling some of the same ways I did." She shrugs like that's it.
"And here you guys are now?" River asks.
"Yeah," Ana admits breezily and glances down at her engagement ring. "Who knew, you could find the perfect person. We just clicked, and we understood each other, and; there are no hurt feelings."
"I'm so happy for the two of you." River really was. All of this was still unbelievable to take in but, she was still happy that they have each other. Now knowing, that when Ryan looks at her mouth, it's with disgust; and that he sees her as a sister, maybe it would make her stronger. "This is a beautiful stadium." She changes the subject.
"It's old, we're updating it. A brand new design. That's actually what Ryan's been working on."
"Ryan is the architect?" River knew of his major in college and knew that he started his own firm straight out. She asked Zack about him constantly."Wow"
"Yeah, daddy gave him a shot, and he impressed." Ana brags. "After the tournament, she's going under overhaul." She looks around.
His creativity was one of the reasons why River fell in love with him. She remembers times she would hide out in his room to feel safe from Landen's antics. He would sketch by his desk for hours. Meanwhile, he thinks she is reading or doing homework but really she was watching him. Wait- why the hell was she reliving this crap? Her heart stings with pain. This was going to be harder than she thought. She couldn't take it anymore. "Um... I think I'm going head back down." She notifies before turning around. She takes three steps and bumps into Ryan. It was solely her fault. She was only watching her feet. "Sorry." She apologizes.
"What's wrong?" He steadies her while searching her knowingly.
"Nothing." She lies. "I've had enough heights for one day." She wouldn't let her eyes reach his, she couldn't.
He nods. "Come, i'll take you back down." He drops his hands. "I'll be right back." He glances at his fiancé.
"Bye." Anastasia waves at River.
He takes her back to the front row of the stands where Landen left his duffle bag and makes a gesture for her to sit. She was zombie-like and listened without replying. Then, unexpectedly he stoops down in front of her. "Did Anastasia say something to you?" He asks calmly in the softest tone.
"No of course not." She denies.
"I know she can come across as rude sometimes, she speaks her mind."
"Ana didn't say anything to me, Ryan." Technically she did but not what he's thinking. "I'm fine, just happy to be closer to ground."
Ryan searches her expression for a moment longer before standing up and pushing his hands in his pocket. "Okay." He walks past her and upward in the stands to return to the skybox.
The second she knew he was a good distance away tears leaked down her cheek. She couldn't hold them back anymore. She covers her face and lets it out.
Landen steps out of his car and approaches a crying River. He sits on the seat near her, reaches out, and touches her shoulder. "Hey."
"Oh." She's startled. She wipes her tears away quickly and smiles lightly.
"You okay?"
"Yeah." She nods and looks away.
"Why are you crying?"
She sniffles. "Remembering Zoey." She was so sorry she had to lie like this, especially using her sister but, she was too embarrassed to admit the truth.
"Aw." Landen wraps his arm around her shoulders. "What can I do to cheer you up?"
"Stop touching me. You're sweaty." She pushes him.
He smiles wickedly and stands up.
"What are you doing?" She braces herself on the seat.
He grabs her shoulders and, slowly, with his roguish smile plastered across the face, leans in like he was going to tell her a secret and wipes his cheek onto hers.
"Eww...Landen..." She cries out. She wiggles in his hold but he wouldn't let go.
He switches sides and wipes more sweat on her other cheek. "There." He releases her. "I'm better.
"Jerk." She began using the little sleeves she had to wipe it off.
He laughs while grabbing a towel from his bag and wiping his face. "Come out with me tonight. Dare to have some fun."
"No." She states with simple directness. "I can't believe you wiped your sweat on me."
"Here." He tosses his towel at her. "Now will you go?"
"No." She repeats.
"Well see." He challenges her with calm confidence.
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Hope your enjoying. 😊