"Hmm...It smells so good honey" Came my mother's voice from behind me.
It was saturday morning and I stood in the kitchen, my back to her as I poured the cinnamon waffle mix on the hot pan. I smiled, "What can I say? I got it from my mother."
She gave me one of her perfect smiles, "Well...surely not from your father. I'd be surprised if he could slice a tomato without cutting his fingers off."
With a breathless laugh, I turned in place towards her. She had a pink bathrobe on, her wet hair combed to the side and her hands on her hips,"Slept good?" I asked.
She gave me a fresh smile, "Yes, sorry about yesterday. I had to finish some delayed work from the office."
I waved my hand in the air, "Don't worry about it. I was really tired." After the short awkward conversation I had with my dad in which I was only halfway present I'd drifted off.
You never know how tired you really are until there is a bed in your near vicinity.
"I thought so," She took a few steps into the kitchen and sat on one of the stools. "Your friends seemed like good girls."
"Yep, they are." I smiled, thinking of disastrous Hannah and moody Layla.
"Did you have a good time?"
My thoughts drifted towards Ryan. His warm arms wrapped around me, his breath against my ear, the time spent inside his car, his silly jokes, the kiss on my cheek.
I'd been terrified thinking he was going to kiss me.
Stupid. I know.
A throat cleared.
I fell down from cloud nine to see my mother with a smirk and a mischievous spark in her eyes.
All the blood rushed to my cheeks.
I looked down and turned away from her, pretending to be busy with the waffle pan."It was good."
"Hmm" Was all she said.
I wasn't until I was spreading syrup on my waffle that she dropped the bomb.
"So...who is the fortunate guy?"
My heart jumped. The bottle of syrup slipped from my hands and fell to the ground.
"W--what?"
"I'm not blind honey. You've been spotting a smile since I brought the subject up and your eyes are twinkling." She stated, pointing me with her fork before cutting a piece of waffle and stuffing it into her mouth.
"I'm not spotting a smile." I denied as I picked up the bottle of syrup.
"Sure. You aren't drawing syrup hearts on your waffle either right?" She smirked.
I looked down at my plate.
Damn.
"They don't look like hearts to me." I said.
"Hmm"
I sighed, "Fine."
"You met a boy?" She asked.
I shook my head, "No. He's just Ryan my class mate."
Just Ryan? My words resonated inside my head. I ignored them.
"Ryan Evans?" My mother asked surprising me.
"Yeah. Do you know him?"
She shrugged her shoulders, "Sold them their house when they moved in six years ago. Nice family. I talk with his mother sometimes," She trailed off, her eyes filling with sadness. "He plays football right?"
"Yep." I replied, worrying my lip between my teeth. What did that look mean?
She nodded, "His mother said something about him considering a scholarship."
Yeah. He was good at it. He trained hard, you could tell just by looking at his body.
I wasn't expecting the line that came out of her mouth then, "You could invite him home sometime. I'd love to meet him."
I groaned, "Mum, we are not dating or anything."
"Who said so? I'm just saying he's welcome here."
Yeah. Sure. I didn't need to have his hot ass inside my house. He probably wouldn't come out alive.
The guy was messing with my head. He was infuriating but cute and caring at the same time. I just couldn't figure him out yet. I was attracted to him. All right. That much was obvious.
"Speaking of boys..." I said. "Did you go on any dates lately?"
It was her turn to blush.
She laughed, "I was getting to it miss bossy pants."
I clapped my hands and smiled, "Who?Who is he?"
She sent a smile my way as she fiddled with her hair, "Just a man I met while working. I helped him sell his house and he asked me out."
I'd been waiting this for years. Ever since my grandparents died I hated to see my mother all alone, absorbed by work.
"When? Is he handsome?" I asked eagerly, almost jumping on my stool.
"He's cute." She said.
I wrinkled my nose. Cute?
"We are going out today, I was waiting the right time to tell you."
"Will I get to see him?" I asked hopefully.
"I think so...If you are around by that time."
"I will." I smiled. I wouldn't lose it for anything.
Munching the last piece of waffle, I took my place to the sink and then walked towards my mother. Slipping my arms around her.
"Love you ma."
She brushed a kiss to my forehead, "Love you too honey."
"I'm going for a run." I informed her while pulling away.
"Ok. Be careful." She said as I took a bottle of water from the fridge and walked to the front door.
"I will!"
***
Breads of sweat travelled down my forehead and the back of my neck. My breathing was heavy, my calf ached, but I wasn't going to stop until I reached the park.
Just a few metres ahead.
I sighed relieved when I finally felt the grass crunch under my shoes. Unscrewing the bottle of water and drinking long gulps, I kept walking, taking deep breaths to calm my heartbeat.
I was taking a bend down the narrow path when I saw him.
My feet had begun moving towards him when my mind caught sight of his tense stance. I stopped short. He wasn't alone. A guy was standing before him, his shoulders stiff as well. My eyes travelled over his short black hair trimmed close to the scalp, the tatoo peeking under his T-shirt, the sleeveless leather jacket and the black boots. His image screamed 'danger'.
I'd seen this guy before. He was on the school's parking lot on my first day. Only he was laughing and flirting then.
He wasn't doing either now.
My gaze travelled back to Ryan's tense body. He had his workout clothes on like he'd been running before crossing paths with the other guy.
"Stay away from her. You ever contact her again and I swear I'll ruin you." Ryan's voice drifted towards me laced with fury. His fists clenched at his sides.
The other guy let out a breathless laugh that sounded more like a scoff, "You can do nothing Evans. She is her own person and she choose me."
"If you think I don't know what you are up to you are dumber than I thought. Stay out of it." Ryan spat baring his teeth.
The sight alarmed me. I'd never seen Ryan so out of control. He never let his anger show, but it looked like he was seconds from snapping this guy's neck like a twig.
They stood there at a stalemate staring at each other before the guy shrugged his shoulders indifferently and cold mask fell over his face. He took a step forward, dropping his voice, "I don't know what you are talking about. Don't threaten me or you'll learn not mess with me the hard way Evans."
And with that he turned his back to him and walked away.
I stood frozen in place, hidden behind a bush, watching as Ryan clutched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger, letting out a deep calming breath and then stared into space lost in thought. After what felt like an eternity for my bent knees but most probably was just a minute, he walked away in the opposite direction the tattooed guy had disappeared.
My mind swirled with thoughts. Who was that guy? What did he want? Who were they talking about? Why was Ryan so angry? Did it had to do something with his silence at the party on Friday?
I didn't have the right to know the answers and I knew it. I just happened to stumble upon something that I shouldn't have witnessed. It felt like I had intruded Ryan's privacy somehow and the thought of him finding out made me sick, especially after seeing him react like that. I never wanted to be on the receiving end of his fury. But that didn't mean I wouldn't try to uncover the mystery.
******
a/n: If you liked this chapter don't forget to follow vote and comment! I'd really appreciate it :)