Chapter 140 New Guy

Chapter 140 New Guy
Uriel's POV

"Ryder..."

My voice was small, lost.

"You see that move right there? The last time I saw such moves were in 80's basketball games. If you could learn that technique..."

"Yeahh, I was just thinking about it in my head. Are you now reading my mind?" Ryder chuckled.

Frowning, I stood up. I was tired of calling his name anyway. It wasn't as if he was paying any attention to me.

The movie that was being streamed happened to be a basketball player relationship kinda thing. I would've enjoyed it if Mirabel wasn't overanalyzing and engaging Ryder in different conversations.

"Where are you -"

"Restroom." I said with a monotone voice, picking my bag.

Ryder creased his eyebrow in confusion.

"With your bag, sis?"

My nose flared. "Yes, Mirabel. And I'm not your sis,"

"Baby, she was just being polite," Ryder argued.

"Right. You can apologize on my behalf for my poor behavior." Flashing him a half smile, I spat.

"Babe..."

"Don't come after me. I'll be back," my eyes pricked with tears as I turned away. My chest heaved up and down, counting to when I was going to make it out of the theatre.

I bit my quivering lips, dialing Shelly's number. She picked immediately.

"Hey girl, you good?"

"Can you come pick me up?" I asked, my voice cracked.

"Where are you? I'm with Landon now, I'll -"

"Nevermind," I was about to hang up when Shelly threatened.

"I'll fucking kill you if you hang up on me, Uriel Kennedy. We just left the arcade, so can you tell me where you are?"

I held Cookie, my stuffed bunny to my chest, tear streaming down my eyes.

"The Archie Cinema," I mewled out.

"Just hang on okay? We're coming,"

Nodding, I hung up, hiding at a corner in case Ryder remembered to look for me. After a while, Kathie arrived, leading me to Landon's car.

"You good?" Shelly asked, looking at me from the front seat.

Shaking my head, I pressed cookie into my chest.

"Take us to our dorm, please," Kathie said to Landon. He didn't argue much, driving us.

"Sorry for the inconveniences," I muttered lowly, staring at Landon through the rearview.

"You're good," Landon spoke, his eyes soft.

Shelly smiled softly at me, sighing afterwards as she faced front. She probably must've been trying to crack the code in her head.

My phone began to ring in my hand. My eyes turned deadly when Ryder's name popped up. Immediately, I clicked on the flight button, shoving my phone in my bag.

That night when we returned to Shelly's dorm, I cried my heart out, telling her everything. She apologized repeatedly, laying beside me until we fell asleep.

The next morning came in with a pounding headache and red eyes that looked like a permanent stain.

"You know you can turn back," Shelly encouraged.

"It feels like I'm the only one affected. I can't continue to live like this,"

"Mm...okay. Let's go then," Shelly hooked her hand around mine, walking us into the hall. I quickly slipped on my black shades, covering my bloodshot eyes.

"Can't let these people discovering my secret," I muttered, my tone teasing.

"What secret?"

"That I'm a vampire?" I smirked. "I think I'm hungry for blood,"

Shelly threw me a sass look, "girl, if you come close to my neck... I'm stabbing you,"

We both chuckled, my chest loosening the knot that sat there for hours.

"Uriel?" I heard his voice. My breath hitched, the muscle on my shoulder stiffening.

"Should I tell him off?"

"No, I'll talk to -"

My words was cut off when I was tugged forward, forcefully, into a hard body.

"God, why did you run off like that? I was worried sick about you!" His hand tightened around me. I listened to the way his heart raced in his chest.

Shelly scoffed.

Sighing, I broke out of his grip. "I'm good,"

His eyes shuffled between Shelly and I, a glint of confusion evident in his eyes.

"Uriel, look if it was about Mirabel -"

"Mirabel? What happened to her? Is she okay?" I feigned innocence, my voice meek

His mouth hung loose, his forehead creasing. "I don't like this, baby. If something's wrong can you at least tell me? Please! I know you didn't run off like that without something bothering you,"

I swallowed hard, breathing softly. "I just... I just wanted to go home,"

"You didn't go home. Your dorm room was locked." He tried to touch me but I flinched back, instinctively. He paused, his hands mid air. "You... you're moving away from me, Uriel,"

"I don't feel so good, Ryder." I told him, staring into his eyes. Though he couldn't see mine.

"Why are you wearing shades? What's wrong with you? Uriel, please I'm fucking losing my mind here. Can you let me in? Pleaseee,"

My lips quivered, tears pricking the back of my eyes. The knot in my chest was back, squeezing tight.

"Baby? It's me, your Ryder,"

I wanted to tell him my Ryder would listen to me.

I wanted to tell him that my Ryder would consider everything I've been saying and at least put a boundary to how he related with Mirabel.

But then I also remembered that the Ryder that used to be strict was a product of pain and now he was healing.

I couldn't force him to be who he didn't want to be.

"I'll see you around, Ryder."

"Uriel, please ..."

"Connie!" The familiar female voice that had become a constant nightmare in my head, called out.

"You should go practice. Fighting!" I joked, tucking the pain underneath.

"I..."

"Come on, let's go!" Mirabel yelled.

"I'm coming!" Ryder snapped, his tone a bit hard. "I'll come back for you, Uriel. I promise."

Shelly took my hand, pulling me away. "I would never do that shit you just did, right now,"

"What? Act mature?"

"Mature? Girl, you kept driving the knife into your own flesh, smiling like an idiot. There was nothing funny," Shelly scoffed.

"I'm just trying not to impose my decisions on him. If he doesn't see anything wrong, then fine. If eventually we also drift apart... That's fine too,"

Shelly halted, turning to me.

"I have an idea!"

"Huh?" I raised my eyebrow.

"Some people don't know if something is wrong or hurtful except they're put in same position. Do you get what I'm saying?" She smirked at me.

My eyes fluttered. "Maybe a little?"

"How about you find someone you can use to make Ryder jealous!" Shelly grinned like she had just said something mind-blowing.

"You realize Ryder and I are dating right?" I scoffed.

"Well, you seem to be the only one remembering that. Come onnn... You can do it. You just have to explain to the person what you're doing," Shelly started walking again.

Bobbing my head slowly like I was considering it, I asked, "so who then would I just randomly ask to be my experiment?"

"Why are you putting it like that?" Shelly chuckled. "Well... There's this new guy, Lance."

My feet got stuck to the ground, all colors draining from my face.

"Lance?"