Chapter 5 Trouble
Uriel's POV
Tables took a big turn and now I was the one bombarding Ryder's phone with calls and text messages.
None of which he returned.
I mean, I told him to stay away from me so I get that he was doing just that.
But then again, when did Ryder do what people told him to do?
Especially me.
"Have you guys seen Ryder today?" I asked my friends, my eyes scanning the hallway for him.
"Why are you looking for Ryder?" Lance was the first to ask me, irritation evident in his voice.
"I... I need to talk to him about something?" I raised my eyebrow at him.
I was pretty sure that if Lance had the type of body Ryder had and the strength too, he'd have beat the shit out of him for no reason.
Or maybe there was a reason.
The reason being me, Uriel Kennedy.
Told you guys Lance was like a big brother. He pretty much still hated him for silently bullying me. He was livid when I opened up to them that everything I was doing then, it wasn't because I wanted to but because Ryder made me.
I even stopped talking to my friends at a point, that time.
It was terrible.
"I got it!" Chloe joined us, panting. "I got the information."
Kathie ears perked up, her whole attention on Chloe. She took gossiping seriously, you'd think it's her hobby. Maybe it was.
"Spill, girl." Kathie placed her hand on Chloe's shoulder.
I wasn't interested in the conversation until...
I heard the conversation.
"Apparently, it seems like the two people in that photo were making out. I don't know how true this one is but I heard Dennis has a video of it."
"Come again?" My voice rose up. My heart beat racing. Kathie placed her hand on my mouth, shushing me.
"Girl, are you trying to get us in trouble?" Kathie chuckled nervously, nodding at a group of girls that passed us.
"This is classified information. I paid for this." Chloe eyed me. Not harshly.
"I bet the guy in the picture is Ryder." Lance said, certainty in his tone.
And boy, he was so correct.
"Maybe the girl is Joyce? She looks like Joyce." Chloe reasoned out loud.
"Or Bia, Emma's minion. I heard she likes Ryder." Kathie imputed. "Or no. Emma would skin her alive if she finds out because yesterday I caught her trying to flirt with Ryder."
"It's no more Chase? That sister of yours." Lance shook his head, flipping his textbook.
"Or maybe it was me?" My voice was small but seeing how they all turned to me, including Lance who was partially attentive, I knew they heard me.
Then they burst into fits of laughter. Kathie falling onto Chloe's body and Chloe placing her hand on Lance for support.
"Good one, Uri." Lance nodded at me.
My face was straight.
"Fuck she's not laughing." Kathie pointed.
"That's her 'I'm serious' face. You're really serious?" Chloe moved closer, covering the space between us.
Whining, I threw my head back. "It's terrible. It's so so bad. If people don't get it, Dennis would definitely put it out there."
"Why were you with Ryder? Alone?" Lance frowned slightly, dropping his textbook down.
"Because Mrs Kenzy assigned him to me ...as his tutor."
"Then you guys just kissed? Is that a part of biology I missed out on because girl, I want in." Kathie joked.
"Not funny!" Chloe slapped Kathie's arm playfully. "But I want in too if it's part of biology."
"Ew guys. I didn't..." Breathing heavily, I beckoned at them to come closer. "I didn't kiss him. I had pencil dust in my eyes and he helped me blow it off."
"No one's gonna believe that, Uri." Chloe shook her head. "This is bad."
I said that.
"He has to clear the air." Lance chimed in.
"Exactly why I'm looking for him." I explained.
"Oh! Oh! Look - he's with Masonnnn." Kathie drooled, hugging my arms.
"Get off me, bitch." I joked, pushing her away lightly. "I need to talk to him."
"I'll come with you." Lance stepped forward with me. Chloe and Kathie just shrugged, turning away.
"Alone. I have to do this alone. I kinda told him to stay away from me." I whined again, pouting.
"Fighting!" Kathie and Chloe said simultaneously.
"Be careful with him, Uri." Lance told me. "I don't like that guy."
"We all know that." The girls and I said, rolling our eyes.
Besties telepathy.
After I waved at them, I made my way to where Ryder stood with his friends. My fingers trembled, my heart begging me to turn back before I make it bleed.
I couldn't.
My image was at stake here.
"Hey." Holding my strap for emotional support, I nodded curtly at them. "Can I talk to you?"
"Hey Uriel. Looking good." Mason complimented, his eyes roaming my body.
I didn't know if that was a genuine compliment because all I did was find a miserable outfit to copy my mood.
Sure it was baggy but one for oversized ladies.
Yeah, extra large.
Ryder continued to chew his gum, looking elsewhere, ignoring my presence.
Rolling my eyes, I gripped this wrist. "Sorry, I'll be borrowing him for a while." Then I pulled him away with me.
As we passed Dennis, he wiggled his eyebrow at me.
The guts.
When I had successfully dragged Ryder to the corner of the hallway that led to teachers offices, I folded my arms.
"Haven't you been seeing my calls and text messages?"
He turned his face to the side, ignoring me. But he didn't leave.
"Ryder!"
"What?" He snapped back at me, taking a threatening step forward. "Suddenly you can't keep to your words?"
My mouth opened slightly, my feet taking cautious steps backwards. "I... I just want you to do something for me."
He halted, his eyes boring into mine. His eyes were cold and sharp.
"Why would I do something for you?"
"Because it affects us. " I pointed between the both of us. "You don't need that image and I don't too."
He creased his eyebrow in confusion.
Groaning, I explained further. "Haven't you seen the picture flying everywhere? It's us."
"So?"
I blinked repeatedly at him. "So? What do you mean by 'so?'. You have to do something!"
"Why? I already have a bad record with girls so it won't be news." He smirked. "So, it only affects you."
He eyed me up and down, turning abruptly to leave but then I caught his wrist again, squeezing tight.
"Ryder -"
He shoved my hands off him, his nose flaring as he covered the space between us. My back was pressed against the wall, my chest heaving up and down as I stared into his dark eyes.
Why was he looking at me like he could kill me?
"Stay the fuck away from me, Uriel." He placed his hand on the wall, beside my head, making my breath hitch.
I held my breath when his face came down to my neck, his hot breath fanning my neck.
My head was fogged. My hands trembling.
"We're not friends, Uriel." His nose brushed my neck, sending shivers down my spine.
Shiver of fear. Not the sweet type.
There was nothing sweet going on.
"You don't want me. I'm trouble, remember?"
Too bad, I was already soaked in trouble.