"Hey, how'd your date go?" I asked Finn. "You barely had a chance to tell me this morning since I got here so late."
"The guys already know." He turned to face me. "Yeah, it was great. She really liked the new café."
"When are you going to ask her to be your girlfriend?"
"I asked her yesterday."
"Dude, for real? That's awesome."
"Yeah. We're actually going to hang out after school. I'm going to go to her school and pick her up so we can hang."
I nodded my head.
"That reminds me. Can either you or Garrett give Rox a ride home? Rox is cool with it. She's the one who actually urged me to spend time with Grace."
"Yeah. I'll ask her if she wants me or Garrett to take her home."
"Thanks."
"Alright. Take out your notebooks. We're taking notes."
The class did as they were told and took out the materials needed.
Nothing too interesting. A few notes taken, opinions shared with the people surrounding us, and a few pages of homework assigned. Nothing new.
"Catch you later," Finn said, when the bell rang.
I nodded and walked towards my class.
A few people were already seated in their seats. I sat in my assigned seat and waited for class to start.
"Hey," Carter said as he sat in the seat in front of me and turned sideways to face me.
"Hey."
"What's up?" Garrett asked, sitting in the seat to my left.
"Hey, so Finn actually asked Grace to be his girlfriend," I mentioned.
"Yeah, he has the guts to do it, unlike some people," Garrett mumbled under his breath.
I turned to him, giving him a death glare.
He turned to look elsewhere, whistling as he did.
"What's going on with you two?" Carter said.
"Nothing. You know Garrett is always talking about things we don't understand."
He shrugged his shoulders and turned to face the front, since the bell had rung.
As our teacher instructed us to take out our notebooks for notes, I was mouthing to Garrett to keep his mouth shut.
He shrugged his shoulders and rolled his eyes.
I sighed and focused on taking notes.
"Don't forget to do the homework for tomorrow," our teacher called out when class ended.
"Catch you guys later." I waved as I walked away.
They waved as well and walked in a different direction.
I made my way to my math class and walked inside. Roxy was already in her seat. She was writing something down on her notebook. I walked over to my assigned seat, on her right beside her.
"Hey."
She looked up from the page and looked at me.
"Hey." She smiled.
"What are you writing?"
She shook her head. "I was just doodling."
I reached over to look at the page. Hearts were scattered all over. Her name was written several times in cursive writing. My name was written down in cursive too, along with the guys' names.
"When I get bored, I try and see how pretty I can write your guys' names."
"My name looks nice."
"Thanks."
"Hello, I'll be your sub for today. You'll be watching a movie. That's all. Feel free to move seats if you'd like but everyone needs to be in a seat. Feel free to talk but keep in mind that some people do want to watch the movie."
"What movie?" someone called out.
"The Hunger Games," the sub said, picking up the DVD box from the desk. "So after I take attendance, I'll put on the movie. Please remain in your seats until I finish."
He went onto calling out names. When he called Roxy's name, she raised her hand in the air. I did the same when my name was called. The sub went onto put on the movie and sit behind the desk.
"An easy day. No math for us."
"It's not so bad." I turned to face her.
"Easy for you to say. You understand it way better than I do."
"I tell you study more but you don't want to."
"Because it takes forever and it just gets me frustrated." She scrunched up her nose.
"Hey, Ryan!" I turned my attention forward.
Fiona was waving me over.
"Ryan, come sit with us." She gestured to her friend and herself.
I turned to look at Roxy. She had slumped down in her seat.
"Are you gonna go?" She turned to look at me.
"No. I'm not leaving you."
"Come on, Ryan."
I grunted. This earned a chuckle from Roxy.
"Ryan."
I stood from my seat and made my way to the front of the classroom where Fiona had gone to sit with her friend.
She smiled as I crouched down a bit and rested my hand on the desk she was sitting at.
"Are you gonna sit with us?" She smiled. "We'll make room."
"Actually, I'm just going to stay in the back with Roxy. I don't want to leave her alone."
"Ryan, she's a big girl. I'm pretty sure she can sit by herself."
I forced a smile. "Maybe so but I think I'll just sit with her. Maybe next time."
She nodded and I walked away.
I walked back to my desk. Roxy had her earphones in and she was writing on her notebook. She was listening to Parachute's song, "She (For Liz)." She was blasting the music that's the only way I was able to tell what song was playing. It was one of her favorites. I sat in my seat beside her and turned sideways to face her.
She had rested her cheek against her palm and continued to doodle.
"Roxy," I called.
She didn't turn. The music was too loud.
I reached over and pulled out one of her earphones.
"What?" She turned to me, taking the other one out and pausing the music.
"Isn't that a little too loud?"
She shrugged. "I thought you were going to sit by Fiona."
I shook my head. "I just walked over there to tell her I wasn't going to leave you alone."
She nodded. "Why don't you go sit by her? I'm pretty sure she'd appreciate that."
"You and the guys know I'm not into her."
"She's cute." She shrugged.
"She's...not for me."
"Why? Have a secret crush or something?" She chuckled. "Are you holding out on us, Ryan? Haven't told us about someone?" She smiled. "Or are you waiting for that special person to confess your love to?"
I sat up a bit, feeling uncomfortable. She was so right and she didn't even know it. She had no idea.
I cleared my throat. "Nothing like that."
"Oh, wait! There is someone. A girl, right? Yeah, yeah. You told me. I totally forgot."
Damn. I thought that might have slipped her mind.
"Who is it, anyway? Does she go to our school?"
To lie or not to lie.
I slowly nodded, not realizing what I had done.
"Show me who."
"I don't have any classes with her. I barely see her around."
She nodded.
"Hey, Finn told me one of us is gonna take you home. Me or Garrett?"
"I'll have to see."
I nodded. "Just tell me after school."
"For sure."
The bell rang and Roxy and I gathered our things. I put my backpack on both shoulders and waited for Roxy.
"Bye, Ryan," Fiona called.
I gave a small nod and wave.
Roxy chuckled beside me as we walked out of the classroom.
"If you don't like her, just tell her."
"I don't want to be mean."
"Why? She's... Never mind."
We walked outside to one of the lunch lines and stood in line.
"Today?" I asked.
"Pizza and some fruit. You?"
"A burrito and some fruit."
She nodded as we walked up the line and grabbed a tray. Roxy and I grabbed what we wanted and paid for our lunch.
We walked over to the table where the guys were and sat down in our seats. The guys were already eating. It didn't take long for Roxy and me to join them.
"So where are you and Grace going after school?" Carter turned to Finn.
"We're going to get something to eat at the sushi spot."
Roxy's face scrunched up a bit, not liking the place. It wasn't her favorite. She used to eat it often but had food poisoning one time and it scarred her ever since.
"We're probably going to the park afterwards. Just walk around the gravel trail."
I noticed a small smile spread against Roxy's lips.
####
"Roxy, want me to take you home or..."
"Yeah, please."
"Alright, let's go."
She and I said our farewells to the guys and went on our way.
We both got in my truck, and I pulled out of the school parking lot.
"My mom came home and she's making dinner," Roxy said, reading the text message.
"Your dad?"
"He's coming home tomorrow."
I nodded.
"Wanna stay for dinner?"
"I'd have to call my mom."
She nodded.
The drive to Roxy's house was filled with silence. It wasn't uncomfortable, though. It was anything but. It was actually comforting. Knowing she was right beside me was a great feeling.
My eyes looked away from the road, just for a second. It was enough time to catch her looking out the window.
Whenever she was quiet like that, I always wondered what she was thinking about. What sorts of things went through her mind? In all honesty, I really wanted to know.
Was she thinking about the same way she felt for me? I chuckled, knowing that wasn't the case. Her feelings for me were only friendly. I was one of her best friends and she didn't see me the same way I saw her.
Damn shame.
"So are you gonna stay?" she asked as I parked in front of her house.
I got down and walked around to open the door for her. She got down and we rested our backs against the passenger door. I took out my phone from my back pocket and called my mom. She granted me permission and Roxy and I walked up the driveway to her front door.
"Mom!" she called.
"In the kitchen."
"Ryan, is staying for dinner," she said as we walked into the kitchen.
"Ryan, so nice to see you."
"Same here, Mrs. Hayes."
"What are you making?" Roxy walked over to the stove, while I leaned against a counter.
"Tacos."
"Asada?"
"Yeah."
"Not the hard shells, right?"
"Soft tacos."
"Finn says the hard shell tacos aren't really tacos. He says tacos are supposed to be made with soft tortillas." She turned to me.
"How does Finn know so much?"
"When he took Spanish classes, he really fell in love with the language and discovered multiple countries that speak it. He learned a little from every country and culture."
I nodded.
"Mom, need any help?"
"Yes, please. Could you cut up the cilantro? I already washed it."
"Need any help?" I asked.
"Ryan, could you cut up the limes?"
I nodded, walking over to the sink to wash my hands.
I stood beside Roxy and started cutting the limes in half and placing them in a small glass bowl.
When everything was ready, Roxy's mom started preparing the tacos.
"Roxy, how many do you want?"
"Four, please."
"Ryan, how many?"
"Four, as well."
Roxy turned to me, giving me a look.
"He'll take six," Roxy said.
I turned to her. She leaned against the counter with her arms crossed against her chest.
"You and I both know you can eat more than four."
"So six?" Mrs. Hayes asked.
"Yes, please."
She finished preparing the tacos and the three of us sat at the table to eat. Roxy's mom sat at the end of the table while Roxy and I sat beside each other.
Roxy was right. Six were a good amount. If I had stuck with the four I had asked for, I would have been left wanting more.
When we finished eating, we cleared the table and helped clean up the mess.
"Thanks for dinner, Ms. Hayes."
"You're welcome."
"We'll be upstairs, mom."
She nodded.
We walked upstairs into Roxy's bedroom. She laid down on the left side of her bed. I walked over and sat on the right side of the bed.
Roxy turned onto her side, facing me. Eyes focusing on me, her gaze lingered.
"What?"
She shook her head, turning to look elsewhere.
"Ryan, do you ever think about—Never mind." She closed her eyes, sighing. "I really hope Finn and Grace last. They're so cute together." She smiled.
"Really seems like he's into her."
"I know. I'm so happy for him. He finally has someone. And she's not jealous of me being his best friend."
There were girls who would turn the other way when they knew Finn's best friend was a girl. Some would accept it but later would become jealous and leave Finn or he would leave them once they told him to choose. There was no choice for Finn. He would always choose his best friend over any girl he was dating.
Roxy stood from the bed and walked over to her closet. Rummaging through it, she pulled out a dress.
"I forgot I had this." She smiled, turning to face me.
It was a red dress with lace fabric over it.
"I got it a while back for something but I never wore it. I actually forgot why I bought it." She furrowed her eyebrows.
"It's nice. Red will definitely turn some heads."
"Maybe I'll finally get a boyfriend," she mumbled.
I sat up a little.
"So why didn't you have a Valentine the other day?"
She smiled. "Garrett was my Valentine."
"Roxy, you know what I mean."
She turned and put the dress back into the closet then walked over to the bed and sat beside me with her legs crisscrossed underneath her.
"I told you guys that no one asked me."
"I thought you were joking. Surely someone asked you."
She shook her head. "I think guys are a bit intimidated by the four of you." She shrugged her shoulders. "That and also because I'm probably too tall."
"Roxy, we've been over this. Someone is going to like you, especially for your height."
Her gaze switched elsewhere, breaking eye contact.
"Sometimes I feel like no one will want me. You know?" She turned to look at me. "Even tall guys want really short girls. There's nothing wrong with that. I even wish I was shorter. It's just that if everyone wants a short girl then what about me? Who will want me?"
Just tell her, Ryan. Here's your chance. Tell her and don't screw this up. Just do it.
"I don't know. Forever alone, I guess," she chuckled.
"Roxy, no. You'll find someone. And there are plenty of guys I know who want a tall girl. Like I wouldn't mind someone tall. And I definitely know plenty of guys who would date you in a heartbeat. I mean you're always being hit on."
She fell backwards onto the bed and sighed. "It's always the same thing. I get hit on when I don't want to be. They always seem to be jerks and end up ruining it. I want a nice, sweet guy who will treat me right. Someone who will treat me like their queen." She chuckled. "I really want a relationship. I've been single for a while. I think I'm ready for a relationship. I want someone to hold me in their arms," she explained. "Preferably tall. Is that too much to ask?" She sat up and faced me.
"Not at all. Ask for what you want. Hell, demand it. You deserve that and more. If anyone tells you different, tell me. They can fight me on it."
There was a twinkle in her eyes before she smiled and reached forward, wrapping her arms around me.
"You're honestly the best." The smile in her voice caused a smile to spread against my lips.