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Chapter Twenty-five

So, the afternoon was about as confusing as my Math exam. Zane seemed determined to just drag me along to every boring task possible. I now firmly believed he had a motive behind dragging me out of class, but I also knew I didn’t have a chance of getting the real reason out of him.

So, I didn’t bother.

“Yo, Allie.”

I spun around on the staircase to see Ryder running towards me. “Well hello, stranger.”

“How come your home early?”

We started to walk up the staircase together. “You really don’t want to know.” I shot him a sideways grin. “Let’s just say your brother thought my afternoon would be better spent helping him instead of, you know, learning.”

Ryder chuckled. “Sounds like Zane. What is up with you two anyway?”

Well, this got awkward quickly. “Um, nothing really.”

Both his eyebrows shot up. “Really?” He wasn’t going to drop the subject. “He seems to like you.”

I shrugged off the subject and quickened my pace. “So, um, what did you do today?” Yes, great idea, Allie, change the subject to make it even more awkward. “I heard you were going back to university.”

Ryder scoffed loudly. “The parents want me to head back; doesn’t mean I am going to.”

We stopped at my bedroom door. “At least your parents care about what you do. My mom isn’t even speaking to me.” Just mentioning it gave me a stomach of guilt.

“How much longer are you staying with us?”

“Don’t know. Mom hasn’t had enough space yet.”

Ryder’s lips twisted in an apologetic smile. “I’m sure she will come around, Allie.”

“I don’t really care if she does anymore.” I looked down at the floor. It hurt to say it, but it was the truth. This small time away from her made me see it - I didn’t need her anymore.

“You coming to the party this weekend?” Ryder asked and pulled me from my own thoughts.

“Who’s party?”

Ryder broke out in laughter. “You’re funny.” He pointed a finger at me, looking amused by my serious question. “So that’s a yes then.”

I slowly nodded my head. “Um, sure, I’ll be there.”

He winked. “Good, see you Saturday.”

Even after he left, I stood at my bedroom door a bit longer - confused.

What had I missed? I must have missed something.

What was this Saturday?

I racked my brain for an answer, but couldn’t find one.

***

“I told you it isn’t like that,” I snapped at Blake. I swear if he didn’t wipe that smug look off his face, I was going to wipe it off with the back of my hand. “Stop laughing!”

Blake shielded his face. “Come on, Allie, it’s funny.”

“No. NO IT IS NOT! What type of friend forgets a friend’s birthday like that?”