Chapter Eleven ⢠Twenty Questions
"I can't believe you got us kicked out," I grumble, spooning ice cream into my mouth.
"Me?"
"Yes, you! You started it."
". . .you may have a point there, but I honestly didn't think that would happen."
"Obviously."
It had ended up being that bitâsorry, girl Sarah who had cleared her snobby little throat at us. When we both turned around, she asked us to leave before she called the police.
Like jeez, overdramatic much?
I managed to grab my ice cream before we left though, seeing as I purposely used Ryder's own for the food fight, mine was untouched. I shoved another spoon in my mouth. It felt so good to be evil.
Anyways, here we are sitting in another Cold Stone, while Ryder orders more ice cream for himself. I told him he should probably drop me home and that I'd see him tomorrow, but he didn't seem to like that idea. At all.
So I'm basically stuck with him until he decides to let me go.
And I actually don't mind. At all.
"Hey, we should get to know each other better," he says to me suddenly.
I had just finished asking him what his favorite ice cream flavour was and he said, Cookies n' Cream. I raise an eyebrow at him. What did he think we were doing this whole time?
"Physically."
I roll my eyes. Here we go.
"No, I'm just kidding. Sort of. What I meant was, when's your birthday?"
"April 6th."
"Okay, something embarrassing you've done?"
"Ryder, I thought we were getting to know each other better. It's my turn to ask you a question."
He shakes his head, and throws me a grin that could melt the ice off of any heart. "This isn't about me, this is about you. Now answer the question."
"So, what? I don't get to ask you any questions?" He nods. "Ryder, that's no fun."
"For you," he points out.
When he sees that I'm serious and that this game isn't going to continue unless he participates, he gives in. "Okay, fine, but I get to ask you all of my questions first."
"No, you ask me ten and then I'll ask you ten. Deal?"
He looks like he's going to argue back for a minute, but instead he stares at me, mumbling something that sounds suspiciously like, "too cute."
He sighs. "Fine. Whatever you want."
I smile. "Okay, so something embarrassing that I've done? This should be easy. Um, one time I was buying clothes in this little shop and when I was cashing out, the girl at the cash register was all like, "thanks for shopping here" and I replied, "you too."
Ryder bursts out laughing, but I continue anyway. "She looked so confused, but she just smiled at me, trying to be polite, but her friend who was at the other cash register heard me and started laughing."
"Aw, I wish I was there with you, seeing your reaction in person would've been so cute," he murmurs.
It's only then, when a girl passes by and checks Ryder out, that it hits me how we probably look right now.
Ryder's hand is currently intertwined with mine and he's been gently rubbing his thumb back and forth on the skin of my wrist the whole time we've been talking.
I had noticed before of course, how could I not? But it was just so relaxing that I totally ignored the fact that we were holding hands like a couple.
He sees me looking and watches me nervously, like he's waiting to see my reaction. When I don't pull my hand away from his, he relaxes and one of those happy, breathtaking smiles of his breaks loose.
"What makes you smile?"
"Tumblr, animals, food, and lame jokes."
"What are you afraid of?"
"Clowns and needles," I mumble, embarrassed. To my surprise, he doesn't laugh or make fun of me, instead he nods and says, "Gotta agree about the needles, Angel." He fake shudders and I can't help but laugh.
"If you had to spend the night in a cold forest and could only have one of these things, which would you pick: a gun, a blanket, me, or s'mores?"
Okay, I suspected it before, but now I was absolutely sure. He planned these questions from before, there was no way he thought of that on the spot.
"What kind of question is that?" I laugh. He shrugs. "An interesting one."
"Well, it's either between you and s'mores," I stick my tongue out at him.
His smile turns wicked and I know he's about to say something sexual. "S'mores won't keep you warm, baby."
I roll my eyes and nod, "Yeah, okay, fine. I choose you. Happy?"
"Very." And he really did look like he was. "Do you believe in love at first sight?"
"Um, not really. I honestly don't think it's possible to fall in love with someone so quickly. And if you do, you're really only falling for their looks, because you obviously haven't met them as a person yet." The question took me by surprise, but I tried to answer it as honestly as I could.
"What about soulmates?" His expression was unreadable.
"Maybe," I shrug. "I mean, I wouldn't call it soulmates, but I believe that out of the seven billion people in the world, there has to be at least one person that is meant for us in some way."
His eyes light with hope and something else I can't quite place, but when he clears his throat to ask his next question, they darken back into that playful, wicked look that indicated he knew something that I didn't. "Werewolves or vampires?"
I wrinkle my nose. "Neither."
He immediately frowns. "That's not fair. You have to chose one."
Gosh, he's taking these questions really seriously. "Werewolves then. Mostly because I read books on Wattpad."
"Good choice. What do you like in a guy?"
"Hmm. I would have to say. . . a good sense of humour, intelligence, not afraid to show how he feels, and major brownie points for a guy that can cook."
He's silent for a few moments, his face full of concentration."Okay, good to know. Last questionâ"
"You've already asked me ten questions," I point out.
"What? No, I didn't!"
"Mm-hm." I was just teasing him, he really only asked nine but he was taking these questions so seriously, I had too.
"Angel," he says huskily "don't make me kiss you. I know you're lying."
"Well, we wouldn't want that now would we?" I tease. "Ask away."
"What's your idea of a good date?"
"Honestly? Just being able to have fun. I don't care for fancy restaurants. Call me childish, but I'd be more interested if we went to things like laser-tag, or a theme park."
He hums and gives me a knowing smile that I don't understand. "Your turn."
As much as I want to ask him his questions I stop to look at the time, wincing when I see that it's 10:00. "Sorry, Ryder, but we're gonna have to postpone. It's getting late, I need to go home."
"Do you really have to?"
"I'd like to." I don't actually want to go, but I know I should. My parents are probably already home waiting up for me, which makes me feel guilty because they're usually so tired after work that they go straight to sleep.
"Oh," he looks away but not before I see how pained he is. "Well, then. Anything for you."
He gets up and tries for a smile, but it falls miserably short. I immediately feel horrible, but hold my tongue.
The walk to his car and the ride to my house are pretty silent. I could tell he's still unhappy about what I said earlier, and I don't blame him.
When we finally pull up to my house, I sigh in relief to get away from the tense silence between us. He hears it and tenses even further. His hands gripping the steering tightly.
"Thank you for tonight, Ryder. I had a really good time."
I get out of the car and he nods, but as I close the door I swear I hear him mumble, "apparently not good enough."
He waits until I go inside before driving off and I sigh again, this time in sadness.
"Honey, it's late, where were you?"
I turn around to see both of my parents giving me judgmental looks. "On a date."
"For that long?"
"After the date, I hung out with a friend."
"Well aren't you popular," my dad smiles.
I smile back. "Yeah, yeah. Night guys. Sorry for keeping you up."
"It's okay, just tell us when you're gonna be home this late."
"I told Wes."
"But Wes isn't your parents now, is he?" They give me a stern look at the same time. God, it's so creepy when they do that.
"Okay fine, I'll tell you next time. Love you."
"Love you! Night."
I walk upstairs and head straight for my bathroom, deciding to take a quick shower and wash off all my makeup. After that I change into my pajamas, brush my teeth and jump in bed.
Grabbing my phone, I see a text from Amber asking me about my date. I yawn and text her that I'll tell her later, before putting down my phone and trying to get some sleep.
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