Chapter 43
1105words
"Hey" Lin opens the door, "I was just making a snack and thought I'd make you something too," she walks over to his desk dropping the plate next to him.
"Thanks," Ryder looks down at the sandwich and chips sitting next to his textbook
"You're welcome" Lin starts examining the boy's messy desk, as she snoops Lin's eyes land on a peculiar sheet of paper that's unlike the rest. The paper was almost beige colored and looks textured.
Picking it up "hey!" Ryder reacts jumping out of his seat but isn't quick enough
When Lin turns the paper over her eyes instantly grow "woah!" She reacts, "Is this you?" "Yes," Ryder snatches the drawing from her, "Shia gave it to me."
"He's so talented,"
"I know," Ryder sits back down and stares at the drawing.
Noticing how lost he looks as he stares at a sketched portrait of himself Lin says, "so you guys have been getting close"
"I guess," Ryder puts the paper down picking up his pencil
"I just mean maybe he could be good for you," Ryder turns to look up at her confused by the vague statement. "Since you guys started hanging out you haven't been partying as much, if that's because of Shia then that's a good thing."
"Where are you going with this Lin?"
Moving away Lin sits on his bed, it should be pretty obvious by now that she wants something, or rather she wants to say something but is very unsure of how to word it.
"God, can't send you to do anything" Tamsin walks in after getting impatient hiding outside Ryder's door, "Ryder do you like Shia?"
"What?" The question hits him off guard Lin tries to explain "the last couple weeks every other sentence out of your mouth has been about him, so we were wondering if—"
"Have you guys been talking about this?" He looks at Lin then at Tamsin "Yes" she admits
"No" Tamsin denies, "look it's ok if you do like him, I mean that would confirm a lot actually," Ryder shoots daggers at Tamsin after she makes that statement.
"You can tell us Ry we're only here to support"
Ryder looks at his roommates feeling defeated, what would he even get out of lying if they already knew the truth? And why deny something he's felt almost the moment he laid eyes on Shia, "is it ok if I do like him?"
"What do you mean?" Lin asks as Tamsin sits next to her on Ryder's bed and they face him at his desk.
"I like him" he finally admits causing the girls to share a look and smile, "a lot actually. But I don't know if he likes me back, or if he just wants to be my friend... I don't know anything."
"Have you tried saying something?"
Shaking his head Ryder answer Tamsin's question, "I wouldn't even know where to start, and Shia's the bold one if he felt anything, why hasn't he made the first move?"
"Because he doesn't know what you're thinking, Ryder"
"I see the way you guys are with each other when he comes over," Lin says, "He always complements the things you do and offers to help with anything that comes to you, and plus I don't know anyone who would give an amazing drawing like that to just their friend."
"What drawing?" Tamsin asks confused, picking up the paper Ryder hands it to her. She scoffs when she sees it "Jesus Ryder he gave you something like this and that still wasn't a hint?"
"It's just a drawing," he defends "No it's not," Lin retorts.
"Dude look at the fucking details in this thing, he had to study the shit out of your face to know where each freckle went, and your hair—
why does this look more like your hair than your actual hair?" Ryder shrugs, "when'd he give this to you?"
"Last week while we were hanging out... I told him it was too good to just give away, and he said nothing beats the real thing"
Lin's mouth gapes shocked and Tamsin asks "he said that to you?" Ryder nods "and you don't think he likes you? Are you stupid?"
"Yes," Ryder answers nonchalantly
"Ry take our word for it Shia is into you and if you feel the same way, it's only fair to tell each other." "Call him," Tamsin decides
"What? No" Ryder scoffs, "no fucking way"
"Call him right now or I make Lin hold you down and do it myself!"
Groaning he reaches for his phone from his pocket, staring at the screen he looks back up at the girls "and say what?! I don't fucking know what to say!"
"You'll figure it out, go on do it." Ryder Andrews needs pressure to ever get anything done, this wasn't them forcing him, his roommates know that without a push he'll just let this go one without ever actually saying or doing anything.
As the phone rings against his ear the girls quietly back out of the room giving him some privacy. "Hey" Shia answers the phone "H-hi" Ryder's voice is hoarse feeling his nerves rising, "are you busy?"
"Nope never for you, why what's up?"
"Um" Ryder shuts his eyes tight as he forces himself to say the words, "can I see you? I really need to tell you something"
"Everything ok?" Shia asks trying not to sound concerned
"Not really, I've been a real idiot these last couple weeks and I'd really like to change that." "Well we don't want you to be an idiot and if I'm the key to changing that then sure, shall I come
over or should we meet somewhere?" "You can come over,"
"Ok see you soon then?"
"Yeah" Ryder says then they hang up. "Holy shit" he reacts standing up
Walking to the door he opens it and isn't surprised when he finds his roommates just standing there, "how'd it go?" Lin asks with a grin
"He's coming over and I have to throw up," Ryder walks past them heading for the bathroom. "Why'd I listen to you guys I can't do this" he
says as they follow behind him, "Shia's gonna laugh in my face and it'll be all your faults!" "You have to calm down man, nothing happened yet," Tamsin says
"And nothing will happen because I'm not going to say anything,"
"We're not forcing you, we just want what's best for you and we think that's Shia," Lin tries to reassure him
