Chapter 39
775words
embarrassed groans from Ryder
"I said that?" "Verbatim."
Trying to sway the conversation off of him Ryder asks "and the dead woman on the couch, you found her at the party too?"
Chuckling Shia wasn't expecting the question but he answers anyway, "uh nope that's my mom, she came with the house."
As he smiles at Shia's joke something finally dawns on Ryder, "shit I should call my roommates they're probably freaking out." He takes out his phone then remembers it's dead
"Tried that," Shia says, "even tried charging it for you but I don't have an iPhone so..." the charger didn't work for Ryder's phone. "You can use mine if you know anyone's number."
About to give up and admit that he doesn't, Ryder remembers how Lin forcibly made him memorize her phone number in case something like this happens. Taking the phone Ryder starts to dial and Shia reacts "wow I didn't think you actually knew someone's number."
Shia watches Ryder step off his porch as he's on the phone, Ryder is smaller than Shia with a head of messy brown hair. His clothes are always too baggy which is a clear sign he's trying to hide behind them. Ryder Andrews didn't worry too much about looks, he had the face that he had and that should be enough. And it was, for Shia. It wasn't hard for him to find the boy cute, he doesn't really show it but Ryder has a distinct smile, a wide one accompanied by pretty teeth.
When he's done Ryder walks back "thanks," he hands Shia his phone, "someone's coming to get me" Shia just nods. "I'm Ryder by the way," the boy finally introduces himself
"I know" Shia shoves his phone in his pocket, "do you want some coffee while you wait? Might help with the hangover" Ryder agrees and they go back inside.
As he's being handed a mug after a few quiet minutes in the kitchen Ryder asks, "how come I've never seen you at any other parties before?"
Shia shrugs "I'm always there, you just never noticed me."
"Have you noticed me before?" He asks as he brings the cup to his lips
"You're kind of hard to miss," Shia answers and Ryder's stomach instantly becomes a knot, what'd he mean? Is Ryder that much of an embarrassment that the whole school knows. It's no secret he's a mess, but Ryder always thought he was the only one in on that secret, what if everyone else thought he was a mess too?
"I know about you too, you know?" Ryder starts and Shia shows interest in where the rest of that sentence is going, "you basically run Mrs. Davenport's department" he means the art department at school. "And you helped her paint that mural in the back of the school, right?"
Shia wonders how he knows that, surprised anyone knows any actual information about him. "I've seen your name at the bottom corner written in small letters."
"I didn't help her" he corrects, "I painted the entire thing actually" "You did?"
Shia nods "the only way the principal was going to let it stay up is if Davenport took credit."
"That's so dumb, your mural's amazing you should get all the credit," Ryder doesn't realize the complement exiting his mouth until he stops speaking and sees Shia's smile. No one besides his art teacher has ever called Shia's art amazing to his face before, "It's my favorite thing about school."
"I know" Ryder's expression makes Shia continue, "I've seen you looking at it a couple of times." "Doesn't mean you knew it was my favorite,"
"True, but then again how do you explain staring at something a little longer than you need to." It
didn't dawn on Ryder that Shia probably stood there staring at him staring at the mural.
As they're in the kitchen the boys hear a loud knock causing Shia to quickly throw down his mug, rushing out of the room he opens the door before the knocking wakes his mom. "Hi I'm here for-" Lin stops when she sees Ryder appear behind Shia "hey"
They all go outside "thanks for coming," Lin nods. Turning to Shia, Ryder hands him the mug "thanks for this," Shia takes the cup. Before leaving Ryder says to him "and also for not letting me pass out in my throw up"
"Anytime," Shia smiles and Ryder reciprocates before walking away with Lin.
