Chapter 41
1016words
but they both try to ignore the awkward silences by staring at everyone surrounding the big fire. They all drink and dance, but there stood Ryder and Shia still with nothing to say to each other.
Maybe he just needed the courage, Ryder thinks, he promised himself not to overdo it tonight, but believing it's the only way to communicate with Shia he chugs 3 beers to start, followed by a couple of shots. Throughout all of this Shia is distracted by people trying to buy weed from him, even though he doesn't sell to them and tries to stay focus on Ryder, Ryder couldn't help but be a little peeved by the revelation. Shia Yorkton is a weed dealer, Ryder isn't sure how to even feel about that.
Disappearing without a word Ryder wonders until he finds his friends, noticing the frown on his face Jesse asks "what's wrong with you?"
Unsure how to even ask but wants badly to know Ryder just lets it out, "who's your plug?" "What?" Jesse looks at him confused, probably already as drunk as Ryder is
"When we need weed who do you get it from?" "Oh emo kid" Jesse answers, "why?"
"Why didn't you tell me you got it from him?" Jesse shrugs "why does it matter?"
Groaning Ryder rolls his eyes "forget it."
Finally able to get his drunk brain to focus on one thing, Ryder remembers he left Shia and quickly goes back to their spot looking for him.
Not finding Shia, Ryder instead sees his back leaving the bonfire "shit," he panics rushing after the boy. When he reaches he grabs Shia's arm pulling him to stop "you're leaving?"
"Yeah kinda sucks to just stand around after being ditched so..." Sighing Ryder lets go "I'm sorry I didn't mean to— it's just that..." "What?"
"It was kind of getting on my nerves that people kept asking to buy weed from you," alcohol gives
him the balls to be honest, that much he can thank the beer and vodka shots for. "But I didn't sell to anyone,"
"Ok it may have peeved me a little that you even sell weed in the first place, and I know I should be
the last person talking since I smoke so much weed, but fine I guess I'm a—"
"Hypocrite?" Shia asks clearly upset "Why do you even sell?"
"I have access to it" Shia answers, "so why not?" "Is this a money thing?"
"I'm not having this conversation with you while you're drunk, Ryder"
Sighing Ryder shuts his eyes "I'm not—" he stops and takes a breath looking at Shia again, "sorry I'm being an ass ok I'm just nervous and drinking kind of helps me loosen up a little," a whole lot more than a little. "I thought that this way I could be more interesting and you'd want to talk to me"
"Ryder you don't ever have to drink for me to find you interesting, sober Ryder is way more interesting than any guy you become when you're drunk." Ryder didn't know what to say to that because he didn't believe it, but it was still nice for Shia to say. "Here give me your keys, I'll drive you home"
Ryder frowns at the thought of going home but he hands him the keys anyway. "Come on" Shia stands next to him and without an invitation, he just takes the boy's hand.
He couldn't tell you how this truly felt, Ryder's too drunk to have a clear thought, but being pulled out of the bonfire with his hand being tightly held by Shia felt... foreign. He watches as Shia leads him to his car unlocking it, and Shia opens the car door for him then shuts it once Ryder's inside.
The drive is quiet neither knowing what to say to the other, Ryder was sure Shia was upset with him, and why shouldn't he be? Ryder fucks everything up, that's his thing. He wouldn't be surprised if Shia was already done with him.
Finally making it to Ryder's with poor direction, Shia parks and helps him out. Accompanying him all the way up to his apartment, Shia hands Ryder his keys when they get to his door.
"Thanks for not leaving me" Ryder mumbles unable to look at Shia in the eyes who just nods, "and I'm sorry for ruining tonight."
"You didn't," Even though he was too embarrassed to look at Shia, Shia couldn't help staring at the boy finding everything about Ryder's face exceptional. Reaching out Shia's fingers find their way to Ryder's neck, he holds him there for a second then moves his face so Ryder can look at him. "You didn't ruin anything ok?" Ryder slightly nods "make sure you get some sleep," Shia lets go stepping back "Good night, Shia"
"Night," Shia stands there until Ryder unlocks his door walking in.
"He's still coming home every night drunk Tamsin," Lin complains as they eat breakfast at the table the next morning
"At least he's coming home" she replies taking a bite of her toast, "and plus your whole forcing him to memorize your phone number thing worked right? Didn't he call the other day after not coming home?"
"Still it's just reckless and we can't even say anything"
"Ryder isn't a baby Lin stop treating him like one, all we can do is be there when he needs that's it, the rest is up to him."
"We're not his parents" she sighs, "I know that I'm just—" the words are cut out of Lin's mouth when their doorbell goes off "It's 7 in the morning, who the fuck is that?" Tamsin asks as the doorbell goes off again
"Make it stop!" Ryder walks out of his room groaning rubbing his pounding head
