Ryan: The Call

I rush home from my appointment, stopping at what my girls and I affectionately labeled Taco Hell to grab something to eat.  I get home just before 7:00 and rush through my homework.  I sit in my room, next to the phone.  Of course, I just gulped down a large Pepsi and am super nervous, so I have to pee.  Just as I’m washing my hands, I hear the phone ring.  I try to rush out of the bathroom, but my little brother is screaming, “I got it!  I got it!”

NOOOOOOO!!!!

“Hello,” his little middle school voice squeaks.  I try to run to the phone, but don’t get there in time.  “Ryan!” he screams.  “It’s for you!  It’s a booo-oooy!”

     Damit!

     I walk into the kitchen just in time to see my parents exchange a look.  I quickly grab the phone from my brother.

“Thanks a lot,” I mutter, taking the cordless phone from him and covering the mouthpiece.

"You’re welcome,” he says and walks away.  Sarcasm has never been his strong suit.

“Homework?” Dad asks, trying for innocence.

“Don’t know,” I say. “Haven’t answered yet.”

“Ryan, are you sure this is a good idea?” Dad has a look of concern in his eyes.

“Dad, I talked to Lisa about it today.  She say that I’ll be fine,” I say, trying to keep my patience.  My dad is just trying to protect me, but Carter is waiting on the line.

Mom rubs Dad’s back.  “She’s right.  Lisa called me while Ryan was on the way home.  Let her try.  She needs to get back to normal.  This is part of it.”

Dad doesn’t look happy, but he nods his head.

“Hey,” I say, bringing the phone to my ear.  I throw a smile at my parents as I rush up the stairs towards my room.

“Hey, Ryan,” Carter breathes into my ear.  

I can feel a smile grow across my lips and my toes curl in my socks.  I close my bedroom door and lay on my bed.  “Sorry about that."

“No problem,” Carter chuckles.  “I have a little brother, too.  So, how was the lesson?”

“Productive.  I worked through some difficulties I’ve been having.”

“That’s good.  So, what else is going on?”

“Nothing really.  How was the diner?”

“Oh,” Carter sounds a little embarrassed.  “We didn’t go.”

“Wait, what?  I thought Jaime said that you were going today.” I say, puzzled.

“Yeah, that was just to get you to come out,” Carter says, sheepishly.  “The guys were going to magically not be able to make it if you said yes.”

Flabbergasted, I have no idea what to say.

“I like what happened better, though,” Carter says, quietly.

“You do?”

“Yeah.  I like that you made the move when I didn’t know how.  It was kinda hot.” 

“Wow,” is all I can say.

“So, you gave me your number so that I could get to know you better.  How do we do that?” Carter says after a brief pause.

“Um, well, we could play a game I play with the girls.”

“That sounds promising,” Carter says suggestively.

“Nothing like that,” I deadpan

“Ok, ok, ok.  I’m just joking.  So what’s the game?”

“So, we each get to ask five questions and the other person has to answer truthfully.  No passing, no lying.  Just straight up truth.” 

“Mmmm.  I like it.  Let’s do it.”

“Ok,” I say, pleased that he likes my idea.  “So who goes first?”

“Ladies first."

“Well, thank you, kind sir.  Let me think.”  Taking a minute, I come up with a question.  “Ok, question 1: Why do you like me?”

“Ha!” Carter barks with laughter.  “Straight for the jugular, huh?”

“Yup,” I'm pleased that I've ruffled him for once.

“Ok, why do I like you?    Well, you are funny, sweet, witty, cute - “

“Cute!” I say, miffed.

“What’s wrong with cute?” 

“Babies are cute.  Puppies are cute.  Grandmothers are cute.  I am not cute,” I say, huffing a little.

Carter laughs for a few seconds.  “Ok, ok.  Not cute.  How about pretty?”

“I’ll accept it,” I say, mollified.

“And you’re loyal,” he finishes.

“What do you mean?”

“You remember when Patrick started shit about Lucy - “

-------

Flashback:

Lucy is the first freshman drum major at our school.  Ayo, Jess, and I are so proud of her.  She has always been self-conscious about her weight, but she worked hard this summer and lost 20 pounds.  She looks amazing in her drum major outfit at the head of the band as we wait for our turn in the parade.

Suddenly, I hear Patrick and a few upperclassmen in the band laughing their asses off.  Carter is close by, but not actually in the group.  He looks uncomfortable.

They are pointing at Lucy and laughing so hard I see some of them wiping their eyes from tears.  Then I hear Patrick say, “...you’re supposed to be able to see between her legs!  I can’t see anything but rolls!”

I see red.  Patrick has always messed with me and I dealt with it.  But nobody messes with my friends.  Before I know what I’m doing, I hand my trombone to Jax and stomp over to Patrick and his friends.

“What the fuck is your problem?” I yell in his face.

“Oh, hey, homewrecker.  What’s up?” Patrick says.

“Look, you fucking limp-dicked son of a bitch.  I don’t know what makes you think that you’re so fucking good looking that you can afford to talk about someone else, but I suggest that you shut your damn mouth!”  I am almost screaming.  People are staring at us, but I don’t care.

At first, Patrick doesn’t seem to know what to think, but then he gets pissed.  “Oh, you want some too, bitch?” he says as he steps closer to me and sneers down into my face.

“Abso-fucking-lutely,” I say.

“Back off, Patrick,” Carter says, walking up behind me.  He says it quietly, but Patrick immediately looks at him.  Giving me one last glare, he walks off.

“You cool?” Carter asks, stepping closer.

“Spectacular,” I say, spinning on my heel and walking back to Jax.

-------

Present

  

“You know, I never told Lucy about that,” I say.

“Why not?” Carter asks. 

“Why would I tell her something that would hurt her?” 

“Huh.”

“Anyway,” I say.  “Question 2: When did you start liking me?”

“Honestly, that same night that you stood up to Patrick,” Carter says.

“Dude, that was 2 years ago!  You couldn’t have said something then?”

“Wasn’t ready.”  I can almost hear the shoulder shrug in his voice.  “Plus, you were dating someone.”

I take a deep, shuddering breath when he mentions my ex, Tommy.  It’s fine, Ryan.  He doesn’t know what that casual reference does.  Just move on.  “Ok…” I say, with forced light-heartedness.  “So me flipping out on one of your friends is a turn on for you?”

Carter chuckles.  “Not exactly.  I just liked seeing you finally stand up for yourself.  Patrick’s a good friend, but he can be an ass.”  I stifle a snort. “It was amazing seeing you call him on his shit,” Carter continues.   “By the way, that was your third question.”

“I was hoping you wouldn’t catch that,” I say.  “Ok, so then what is your biggest turn-on?  Non-sexually, of course.”

“Of course,” Carter says, warmth in his tone.  “I would say, a sense of humor.  I like someone that can make me laugh.  Which you do.”

“Ok.” I do a little happy wiggle on my bed.  “Last question: What is something about you that you’ve never told anyone?”

“Oh, and I’m supposed to tell you?” Carter says, disbelievingly.

“Of course.  That’s the game,” I say, smugly. “Doesn’t have to be anything huge.  Just something that you haven’t told anyone before.” 

“Ok.  Um...I actually really like working at the diner.  Learning how to cook is actually kind of fun.  I could see it as something that I would do in the future.”

      “Really?  That’s really cool.  Maybe I can get some of your food at the diner this weekend.”

“Or I could make something just for you."

I smile to myself.  “I’d like that."

“Ok, my turn,” Carter says.