Chapter 14

Chapter 14

*Get up, Ryan!” Lana’s voice rang out as she shook him.  

Ryan groaned in response, barely opening his eyes. His head pounded like a drum, a clear result of last night’s events. He had barely made it to bed before crashing, and now, waking up felt like torture.  

“Leave me alone,” he mumbled, pulling a pillow over his head.  

Lana rolled her eyes. “No way. You have to get up. Do you know what time it is?”  

“Too early,” Ryan muttered, refusing to move.  

Lana huffed. “**It’s already late , idiot!** We have to leave for campus today, remember you have even gotten your bags packed or something, your mum called me and I had to tell her you're staying here with me , luckily she took pity for your good deed and decided to have one of the maids pack it up

But Ryan was hardly listening to a word she said he was still feeling very groggy from sleep , 

He knew If he had gone home last night the current situation would have been worst

Ryan groaned louder this time. The events of last night started flooding back—the party, the drinks, the drinking contest with Zach, and of course, the punch. His jaw clenched slightly at the memory.  

“Ugh, I don’t want to think about it,” he muttered, still hiding under the pillow. Can I just stay in for the rest of today?,what so Important about resuming today?I still want to get some sleep, just continue helping me lie to my mom

Lana didn't like this, at that age she cared deeply for Ryan 

Lana yanked the pillow away. “Well, you have to get up and go to school , we both have to and don't you think your mom is going to find out about this , especially if you are not in school, she is a smart woman and will realize I wasn't sick but helping you cover up You need to start acting responsibly, Ryan. You’re not a kid anymore.”  

“And whose fault is that?” Ryan fumed.” I was on my own getting my bags packed when you thought it was a good idea that I go to that dumb party” . “I could have stayed in like I wanted to,not only was it your idea for me to come, but also the lie I told my mom was cooked up by you”.

   “Ok I agree and I feel guilty about it , I didn't know it was going to take such a turn and I'm sorry” Lana said to him

Ryan sat up sluggishly, rubbing his temples. Well don't worry about me I'm good “Tell that to Zach can't wait to see his swollen face ,”  

Lana rolled her eyes again. “You punched him. Pretty sure that message was received loud and clear.” and he's not going to challenge you for a while 

Ryan smirked slightly. “He had it coming.”and looking back at it I kind of enjoyed it if I'm being honest

She sighed, crossing her arms. “I know you did but still you have to get up and freshen up … I hate seeing you like this.”  

Ryan looked at her then, his smirk fading. **Lana was the only person who genuinely cared about him.** She had been there for him when his parents barely noticed his existence, and she was the only one who could knock some sense into him.  

He exhaled heavily. “Alright, alright. I’ll get up. I kind of have a banging headache though plus I'm starving.can you make us some pancakes”  

Lana smiled triumphantly. “what am I your mother all of a sudden? But it's all Good. Now take a shower, you stink.”  

Ryan threw a pillow at her, but she dodged it with a laugh.  

  He stood up and asked her to excuse him , giving himself some privacy,.she hurried downstairs to go make them pancakes ,   

Ryan stretched his arms and let out a deep sigh before standing up from the bed. His body still felt a little heavy, but he was determined to shake off any lingering grogginess. He glanced at Lana, who was watching him with a raised eyebrow.

“What?” he asked, rubbing his eyes.

“Nothing,” she smirked. “Just wondering if you were ever going to move.”

Rolling his eyes, Ryan stood up and ran a hand through his messy hair. “I need a shower.”

“Well, duh,” Lana teased. “You smell like regret and bad decisions.”

Ryan chuckled dryly, flipping her off playfully as he grabbed some clothes from his bag. Lana just laughed and stood up, stretching.

“Anyway, I’ll go make us something to eat while you make yourself look decent,” she announced, heading for the door.

Ryan nodded. “Pancakes.”

Lana turned around and smirked. “I know.” And with that, she hurried downstairs, leaving Ryan alone.

Now that he had some privacy, he took a moment to breathe, running a hand down his face. What a night.

Shaking off the thoughts, he stripped and stepped into the bathroom. The warm water hit his skin, washing away the exhaustion and dull headache that still lingered. He wasn’t really hungover—he had been careful last night, unlike Zach—but his body still needed a reset.

As he lathered the soap onto his skin, his mind wandered. Today was the big day. He was officially moving into his new school. A fresh start. New people. New experiences.

Would it be exciting? Probably. Would it be exhausting? Definitely.

He finished showering and grabbed a towel, drying himself off before brushing his teeth. He examined himself in the mirror, noticing how the steam had fogged up the glass. With a smirk, he wiped it away and ran a hand through his damp hair.

A few minutes later, he walked out of the bathroom in a bathrobe, feeling refreshed. He quickly applied some lotion, rubbing it onto his skin as he made his way to the corner of the room where his bags were neatly stacked—just as Lana had said.

Ryan unzipped one of the bags and pulled out the best outfit he could find: a clean, well-fitted T-shirt and a pair of stylish jeans. He slid them on, checking himself out in the mirror briefly before throwing on his sneakers. He grabbed his bags, dragging them toward the door.

As he walked downstairs, a delicious aroma filled the air, making his stomach growl. He inhaled deeply. What smells so good?

“What smells nice?” he called out as he entered the kitchen.

Lana, standing by the stove, turned to him with a satisfied grin. “Look who’s all freshened up and looking like a human again.”

Ryan smirked. “What can I say? I clean up nice.”

Lana rolled her eyes, flipping another pancake onto a plate. “We’re running late, though. Grab your pancakes—we can eat them in the car.”

Ryan frowned. “What? No sitting-down breakfast?”

Lana gave him a pointed look. “Do you want to be late?”

He sighed dramatically but grabbed a plate anyway. “Fine, fine. But I swear, one day we’ll actually sit down and eat like civilized people.”

Lana chuckled. “Doubt it.”

Ryan took a bite of his pancake and groaned. “Damn, Lana. You really could’ve been a chef.”

Lana smirked. “I know.”

As they gathered their things and headed for the car, Ryan couldn’t help but feel like today was the beginning of something new. Something big.

And for the first time in a while, he was actually looking forward to it. 

They headed out and Ryan grabbed his keys 

I'm the one driving,I think you have had enough driving for the past 24 hrs lady, 

I wasn't even planning on offering to drive I just want to sit back and enjoy the trip to school Lana responded, get the engines started while I go open up the gates 

   She did and was back in the car sitting beside him shall we ?,

 ..yes of course he nodde

d and strapped up his seat belt, it was going to be a sweet ride.