Chapter 2

After getting home last night I was able to unpack most of my things, but a huge part of my time was spent sitting on my kitchen island thinking about Ryan.

Seeing him again brought back feelings, but only because it's been so long and I didn't exactly have a proper chance to say my goodbyes. I guess no matter how hard I fought to forget, a small part of me never really got over him. I'm sure this feeling would be gone soon enough once I found someone else to distract me.

Our breakup was chaotic, but mainly on my side because I couldn't accept the fact that I was losing someone so important in my life. We started as friends and our relationship blossomed into something more, but the day I moved away he broke up with me over the phone. Over the fucking phone. He didn't have enough balls to say it to my face because in his words, " Seeing you would only make it that much harder."

People usually warn you about this kind of stuff; I guess I wouldn't have listened anyways. I was a dumb kid for getting involved with someone I didn't want to lose.

In a day I lost my best friends, my home, and my boyfriend. I spent the first few months crying and stalking him over social media, but after realizing that wasn't a healthy way to cope, I decided it was just best to block him.

Somewhere down the line I somehow managed to block him from my mind altogether. No more thoughts of him. He wasn't even brought up in conversation anymore.

All the anger I had toward him was long gone, and I had hope that I could rekindle my friendship with him now that I was back. Leah wouldn't be too happy to hear this information though. She always hated him even before the breakup because of his cockiness and the way he talked down to her sometimes as if he was smarter than her. Yes, he was an asshole, but he was my asshole.

I climbed out of bed and went to take a quick shower. Today I was surprising Leah and Zane, so I couldn't spend any more time dwelling on this. I had to make this week perfect for her birthday, starting with breakfast. It was a start for ignoring all of her calls yesterday.

Both Zane and Leah better be lucky they have such a good friend like me

Both Zane and Leah better be lucky they have such a good friend like me. Someone that cares a little too much because a sane person wouldn't have waited in that ridiculous line for half an hour just to get their favorites.

I stepped out of the car and stretched out my limbs before grabbing the box of donuts and sandwiches in one hand and the iced coffee in the other. As I walked up the pathway to the house I used to spend most of my time in, my heart began to hammer against my chest. This was so exciting.

Different scenarios played out in my head of how this whole encounter would go. She would either be angry with me for keeping this secret from her for so long and kick my ass or she would be excited that I was here and still kick my ass for keeping it from her. Or at least try, she wasn't exactly the strongest.

I rang the doorbell before taking a step back and waiting eagerly. Yelling can be heard on the other side of the door as well as footsteps. I just imagined them both arguing over who has to answer the door like they used to always do in the past. After a few seconds of waiting a shadow appeared in front of the frosted glass before the door swung open revealing Zane.

"Good morning, Tiny!" I placed everything on the table beside the door and jumped into his arms. He held me tightly against his chest but pulled away just enough to check that who he was seeing wasn't a figment of his imagination.

"First of all don't ever call me that again and second of all, what the hell are you doing here? You didn't mention anything to me."

Leah came wandering out of the kitchen covered in what seemed to be flour, her eyes widened when she noticed me and she ran over to engulf me in an even tighter hug, squeezing the oxygen from my lungs.

"You bitch, I knew something was up when you wouldn't answer my calls, I just didn't expect this!"

I hopped down from Zane's arms and took a seat on the couch arm. "You know how I've always been hinting at moving back?" I fished my keys from my pocket and dangled them in front of her face with a wide grin, "Took me forever, but I finally followed through with what I said."

Her eyes widened. "No way! Did your mom move back too?"

"Nope, I'm all on my own now."

"Look at you Ms. Independent, I didn't expect you to come back for me. Just when I thought I was the furthest thing from your mind." She turned her head and pretended to dry the nonexistent tears from her eyes.

I chuckled and turned back around to Zane who carried the box of donuts around while munching on one. "You're so tall now, I remember you being up to my chest."

He cocked a brow, "What did you expect to happen over the years?"

"You just look so different now, my little man is all grown up and I missed it all," I teased. Zane was only two years older than me, but out of our little friend group, I was the tallest one. Now they both show me up in that area.

"Hey let's not forget that I'm older and I'm no one's 'little man' "

"Yeah whatever you'll always be my tiny."

"Not in the areas that count." He winked.

Leah gasped and slapped his arm. "Stop being disgusting, I don't wanna hear that."

I pulled off my sneakers and sat back on the couch, pulling my knees up to my chest. "Ok, so I know you probably have a ton of shit planned for us, but I still need to get settled into my place first."

"Pfft that's a good one, fun comes first, and then we can worry about all the boring things later."

Zane placed the donuts on the table and joined me on the couch. "Speaking of fun-" He began but was interrupted by a loud bang on the front door followed by the doorbell. Leah and I both turned in unison to the door.

"Oh, don't bother getting up, I'll get it." Zane jogged over to the door and opened it. I watched as he gave someone a bro hug before they stepped around him to enter the house.

"Oh, fuck," Leah's eyes darted from the door to me.

Ryan stepped inside and I watched as his face lit up when he saw Leah, but when he looked my way it dropped. Seeing him at the pizza shop was a coincidence and now that he was here I knew something was going on. Zane and Leah shared a look and then they both looked my way.

Before I could even process what was happening he walked over to me and pulled me into a tight hug. "Funny seeing you here."

"Why didn't you mention last night that you guys still hang out?"

"We didn't get around to it."

"Last night?!" Leah blurted out, "You had a mini-reunion and didn't care to mention it? We could've spent our night at Club Red, but instead, I was stuck at home with a mountain of homework because you withheld important information."

"I was waiting to tell you in person, sorry."

"So you could gossip about me, yeah?" Ryan chuckled and took a seat across from me, placing his arms on his knees. His presence alone made the butterflies in my belly flutter and I just wanted to strangle every single one of them. I shouldn't still feel this way towards him.

Zane finished off his doughnut and washed it down with an iced coffee. "I know you're probably feeling betrayed right now because we're hangin' with the enemy and all, but I promise we have an excuse for this."

"I'm waiting." I glared in his direction. I wasn't exactly upset, but I had to keep up the act if I wanted answers.

He nodded to Leah, so she can finish what he seemed to be struggling to say and when she just smirked and crossed her arms he huffed in annoyance and continued, "We went to the same high school when you left. I hated him for what he did to you but-"

"Bullshit, you loved me." Ryan interrupted.

Leah threw a pillow at him to shut him up.

"As I was saying, I hated him, but once we both joined the basketball team and were forced to hang out almost every day, I realized he was pretty cool. Sorry for not telling you sooner."

I don't know what I expected. I couldn't exactly banish them from ever talking to him again just because I was hurt.

"Why are you here anyways? I thought you were sick or something." Zane sat next to Ryan and shoved another piece of donut into his mouth.

He didn't seem sick yesterday when he had a girl's ass in his lap. Ugh, why do I care?

"Oh, I came to drop this off before heading over to Clair's." He pulled a camera from around his neck that I hadn't noticed before and tossed it to Leah. "Thanks for letting me borrow it, I replaced the film."

My eyes raked over his body once more before I realized I probably looked like a weirdo. And I was quiet. Why was I so quiet? I wasn't normally like this.

"Oh, And don't forget about the party tonight." He glanced at me, "You're welcome to come too if you can stand being around a bunch of meatheads for a long period."

I opened my mouth to respond when Leah answered for me.

"She'll be there for sure," She chimed and held my hand.

His eyes lingered on mine for what felt like forever before he stood up and walked to the front door, "I'm gonna go, but I'll catch you guys later."

"Wait, why can't you stay for a little more?" Leah pleaded with her eyes.

I furrowed my brows and pulled my hand out of hers. Is she serious right now or am I hearing things? The one person who hated him is now practically begging him to stay. This had to be an alternate universe cause this isn't the girl I knew.

"I know, I'm sorry but I'll see you later." He waved over his shoulder and left, slamming the door behind him.

I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at her. "So you gonna explain your side now or..."

She chuckled awkwardly, "Yeah, about that."