Before I knew it, it was Monday morning and I was nervous, I took special effort in getting ready today because I knew I was going to have that conversation with Ryder over our future. I don't know why but I felt like if I looked the prettiest I could that he would possibly not reject me. Shallow thoughts I know, but I really wanted to look the prettiest for him. Today I would know what was stopping him from being with me and saying I was nervous was an understatement, my heart felt like it would jump out of my throat any minute. I wore a navy blue and white checkered short skirt and a white blouse that my mum approved of. As I walked into school my heart was pounding in my chest.

Amelie was not in today because her brother was coming down from Japan after a study exchange program so all I had for company was Dylan, who seemed to not be able to take his eyes off my legs as we walked everywhere together. Ryder and his friends were nowhere to be seen and I was starting to think that my kiss was so terrible that he had taken his friends and left the country.

It was the end of school and I shut the locker with a bang restless that I hadn't seen Ryder yet. I rested my head against the locker thinking about what I should do when I hear Claire behind me "Hey Anna". I turn around and look at her tight top and skirt and the cleavage that she was showing. Not what I wanted to deal with especially because seeing her reminded me that she had slept with Ryder which in my head meant that he liked her more than me. "Yea" I smile at her brightly not letting my frustration show on my face.

She smiles at me sweetly "Would you like to join the cheerleading team, we have a vacant spot, one of the girls has gained a few pounds and i really cannot have that look in the team, you know what I mean?" she makes a disgusted face and then quickly smiles at me her head cocking to one side.

I really wanted to beat her face in at how mean she was being and also because Ryder seemed to like her more than me to sleep with her but I controlled myself. "Yea I don't mind, I did a fair bit of cheerleading in my old school"

She smiles at me again and steps back taking a look at me from top to bottom slowly nodding her head in approval "Youll do, pop by the bleachers tomorrow after school, ill need to see if your any good" she turns around to walk and then as if she remembers something she turns and looks at me. "By the way, the girls and I are going to a match tonight you wanna come?'' she looks at me curiously.

I shake my head "No I am all good, I have some homework to catch up on". She purses her lips while an evil look took over her face "Oh no?, I thought you might like to see Ryder getting his ass whipped tonight, considering how he's your boyfriend Dylan's mortal enemy?" she looks at me innocently. I knew this was a test and I knew I had to pass. I look at her disinterested "No, why would I want to waste my time and see Ryder when I could be home doing my homework which trust me is more interesting than seeing Ryder," I scoff "oh, and by the way " I continue "Dylan's not my boyfriend''.

Claire looked at me curiously "Hmm, not yet, but Dylan always gets what he wants so, doesn't matter what you think, you are going to be his girlfriend soon which is one reason why I need you on the cheerleading squad, considering how you're going to be a part of our circle" she switches back to a smile " Anyway I am going to go and watch Ryder at his match you know, considering how he'll want to hook up after his match, he's always horny after " she giggles while I continue to hold onto the mask of indifference on my face.

She studies my face again convinced that I was not even remotely interested in Ryder " I like you Anna" she smiles at me brightly "I think we will get along just fine''. She flips her blonde hair with her hand and walks off.

I watch her walk away my heart breaking into a hundred pieces. She knew where he was and she was going to see him for sex. My head was spinning and my eyes filled with tears when I feel someone cover my eyes from behind. I quickly pull the hands-off and turn around to see Dylan smiling. "Hey beautiful'' he smiled widely and I didn't think twice before I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him. He was taken by surprise but he quickly hugged me back. I inhaled his scent and tried to calm myself before I broke out of the hug.

Dylan held me back by my arms and looks at me " Woah, what was that, someone really missed me. I am definitely not complaining though" I just smile back at him amazed at how nice he was "Can you drop me home?'' He smiles and puts an arm around my shoulder leading me to the exit " You dont even have to ask, let's go, babe, your chariot awaits you '' he winks at me

It was a few hours after Dylan had dropped me home and I was lying on the bed just staring at the ceiling tears falling down the sides of my cheeks. Why was I feeling like this? Why did I like this asshole? Was it because he took my first kiss? That was it, I needed to see him and get this out of my system, I am going to find him and confront him. Now that my mind was made up, I rolled over on my bed and pick up my phone, and dial Amelie's number.

"Anna.. I missed you girl what happened at school today'' she shouts out excitedly.

"Nothing much I missed you," I said in a sad tone

"Aww I missed you too, wasn't Ryder there to keep you company," she asks in a suggestive tone

I pause and exhale a breath of frustration and then continued " No.. Amelie, he didn't turn up to school, neither did his friends, I really need to speak to Ryder, but I don't know where he is, would you be able to check with Bryan, I know he's at some match tonight and I just want to talk to him about our kiss and why he took off after ''

Amelie screamed through the phone "He kissed you and he left! what an idiot, hold up ill just call Bryan and find out where he is " She hangs up the phone and I wait staring at the phone impatiently like an idiot.

After about 10 minutes the phone rings and I pick it up " Hey'' I quickly say. Amelia does an evil laugh on the phone "Am I your best friend or not, pick up a pen and write down this address, that's where he is, and get ready, I am coming to pick you up and take you there"

I smile at her tone "Thank you so much, you don't have to ..."

"Pssh" Amelie interrupts me "Thats what friends are for.. plus I need to whack Ryder on the head for what he's done to you, and we need to catch up anyway which we can do on the ride over there... although... look" she stops and then continues " I kinda had to pretend to Bryan that Ryder had told you where he was so I pretended that he invited you which Bryan was surprised at but then he said something about how if Ryder was ok to bring his girlfriend so was he, so he kinda invited me as well .. so I really hope Ryder is not going to blow up at Bryan"

I stop Amelie " Amelie I really don't want to get you into trouble especially with you and Bryan just starting something... " She interrupts me again "Stop Anna, let's go.. please I'm excited about this adventure we are about to go on, plus I miss Bryan and I really want to see him...so stay ready ill be there in ten" she quickly hangs up without waiting for my response.

I quickly put on a pair of navy blue skinny jeans and a white tank top along with black sneakers . I pull my hair up in a pony and check my make up and reapply my lipstick. I almost rushed out of the room but then I stop and put on the hoodie that Ryder had left with me the other day. It was already 8 pm and I popped my head out of the room "Mom I'm going to bed, I am on a cleanse diet so I don't need dinner" I yell out

"Good, make yourself trim and fit if you need to get into the cheerleading squad tomorrow" Mom shouts back.

I roll my eyes and shut the door and lock it, after turning off my lights so that mum would think I was sleeping I slowly open the window and look down, it was a short jump but the walls were a rocky design with crevices and cracks as part of the decor so I wedged my hands and sneakers in them and gingerly made my way down.

Ten minutes later I was in the car laughing and teasing Amelie about how she referred to herself as Bryan's girlfriend before. I was genuinely happy for her and from what she was telling me Bryan sounded amazing. We soon pull up to an abandoned-looking building in what looks like a shady part of town and I frown as I step out of the car. "What would they be doing here?" I mutter to myself while Amelie calls Bryan from her phone and I see him come around the side of the building.

"Hey, you" he smiled at Amelie fondly and kisses her and hugs her which makes me envious of their relationship. Would Ryder and I ever have this?

He reaches out and hugs me as well "So you and Ryder" he smirks 'I have to say I am not surprised, I have never seen him act this way about any girl" he smiles at me which makes me feel hopeful about Ryder's reaction to me and at the same time a little guilty that we were lying to Bryan.

Bryan steps back and takes Amelie's hand in his and looks at me and Amelie sternly "Now look, you both hold hands and follow me, no talking, no smiling no stopping ...understand " he looks intently at me and Amelie. We both shake our heads nervously.

Bryan leads us through the back of the building into what looked like an open garage with dirty walls and a door at the end. I could hear faint sounds of cheering and a lot of shouting. I was starting to think that the match that we're going to was not football or basketball like I had assumed initially There were drunk people standing outside the door that we were heading to and they were definitely not my age group, they all looked like gang members and were super creepy. I pull the hoodie over my head and hold on tightly to Amelie's hand.

When we get to the door there was a big muscled bouncer with a handlebar mustache and a long beard who looks like he was straight out of a motorcycle gang and he looked over Bryan's shoulder at me and Amelie. Bryan nodded towards Amelie and me "This one's mine and that's Ryder's missus" The bouncer's face showed genuine shock and then he broke out into a laugh and then smiled at me warmly "About time that boy got himself a missus to set him straight " he reached out and hugs me "Welcome to the fam doll"

I smile at him and he looks at me closely and whistles " Whoa he's got himself a looker, lemme know if you get in any trouble in there wouldn't want anything to happen to Ryder's missus he'll probably set this shit hole on fire" he snorts and then smiles at me kindly. Bryan nods his head at the bouncer and walks past him pushing the door open and I am momentarily stunned at the sound of screaming, shouting, and cheering. I walk in following Bryan and Amelie and we start pushing our way to make it to the front row making our way through a huge crowd, there were at least 300 - 400 people there and it was hot and smelt like smoke, alcohol, sweat, and all things gross.

I was really panicking and second-guessing my decision to come here and while we made our way to the front I peek up to see what we were going towards, all I could see was a boxing ring in the middle with two guys on it. When we get to the front Bryan stops next to Colton who looks up at me in surprise and leans in to talk with Bryan. Bryan seems to say something to Colton at which point Colton shakes his head in disapproval. Bryan looks at me but before he makes eye contact I look back at the ring and see two guys one blonde and the other black-haired fighting each other.

From the state that they were in, I could tell that the match had been going on for a while. They didn't have any gloves on and were wearing shorts. I could literally smell the blood in the air. Right now the blonde guy was facing me and they were circling each other, as they completed the circle I saw the other guy's face, and it was Ryder, bloody and battered. My mouth fell open just as Ryder looks up for a second and we make eye contact, I see the shock on his face just as the other guy took advantage of his distraction and punches him hard in the face and he falls. I cup my mouth in shock, my eyes wide with fear.

Ryder quickly jumps up and after shooting a quick glare at me, he jumps onto the other guy with a roar, it looks like he got some crazy inhuman energy and he takes him to the floor and punches him repeatedly until a shady guy who I think was a referee jumps into the ring and pulls him off him. Ryder stands up and the referee guy lifts his arm in victory while the other guy was lying motionless on the floor of the ring. The entire crowd around me erupts into screams and shouts while Ryder makes eye contact with me, he spits blood out and yanks his arm out of the referee, and starts walking in my direction. I stand motionless watching him lift the ropes of the ring and slide out of the ring, his eyes never leaving mine throughout.

"Oh fuck" I get my senses back and realize the look in his eyes meant that he was pissed and I was dead meat. I turn around to find an escape route only to see Bryan with a look of realization on his pale face as Colton stands next to him still shaking his head

"He didn't know you'll be here " I hear Bryan whisper in fear next to me and I turn back and look straight at Ryder all sweat, blood, and muscle making his way over, the look in his eye was the angriest I had seen him be. "Oh fuck" I turn and did the first thing that comes to my mind.

I run...I fucking run...