Annabeth POV 💖

I felt powerful and empowered after that kiss, I guess it was because I had finally done something I wanted to do without thinking about the consequences. I know this might be the strangest show of empowerment but I truly felt proud that I did something without thinking about all the if's and but's and what if's, or even about how my mum would react. At this point, I didn't care and I felt good. Speaking of consequences there were a few and when I went to class after I could feel all the girls glaring at me and making snide comments, some of them were whispering but some were just saying it out loud so that I could hear it.

They were ranging from "What does he see in her?" to "She's such a slut". As I get closer to class I encounter Claire who put her foot out and tried to trip me up as I walk past her but thankfully Amelie catches me before I fell. "Oops," she smiles snarkily, "I thought you would be good at balancing yourself, considering how you've been balancing both those boys". I just ignore her and drag Amelie who was yelling at her off to class. By the time lunch rolled by I could feel the attention go off me for a bit or maybe I just got used to it.

Right now Amelie, Bryan, and I were sitting in the cafeteria, having lunch. Bryan wouldn't stop laughing about Ryder's expression and Amelie was still wishing that I had punched him.

"I can't believe you did that, it was epic...did you see his face, I can't believe it still" she rests her head on Bryan's shoulder and he drops a kiss on her head.

"Yea Anna, what happened to you? I just never expected you to do that of all things" he smiles at me "So what's going to happen now, what's going on in that little head of yours?''

I just shrug as I eat my fries " Nothing, I am done chasing after him, it just felt good to give him a taste of how it feels when he goes hot and cold with me all the time" I put some more ketchup on my fries while continuing "but I'm genuinely done with pining after him..." I look at Bryan " I mean dont get me wrong, I still like him but no guy is worth putting up with considering how he can't even make up his mind about me, one minute he wants me, next minute we're friends"

Bryan nods his head in an understanding manner "Yea, but look here you do know that Ryder really likes you right" he grimaces when Amelie hits him on the head and scowls at her "Hey cmon he's still my best friend and I know him really well, he was just trying to keep you safe, but I do agree that he should have just made up his mind with you instead of all the back and forth, I really wanna know what's going through his head now, but I haven't seen him or Colton since, so I really dont know"

We get interrupted by Dylan who comes over and stands over us his hands clenched " What the fuck was that Anna, are you messing around with Ryder, is that where you've been going every day?" he looks at me disgusted " I am just grossed out by your taste, it's disgusting, pretending that you can't stand him and now your one of his hook up's. You do know that he's just using you..."

I look up still chewing on my fries "I don't really care what you think Dylan, I felt like kissing Ryder so I did, now I feel like eating fries so I am eating them, I am not with Ryder if that's what you're asking. Plus let me make it clear, you were really mean to me earlier and I should have said something back then but yea ... let me tell you now, I thought we were friends, but you obviously just want me as arm candy so, yea to make it crystal it clear, I am not going to date you or anyone for that matter, and what I do is not any of your business"

Dylan opens his mouth to interrupt me and I throw a piece of my fries in his mouth, his face morphs in shock and he spits it out to the side "Dont waste food Dylan" I glare at him "You can go tell my mum, or your mum or anybody's mum if you want. I...dont....care" I turn around to see Amelie covering up a laugh with her hand.

Dylan grabs my arm and tries to yank me up "You can't do this to me, I will destroy you, you...slut"

I see Bryan from the corner of my eye and he stands up and yanks Dylan's arm off mine " Get off her Dylan, she said no, why dont you just fuck off"

Dylan shoves Bryan and he stumbles backward into Amelie who holds him "Shut the fuck up Bryan, this is between me and her," Dylan turns around to me again "What the fuck Anna, you turned out to be such a slut, I can't believe you would degrade yourself like this, and where is he huh? He's just left you here high and dry hasn't he?"

The entire cafeteria was silent now with everyone watching me to see what I would say. There was a time in my life when I would have broken down and run away from situations like this, but right now I really didn't give two fucks.I had enough of everyone butting into my business, and telling me what I have to do and what I shouldn't do. I just sigh and lean against the table with my arms folded. "Look Dylan, I dont care where he is, I dont need you or anyone else to look out for me, I can do that myself"

Dylan seethes and grabs my arm again and yanks me to him only to get shoved off me again. I turn around to look at Bryan but I come face to face with Ryder his face morphed in anger. I won't lie my heart stopped for a second like it did every time I see him. Ryder had the same look in his eyes as he had that night when I saw him in that illegal fighting ring which was pure rage.

He reaches for Dylan and punches him straight in the face, Dylan stumbles back and winces and tries to block his next punch but he doesn't succeed. I run over and pull Ryder by his arm. "Stop it, Ryder, not in school..."

Ryder pauses, midway and he grabs Dylan by the collar and pulls him close "Dont talk to her, dont touch her, dont look at her, dont even fucking think about her..next time I'll kill you'' he growls out and pushes him away, then he turns and looks at everyone else who was frozen and yells "What the fuck are you looking at ?"Everyone quickly goes back to doing whatever they were doing before.

Dylan storms out without a backward glance and Ryder turns to face me "You ok?" he asks gruffly. I shrug my shoulders "Yea, thank you Ryder" I smile at him gratefully and then turn around and sit back down and start eating my fries again. I look up as I see Colton strolling in straight towards us, he plops himself on the chair next to me and starts eating my fries with me. Amelie and Bryan are still standing and looking with worried looks at each other and also at Ryder who was still standing behind me "What?" I ask her with my mouth full of fries. Amelie looks at me and makes a sign with her eyes for me to look back.

I turn back in my chair and look at Ryder who does not look pleased with me at all. He tilts his head and looks down at me "Thank you..." he raises his eyebrow "Is that all you wanna say, princess?" I nod my head while swatting away Colton's hand which was sneaking into my fries again " Yea, thank you for what you did back there, thanking each other for kind gestures is what friends do to each other right?"I smile sweetly at him and turn back and start chomping down on my fries again. What does he want me to do? Do a dance around him, fall on my knees, and thank him? Hell no! I am officially done with this bipolar boy, these fries are kind and consistent to me so I will spend time with them.

I squeal as I feel strong arms pick me up by the arm and before I can react Ryder slides into my chair and pulls me in his lap. He encircles both his arms around my waist and rests his chin on my neck. I am frozen in his lap still holding a fry shocked at what he's done and I blush red like a tomato. "Wha..what..are you umm doing?'' I stutter out to him. I'm aware of the collective gasp that goes through the cafeteria when he does this which makes me realize that he probably doesn't do this with girls.

He kisses my shoulder and gets comfortable with me on his lap "Nothing..just getting comfy with my girl on my lap...you better get used to this" he says in a husky tone. I turn my neck to face him and glare at him my eyes narrowed. He ignores me and starts talking to Colton about some practice that he's got in the evening. I clear my throat loudly "Ahem, excuse me, why are you in my seat, and why am I on your lap?" Ryder removes one hand from my waist still holding on tight with the other. He uses his free hand to move my hair off my shoulder and he kisses my neck causing me to squeal "I just told you, I wanted my girl on my lap, it feels nice" he smiles at me and his eyes darken as he automatically looks at my lips.

I try to stand up but he holds me tightly with his arms and he is too strong for me to escape so I huff and settle myself down on his lap with my arms crossed but not before shooting a quick glare at Amelie and Bryan who are giggling at my predicament with each other. I turn my head and continue "Who told you I'm your girl? Did you ask me? Or did you just assume?"

Ryder gives me a sad look which tugs at my heartstrings "I thought you wanted this, us..." he stops and then shoots me a boyish smile which makes me almost melt into his arms but I need to stay strong

"Look Ryder, we need to talk about this and agree, I need a verbal confirmation of what this means, and I also have some conditions..." I stop when he leans in kisses me softly. He leans back and smiles at me "I am all yours Anna, from this moment onwards that is if you will have me...I can't be without you, I can't function without you, your all I think about 24/7 and you drive me crazy. You're the most adorable, caring, sweetest, and not to mention the sexiest girl I know, and whatever your conditions are I agree to everything as long you agree to be mine..."

I bite my lip and look at him and smile warily. I really needed us to talk about this. I wanted to know what this meant to him and what we were. We needed to be aligned, on the same page so I push on "Can we ...can we talk ?" Ryder's face drops a little and he looks a little taken aback but he recovers quickly. "Alright, let's go outside" He helps me up and pulls my dress down groaning when it still shows most of my legs. He stands up and holds my hand, intertwining our fingers, my hand small and warm in his big one. He turns and smiles at Bryan and Colton "Ill see you boys in a bit, my girl wants to talk to me" Bryan snorts and Colton just stares impassively at us for a second and then pulls my tray of fries towards him. Ryder starts walking out, hand in hand with me. I'm blushing like crazy, feeling everyone's gaze on me but I still prepare myself for the speech that I need to give him.