I got off my bed and changed into some comfortable Pyjama's. I got a reply saying they were on their way so I told them the front door was unlocked

I was wiping off my make up when my bedroom door opened. I didn't turn around from my vanity desk but I could see him in the mirror. He was wearing was wearing some grey sweat pants and a black windbreaker

"I'm sorry" I say in an almost whisper and turn in my chair to face him "I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you in the hospital, especially when the accident really wasn't your fault and you were actually trying to protect me"

He sits down on the edge of my bed and shakes his head "you don't have to apologies, she was my ex so it sort of was my fault"

"Just don't blame yourself alright" after a few seconds of silence I breath out a laugh "I'm guessing you seen my latest scandal in the cafeteria"

He nods "Are you okay?"

I shrug and nod "It's given me a wake up call so yeah, I think I am" I look into his eyes and my smile drops "you were right" he gives me a confused look "I haven't been sleeping, I can't even remember the last time I slept an hour straight, every time I fall asleep I have these stupid nightmares and flashbacks"

I hadn't realised I was crying until Ryder wiped some tears from my cheeks "Hey, hey it's alright. I'm here, I'm here ok?"

He stood up and pulled me up with him. We wrapped our arms around each other and he rested his chin on top of my head "I really am sorry for everything" I whisper into his chest

"You don't have to be Talia. You done nothing wrong" neither of us say anything for a few minutes but then Ryder speaks in a voice just above a whisper "you need sleep Talia"

"I know"

"What about to try to sleep" I look up at him and shake my head profusely "I'll stay here, I promise. I won't let anything happen to you"

I nod my head and make my way over to my bed. I slid into the white bedsheets and moved over so that I was on the inside of the bed "Can you lie here with me?" I ask Ryder. He stood up from the seat he had taken at my vanity desk and walked over to me. Without saying anything he lay down beside me, I moved so that my head was resting on his chest

One of his hands was behind his head as he looked at the ceiling while the other was caressing my back "Get some sleep Tal, you need it"

The impossible happened when he said that. It was like all I needed was Ryder to tell me everything was alright and that I should sleep for me to instantly feel better. My eyes fluttered shut and in a matter of seconds sleep took over me

I stirred awake and reached out but there was no one beside me "Ryder?" I muttered sitting up in my bed. I seen him swinging on my 'office' chair, this time without a top "what time is it?"

"Almost 3am" He informs me and stands up walking towards the window "did you know your room turns into a sauna in the middle of the night?"

"I haven't actually brought anyone in my room to tell me that" I sarcastically retort

He smirks "See, that 24 plus hours of sleep really did help you get back to normal"

"I've been asleep over a day?!" I shriek

"You needed the sleep" he shrugs

"And you stayed here the whole time?"

"I promised I would" He sat down on the edge of my bed "so how did you sleep?"

I give him a thankful smile "the best I've had in ages. Not one nightmare in sight"

"Good" he gives me one of his rare genuine smiles "right now I'd kill for some food, you up for it"

"Only if I can choose where we go"

He gives me a sceptical look "Deal. But I choose next time"

And that's how we found ourselves in a local twenty four hour Chinese takeout at 3 in the morning

"You coming to school tomorrow?" He asked me before putting some of his food in his mouth

I nod "I've missed enough days"

"You need a ride?"

I shake my head "nah, I'm going to walk"

It's like something clicks in his mind once I say that "so that's why we walked here"

"Why?"

"How many times have you gotten in a car since the accident?"

"Does that really matter?" I ask and he raises his brow "once" I mutter

"Be ready at 8"

I lift my wrist and look at it pretending that there's a watch there "Great that gives me.... 4 and a bit hours"

Ryder dropped me back home around five and I decided not to go back to sleep. Instead I just had a long, warm shower and decided it was time to go back to the normal Talia. I left my brunette locks down in their loose curls and applied a light layer of foundation. I opted on wearing a white long sleeved polo neck that accentuated my naturally tanned skin, which I tucked into some grey tracksuits that I paired with a black chunky belt

"Hey hunny, you look like you feel better" mom says

I give her a genuine smile "believe it or not I actually do"

She smiles "I'm glad" There's a beep of a horn from outside "I'll see you later"

"Bye mom" l pick up my bag from the table. A huge grin forms on my face when I walk outside to see the schools bad boy, who doesn't actually seem to be that bad, standing there leaning against his famous motorbike

He gives me a heart stopping grin "you said you didn't like getting back into cars so now you don't have to" he uncrosses his arms "not yet anyway"

Surprisingly enough I'd been on his motorbike before, it was a dare that was a few years ago. He got on and I hopped on behind him. I wrapped my arms around his waist and turned my head so that my cheek was resting on his back

When we got to school everyone's attention drifted to us and whispers started straight away

"See you in English" Ryder winks before walking to the other side of the building. I went to my locker and spent longer than needed to there and once the bell signalling class time went off I went straight there

My day dragged on pretty boringly. I had English before lunch but we ended up having a pop quiz. I was standing at my locker and putting my books into it when a pair of hands smacked around my waist. They moved south from my waist so that they we resting flat against my thighs and oh so close to my private area

"Did I forget to mention you look sexy as hell today" The all to familiar voice whispers against my neck

I laugh and try not to concentrate on where his hands are slowly moving to "Just today? I'm offended"

I turn around and he gives me a wink "did you go back to sleep after that?"

I shake my head "I had stuff to do so I just got it done"

He nods "I need to go to my locker but meet me in the cafeteria" he says and takes a step back. I nod and he turns towards where his locker is

I sit at an empty table for two near the doors of the cafeteria and a few minutes later Ryder walks in with a mischievous grin on his face and a lunch box in his hand

"Everything ok?" I ask a questioning smile on my face

He sits down opposite me the same smile on his face. He drops the lunch box in the middle of the table but doesn't look down at it. I look down at it and back up at him with an eyebrow raised "what's this?"

"I decided to drop by the bakery and get us some chocolate cake, you know balanced diet and all that" he opens the lunchbox to reveal the square of chocolate cake and two forks

"I like your thinking Smith" I grin and pick up one of the forks. We spend the rest of lunch laughing and eating