Elena

What is wrong with Cara? Why would she do something like this? Posting a picture of Ryan and herself tagged with a striking caption.

‘See who stopped by my house to take my sister, Elena for a drive, the almighty Ryan Blackwoods.’

And it got people talking and calling me all sorts of names, how I caused the break up between him and his girlfriend, the school's princess, Tasha.

With that anger, I rushed out of the house to meet them outside, with so much anger in me. Ryan is oblivious of what's going on as I saw him talking on the phone with someone else.

Cara was still there throwing herself at him. While she was being ignored by Ryan.

Fuming, I stomped to where she's standing close to Ryan's car.

“Cara what's the meaning of this?” I asked as I showed her the picture she sent to the school's group chat.

She smirked. “Elena calm down, it is what it is. I just want everyone to know that we're now friends with the Blackwoods. They've to give us some level of respect,” she said.

“What kind of respect are you talking about Cara? Do you know the names I'm being called right now? How can you be so heartless and irrational,” I yelled at her.

Ryan was on the phone but immediately he heard my voice he fixed his attention on the scene beside him and ended his phone conversation.

“Well, someone has decided to finally come out of her shell huh?”

I ignored him. My focus is on Cara, she's the reason I'm in this whole mess.

“Elena, stop acting as if you can fight me. Your sugar boy here is talking to you and answer him,” she laughed.

With that word, I spun around only to bump into Ryan's chest. It was so hard and strong and my legs couldn't move neither could my eyes stop roaming round his body. His two arms are filled with different tattoos. Some ugly while some are beautiful and attractive.

Time seemed to pass between us, our eyes met and neither of us could form any word. We just stood there staring at each other, the tension was strong. Until someone cleared their throat.

“Are you two in a staring competition? You’ve been staring at each other for what seems like eternity.”

Mom. Always the one to walk into weird and uncomfortable situations.

The moment I heard her voice, I flinched.

“Ermmm…H…Hi, Ryan,” I rolled my eyes.

He snorts. “I’ve been waiting out here for close to an hour,” he said as he walked past me to the driver seat. “Get in, let's go!” he commanded.

I waited for mom to say something, at least she should come to my rescue but she just stood there, smiling sheepishly.

“Elena! Get in the car!”

Before my brain could form the right comeback words to say to him, my feet had already entered his car on their own accord.

A few minutes into the drive, I finally broke the silence that had stretched between us for so long. His eyes were fixed on the road, his face blank, no smile, no facial expression, just…just cold.

I cleared my throat before speaking. “I take it that, you've seen the picture that was posted on the school's group chat.”

Silence.

No words were said. We drove to a park. And of course the kids are out to play. Everywhere was rowdy and noisy. Why did he bring me to a park? I didn't tell him I wanted to play or picnic. So why did h…just then my thoughts were interrupted.

“Get down from the car.”

Why can't he just be a gentleman for once? at least without the watchful eyes of his folks.

“Why are we here?” I asked, as I made my way down from his car.

Silence again. This time I got really angry.

And I yelled at him. “Ryan Blackwoods, what are we doing here?”

He spun around and smirked. “Wait, what…do you think yelling at me would make me talk to you?” he asked.

Oh! Gosh. I hate him so much.

After walking for some nights, we finally sat down on a wooden bench under a guava tree looking at the kids playing, which reminds me of I and Cara. We were so close when we were kids but not anymore.

“Elena, do you trust me?” he asked.

I smirked. Trust? A stranger?

“How can I trust you?” When I don't even know you,” I replied.

“I would advise you to start trusting me now, you know we're a couple now,” he says, pride showing on his face.

“Fake dating, it is. Don't forget that,” I corrected him. “And as for the school's group chat, have you seen the messages going on in the group?” I asked again.

He laughed so hard, the sound of it was doing something to my core.

“Elena, the message has been taken down, so fear not. I brought us out here for us to talk and get to know ourselves better.”

I believed him when he said that the message has been taken down because he can do anything. But I still refused to acknowledge it.

“What do you want to know…”

Just then his phone buzzed signaling a message which he interrupted with the way he jumped up abruptly from the chair the moment he read the content of the message.

“Stand up, let’s go. I have to drop you off, something came up,” he yelled, the look on his face shows he's irritated by something.

Just when I was about enjoying his presence, he just cut me off like that? No way!

“What's the problem Ryan, we just got here and I've a lot of things to say to you. Just wait for a few minutes, let's talk,” I tried to talk him out of his decision to leave.

“I say ‘Stand up, let's leave this place,’” he barked.