After another long week at school the gang had decided to hang out at Alanna's place on Saturday as a way to unwind and bond. As usual Alanna took it upon herself to cook and since they would be hanging out all day she made different things for them to snack on. She had noticed that they all loved to eat and she loved to make food so she was not going to disappoint. They had all agreed to be there by ten in the morning and it was half past nine and Alanna still needed to finish up on the smoothies she'd been working on the past half hour and take a quick shower.

Speaking of desserts, the cake Ryan had baked during the class on Monday had gotten him a B which made him very happy.They had worked hard on Saturday and he was finally able to make a very good cake. Alanna's had been excellent as usual getting her an A but it wasn't really a competition. If it had been though, Alanna would have won with no competition whatsoever.

After Alanna was done preparing everything she hopped into the shower and got clean. On coming back to her room she decided on wearing camouflage high waisted cargo pants, a white crop top and a long sleeved navy green cropped sweater over it. It was a little chilly. She styled her hair and put on some fuzzy socks. Just as she was deciding on what earrings to wear someone entered her room. She turned quickly to see who it was and was relieved to see that it was just Sophia. Alanna placed a hand over her heart as if it'd calm how fast it was racing.

"Sorry for scaring you." Sophia apologized.

"It's okay. I'm just glad it was you and not Ryan. That boy has no boundaries." Alanna commented as they exchanged a hug.

"Tell me about it. You look cute. I like the sweater." Sophia complimented.

"Thank you you look beautiful too." Alanna replied.

And it was true, Sophia looked good in skinny black jeans, a black baggy T-shirt with some band logo on it tied in a knot in the side and a faded black denim jacket and black socks. She was definitely rocking all black today.

"I didn't hear you guys come in." Alanna commented as she put on some stud earrings shaped like stars and others like a music sign.

"You must have been in the shower. I had to wrestle with Ryan so he didn't come in here." Sophia replied and Alanna groaned out loud making Sophia chuckle.

"Is everyone here?" Alanna asked.

"Yeah just waiting for you. Though I think they've already selected a movie and started on the smoothies you made and the popcorn." Sophia replied.

"Well we better go before Ryan comes searching." Alanna said and Sophia nodded before they headed out of her room.

Alanna was grateful for Sophia, they were the only girls in the group so they had bonded real quick. Sophia never judged Alanna or saw her as anything other than a really good friend and Alanna appreciated that a lot. She finally had a female friend she could trust besides her sister or her mom who didn't count.

Alanna walked in after Sophia who walked directly towards Tony and cuddled into his side. She didn't want to bend down to hug all of them since they were already seated so she just fist bumped them all and sat next to Ryan.

He wasn't too thrilled about the fist bump idea so he pulled Alanna into a side hug and didn't let go so it looked like Alanna was cuddled into his side. She knew he wouldn't let go so she just decided to be comfortable and pretend it wasn't happening.

"You look good." Ryan whispered in her ear.

"Thank you. You clean up good too."She complimented.

He did look good in blue skinny jeans rugged at the knees, a white t-shirt poking under an orange hoodie.

"So what movie did you guys pick?" Sophia asked.

"Rambo ;Last blood." Sam replied as he lay flat on a three seater all by himself with a bowl of popcorns on his chest.

Alanna felt her heart warm up inside that she had a group of really amazing friends who were this comfortable to treat her home like it was theirs too. A few weeks ago all these would have seemed like a dream to her but now it was actually happening and that made her really happy.

"You used to have a crush on Rambo as a kid." Ryan reminded Alanna.

"No I didn't." She replied defensively leaning away from him but he wouldn't allow that.

"Yes you did. You used to call him your husband and wanted him to come take you away." Ryan said and everyone in the room laughed.

Alanna was definitely starting to change her mind already about having all of them here. This was embarrassing. She grabbed a pillow and put it over her face making everyone laugh more.

"Look at her blushing. I didn't know she could do that." Liam teased.

Alanna tossed the pillow she was hiding behind at him, smacking him on the face making him yelp in pain.

"Served you right for teasing me." Alanna commented.

"I didn't start it, Ryan did." Liam said defending himself.

Alanna glared at Ryan before she elbowed his side making him let go if her to hold his side as he groaned in pain.

"Okay kids enough we all have people we used to crush on. Now can we watch the movie, I'd hate to finish all the popcorn before the movie even starts." Tony the ever reasonable one commented and everyone just grunted out their response.

They all settled down and Sophia unpaused the movie. It was quiet for a while everyone concentrated on what they were watching. Alanna drifted between watching the movie and watching her friends. A part of her still couldn't wrap her head around that she now had people who she could call good friends and host them into her home. Her parents and her sister were thrilled about that new development. Her sister kept calling to ask her about how her relationship with Ryan was progressing and her parents always asked when her friends were coming over. They were having a field day with this.

Alanna's thoughts were interrupted when Ryan groaned as if in pain next to her.

"What's wrong?" She asked him concerned.

"I'm hungry." He replied.

"How can you be hungry, you just ate a whole bowl of popcorns and two glasses of the banana smoothie." Alanna asked.

"That's not food." He replied groaning again.

Alanna knew for sure he was faking but she was prepared for this.

"Okay fine I'll go get something." Alanna replied getting up.

"Thank you doll. Speaking of smoothies I think they are coming down the other way." Ryan replied and before she could ask he quickly walked out of the living room towards the bathroom.

"Okay that was Ryan being Ryan. Anyone else hungry?" Alanna asked everyone else.

"I could eat."

"Yes."

"Food please."

"I'm hungry."

"Gosh! You make it sound like I'm starving you." Alanna commented before walking out of the living room and headed into the kitchen.

They had been watching the movie for about an hour. It wasn't lunch time yet so she brought out some roasted corn on a stick for each of them and different types of chips(fries) for then to enjoy with different kinds of dip. They were in two different trays and even though it was a little heavy she managed to balance both of them and take them to the living room.

"It isn't lunch time yet so we can snack on these before we have to eat." Alanna announced as she walked into the living room just as Ryan did.

"You should have waited for me. I could have helped you carry one of the trays." He reprimanded her taking a tray away from her and placing it on the table.

"It's okay I managed. Enjoy you guys." Alanna commented.

She went to grab a piece of corn for herself but Sophia slapped her hand away.

"What was that for?"Alanna asked.

"I have to take a picture for the gram first. This looks too good to not post." Sophia replied.

"Yeah it looks really good Alanna. I feel like I'm in a five star restaurant." Sam commented.

"It's just maize and potatoes guys. Don't make such a big deal out of it." Alanna replied downplaying the compliments.

"Are you kidding? This looks so well arranged. People would pay big bucks to eat food that looks as amazing as these." Liam replied.

"Thanks guys but I have to get to culinary school first which means studying and I hate that part." Alanna replied.

"That's why you have me." Ryan said with a smile as he grabbed two pieces of corn. Luckily for him, Sophia was already done taking pictures or he would never have heard the end of it for ruining such a beautiful arrangement.

He handed one to Alanna who took gratefully and they sat back in their original spot.

"Yes I do and thank you for being there." Alanna replied honestly.

She was honestly very grateful to Ryan. He made it easier for her to study and concentrate in class. He made learning fun when it was the furthest thing from. Homework was easier to do now because she had help and the tests they randomly did in class were doable now. She wasn't the brightest and it was still hard for her but she was trying and getting there. It was all thanks to Ryan. She owed him that. Her chances of getting to culinary school definitely looked better with Ryan helping her. She now had more hope of getting in than she ever did. And for that she would be always grateful to him for his help and never giving up on her.

"You're welcome baby. Anytime." He replied and kissed her temple.

Alanna was already used to his antics so she didn't find him kissing her a big deal but someone in the room did. When Sophia saw Ryan kiss her she cooed at them and started making kissy noises.

"Hey Tony what's wrong with your girlfriend?" Alanna asked as she enjoyed her corn.

"I think what she means in a less creepy way is that you and Ryan make a cute couple." Tony replied.

That comment made Alanna sit up out of Ryans hold. She put her finished corn down glad it was already done before she choked on it.

"What do you mean cute couple? We're not dating?" Alanna asked very shocked.

"Really I thought you were with all the touching you guys do, the names he calls you and don't get me started on how much time you two have been spending together lately." Sophia commented.

"We only spend time together because he helps me study and I help him with home science. I allow him to get all touchy with me because he knows my boundaries and telling him to stop gets me nowhere. And he's been using pet names on me for as long as I could remember so I don't really pay attention to those." Alanna defended passionately.

She didn't mean to get so defensive but they had no right to think that she was dating Ryan. Yeah, sure she liked him but that was a totally different thing from dating him.

"Sorry but it just seems to us like you guys are dating." Liam commented.

"Does everyone think that?" Alanna asked.

"Yeah even Ryan himself has saved you as wifey in his phone."Sam replied and Alanna looked at Ryan shocked.

"Dude that was private." Ryan hissed at Sam.

"Sorry I didn't know that." Sam replied holding his hands up in surrender.

"Oh my God. I can't believe this. Excuse me." Alanna said before walking out of the living room but not before hearing Ryan scold everyone else.

"Guys I asked you to play it cool. Look at what you've done now." She heard him say.

Alanna walked into the kitchen which was the only place she felt safe. She opened the fridge and stuck her face in to cool her very hot face. How could everyone think that she was dating Ryan? Was that the impression she had given them by getting closer to him? Why was them thinking that bothering her that much anyway?

"Is the thought of dating me that bad that you need to freeze yourself?" She heard Ryan ask with a chuckle but with a hint of sadness in his voice.

Alanna didn't even hear him come in too stuck in her thoughts. She closed the fridge and turned to face him. He was standing on the opposite side of the counter his hands in his pocket. His hoodie was off leaving him in his t-shirt with a vulnerable look on his face. She walked and stood opposite him with the kitchen counter separating them.

"I just asked myself the same question." Alanna replied

"And what's your answer?" Alanna asked.

Alanna didn't know how to answer that so she chose to speak what she felt because she honestly didn't know any other way answer him without coming off as rude.

"I don't know but I think that I'm just scared. I've never dated before so people assuming that I'm dating you when it's actually not true just makes it hard to process." Alanna admitted truthfully.

Ryan was quiet for a while before he decided to speak up" I understand and its okay to feel that way. Don't let them dictate the direction our relationship takes. That's up to us."

Alanna was moved by how understanding Ryan was and felt her feelings for him grow a tad bit stronger. He was definitely perfect in more ways than one so she could see herself dating him in the future.

"Thank you Ryan that makes me feel so much better. God I made a fool of myself out there." Alanna groaned remembering how she had spoken to the group.

Ryan chuckled"It's okay I'm sure they understood and I talked to them before I came in here. But if it makes you feel any better we can stay here for a while before going back in there." He suggested.

"I'd like that." Alanna replied with a smile.

"Good." Ryan replied before grabbing a bowl containing extra fries that hadn't fit on the tray and began snacking on them.

Alanna laughed at the sight.

"I'm a growing boy." Ryan defended.

"That's always your go to excuse."

"It's not an excuse if it's true."

"Yeah whatever."

They stood there for a while exchanging banter every few minutes and Alanna found herself enjoying Ryan's presence more than ever. She actually found herself appreciating the fact that he was there. Her thoughts on dating him leaning more and more to the yes side the more she got to know him and listen to him. But it was as he had said, only they could set the pace of their relationship and she would leave it that way for now.

Afterwards Ryan helped carry out the hotdogs she had made for lunch. It was awkward for a while but after everyone apologized to her and Sam cracked a few jokes it was back to a fun filled Saturday filled with movies, games and laughter and a few pictures too to remember the day courtesy of Sophia.

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I had planned on getting this book done by 30th September but I still have around ten more chapters or more to go and I don't think that will be possible anymore.I have failed in my quest 🥺🥺.

Anyway it's okay. Ill still try to get it done and I hope I'll manage it. I'm definitely grateful though for how far I've gotten and praying to God for strength.

Stay safe. As always. I love you 3000.