Chapter Five- With the Coolest

As Bryce stared down at the sticky note with curiosity in his eyes he gave an aggressive sigh in irritation. He couldn't help but wonder why this guy wouldn't give him his name or at least his number for crying out loud! It was a major fail on both ends of him trying to get his name and number and he just wasn't happy about it.

It was Friday afternoon now and he was laying on his bed with the sticky note in his hand gazing at it hard, the smiley face on the back had to mean something. Was he missing something? He began to study it before something caught his attention. A small symbol. Just as he went to squint at it his mother called from downstairs, breaking him out of his concentration.

"Honey Johnathan is downstairs!"

Bryce jumped out of bed realizing he was supposed to hangout with him as soon as Johnathan got home and changed. Completely slipped his mind since he had gotten caught up in the sticky note that was given to him. He quickly scrambled through his drawer to find a sweat shirt and then rushed downstairs where he was met with his mother talking to Johnathan. Both were sitting on the couch calmly laughing about something and when his mother saw him she stood to her feet instantly walking towards the door.

"Have fun at the skating park sweetie."

Bryce made a puzzled face as he walked past her, "The skating park?" He questioned, eyes looking towards his friend. "What're we gonna do there?"

There was a moment of silence between the two boys as Johnathan gave him the are-you-serious look. Bryce wasn't even sure if Johnathan actually knew how to skate and honestly he had no idea himself how the hell to skate.

"Skate Bryce. We're going to skate."

——>

They approached the skate park and Bryce couldn't help but let his eyes wander around the area. He saw people doing tricks on their skateboard and instantly he felt like a fool for coming here with no experience in the hobby this park was made for. As he studied people closely he found the same style which seemed to either be gloomy or bright and neon and then his eyes landed on someone he wasn't expecting to see here.

Amongst a group of people there stood Ryan on his cell phone. He wore a gray bunny hoodie, khakis, and a white bandanna rested around his neck. That was when the nervousness hit him and he quickly looked to his friend with an awkward smile plastered on his face, trying to immediately turn around.

"Hey uh you know what, I think I left something at my place can we head back?"

Johnathan raised a brow, "Oh? What did you leave?"

It was a question that left him speechless as he had no idea what he would say to that. His brain was screaming at him to make something up quickly and part of him wanted to blurt out why he didn't want to be there in that moment. That however, was very private to him. He sighed and just shrugged, "Never mind it doesn't matter..."

It wasn't until he had locked eyes with Ryan did he realize they had been walking towards him the entire time. This cause Bryce to look at his friend with pure confusion. Did Johnathan know Ryan? Did he beat him to him? Who was he kidding of course he did.

"Hey you made it!" Ryan's call sounded forceful as he locked hands with Johnathan, bumping their arms together. "Glad ya could."

Bryce stood there awkwardly as he waited for this moment to end due to it hurting his soul deeply. That was until Ryan flashed a toothy smile towards him and held out his hand with the exact same greeting, he took it. Ryan wrapped his hand around Bryce's back when he came in for the arm bump and whispered, "Nice to see you too man." When they pulled apart he stumbled back away from him a little bit before catching himself and yes he was a tad bit flustered by this move.

If Bryce could tell you how upset he was it'd take him all day just to let you know why and then it'd take another two days to explain how many times he's gotten his hopes up. It always happens to him with the same friend over and over again which hurt him more than anything else could or has honestly. He'd never say though, because he was just like that. He just wanted everyone else to be happy.

"So Wrecker do you know how to skate?" Jon smirked, elbowing the brunette in the arm.

Ryan rubbed the back of his neck and gave a small shrug, "I mean I hate to brag but a little..." he smiles.

"Show me then." Bryce challenged, crossing his arms.

——>

"That was amazing man where'd you learn that shit?" Johnathan laughed out as he walked closely to Ryan. While the men were caught in their own conversation Bryce was left at the end of his friend just dangling along. His heart hurt a bit and as much as he tried his mood was slightly sour due to this whole ordeal. "I'm pretty hungry man."

"Maybe we should hit the pizza place before heading home." Bryce suggests, pointing towards the pizza place ahead of them.

"Oh nice thinking man." Jon smiles, "I'm starving."

As they enter the pizza place a man walks them to their table before handing them their ordering books. They all agreed on pepperoni pizza and all agreed to put some cash in which made Bryce really happy he wasn't paying for everything for once in his life. Normally he'd cover for the guys but not tonight.

When their pizza arrived Ryan nearly drooled everywhere. "Oh baby!" He shouts, tearing a slice off "I love me some pizza!"

"I hear you on that one." Bryce agreed, biting into his. "This is sooo good."

As the group chatted amongst each other a woman walked up to their table, her eyes fixed on no one other than Ryan. Bryce raised a brow and looked at the brunette who was munching on his pizza before snapping his fingers and nudging his head at her.

"I knew it was you! Ryan how have you been?"

"Ashely! How nice to see you again man! I've been good how have you been?" Ryan stood from his spot, hugging the woman who seemed to have known him pretty well. "Ash this is Johnathan-"

"Dennis!"

Jon gave a quick wave to her as she said his name and then Ryan looked to Bryce with a sly smile and introduced him to the woman who only said a quick hello. They began to talk to her and then Bryce looked at his phone to check the time, his mother had tried to call. Can't say he blamed her it was getting pretty late now.

——>

Bryce stood at his mailbox with Ryan by his side. It was silent for a moment between them because the laughter had just died down a little. "Well I guess I should leave you too it.." Ryan smiled, backing up a little.

"Probably a good idea." Bryce agreed. "At least I can say I got to hang out with mister popular tomorrow."

Ryan stood there dumbfounded for a moment as he processed the blondes words. There was a small smile playing on his lips and he couldn't help but watch the blonde walk down the gravely driveway to his house. Butterflies blooming in his stomach.