I didn't answer or reply to any of Ryan's calls or texts. I decided to pay him back for what he did I didn't answer or reply to any of Ryan's calls or texts. I decided to pay him back for what he did by playing his own game but with my way. While he kept his phone off, I kept mine on and straight out ignored his calls.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZN3Q7RqPIi
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It's Saturday, so naturally our usual coffee shop is hosting a karaoke night tonight. We'd often go there and conquer the place like it's ours. The guys suggested doing so tonight, and I couldn't agree more. It was a good distraction to lighten my mood a little. I invited Denise, who invited Charlotte and Veronica. I was a little surprised when Denise told me she's friends with the twins. Apparently, they all went to gymnastics classes together since the beginning of high school. They're really "dope" people, she told me. I didn't mind extra company anyway, and neither did the guys. They were actually pretty cool about it when I told them about the girls coming, especially Cody.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡue0ITtn1oX
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"It's good to have some femininity among the group for once," Cody said.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRDDg4fdOM
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"Say that again and slit your throat," I reply with a sarcastic, sweet smile.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbI3Aw2x7k0
972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN49PAuU3PC
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We went and greeted the workers like they're old friends. The whole group was there, even Amber (yay!), but I didn't see Charlotte around. I asked her sister, who told me that Saturdays are anime marathon nights, in which charlotte and her boyfriend, Luke, would watch anime shows all night.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoncAsGb84C
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"They're Otakus," Veronica said.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg40EdvxF8I
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"Oh-Tacos?" I marvel at the unfamiliar word.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8BDrO8Jzy
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"Yeah, I thought it was food, too," Denise said.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMALNwhqSi
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"It means their strong anime fans," Veronica clarified.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4n4sD4e9i
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We started singing solos, duets, and even as groups. We didn't care about the people watching us as we sing unattractively. The boys would choose Taylor Swift or Katy Perry and sing along to the lyrics in their own girlish ways, and the girls would score their impersonation accordingly. I rapped along with Jordan and Cody a couple times and was crowned Queen of Rap by Denise, much to everyone's opposition.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPiis501GR
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We disturbed a lot of costumers and workers, who kept telling us to keep it down. That only made us sing worse and louder than before, earning more complains as a result. One of us earned a few claps from the audience: Tyler. He surely can sing like a pro, and he never ceases to impress us every time we hear him. Of course, whenever he held the microphone, Amber would cheer for him dramatically as if he's singing in a concert.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNPGk0T26e
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I felt carefree, just doing what I wanted, careless of others' opinions and thoughts of me. I ignored everything else and focused on having fun. I pushed all the drama and troubles out of my mind. I didn't think of Ryan just once.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZpCZLCSDQ
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Denise invited herself over to spend the night, much to Cody's satisfaction. I didn't mind her at all. Although I only met her two days ago, she's treating me like we're old buddies. She burrowed a pair of orange shorts and a spaghetti white shirt from my wardrobe and made herself at home. We grabbed junk food and drinks before going to the living room to watch a movie. Cody and Will were playing FIFA before we turned it off to watch our movie. We settled on Magic Mike because why not? Cody and Will cringed from the thought, so they moved to Cody's room to continue their game there. Kat and Rosie went to sleep early tonight, saying that they're going house shopping tomorrow early for Rosie since Kat had no work.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoM6jK4SPm
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My phone rang in the middle of the movie, lighting up with Ryan's picture. I silent it and go back to the movie.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtnFiMgftB
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"You still ignoring him?" Denise asks.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tUdfs7BQX
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"Kinda."972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBpKalHyUB
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"Kinda? Girl, you're totally shutting the poor guy off."972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6D1480W8x
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"Well, he deserves it, "I shrug, sipping from my coke, "And are you taking his side?"972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzfeI5m1kB
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"I ain't takin' nobody's side, sister. All I'm saying is give him a chance and listen to what he has to say, you know?" She answers, quickly taking defense mode.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBjUKgOBST
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"He's making me regret worrying about him," I explain, "Like it's my fault at the end."972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYFpW9JlJl
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"Maybe he just needs time before telling you what happened to him."972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2OX5TxZho
972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkPe8gGiay
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"How much time? He needs to know that I'm not a patient person."972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EVhozRKPn
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"Well, then be patient for, Nicky, and maybe he'll be patient for you when you need time one of these days."972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ799CBANcRR
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She rests her hand on top of mine and looks at me assuringly. I t feels nice just having someone like her to talk to when I need it. I never had a girlfriend before, so having Denise treat me like that is something new to me coming from a girl, yet it has some familiarity to it in some way.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9HtMzjCI9
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"Maybe you're right."972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFewkrCids
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"Like hell I'm right! I'm Denise McQueen, Nicky."972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbBnYBmgIF
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"What's up with the new nickname?"972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpC1J7HxVkI
972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgSxEgDnTl
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"I just felt like it'd time I have a different name for ya."972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIB3gJevfP
972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nShYwXiJF
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After Denise left the next day, I spent my day in an inner battle with myself and debating whether or not to pay Ryan a visit to talk. Denise had me thinking about what she said all night last night till I came to the decision: I should go open up the topic with him. And yet I was never more hesitant about it. Even after getting his address from Dylan, who I figured would have it, I was still not close to decisive.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoobL809aY7
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I ended up taking Cody's car and waiting outside his house for 25 minutes, doing nothing. I took a deep breath before I left the car to walk towards his mansion. Oh, did I mention that he lives in a fucking mansion? The thing is so huge it can fit the whole school in it.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrE6949xylp
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I pass by two guards, who don't bother to ask me who I am. They need to do something about their security. I mean, one of the guards just grinned at me like it's my place.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkTtTNwudb
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I reach for the doorbell, and as I wait for it to open, I recite what I was planning to say one more time.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEifkm7ps7
972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2LbbHLlte
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Ryan, I know that there are things you prefer to keep hidden from me, but I want you to know that I care about you because you're my boyfriend and I care about you...972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwh6Y8Ryct
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Shit, I'm really bad at this!972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKlwvV8HC3
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The door opens, and I hold my breath in anticipation. A pretty lady in a maid uniform opens the door with a smile and my heart beats go back to normal. She asks who I am and I respond back, "I'm Nicole. Is Ryan here?"972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpA04n4gapZ
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"Matilda, who is that?" A woman yells from inside.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7BL5N5l8H
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"It's a friend of Mr. Ryan, Ma'am," Matilda calls back.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KQ3Ay895z
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Listen, Ryan, I get that you wanna keep things from me, but you need to know that I only wanna help you...972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdNmWvXeW2
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"I'll take care of it, Matilda. You can go now," Ryan opens the door wider. He was wearing a sleeveless tank with dark blue shorts and looked like he was in the middle of a tough workout session.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡME5VDFsvTA
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"Shadow."972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTdG5XQPqP
972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcXM5eCWqq
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"Ryan."972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OJdxHSGE0
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972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoMfNRmUCP
He waits for me to start, and for a few seconds, I forget why I came here in the first place. I guess it's because he looks like fucking beast with his muscles flexing and sweat dripping from his body that I got lost for words.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmX8ttEkftf
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And then I recall what I'd been reciting since yesterday.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9Mh5HJRya
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"Oh, you um...forgot you pen with me." That's it Nicole, smoother than silk. What the fuck is wrong with me?972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLieITDOE00
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I point the pen in my hand at him, "I came to return it." I try hard to avoid his hard gaze that's piercing through my body.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmXao4d9Rh
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"But this is not my pen," he raises an eye brow, humor and amusement simultaneously evident on his face.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReVrt2p8qo
972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKInoLzChfW
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"Yeah," I lift my hat up, brush my hair to the back then put it back on—an action I unintentionally do when nervous—and mentally curse myself and my damn dignity. The whole thought of apologizing or even admitting anything I've done wrong is not exactly something innate in me. Yes, it's selfish and not right, especially when it's really me at fault, but I can't bring myself to do it.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07eh5JNyhH
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Then again, for certain people in your life, you'd do whatever it takes to fix your relationship with them, even if it means bringing your stupid ego below their feet.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiQh0rLwn7
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"It's actually Cody's; I found it in his car, and..." I trail off and watch his expression getting more and more humorous. "Look, I'm really bad at this."972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuSR9xTn59
972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkx7vIGVrk1
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"You don't say."972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpxKAgbGcW
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972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPzhvsdckO
"Please, just go with it as it is," I take a short breath. "I know I've been a little pushy lately. And I know that even if I'm you girlfriend, I shouldn't be like that. I also know that there are some things you don't want me to know. But I don't give a crap about all of this because I care about you. So can you just please let me in? I know I might be asking too much, but like I said before, I don't care about—"972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVbyG4G2t1
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He cuts me off abruptly, holding my face with both his hands and kissing me intently. I kiss him back with similar affection, taken a bit off guard by the sudden gesture. He pulls apart a couple seconds into the kiss to look me in the eyes and say, "you know nothing, Shadow."972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6E3lAJZi2P
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"Huh?" I say, breathless.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJ1di50DTb
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"I said you know nothing. All you said might be true to some other guys, but not to me. In fact, I wanna share with you everything about me—all my problems and stress. I was planning on telling you everything in the right time, but you never gave me a chance."972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScJ5G1YkkN
972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmChXNq5g9O
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"I'm sorry, Ryan."972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7fqsIAjQK
972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8vmOINWca
972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQDCIXQD1U
"There's nothing to be sorry for. We both just had to get each other better, that's all," he then pulls me into a hug. "I know I can be really understanding, babe."972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsz3CLu7zw0
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I push him away, "Don't get too full of yourself, Hastings." Then I punch his chest, "This is for interrupting me earlier," I punch him again, "and this is for hugging me while you're sweaty."972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOv121LuJl2
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"How sweet of you," he says sarcastically, rubbing circles around his chest. "Now, don't you wanna come in?"972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwz0ptkmmi
972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiNO80Z9zd
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"No, I better go back before Cody realizes I stole his car."972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cU4Okbl2T
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Right on cue, Cody's stupid face lights up on my phone screen. Ryan leans against the doorframe while I answer, only to earn myself a shitload of yells from my dear friend.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0glZ916FsX
972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9INLCxyh4
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"What the fuck, Nic? You stole my baby? Are you fucking me over, right now?! I told you I have a date tonight."972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoXs1CsrLM
972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSj4ypFwOa5
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He did?972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsTSArqXQ9
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"Calm down, bastard, I'm on my way back."972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6xjtEyBol
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"You better be here before I tie my shoelaces," and he hangs up.972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXXDHxWEcO
972Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrPVD2HyOJ
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"He really needs to see a doctor," I sigh.
