Chapter 5

I glanced over my shoulder to look at Ryan, and saw him meeting my gaze. He didn’t look so sinister anymore; instead his expression read complacency, which has the potential to be even worse.

As the groups of four began to assemble, I started towards the back of the room with my novel and notes in tow. I reached Ryan’s table and sat in the chair across from him, keeping my eyes focused on the notes. “Ready to start?” I asked, my soft voice seemingly lost among the disorder of the classroom.

“The Great Gatsby, right?” Ryan asked. His voice on the other hand, was deep and very clear.

“That’s the one” I replied, tossing him my paperback copy.

He caught the book, and quickly flipped it open to a page three quarters of the way in “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us” He recited, reading the quote with distinction. He looked up from the pages and smirked “been here, done that”

“You’ve read the book before?” I asked, finding myself pleasantly surprised.

“Twice” Ryan interjected, putting the book down in his lap and slouching deep into his seat.

So he likes to read… this didn’t exactly fit in with the character I pictured him to be, but the pieces were slowly starting to come together. A “Jess Mariano” type, I concluded. I had about a million questions floating through my mind, but due to the pretense of maintaining social normalcy, I was forced to excuse myself.

“So if you don’t need a briefing on the book, I guess I should leave you to it and find myself a group” I began gathering my notes. I held out my hand, gesturing for Ryan to hand me back my book, but he simply shook his head.

“Just stay. This way you don’t have to do any work for whole half of the class.” He smirked.

I smiled timidly in return and lowered my hand while sneaking a quick glance at Ryan’s face. At the same time he brushed his bangs to the side and looked back at me. His almond shaped eyes were a strange grey-green colour, with long, dark eyelashes. His exotic eyes seemed foreign to his plain face, I don’t know how I didn’t notice them before.

“So… Parker, right?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.

I hesitantly pulled my gaze from his eyes and nodded slightly. “That’s me” I said.

“So what’s your story?” He tilted his head to the left just slightly.

“Excuse me?”

“You know… your story. Name, where are you from, have any siblings, things you like, don’t like… That kind of stuff.” He coaxed.

“Hey, You’re the new kid… shouldn’t I be asking for your story?” I retaliated, finding some buried inner confidence “I mean come on… you come in here with a tough-guy persona, sit at the back of the class, with his whole aura of mystery surrounding you… All you’re missing is the leather Jacket.”

“Add in some baby oil & I’m your regular pony boy greaser.” He smiled. I laughed.

“My point exactly” I said. “But is that really who you are? Why’d you move here? Where were you before?” And so the questions came spilling out, and never seemed to stop. “Are any of the rumors about you true? What do-”

“How about we make a deal?” he interrupted. “Today… I ask all the questions, so when I go home & get asked ‘did you meet any new kids today honey?’ I can honestly answer with a yes” He reasoned. “Tomorrow, you can ask me anything”

“I guess that’ll work.” I replied. I glanced up at the clock and gauged the time “You have 40 minutes…” I informed him “Do your worst”.