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*Picture of Ryan Dixon------>>*

The next few days went by pretty quickly. There's nothing like spending eight hours surrounded by people who you can't stand. Seriously, I'm just ready to graduate already and leave this stupid school. I don't know why, but lately it seems like I'm always on edge. I snapped at my mother on Tuesday morning because she didn't buy the right jelly for my toast.

Ridiculous, I know.

It was now Thursday, and I was stressing over a test I had in my Principals of Democracy class. I really hadn't studied for it and I was worried about getting a bad grade. I tried studying during lunch in the library but my brain is just not functioning today. So that put me in a bad mood.

I was making my way to class when someone bumped my shoulder as they passed by. I ended up dropping my binder, causing a few papers to fly out.

"Great." I said sarcastically. I got down and started to pick up the papers. I thought I had them all until someone handed me two more papers. I looked up and saw that it was Ryan handing them to me.

He smiled at me. "Losing your papers?"

I grabbed the papers and stuffed them into my binder. I stood up and looked at him. "More like losing my mind." I sighed.

"Is something wrong?" He asked.

I shrugged. "I'm just in a bad mood and I don't want to deal with people."

"Then you shouldn't come to school if you don't want to deal with people." Ryan chuckled. "Or any public place for that matter."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Well thanks for that wonderful advice."

"So are you ready to take pictures tomorrow?" He asked me.

Pictures? What was he talking about? "What?" I asked, confused.

His eyebrow rose. "The pictures for the wedding. Remember? We're supposed to have our outfits by today."

"Oh crap." I closed my eyes. As if I didn't have enough to deal with. Now I have to get that stupid dress so we can take stupid pictures tomorrow.

"You forgot." Ryan said, sounding amused. I nodded. "If it makes you feel any better, I'm barely getting my tux this afternoon."

"I can't believe I forgot about my dress." I said then sighed. "Well if you'll excuse me, I have to go make a phone call to my mother." I said as I started to walk around him. I felt his arm grasp mine and pulled me back in front of him.

"I could take you with me this afternoon. I can get my tux and you can get your dress." He suggested.

I pursed my lips. It would save me from getting yelled at by my mom. She would probably get all peeved off about me not telling her until last minute. "Okay." I nodded. "I'll go with you."

Ryan smiled. "Great. I'll meet you at the front entrance of the school when the bell rings."

***

Good news, I passed my Principals of Democracy test with an 89. It wasn't an A, but it was close enough.

Bad news, I forgot to finish the homework that was due today and I got scolded by my teacher.

Once the bell rang, I made my way out of the classroom and started to walk towards the front entrance. Honestly, all this wedding stuff is the least of my worries right now. But if I forgot to get my dress in time for the pictures, that would be so disrespectful and I would be letting Anna down.

I noticed Ryan leaning against the wall near the front doors. He saw me walking towards him and pushed himself off the wall.

"Ready?" He asked. I nodded. "Let's go then."

We walked out of the school and walked in the direction of the parking lot. Ryan said hi to numerous people as we walked. Most of them gave me weird looks. They were probably wondering what I was doing walking with Ryan.

Leaning against Ryan's car was Nicole. Once she spotted me, her eyes turned to slits. "And what do you think you're doing?" She asked me once we were close enough.

I was going to answer, but Ryan cut me off. "We're going to get some stuff for the wedding."

"Why does this involve her?" Nicole asked him. More like demanded.

He crossed his arms. "She's a bridesmaid."

"So your mom asked her to be a bridesmaid and not me?" She sounded offended. "I'm your girlfriend Ryan!"

He held his hands up in defense. "I have no control over who she picks." He took a step closer to her and kissed her cheek. "We have to go now. I'll call you later."

She put her hands on her hips. "We're not done talking about this."

"It sounds like you are." I said as Ryan unlocked his car. I rushed by her and got in on the passenger side. Ryan was chuckling as he got in on the driver's side.

He pulled out of the school's parking lot. "What's with the sudden burst of confidence?"

"I said I wasn't going to deal with people." I gave him a small smile. "So, where to first?" I asked him.

"If it's alright with you, I'd like to get my tux first. Then we can get your dress." He said as he stared at the road.

"I don't mind. You're the one driving." I told him.

We fell into a comfortable silence for a while. I stared out the window and watched the cars as we passed them.

"I'm sorry about Nicole." Ryan's voice interrupted the silence. "She can be really cool, I promise."

I smirked. "I'm sure she's 'cool' to half the guys in the school." I instantly slapped my hand over my mouth once I realized what I said. I basically just called his girlfriend a slut in front of him. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. That was totally out of line. You can kick me out of the car right now if you want to. I won't be offended-"

His hand covered my mouth and he chuckled. "No worries Riley. Calm down." He uncovered my mouth. "I know she was like that last year before we started dating, but I know she's changed."

That's what he thinks. But I wasn't going to say anything.

"She just gets kind of jealous when I'm talking to another girl." He finished saying.

"Doesn't any girl get jealous when she sees her boyfriend talking to another girl?" I asked him.

He raised his eyebrow. "Are you defending her?"

"No. I'm just asking." I crossed my arms.

"Why? Do you get jealous when you see the guy you like talking to some other girl?" He asked, sounding entertained.

I scoffed. "I do not like anybody. All the guys at our school are idiots."

"Well thanks." He rolled his eyes. "C'mon Riley, you can tell me who you like. We're basically best friends."

"Best friends my ass."

Ryan laughed. "That is the first time I've heard you swear Riley."

"I can promise you that I don't like anyone." I told him. It's true though. All guys are idiots, but especially the ones who go to Fairfield.

"You like Aiden don't you?"

My eyes widened and I glared at him. "I do not like Aiden. We're just acquaintances."

Ryan laughed some more. "It's okay Riley. I won't tell him."

"Oh my goodness. There is nothing to tell." I said, hitting his arm. "I would threaten to spill embarrassing things to the girl you liked, but you already have a girlfriend and I have nothing on you, so that wouldn't work."

"And you will never find out the embarrassing things about me." He smiled. "Can I be honest with you Riley?"

"Well, I would hope that aren't lying to me."

He smirked. "Seriously."

"Okay. Be honest with me." I said to him.

He took a deep breath. "I sort of liked you before I found out that you'd be in my mom's wedding."

My jaw dropped a little. "You liked...me? Why?"

Ryan smiled. "I don't know. You were different." He said. "Well you still are."

"Wait. You say liked, as in past tense." I pointed out. "What happened?"

He shrugged. "I actually talked to you and something changed. I see you more as a sisterly figure, it that makes sense."

I nodded. "It makes sense."

"Good." He grinned. "So are we best friends now?"

I laughed at him. "I guess we can be. I don't know how that would affect my social status." I said, snobbishly.

He put his hand over his heart. "That hurts Riley. You'd put your reputation before our friendship."

"Please." I waved my hand. "I should be concerned about that, not you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked, frowning a bit.

I sighed. "You're Ryan Dixon. You're the star football player with the perfect girlfriend. And I'm Riley the nerd girl who no one talks to." I played with my fingers. "It would probably look weird if I started to hang out with you."

"Wow." He said. "Listen, I could care less what people would think. If you want me to, I could shout out that you're my best friend now." He nudged me. "And sure you're a nerd, but who's going to be making fun of you when you're making ten times more money than the rest of us in five years?"

If you would have told me last year that Ryan Dixon asked me to be his best friend and said that being a nerd is okay, I would have thought you had serious issues and asked you to escort yourself to a mental hospital.

I grinned. "You sure know how to make a girl feel a little better about herself."

"That's what I'm here for." He said. He parked the car and pulled the keys out of the ignition. "Now let's get my tux."

***

After getting his tux and my dress, Ryan drove me home. Somehow talking to him was a bit easier than talking to Kelly. It felt more natural.

He pulled up to my house and parked. "Well, this afternoon was fun Riley."

"It was." I agreed as I unbuckled. I grabbed my dress, which was in a full length bag, and opened the passenger door. "Thanks so much Ryan. This was really nice of you."

"That's what friends are for, right?" He asked.

I nodded. "Right." I got out of the car. "See you tomorrow." I said before shutting the door. I walked up to the front door and unlocked it. Ryan drove off right as I shut it and locked it.

"Mom! I'm home!" I called out. I laid my dress on the dining table and looked around. "Mom?"

"In the kitchen!"

I walked into the kitchen and found my mom cutting up some watermelon. She looked up at me and smiled. "Hey Riley."

I sat down on a chair at the island. "Hey."

"How was school?" She questioned.

"Same." I shrugged. "How was work?"

She smiled. "Pretty good." She handed me a slice of watermelon and I gladly accepted it. "You seem like you're in a pretty good mood."

"Yeah." I answered plainly. "I have my bridesmaid dress with me. A friend drove me to go get it for pictures tomorrow."

"What friend?" She asked as she put the knife in the sink. She sat near me at the island.

"Ryan. Anna's son." I said, taking a bite of the watermelon in my hand.

My mom raised her eyebrow. "Is that why you're in such a good mood?"

"Please mom." I rolled my eyes. "Ryan and I are just friends. I don't like him like that and he has a girlfriend."

"Alright fine." She sighed.

I finished eating the watermelon I had then walked in the dining room and grabbed my dress. I ran up to my room and shut my door behind me. I set my dress on my bed and stared at it. It's a pretty dress, don't get me wrong. But it just isn't...my taste.

The more I thought about my dress, the more it occurred to me how the wedding was not too far in the future. We have about a week until the wedding and it's going to go by fast. From what I've seen on TV, everyone starts to stress out during the last week.

I grabbed the dress and put it in my closet. I don't want to look at it until tomorrow.

My phone started to buzz in my back pocket so I pulled it out. I looked at the screen and noticed it was a text from an unknown number.

'Are you doing anything right now? –A'

I forgot I had given Aiden my number when we were at Anna's house. I told him to text me that day so I had his number, but he never did. So I guess I have it now.

'No. Why?'

It's not every day he just asks questions like that.

'Can you meet me at the park?'

'Sure.'

I grabbed Sassy's leash and picked her up off the ground. I might as well take her out for a walk if I'm going to the park.

"Mom, I'm taking Sassy out." I called out as soon as I reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Okay! Be careful Riley!" She called back.

I hooked Sassy's leash on and walked out the door.

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