Chapter 18: Chapter 18

“So, what else happened at batting practice? Anything interesting?”

Considering she wasn’t particularly happy with him at the moment, she was tempted to just say no. But there was something. Something she could use his opinion on. “Well, Michael may have asked me out.”

Ryan stopped walking and turned to look at her, his eyebrows raised so high, she thought maybe they might tangle with his bangs. Was it so hard to believe that anyone would ask her out? Maybe she had misunderstood what Michael had meant.

“Michael Splinter?”

“Yeah.” It was her turn to keep walking while he stood melted to the asphalt. “Or maybe he didn’t.”

With his long legs, Ryan was caught up to her in a second. “What did he say?”

“He said we should hangout sometime. Or asked if I wanted to hangout sometime. Something like that.” She shrugged. Maybe it wasn’t anything.

“Beth!” He grabbed her by the shoulder and spun her to look at him. “That’s huge! It’s what you’ve been waiting for!”

Puzzled, she looked at his hand and then up into his eyes. “Huh?” she asked, his hand unwavering.

“A guy asked you out—something you seemed to think would never happen. So when’s the date?”

Pulling his hand off, she dropped and continued on her way. “Never. I can’t go out with Michael.”

“What?” Ryan asked, once again taking a moment to move. “Why not? He’s a nice guy.”

“Sure he is,” Beth replied with a shrug. She turned the corner and could see her house just about three blocks away. “But that doesn’t mean I can go out with him.”

“Beth Monroe, I don’t understand you.” Ryan was behind her as Beth headed down the narrow sidewalk, happy this street actually had a sidewalk.

She didn’t bother to turn to look at him. “I don’t think you get it, Ryan.” How could she explain to him that friends didn’t do that to one another if he didn’t already understand? Lexy would be heartbroken.

“No, I don’t think you get it, Beth. Finally, one of us gets up the nerve to ask you out, and you tell him no. I mean, why in the world would anyone else ever ask you out again if they find out you wouldn’t go out with Michael? They’re just going to assume you’ll tell him no, too. They’ll think you’re holding out for the Sammy Burk’s of the world.”

Beth turned to look at him. There was so much in his statement, she wasn’t sure where to begin. “I don’t think you understand why I told Michael no. It had nothing to do with Sammy.”

“Are you sure about that, Beth? Are you sure you’re not just holding out for an asshole like Sammy Burk?” He shook his head, his hands on his hips, but not in the carefree manner they had been when he was talking to Craig. Ryan was mad—a side of him Beth rarely saw--and she couldn’t remember it ever being directed at her before.

“It has nothing to do with Sammy!” she shouted before looking around to make sure there weren’t any other kids their age where they could hear. “I just can’t go out with Michael!” She turned around and headed for home, wishing she’d never consented to walk around with him in the first place.

He followed. “No, of course you can’t. If you had a boyfriend, what would you have to complain about? It might mean you’d have to change your entire perspective of yourself. What would you have to talk about if you couldn’t whine that everyone thinks you’re fat and ugly?”

She whirled around. “Oh, is that what I do? Complain? Well, excuse the hell out of me for thinking I could talk to my friend about how I was feeling. I guess I won’t make that mistake again.”

“Good. Cause I don’t want to hear it anymore. Maybe I should’ve just went ahead and agreed with the assessment that Beth Monroe is a stuck up bitch!”

Beth’s eyes widened, her mouth dropping open. She couldn’t believe he’d just called her that. “You’re an asshole, Ryan Wilson. Go back to your cave!” She turned and stormed off, glad her house was only a half a block away.

“I will!” he screamed after her. “Better than spending time with you!”

“Have fun with your new friend Craig!”

“I’d much rather be with Craig than you any day!”

Beth stormed up the front porch steps and jerked the door open, flying inside and slamming it behind her. Her mother’s astonished voice calling her name from the living room didn’t garner a response as she sped to the stairs and headed up them, tripping halfway up in the near dark and cursing.

“Hey, my sister must be home. The floor’s shaking.” Shane’s voice carried out of his open bedroom door, followed by giggling that must’ve come from Tiffany.

“Shut up, Shane, you jackass!” Beth screamed as she ran into her room and slammed the door.

“What did that bitch call me?” she heard him ask.

“Oh, leave her alone,” Tiffany’s voice called through the wall. “She can’t help it. She’s just… Beth. Don’t you feel sorry for her?”

Hot, angry tears stung her cheeks as she realized Tiffany and her friends were pitying her. Beth collapsed on her bed, thankful the blinds were down, though she assumed Ryan was probably still downstairs, his doting mother getting him a cold drink and making sure the walk hadn’t been too much for him.

“I don’t feel sorry for her,” Shane answered. “I feel sorry for me.”Tiffany giggled again, and then he turned on the radio. Beth decided she didn’t want to know what they were doing over there, so she turned her own radio on. It was unbelievable how her parents just assumed Shane was studying during the summer or whatever bullshit he’d told them to let Tiffany come upstairs. Maybe they had a book group…. And she’d thought maybe he’d get in trouble for coming in wasted and being late to batting practice because he was hung over. Clearly, that wasn't happening. His life was so much easier than hers!