Chapter 20

I wake the next day up with the sun shining into the library. I stretch and look up to the ceiling.

Another fun-filled day of eating and roaming the halls.

I sit up, looking out of the window. The weather is definitely perfect. A light breeze makes the top of the trees sway. It's been like this for a week now. Every morning I've woken up in the library to a perfect day.

Maybe I can go for a walk? I've been here for two months, and I have never walked the property. Exercising will do me some good!

I swing my legs off the couch to stand and hear a YELP! I immediately bring my legs to my chest, looking to the floor.

I stepped on Ryder!

What the hell?!

Why is he sleeping on the floor next to me?

"That was my head, you know?" He asks, scratching the side of his head. I didn't do it on purpose, and I don't care! He actually deserves it!

"Why are you sleeping on the floor?" I ask, puzzled.

Ryder stands and stretches, grabbing his pillow and throwing it on the chair. He then sits next to me.

"I couldn't sleep. To tell you the truth, I've been sleeping here for the past couple of nights. I just get up and leave before you wake up."

He puts his head down, then reaches down to grab his sheets.

His words infuriate me. "So I only get any type of interaction between us when it's convenient for you?! You've been ignoring me or down my throat all week, but it's fine to lay near me?! How is that fair?!"

I cross my arms over my chest and sit back.

Ryder looks to the door and then back down. Sadness spreading through his features.

"It's not, and I'm sorry. For everything I said." He exhales and turns to me. "I want to make it up to you! Can we spend the day together?"

I laugh. Is he serious right now? Does he really think I'll jump at any opportunity to be near him? This entire week he's kept me at arm's length, and now he wants to hang out with me?

Ryder gets on one knee in front of me, grabbing my hands. "Please? Don't you want to be a normal couple? For once?" He grins.

I sigh. Of course, I want to scream no, for him to get away from me! That's my brain talking. My heart, on the other hand? Wants something completely different.

"Fine," I say to him. I know I'm stupid, but what can I do? Say no and ignore him for another week? Two wrongs don't make a right.

Ryder stands and pulls me towards him. He suddenly lifts me into the air. I begin laughing like an idiot. He brings me down slowly as his smile turns serious. I wrap my arms around his neck, and we kiss.

He puts me down, and I look up at him. Ryder then grabs my chin.

"I'm sorry, baby," he says, exhaling deeply. "So much has been going on, and I didn't want you anywhere near my problems. I also didn't mean to take it out on you."

I nod. "I get it. You're trying to make sure no one comes after us like that again."

He nods, pulling me into an embrace.

"So, where are we going?" I ask, trying to play it cool, but inside I am doing flips. This is all I want. To enjoy each other's company.

"I have a small surprise for you. I hope you'll like it."

We pull into a huge parking lot. Ryder has a smile on his face, while I look baffled.

We have driven for almost two hours after lunch, and I had fallen asleep.

"Where are we?" I ask.

There are so many cars and people walking around. A lot of them are young, and they look just as excited as Ryder is.

I happen to turn around and see a Ferris wheel. In front of that is the 'Superman' ride. "Wait, are we at six flags?!"

Ryder finds a parking spot and pulls in. "Yup! And I think this one is way cooler than Six Flags Magic Mountain. Come on!"

He gets out of the car in a hurry and leaves me sitting there. "Seriously, Ryder?!" I get out and chase after him.

The line to get into the park is a little long. There are so many adults and teens trying to get into the park impatiently. Ryder is standing behind me with his arms wrapped around me. I am perfectly content.

He keeps repeating how much he cares about me. My head is tilted to the right. Ryder is slowly breathing his words into my left ear. How I make him feel and that he needs me by his side. It sends goosebumps all over my body.

I close my eyes and soak in all the admiration. Ryder then tells me how he wishes his parents were still alive. That they would have loved me.

It's four o'clock, and we are almost at the ticket gate. Not a cloud in the sky as screams and laughter come from inside the park. The sun is beginning to set.

"With your job and all, did you ever find time for a relationship?" I ask him. We move an inch closer to the gate.

"Not actual relationships," he says as we move up further. He still has his arms wrapped around my waist.

"Was does that mean?" Do I really want to know the truth?

"It means I didn't have time for them. However, I always had women on standby just in case I got lonely. I did care for a certain person, but it only lasted briefly. Nothing ever came of it. A doctor. We were always very busy with our professions."

Ryder's words alone infuriate me.

I am relieved he is behind me so that he can't see my expression. "Oh."

He suddenly grabs my face and turns it slightly towards him so he can look at me."Wow! Really? Are you jealous, Sam?"

I move his hand off of my face and cross my arms over my chest. "Wait; what?! No, I'm not!"

He lets his other hand go and walks around, standing in front of me. "Yes, you are! I can see it. You're mad because of what I just said!"

Ryder grabs my chin and lifts it up, examining my nervous expression. He then turns me so that I am walking backward as we inch closer to the ticket gate.

He puts his other arm around my waist. "Ever since I saw you, there's been no one else. You have no competition. So stop being jelly!"

I almost choke. "Woah, there! Jelly?" I laugh. "Who talks like that?!"

I am laughing way too hard at that.

"I don't know. I always hear it. Rather annoying, actually." Ryder smiles. "It made you feel better, though, since you were so jealous and all." He starts to tickle me. I smack him off and wrap my arms around his waist.

"I'm not jealous!" I say into his shirt.

Moments like these, I wish I can just freeze. It's perfect! Ryder's perfect. His giggle turns to a smile. I look up at him, and he kisses me softly.

"You belong with me," he whispers, never removing his lips from mine.

"Always," I breathe back.

He removes his lips from mine and stares into my eyes, and I, in his. His beautiful emerald eyes boring into mine. "Dove sei stato tutta la mia vita, Sam?"

Before I can ask him what that means, he kisses me again. More forcibly this time.

Like it is the last time we'll see each other.

We finally make it into the park!

"All right, it's getting late. Let's get on a rollercoaster to get the blood pumping," he says excitedly. There are so many people around us—adults and children of all ages and sizes.

I look at Ryder as he leads me to the rides. Such an amazing day and a great way to end it. Maybe life with Ryder will be different. He'll be different.

"Earth to Sam! Hello?!"

I don't notice we stop walking.

I shake my head and look at him. "Sorry, it's so noisy," I lie.

"Rollercoaster?" Ryder asks. It's so cute the way he asks. He looks like a kid at a candy store.

"Uh. I guess..." I say with a shaky voice.

I really hate rollercoasters! That ungodly feeling when your stomach feels like it's being lifted as the ride shoots back down to earth. It always makes me cringe. Just thinking about it makes me dizzy.

Of course, I can't tell him that. We are having a great day, and I don't want to ruin it.

"Kingda Ka! Let's go!" Ryder yells as he takes my hand and runs, following the signs to the ride.

Hell on earth!

I swore on EVERYTHING I'd never get on this ride.

This is the third scariest thing to have ever happened to me. Being kidnapped, shot at, and now riding on Satan's bus.

We are strapped into our seats. The rollercoaster cars move forward, and you just wait.

Wait for regret?

Wait for death?

I can't tell you. As a matter of fact, I don't even remember anything. All I know is that I am being pushed at one hundred twenty-eight miles per hour, going up a hill around four hundred fifty feet.

Am I still breathing?

I think I am dying and/or peed a little.

I don't really remember the last half of the ride. I do, however, remember Ryder laughing his ass off with his hands in the air.

We walk by the photo booth. I decide I want to purchase the picture of our faces on that horrible rollercoaster ride. I'm sure Ryder will be laughing while I have a look of constipation.

How embarrassing!

Nevertheless, it will be memorable.

The gentlemen working the booth says their system is down throughout the entire park. Everyone is upset! I don't blame at all.

That really sucks! I really want a picture. Ryder shrugs his shoulder as he leads me away.

"Do you mind if we sit?" I ask, suddenly feeling horrible after the ride. I know I will be sore in the morning after being so tense.

Ryder's phone suddenly beeps, and he pulls it out. Looking at it, he seems a bit worried.

"No, of course not! There are some chairs over there. Come on," he says happily as he puts his phone away and guides me to a small, outdoor ice cream stand.

I sit and bend over on the chair. It's just my nerves from being shot from that damn ride. I need to relax, and I will be fine.

There is a snack cart a couple of feet from us. Ryder goes and buys me a bottle of water. He walks back, opening it. "Here, drink this." He hands me the bottle.

I smile and thank him. I chug down half the bottle. Ryder finishes the rest, all while he's looking around.

He then sits down next to me. "How are you feeling?" He asks as he caresses my face.

"Like I never want to do that again. So don't ask, because it'll never happen."

"Never say never," Ryder chuckles. Just then, his phone beeps again. He pulls it out of his jacket and looks at it.

I look at him curiously. He stands up and squints, looking around. "I'll be right back, okay? I have to make a quick phone call."

"Is everything okay?"

He bends down and kisses me, walking away.

It's starting to get very cold. I'm glad I am dressed so warmly. Blue jeans, a shirt, and a white hoodie, to be exact.

I'm not used to this type of weather. There are so many people walking around without sweaters or jackets. I start to feel weird.

I am probably the only person freezing at the park. Around this time, in California, it's nice and cool. Especially at night. Not freezing.

Here in New Jersey, it feels like we are at the north pole.

Where is Ryder? He has been gone for at least twenty minutes. I stand and walk to where he rounded the corner.

It's a dead end. Odd! Nothing but dumpsters line the wall, and trees are on the other side.

I never saw him leave this area either.

"Ryder?! Are you back there?" I ask as I wrap my arms around my body. No response. I turn to see if he had maybe gone another route and is back at the chairs where I had been just sitting.

Nothing.

I begin to walk closer to the dumpsters. Maybe he went deeper into this alley or is playing around with me.

"Ryder, it's getting late, and I'm cold! This isn't funny! Are you there?"

I manage to walk to where the last dumpster is and slowly peeked around the corner.

Again, nothing.

"Baby, this isn't-"

I suddenly feel a wet rag go around my face! I panic as an arm grabs me and drags me into the trees! I fight to get my attacker off of me, knowing exactly what is on my face!

Do not inhale!

If I want to stay awake, I have to get the person off of me. However, he is too strong! All the kicking and screaming I am doing is to no avail! I need to take a breath also. Desperately!

I step on my attacker's foot. Hard! He makes a noise but never let's go.

My lungs begin to ache. They need oxygen!

I have no choice. I have to take a breath and do so involuntarily. I inhale and start to panic! The chemical that I just inhaled into my system begins working instantaneously. I feel suffocated and then sleepy.

Where is Ryder?! He must've been ambushed too!

I can only pray he isn't hurt or worst.

"No," I breathe weakly. His face is the last thing I think of as darkness begins crowding the edges of my vision.

Trying desperately not to, I pass out in my attacker's arms.

A/N:

Italian: "Dove sei stato tutta la mia vita?"

English: "Where have you been all my life?"