CHAPTER FOUR

After that day, Ryan made sure to pick me up every morning for the next few days. At first, the car rides were filled with awkward silence. We'd exchange polite nods and the occasional "how's your day?" but conversation seemed to stumble as we both struggled to find our rhythm.

Gradually, though, the tension eased. I started to feel more comfortable around him, and our chats grew from hesitant small talk to more relaxed and genuine conversations. Ryan turned out to be surprisingly easy to talk to. He had a way of making everything feel light and effortless, even when we were talking about the most mundane topics.

One morning, as we drove past the rows of houses in the sleepy suburban streets, Ryan glanced over at me with a curious smile. "So, what do you do for fun, Emily? Besides enduring the pains of high school, of course."

I laughed, looking out the window at the passing scenery. "Honestly, I watch a lot of survival shows. Stuff like Squid game—it's oddly compelling."

Ryan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Survival shows? How come?"

I shrugged, trying to find the right words. "I guess they're kind of a metaphor for real life. They make you think about how you navigate challenges and make choices under pressure. It's like a dramatic reflection of what we all deal with, even if it's not as intense."

Ryan nodded, clearly interested. "That's a pretty deep take. I guess I've never thought of it like that."

As the days passed, our conversations became easier. We talked about everything from school projects to our favorite music. Ryan was surprisingly good at making me laugh, and I found myself looking forward to our morning drives. He'd play snippets of songs on the radio, and we'd sing along badly but enthusiastically, our voices blending in a happy mess of laughter.

One afternoon, after school, Ryan was driving us home. The sun was setting, painting everything in a warm glow. I was recounting a hilarious story about a science experiment that went totally haywire when he stopped at a red light and gave me a thoughtful look.

"You know," he said, his voice a bit hesitant, "I've really enjoyed these car rides. And I'm starting to think we should hang out more outside of school."

I looked at him, my heart fluttering a little. "What do you mean?"

Ryan took a deep breath, clearly gathering his courage. "Well, how about we go out for dinner sometime? Nothing fancy—just a casual meal. I know a great little place that has amazing burgers and fries. What do you say?"

I was taken aback by the suddenness of his question, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much I wanted to say yes. The idea of spending more time with him outside of school sounded perfect.

"I'd like that," I said, trying to keep my voice steady while my heart raced. "Dinner sounds great."

Ryan's face lit up with a smile that made my heart skip a beat. "Awesome. How about this weekend? Saturday night?"

"Saturday works for me," I said, smiling back at him.

The light turned green, and Ryan drove on, the car filled with a comfortable silence that felt just right. As we approached my house, I noticed how his hand was resting casually on the gear shift, close enough that I could almost reach it.

Ryan stopped the car in front of my house and turned to me, his expression a mix of hope and nervousness. "So, I guess I'll see you on Saturday?"

"Definitely," I said, giving him a warm smile. "Thanks for the ride"

He returned the smile, looking genuinely pleased. "Anytime. See you then, Emily."

I got out of the car, feeling a mix of excitement and anticipation. As I walked to my front door, I glanced back and saw Ryan watching me, his smile still bright.

For the first time in a long while, things felt like they were falling into place.