Missing...

"i hate this" Ryan sighed as he walked into the school and saw the familiar little girl just few feets away.

"Little girl" that's what he called her.

Ryan didn't like running into her like this almost every morning. He was used to being the only one in the school for few hours before the others came. It's been almost a month since she came and he was already tired of all the bumping into each other.

"Hey, you" he called again. He didn't like calling her her name because he felt weird whenever he pronounced it .

Joy turned to look where she heard her name and her face turned sour.

She hated this as much as he did. But did she?.

For the nth time that week, she was lost in fantasy. Fantasies that even she did not understand.

His eyes, height, hair, nose, everything thing about him made her feel intimidated and intrigued. Intimidated in a good way.

She liked it. Everything was perfect, except something was missing...

"What are thinking about?" She didn't realize the guy was already so close to her.

"When" she thought.

" Nothing. Except why I seem to run into you every morning" she got her thoughts together.

"I should be asking you that. But if I think I think about it, there's only one answer" she put his hands in his pocket.

"Which is?" She tried to look less nervous.

She was she nervous all if a sudden? Because it felt weird. Really weird.

" You're following me" he was as confident as ever.

" You couldn't be more wrong" she smirked. " Let's just say it's a coincidence" 

" Coincidence, you say.." his voice unusually low as he leaned forward. Joy swallowed, hard. 

Uh-oh. She regretted it immediately but didn't back down.

"Yes. Why are you coming closer?" Her voice almost shaking.

Closer, closer, closer. Click.

Confusing and embarrassment was evident on her face as the door opened.

" You are on the way" Ryan said looking at her signalling her to get out of the way.

"Oh.... You should've said so. I was thinking.." too late her thoughts got her in trouble.

" Thinking what?'' Ryan knew or had a hind of what she was thinking but wanted to play.

He smirked mockingly. 

Okay. Joy hated that! 

She wanted to punch him but before he could say another word, she ran off still embarrassed.

Ryan smile disappeared as soon as she left.

The intimidating aura resurfaced as he stepped in.

***************************************

Thoughts of what happened in the morning got the best of Joy.

Why on earth did she think he was going to...

She shook off the feeling.

"Anything wrong?" Lily noticed her absent mind and couldn't help but ask.

Joy nodded but Lily wasn't convinced. She knew something was off.

"You've been out of it since science class. What is wrong?" She looked concerned thinking Joy was sick or something like that. The thought of Joy being sick gave her goosebumps. Oh, she didn't want to think about it.

"I was just thinking..." She couldn't find the right words. Joy looked suspicious.

"Thinking what?" Lily looked at her like a mother waiting for her child to explain to what to the car.

They were both alone on the roof top so no could hear them.

Joy felt something in her stomach. What she was about to ask was not good but she couldn't stop herself.

"Tell me about Ryan" the words came out of her mouth and she regretted it immediately. The way Lily looked at her made her flinch.

Lily, on the other hand, was speechless. Why on earth would Joy ask for something like that.

"What?!" She whispered loudly.

She didn't except that from Joy at all.

"Of all questions in the world that's what you want? I mean, I....you shouldn't be asking that. I thought you hate him" Lily remained calm but she was about to burst.

" I never said that" she never really did.

" But your actions..." Lily sighed.

" It's okay if you don't want to tell me. I'm not curious" she lied and looked forward.

Lily didn't know what to do. She knew Joy was curious. They were both the same when it came to high level of curiosity.

"What do you want to know?' Lily had known Ryan and Chad since forever but they weren't so close and she didn't talk to them often because Ryan didn't want to. She has always felt comfortable around Chad more and she also felt weird thinking about Ryan. Lily knew a few things about Ryan and would like to tell Joy but she wondered why she would want to know about Ryan. She wanted to ask but didn't ask because she didn't want to push it.

"You know...why he's so different.." she tried to sound as casual as she could but didn't know if it was working.

"Different, as in. Him not caring about anything and anyone and ..."

"Yes. Yes " Joy cut in. That's one of the things she really wanted to know about the legendary Ryan. 

"About that, all I can say is... He's not in a good relationship with his parents and he's a bit spoilt" she looked around to make sure no one was around and continued.

"I don't know the details but I know that he does not..." The bell was heard and Lily stopped.

"Let's go" she stood up and held her hand out for Joy.

"But you haven't..." Finished.

Joy knew Lily didn't want to talk about it so she didn't talk more.

She could only take her hand and follow her to the classroom.