a problem

It'd been a really complicated few weeks for everyone.

Lily not wanting to talk to Joy, Joy avoiding Ryan, Ryan's problem at home, Chad starting to feel something he had never felt before since Kevin came back, Lily secretly sad about her not giving Joy a chance but still decide to not do anything and Mock test coming up in a few days.

Joy sat on her bed staring out the window obviously lost in thoughts. Everything that happened at school today made her feel...she couldn't find the right word to it.

She didn't really want to hurt anyone. She told Ryan she would take responsibility for what happened many days ago and just when she was starting to like it, all that happened.

For the first time, she didn't feel weird about telling someone about herself and pains and for the first time, someone actually listened.

Turned out Ryan wasn't a total jerk after all.

She pinched her brow and looked around her, but she couldn't find what she was looking for. What exactly was she looking for? She had no idea.

She wanted this evening to go quietly and it'd been working so far. Coming from her part-time job, quietly doing the chores that didn't seem to want to end and peacefully going up to her room and shut the door.

After her conversation with Jess days ago about her money problems, they hadn't talked because of a fight they had about Joy stealing her face products and that was what made Jessica's mother beat a hell out of her and bruising her face. She had a feeling that woman already had a problem with her face.

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

He hated this. This thing he felt whenever she tried to avoid him or run away from him and this'd been happening for the passed weeks since the day she told him about her; something that took a lot of trust to be able to say it.

He didn't know if Joy trusted him back then but now he was sure.

His parents called him to come back home that evening claiming they couldn't risk him staying out but he had a feeling they were doing that because Kevin was back and would be staying at their house for the time being.

"You've been like this all day" Kevin finally took his eyes off his phone to look at the sighing man beside him.

"What's up, buddy? Tell me" Kevin was a year older than Ryan but they were like brothers. Ryan and Kevin never hid anything from each other and they've always been the 'power duo'.

"Sigh...it just.." he sighed again and looked away.

"I have a feeling it's about..." He paused on purpose to study Ryan's expression before he continued "that girl Joy, no?"

Ryan couldn't lie to him. He always knows.

"I like her" he said without even realizing but before he could register it, it was already out.

"I figured." He walked to Ryan who was sitting on one side of the bed and sat close to him.

"I don't know how but that's the only thing I can call what I feel and now she's..." He's voice softened. He couldn't seem to finish his statement.

"I know how you feel" Kevin whispered and looked at the stars in the sky.

"Really?" Both curiosity and doubt was visible in Ryan tone.

"Yeah. Her name is Tessa. She's very pretty and smart. She likes to talk a lot and is nosy in a good way but she doesn't seem to have any interest in me even if I told her how I feel." He exhaled loudly and looked at Ryan who turned to look at the sky, again.

"And?"

"You know I had to come back for my senior year. I really wanted to stay and pursue her until she finally wanted me but...it just feels so hard" he lowered his head and his palm was sweating, a lot.

That was a thing about him. Hise palm sweats whenever he was anxious about something.

"But you'll go back, right?" Ryan knew Kevin isn't the type to give up easily and that he could bet on.

"Of course" he chuckled. "So, give your girl sometime. Maybe she going through a tough time now. Just give her time. As for Tessa, I believe there's a reason why she's doing what she's doing and...I'll give her time" he patted Ryan's back as he spoke.

Ryan knew Joy was having a tough time since Joy told him everything about her life. And Kevin was right. Maybe she just need time and space. He would give her that but if she took too long, then he'd have to follow her around until she finally goes back to her goofy and Joyful self again.

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

Chad: hey.

Chad: are you okay? I was you hurt your hand today. Sorry I didn't do anything I was tied up in the teachers' office answering some questions.

Ryan: I'm fine.

Chad: what can I do to make it up to you?

Ryan: I don't know...how about coming very early tomorrow and taking me away. Let's run away to Neverland.

Chad: of all the places I want to go, Neverland isn't one of them.

Ryan: so?

Chad: as you wish, Mi Rey.

Ryan smiled at his phone for a while before placing it next to him and going to sleep while Kevin stayed up for another hour before going to his room.

He opened his gallery on his phone and clicked on a picture of a particular girl we could guess was Tessa and smiled weakly.

I hope time is really what you need.

He hid under the cover and quickly traveled to the land of dreams.

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

"It's almost midnight, baby" she was coming down the stairs when she came down and saw her daughter still awake.

She'd been acting strange for sometime and it was time she asked what the problem was.

"Lily dear? What's wrong?" She reached the couch and sat next to Lily. Lily turned to look at her and wore a faint smile.

"Hi, mommy" she rested her head on her mom's shoulder and hugged her tight.

"Problem at school?" She hugged her back resting her chin on her daughter's head.

"Just a little" she whispered and sat right.

"It doesn't seem like a little to me. Tell me my dear, what's up?" She was really concerned and worried.

"Joy and I haven't talked for weeks " she exhaled sharply and looked at her mother, already tearing up.

"It's all my fault. I just got so jealous and angry that she started hanging with other kids at school and is now so close with Ryan. I just..." She hugged her mother again this time letting the tears fall. "She wants to talk to me but I don't know why I keep shutting her out. She's my best friend " she sobbed.

Teresa had never seen her daughter like that before. She knew her daughter barely liked anybody the way she did Joy even her herself felt a strange connection with Joy whenever she was close.

"It's okay " she rubbed her back and Lily didn't stop.

"You can make thus right. I trust you and I know things will fall back into place...just follow your heart and let it guide you " the chuckled between her sob. The last time she followed her heart, it got smashed into pieces. But this was different and she's going to swallow her pride and do the right thing.

Joy had the right to talk to other people even...Ryan.

Lily didn't hate Ryan, she just didn't like him and that was a problem.