The jerk next door

Chapter 6

*** Mia’s POV ***

*

Mom wasn’t home yet, so I decided to make something for dinner. She would be grateful because she didn’t need to cook after work.

I opened the refrigerator to see what we had. I will make some spaghetti. It's easy and tasty. I learned how to cook a few things from mom.

When I was done with the sauce, I started to make the pasta, but the doorbell rang. I hoped it was not who I think it was. I walked to the door to open it and it was Ryan by the door as I suspected.

“Ryan?” I said a bit annoyed, what was he doing here again?

“Mia, can I talk to you?” He asked and, to my surprise, I didn’t see that smug smile on his face that was there most of the time, instead he looked nervous and guilty.

“We are talking.” I told him and crossed my arms in the front of my chest.

“Can I come in? I don’t want to talk in front of the door,” he said, and I narrowed my eyes at him.

“I don’t know, what if this is just another trick of yours?” I asked with an angry face. “If it is, I want to ask you to stop, I am not in the mood, leave me alone in my home at least.” I finished with a sad voice, I was sure this gonna work.

“No-no, this isn’t a trick and actually I just came to talk about today and to apologise.” My eyes went wide, he wanted to apologise to me? By himself, without me asking him to do so? That was a first. I had the feeling something was fishy here.

“Okay, come in.” But I was curious so I let him in. I could still kick him out later if I didn’t like what he was about to say.

He walked in like a scared puppy, he was kinda adorable. I chuckled at my own thoughts.

“What is it?” He asked when he heard me.

“Nothing, so...? Take a seat.” I told him simply.

“Thank you, something smells nice, were you cooking?” He asked with a surprised expression on his face.

“Well... yes, do you want some? I just need to finish the pasta.” I offered to him politely, just like how I learned from my mother to be a good host.

“I would like some, thank you.” So he could be polite as well... since he was here, he said ‘thank you’ already two times. “Look Mia, I want to say sorry for my behaviour for the past week. I was a terrible person to you, so please let me make it up to you.” He said genuinely.

“You surprised me to be honest, but I accept your apology. Now eat.” I said, and put a plate of spaghetti on the table in the front of him. Maybe he wasn’t that bad after all and I could use a few friends. He was lucky I was in a good mood after crying my eyes out.

“This is really good, Mia. This is the best spaghetti I ever ate, but don’t tell my mom.” He said and I let out a laugh.

“I won’t. I hope now you will stop with the pranks, that thing in my locker was disgusting.” I said to him when we both sat down by the table to eat.

“I know, I am sorry, that was a d**k move and I promise it won’t happen again.” He said, he finished everything on his plate.

“Do you want some more? I cooked enough for a football team.” I said with a smile and he smiled back at me.

“Yes, please. Usually Dominic is the glutton of our group, but I can’t resist your spaghetti.” He said with a huge smile. He was like a totally different person.

“What is the catch, Ryan?” I asked him suspiciously while I narrowed my eyes at him. “Do you have a twin brother, by any chance, who looks just like you?” He laughed a little. He was sexy when he was laughing.

“No, I just... I was thinking about you today and you didn’t deserve to be treated like that.” He said and looked straight in my eyes. We were just staring at each other when the front door opened and broke us out of it.

“Honey, I am home.” Mom shouted.

“Kitchen, mom.” I shouted back and she was surprised to see Ryan there, but covered it with a smile.

“Oh, hi Ryan.” She said and put her bag on the kitchen counter.

“Hello Mrs. Banks. I was just leaving. Thanks for the spaghetti, Mia. I will see you at school tomorrow.” He said, a bit embarrassed. I guess he didn’t want more spaghetti then.. I chuckled at his behaviour.

“Just call me Cloe.” Mom told him.

“Have a nice evening... Cloe. Bye Mia.” He said and got up from the chair.

“Bye.” We said and he left.

“So...” mom started in a teasing tone.

“We just talked, mom. He apologised actually.” I said with a shrug and told mom everything about today. She felt sorry for me for my first day experience, but I felt better after Ryan apologised. I hope it was a genuine one.

*

*** Ryan’s POV ***

*

Yesss, my plan was working just fine. She was suspicious at first, but I think she believed me. Actually, I could win more if I was nicer to her than a PS5. She was a sexy and cool girl so I would be happy to have her as my booty call. Not to mention her Camaro, now that we were friends, maybe she would even let me drive it. She wouldn’t be that clingy as Bianca, I was sure about that.

I went upstairs to my room and took a shower. I couldn’t wait for tomorrow to come. I texted Tyler and Dominic about my success and they weren’t so happy as I was. They wanted to win too, but I told them not to think about sabotaging my plan, because that would be cheating.

It was late already so I decided to go to bed. I planned on calling Bianca over for some fun, but that would have to wait. She would just ruin my chance with Mia and I couldn’t have that now.

When I woke up in the morning, I had an idea, so after I got ready and had some breakfast, I went over to Mia's and rang the doorbell.

“Ryan?” She asked with a surprised expression when she opened the door.

“Good morning. Since I ruined your bike, I want to give you a lift to school. I know you have a car, a nice one at that, but please let me do this for you.” I told her in a sweet voice, I hoped she would agree.

“Okay, let me just grab my backpack and I am good to go.” She said hesitantly.

“Where is your mom?” I asked her when she came out of the house.

“She has left already. She works in the hospital, so she is there a lot, sadly.” She said and I felt sorry for her. She was alone most of the time. That must be lonely.

“What about your dad?” I asked her, but I regretted it as soon as the words left my lips. The sadness in her eyes told me everything. “It’s okay, you don’t need to answer. We will pick Dom and Tyler up first, their house is just by the end of the street.” I told her to change the subject.

“Okay, they are those two guys who were with you yesterday, the twins?” She asked.

“Yes, you will like them, I know,” I said with a grin. We reached their house and they were already waiting for us.

“Oh, hi Mia.” Tyler and Dom said in unison.

“Hi, both of you. Is this a 'twins thing' by you two?” She asked them laughingly.

“Yes, it is.” They said again in unison and we all burst out laughing.

“You were right, I like them.” She told me with a smile and the two of them were grinning like idiots.

“So Mia, did you forgive Ryan after what he did yesterday?” Dominic asked her. I glared at him through the review mirror to warn him with my eyes.

“Hmmm... yeah, I guess so. Let’s just say that he got a chance to make it right....” She said kindly “...but I will keep my eyes open.” She added and looked at me with a pointed look.

“I promised I would stop being a jerk to you... and I will keep it, you will see.” I told her with a smile.

“Yes, we will see.” She said and I parked the car in the front of the school where I used to park since I first stepped into this school. I had an Opel Astra, nothing special, but it was good for now. There were a lot of students already in the front of the school and everybody was watching us. What was wrong with them? Why were they staring? I thought, when I realised they were looking at us because of Mia. I never brought a girl to school before, they will start to gossip now and everybody will talk about this. I didn’t care what they said to be honest, so we just walked inside, the four of us, side by side.

“Mia, what is your first class?” Tyler asked her and I was curious as well.

“Mmm... English literature.” She said after she checked her timetable.

“I will have that too, let’s sit together.” Dominic said excitedly and dragged her away.

“See you guys later.” I called after them but they didn’t hear me.

“I will kill your brother, I swear.” I told Tyler frustratedly. “He is sabotaging me.” I groaned.

“You know how he is. I don’t think he did it on purpose...” Ty said with a laugh. He was right, Dom was always like that “...and just look at the bright side , if she likes us , she will hang out with us more, so you will have more chances with her as well.” He said and he was right again.

“Okay, I took it back, let’s go to class.” I told him and we went on our separate ways.