Joke Me Something Awful [Jon Walker]--06

"So, you're moving in after I move out?" Ryder questioned as the two of us lazily walked around the outside shopping center, after James had left us to go to work.

I nodded.

"Yeah, I need a change." I said, looking away.

His laugh was pleasant and it made me laugh a little as well.

"Ashlynn, your apartment is down the street from ours. How much of a change will that be?" Ryder laughed.

"The windows are all facing a different direction." I said lightly, making him laugh even more.

I giggled as well and fingered the zipper on my white jacket.

The thing I liked about Ryder was that he was easygoing and never made anyone feel awkward or uncomfortable.

Maybe it was his laugh, or his smile, that did it, but I was at ease with him.

"Anyway, I'm not leaving for another two months or something, so I would like to see you more often, Ash. Do you want to go to dinner tomorrow night?" He asked sweetly, giving me that killer smile.

Maybe the two hemispheres of my brain started a quick struggle, but it was over with before I could even acknowledge it.

"Sure, that would be great." I agreed, smiling.

Didn't I deserve this?

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I slid a deep green dress over my head and watched in the mirror as it fell to my knees.

It was my favorite dress.

I fixed up my hair and put on the pearl necklace that my dad had given me on my eighteenth birthday.

I put on some black eyeliner, but decided I didn't really need too much makeup; I was looking pretty good already, if I may say so.

And I was giddy.

It would be my first 'date' since high school, and I think I was developing a crush on Ryder already.

Who needed Jon?

But deep inside, my heart ached and I almost wished that Jon would burst through the front door of our apartment, proclaiming his love for me, before Ryder came to pick me up.

Don't get me wrong, Ryder is a nice guy, but then there's Jon...

Pushing the confusing thoughts out of my head, I smiled widely as the doorbell rang.

"Ready to go?" Ryder asked sweetly, and I almost mistook him for Ryan Ross.

They are just so alike!

I nodded and we walked out together, not holding hands or anything but occasionally, on our way to the restaurant, our hands brushed against each other.

At the Italian restaurant, which wasn't too fancy, but it wasn't like a fast food joint either, Ryder and I sat across from each other at a small, two-person table...and I felt weird.

My stomach hurt, to say the least.

Nervousness? Maybe...

I blushed a lot throughout our meal, as Ryder and I talked about high school, college, all that good stuff.

I managed to learn that he was going to New York because his Aunt bought him an apartment up there for school...and I think he may have even hinted that he wanted someone to go there with him...

I avoided that conversation, just in case.

Ryder ordered ice cream for the two of us when we finished with our main courses, and then I got a phone call, which I took in the privacy of the bathroom.

"Hello?" I asked breathlessly, having walked as quickly as I could so I wouldn't miss the call.

In my rush, I had forgotten to look at the Caller ID.

"Ash?"

It was Jon.

My heart froze, along with my breathing and my movements.

What was I even supposed to be thinking?

"Jon, I'm in the middle of something." I stated firmly, determined to finish my date with Ryder without this kind of thing.

Wasn't I trying to get over Jon?

Didn't I deserve better?

Shoot me now, because suddenly I wasn't sure of anything.

"...Oh, ok. But Ash? Will you call me when you're done? Please?" Jon begged, and I could almost see his face in front of me, contorted with a pained expression.

Jeez, I knew this boy too well.

I sighed, itching to get out of the bathroom before Ryder thought I had bathroom problems of something.

"Yeah, I'll call you in a bit, ok?" I hung up on him, without waiting for an answer.

And if you can believe it, my heart hurt even worse.

I sighed again, wiped my forehead, and walked calmly out of the bathroom to join Ryder at our table.