Unstoppable (3 page)

What in the hell was she talking about?  There was nothing between me and Ryder besides a sorta-kinda friendship.  Ok we were friends we just didn’t run with the same group of people, or hardly socialize with each other anymore.  If he thought going to Prom together would get him laid he was very sadly mistaken. 

I should have just fucking kissed her in the garage that weekend, but I knew it would end up with her knee meeting my dick.  A dick that was straining against the denim of my jeans none the less. 

Harley was beautiful, like, Carrie Underwood beautiful and a body to match.  But for some reason she wouldn’t even look twice at me.  Not even at the family barbeques, if and when she did it was usually a look of disgust.  I’m not saying that having a different chic at my side helped her opinion of me any, but she never showed any kind of interest in me.  Was it a dick move to flaunt different girls in front of her, Yep!  But like I said she showed no interest. 

I had been watching her since the seventh fucking grade, when she had started to ‘develop’; it wasn’t just that about her though.  It was Harley’s personality, her no non-sense, no bullshit attitude.  Harley wasn’t like any of the other girls in our class, hell she wasn’t like any of the other girls in our school.  She was so fucking smart, she loved to help people that were struggling with school work, life problems…you name it—she could always put a smile on their face.  She never went to any of the high school parties, she wasn’t a cheerleader, and she didn’t play sports but the girl loved to work out at the gym our moms owned together. 

One evening my mom caught me watching Harley while she did some kind of Zumba workout.  Harley had turned into the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on.  Watching her dance, her face flushed and sweaty, the way she moved her hips in perfect rhythm with the music. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her.

“She probably knows you’re staring.” My mom jabbed a finger into my ribcage. 

“Uhh…” I rubbed the back of my neck, I was busted.  We stood there and watched the class, well, I watched Harley until the song was over.  “So maybe you should ask her to the Prom this year?”

I snorted, “She will probably laugh in my face.  We don’t exactly get along, mom.”

“Oh please Ryder, she won’t say no.”

“You don’t understand we really don’t get along.” I shook my head. 

“Do you suppose that maybe, just maybe, it’s because she thinks you’re a player with all the other girls?” mom cocked one eyebrow at me. 

I could feel myself blush, “I might have dated them but I only had sex with one.” I shrugged a shoulder.

Mom shook her head, “She doesn’t know that, thank you for not making me a Grandma with that one time.”

“We had sex more than once, I just said I haven’t had sex with…” with the look mom was giving me I quickly shut up.  “Anyways…” I wanted to change the subject.

“Anyways—ask her, or, I will for you.”

I laughed, “You stand a better chance of getting her to say yes than what I do, trust me.  Twenty bucks says she will say No, or Hell No.” I held my hand out so mom could shake it. 

“It’s a deal.” Her smile was pure evil. 

Had I not agreed to take Star with us to the prom, I would have won myself twenty dollars from mom.  Instead I lost twenty.  It was worth it though because I knew that Star would have a blast hanging out with Harley and me.

That Monday I did exactly what I told Harley I would do.  Star’s screeching “YES!” made my ears ring, but, the smile on her face was priceless.  She hugged me then asked if I would take her for a ride on my “scooter” after school.

“Star it’s a Harley Davidson Fat Boy you’re giving it a complex calling it a scooter.” I said with a laugh.

She waved a hand, “All the same in my books, OH,” her eyes got big, “I have to find Harley and tell her we have a date this year.  Bye Ryder!” Her bright red hair almost whipped me in the face when she spun around.

After school she was waiting on the steps for me, Harley double checked Stars helmet and threated me before she finally let us leave.  The fact that she didn’t trust me pissed me off.  Star was so excited I had to pull over a half a block away.  “Okay Star you can’t be bouncin’ around back there.  You need to calm down so I don’t wreck…okay?”

“Okay—sorry.” She screamed.  “Do you have to go around corners?  They scare me!” she was still screaming her words in my ear. 

“Star, stop screaming I can hear you.” I laughed.  “Just relax and follow my body movements.  Okay?”

Star giggled, “K Ryder.”

I pulled away from the curb and drove through town, Star would wave at every car that drove past.  “Star you’ve really gotta hang on sweetheart.” I said over my shoulder.

“Eeep…Okay—sorry!” she said without screaming it in my ear.  We rode for about fifteen minutes until Star tapped my shoulder, “I want to see the town from there.” She pointed over my shoulder to the top of the hill.  Luckily there was a side rode so I pulled my motorcycle onto it and helped her off of the bike.  “It’s so pretty up here Ryder!”

“Yeah it is.” I leaned against my bike. 

“You’re in love with Harley aren’t you?” was the next thing she said.

I shook my head, “Random question, Star?”

She smiled, “I think you do love her, it’s okay Ryder your secret is safe with me.”

I laughed, “I’ll just say this.  We don’t feel the same about each other.” I grinned at her.

“You love Harley—you love Harley!” she bounced and smiled. 

“It is what it is Star.  I’d better get you back to the school before she hunts us down.”

“Okay.  I promise I won’t tell her.”

When we pulled into the school parking lot Harley looked up from her phone and shoved it in her pocket.  “Are you trying to give me a panic attack?” she yelled then put her hands on her hips.

“Chill out, I told you she would be fine.” I was pissed.  Why the hell didn’t she trust me?

Star handed me the helmet and hugged me before running over to Harley’s car and getting in.  “You were gone for almost thirty minutes Ryder.  I thought you were going around the block.” Harley was glaring at me.

I took a step toward her causing her to back up until her back was pressed against the side of her car.  “I don’t know what I’ve done that makes you not trust me but you and I both know I’d never do anything to hurt Star.” I lowered my mouth next to her ear, the smell of her shampoo made my mouth water.  “Someday babe you’ll trust me.”  I stepped back and looked down at her and before she could say anything I walked over to my bike and left. 

The following days at school Tori and her friends kept asking me why I would go with somebody like Star.  Those kind of comments only pissed me off and I had to bite my tongue to keep from telling them to fuck off. 

“Actually I know why you’re taking her, you’re just trying to get in Harley’s pants.  Good luck with that.” Tori said. 

I shook my head, “Fuck off Tori.  Harley is ten times a better person than you’ll ever be and Star is twenty times a better person.” I walked away leaving her standing against the lockers, speechless.

My mom was worried about getting my tuxedo, tie, and cummerbund to match Harley and Star’s dresses, so Friday I waited for Harley and Star at Harley’s car since she usually gave Star a ride home from school.  Harley was texting on her phone and didn’t see me standing there until she tripped over my feet.

“What the…” she looked up from her phone.

“Pretty important text huh?” I grinned at her. 

“Yes.  What’s up?” she asked.

“Mom’s bugging me about my tux and everything, so I was wondering if you and Star have your dresses yet?”

“I’m going tomorrow to get one and Star’s mom is going to take her Sunday after church.”

“Will you do me a huge favor and text me a picture so we can get my stuff?”

“Yep.”

There was an awkward silence, “Okay then I guess I’ll see you later.” I smiled at her then walked over to my bike and waited for her to leave. 

Dress shopping was going to be torture I just knew it.  We drove two hours to a small boutique named
Sparkles
.

“Really Mom?  Sparkles?!” I whined.

“Trust me it’s a great little place.” She smiled grabbed her purse and waited in front of the car for me. 

“This is going to suck.” I mumbled as we walked up to the door.

“Oh my hell stop whining!  It’s your senior year you’ve worked hard and kept your GPA at 4.0 so you deserve something fancy.”

A beautiful lady named Macy greeted us.  “Theresa I’m so glad you came back.” She hugged mom.  Then held her hand out to me.  “You’re beautiful just like your momma!  I’m Macy”

“Thank you.” I smiled at her. 

Macy asked what kind of dress I was wanting, their dresses ranged from a couple hundred dollars to price tags that left me speechless.  I tried on dress after dress but none of them were right, “It’s just not you.” Mom would say.

“Okay I think this will be the one, I’m going to blind fold you and help you get it on then you can tell me what you think.” Macy told me.  She tied a white scarf around my head and told mom she had to turn around too.  I could tell as soon as the dress was on that it was the one.  The dress felt like it was made for me, with a silk liner inside, it hugged my body like a glove.  “Can I see it yet?” I asked impatiently. 

“Nope, put these shoes on then you can.” Macy said with a laugh. 

I stepped into what I knew were some very tall high heels, and then Macy turned me around and pulled the blindfold off.  I gasped, “Oh my god.” I whispered.  The dress was a light silver almost white looking, with numerous large rhinestones in different colors that started at the bottom above my knees and faded into tiny little gems.  “It’s so pretty.” Macy was an amazing saleswoman and my mom was right, I loved the little boutique. 

“I’m not sure your dad will be okay with that length…but he’ll just have to get over it.” Mom said.  I would leave it to her to calm him down when he got his first look at me in it. 

“I’ll tell you what, I’ll even come do your hair and makeup if you’d like.” Macy offered. 

“That would be great Macy!” Mom was way more excited than I was about prom.

“I have to text a picture to Ryder so he can get his stuff.” I turned to get my purse but mom and Macy stopped me. 

“He can’t see you in the dress, just send him a text and tell him to get a silver vest or cummerbund.”  Macy said with a grin.

“What is a cummer-whatever?” I asked with a laugh.

She laughed, “I’ll show you, personally I like them better but most guys prefer a vest.”

I sent Ryder the text telling him the color he’d want to get.

Ryder
: 
Can I see a pic plz?

Me
: 
Mom & the saleslady said No, they said to get silver
.

Ryder
: 
Tell your mom that my mom wants a pic!

I turned to mom and told her what he had text, “Fine but HE’S not getting a picture, I know Syd won’t show him.  Smile pretty.”

I rolled my eyes and smiled.  A few minutes later Ryder text me.

Ryder
: 
This is bullshit!  Mom said its cute—no her exact words were OH MY GOD!

I didn’t reply.

Mom sent Star’s mom the picture and told her what color Ryder would be getting for his tuxedo accessories. 

~~~~~

Ryder begged me every day to let him see a picture of the dress. 

“I don’t have it on my phone sorry.”  I laughed.

“Bullshit!” he narrowed his eyes at me.

“Dead serious…here!” I handed him my phone.

He quickly yanked it out of my hand and started flipping through pictures.  I watched and tried not to laugh at the way he was glaring at my pictures with frustration. 

“This is bullshit.” He thrust my phone back at me and walked away.  I couldn’t help but laugh, he heard me and flipped me off over his shoulder. 

Star’s mom had bought her a beautiful deep blue floor length dress that had a light silver bow that tied around the waist.  Star was smiling from ear to ear in the picture. 

~~~~~

The night of prom I was actually nervous while Macy was doing my hair and makeup. 

“Let me see this Ryder kid.  I know Sydney but I haven’t seen Ryder since he was little.”

I grabbed my phone and went to his Facebook page.

“Holy crap he’s…whoa, look at those eyes and…my God he could be a model.”

I laughed, “He’s a brat and whatever you do don’t tell him what you just told me.”

“Did you see his status?” she asked with a big smile.

“No…oh God what does it say?” I tried to grab my phone.

“It says,” she cleared her throat and tried to keep a straight face, “Tonight I’m the luckiest man ever.  I’m taking not just 1 but 2…yes 2 beautiful women to pro
m
be jealous fuckers!”

I rolled my eyes. 

“I clicked Like.” Macy laughed then handed me my phone.

After an hour of having my eyebrows plucked, makeup and hair done, Macy FINALLY told me I could look in the mirror.  Just as I stood to walk over to the mirror my mom walked in and gasped.

“Oh my…” then she started crying.  I finally walked over to the mirror and was speechless.  Completely speechless, Macy had put a colorful ombre on my eyes that made my eyes stand out more than what the smoky affect would have.  A light dusting of blush and pale pink lipstick with a pink lip gloss.  My hair fell in big thick curls down past my shoulders.  “You look so—beautiful isn’t even the word.” Mom sniffled.

Then my dad walked in, “Oh hell no!” he yelled and shook his head.  “You’re missing the other half of the dress!”

Mom quickly shoved him out of the room, “Ignore him.  Okay do you have everything?” she asked.

“Uhh, my lip gloss is in the clutch thingy.”  I told her.

She held up a finger, ran out of the room a few second later she was back and shoved something in my purse.  I walked over and took it from her and looked inside.  “Mother!  I don’t need these!” I yelled. 

Macy walked over and looked inside then started laughing, “If I was going with that little hottie…”

I interrupted her, “Friends is all we will ever be,” I narrowed my eyes at mom, “If you think I’m losing my virginity tonight AND to Ryder none the less, you’re seriously not right in the head.”

“I just…be safe…you know.” Mom told me.  Then the doorbell rang.  Mom and Macy both clapped and rushed out of the room.  I debated on taking the condoms out that mom had stuck in my clutch then decided not to.  If all else failed maybe I could give them to a friend that would actually be using them tonight.  Mom yelled for me, I double checked myself in the mirror, took a deep breath to calm my nerves and left my room.

When I got downstairs and got my first look at Ryder I was shocked at how –sexy he was.  His tuxedo was black, his bowtie was silver and so was his cummerbund.  His hair had been cut and styled with it spiked up like he had run his hands through it.  He was talking to my dad then looked at me, back at dad that was still talking then snapped his head back my direction.  His adam’s apple moved up and down and he wasn’t blinking. 

“See, look at that look!  I fucking told you, my God go fucking find a different dress.” My dad was shaking his head and started walking up the stairs.

“Bryan, shut the hell up.” My mom laughed.

We spent twenty minutes taking pictures then left to go get Star.  Our parents were all going to come to the school so they could take more pictures of us all together.  When we walked out the door my jaw dropped when I saw the car we were taking. 

“You…we…that’s your Charger?”  I stared at the shiny black 1969 Dodge Charger.  I knew he had been working on restoring it but had no idea that it was actually finished

Ryder cleared his throat, “Yeah, finished it a couple of weeks ago.  You uh, ready to go get Star?” he asked.  He seemed nervous probably just a nervous as I was.

I nodded my head and started for the passenger’s door, Ryder quickly stepped past me to open the door for me.  Once I was inside he jogged around the front of the car and got in.  The very second he started it and the dual exhausted rumbled from the powerful engine my skin was covered in goose bumps.  I loved the sound of a good V-8 and loud exhaust pipes.  As we drove across town we still hadn’t said anything.  I finally broke the silence.

“You look nice.  You did a really good job on the car too.”  I smiled and looked at Ryder.  His hand was gripping the steering wheel tight as we waited for the stop light to turn green. 

He shook his head, “You look fucking perfect and beautiful.  I’m glad you like it.” He told me but wouldn’t look at me for some reason. 

“Thanks.” I said back.  The rest of the way to Star’s house we rode in silence.  It was strange for us to have nothing to talk about.  I kept glancing at him out of the corner of my eyes, a couple of times I could tell he was looking at me too.  Everything just felt…awkward.

I chose to let Star sit up front when we left her house.  She looked absolutely beautiful and hadn’t stopped smiling since we showed up at her house. 

Our parents were waiting by the front entrance when we got there; I knew that Ryder wouldn’t trust one of the underclassmen with his car so his dad moved it to the parking lot once we were all three out and ready to enter the school.  Our moms snapped pictures and clapped when the principal announced us while we walked down the blue carpeted sidewalk. 

The very second Tori laid eyes on Ryder she eyed him up and down while making her way over to where we were standing.  I couldn’t understand what Ryder mumbled but he moved to stand behind me and gently placed his hands on my hips.  Tori looked at where his hands were resting, she rolled her eyes and briskly walked past us.  Star couldn’t wait any longer to dance so she pulled Ryder from where he was standing and to the dance area.  Ryder hated to dance, unless it was a slow dance.  Star had him dancing to
Wiggle
by
Jason
Deluro
.  The smile on Star’s face was absolutely priceless the entire time.  Since Star’s curfew was ten thirty she wouldn’t stay off the dance floor. 

“You have to dance with Ryder one time…for me.” She plopped down in a chair beside me. 

“I’m good.” I smiled at her.

“Harleeyy,” she whined, “You look so pretty though just one dance… please?”  she pressed her hands together under her chin.

A slow country song started playing, out of the corner of my eye I could tell somebody was standing next to where I was sitting.  I turned and looked, it was Ryder.  He grinned and held his hand out to me.  Star squealed and clapped her hands then pushed my shoulder almost pushing me off the chair.  The song was by
Lee
Brice
–
I Don’t Dance
. 

“You’ve been dancing all night.” I said and smiled up at Ryder. 

“Been waiting all damn night for you to actually dance with me though.” He didn’t smile he simply stared into my eyes. 

He had his hand held out waiting for me to take it.  We walked to the dance area, Ryder pulled me tightly against his solid chest.  I could feel the dampness of sweat through his dress shirt, his cologne scent mixed with the sweat made me shiver.  Ryder always smelled amazing, but tonight, he oozed sex appeal that even I couldn’t ignore no matter how hard I tried.  As we danced he would rub his thumbs back and forth against my lower back.  I looked around at the other’s that were dancing but I could feel Ryder staring at me.  When I looked up at him he pulled me tighter against him, I had to stretch to clasp my hands behind his neck.  We swayed to the music and stared into each other’s eyes, something felt different in that moment.  Ryder closed his eyes and bowed his head so that his forehead was resting against mine, he quietly sang along.  “ I’d do anything with you anywhere.  Yes you got me in the palm of your hand…” I closed my eyes tighter, whatever he was trying to tell me through the song had me hanging onto him for dear life. 

The song slowed to an end but we didn’t let go of each other right away.  Another fast song started to play before Ryder slowly slid his hands to my hips.  “We uh—should probably get Star home.” His entire chest vibrated from the deepness of his baritone voice.