Unstoppable

by Christina Marie

  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 prom 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.

  I nodded my head then stepped away from him, so we could find Star. When we did find her, she was not happy that it was time for her to go home. Ryder told her she would be grounded if she was late and she practically sprinted out of the gymnasium.

  On the ride to her house she talked about how much fun it was and tried to sing some of her favorite songs that she had danced to. Ryder smiled and sang along with her until we pulled in to her driveway. He quickly got out of the car and jogged around the front to the passenger door and opened the door for Star. Once she was out he flipped the lever and folded the seat forward then held his hand out for me.

  “We need a self-picture with all three of us!” Star smiled big and pulled her phone out of her purse.

  “Ah yes how could we ever forget to take a SELFIE?” Ryder said with a laugh. With Ryder standing between us, he bent his knees so he was closer to the same height. First I used Star’s phone to take the picture, then his, then mine. “All I can see now is dots.” He blinked his eyes rapidly causing both Star and I to laugh at him.

  John and Marie were laughing when we walked in the house, “Selfie times three huh? Thank you so much for taking her and bringing her home on time.” Her mom hugged each of us. We hugged Star then left.

  “Well, I don’t know why neither of us thought about this before; they won’t let us back in to the dance since we left.” Ryder said when he was inside the car again.

  “It’s okay you can take me home I’m sure they’ll let you back in. I think they’ll be understanding.”

  He backed out of the driveway and drove the opposite direction of my house and the school. “You really don’t like being around me do you?”

  I shifted in my seat, “I didn’t say that.” I gave him a small smile.

  We rode in silence until we were a few miles outside of town. He pulled the Charger into a lookout cliff that overlooked the city. He shut the engine and headlights off. Still silence filled the cab. “You don’t have to say it Harley. I just want to know how the hell we’ve grown up around each other, I mean shit, we shared a fucking play pen as babies. Yet over the years you’ve pulled away from me. I’d like to know what I’ve ever done.” Before I could say anything he jerked opened his door and got out of the car. I watched him pace back and forth in front of the car, his hands clasped together on top of his head, then he rested them on his hips and stared at me. I gently opened the door and got out of the car then walked to him. He never took his steely blue eyes off of me.

  “I don’t hate you, honestly I don’t. We just grew up and grew a part. We’ve always been friends, I just don’t run with the same group of people at school as you do.”

  He shook his head, “Run with the same group of people? That’s bullshit and you know it. I’m friends with the same people as you.”

  “Ryder what brought this on?” I asked with a sigh.

  He took a step toward me and pinned me against the front of his car by placing his hands on each side of my hips. “You didn’t want to go with me tonight, you tried to avoid having one fucking dance with me. But do you know what I didn’t miss? I didn’t miss the way you melted into me, the way your breathing changed, the way you inhaled my scent and shivered. Do you want to know what else I didn’t miss?” he wouldn’t stop staring intently and intensely into my eyes. “I didn’t miss that jolt of fucking electricity when we touched. I sure as fuck know you didn’t miss it.” His lips were right next to my ear; his scent enveloped me, his hot breath against my skin made goose bumps prickle in waves over my entire body. “And I’m not missing the way we both feel right this fucking second.” He kissed the overheated skin on my neck.

  Chapter 4

  The very second my lips touched her skin and I felt the goose bumps against my lips I had to take a deep breath and slow down. She smelled like a mixture of fresh fruits, apples, peaches, and pomegranate. I moved one hand away from the hood of my car and with a feather light touch moved my fingers slowly up her arm, feeling the brail of goose bumps under my fingertips. Our breathing was shallow, but my heart was rapidly pounding inside my chest.

  “Ryder…” she whispered as I continued to press kisses against her neck until I reached her pulse point. I could feel that her heart was beating just as fast and hard as mine was. I didn’t say anything when she rolled her head to the side giving me even better access to her skin. Her body was almost trembling as my hand ran across the front of her shoulder up the side of her face and stopped when my palm was resting against her cheek and jaw. She put her shaking hands against my abdomen and slowly untucked my dress shirt, when her hands met my skin my muscles flexed causing her to stop. “Ryder…” she whispered again. I couldn’t wait another second, I had to taste that sweet breath that was breezing across my collarbone. I lifted my other hand, cupped the other side of her face and lowered my lips to hers. We both sucked in a short breath, this was the first time we had ever kissed each other. I sucked her bottom lip gently and swiped the tip of my tongue across it, her hands slid over my rib cage to my back leaving a trail of searing heat behind them. Then she flicked her tongue against my top lip, I tilted her head and pressed the tip of my tongue against hers. She pulled me tighter against her, there was no hiding how hard my dick was since it was firmly pressed against her stomach. I kept waiting for her to pull away or push me away but she didn’t. Each time she would moan and caress my skin I wanted more of her, but this wasn’t the time or the place for more than what was happening right now.

  My cell phone rang in my pocket, our kiss paused, we were breathing heavy against each other’s lips. Dad was calling but I sure as fuck wasn’t going to answer. I lifted Harley and set her on the hood of the car, I couldn’t resist kissing her—tasting more of her. Standing between her legs I placed a hand on her knee and started sliding my hand up her thigh, she lightly bit my lip and pulled me closer to her. She gently raked her fingernails up and down my back sending currents of electricity over my skin, we moaned into each other. I slid my hand under her dress and toward her center, my cell phone rang again. Dad was calling again, “Maybe you should answer it, he’s called twice.” Harley said against my lips. I didn’t want to answer I wanted to keep exploring Harley’s silky skin.

  I slammed the palm of my hand down on the hood with a growl and pulled my phone out of my pocket and answered it, “Yeah?”

  “Hey sorry, I know you’re at the prom thing but we just rushed Prez to the hospital. Your mom wanted me to call you.”

  Harley heard him and pushed me away then tug
ged the bottom of her dress down. She quickly stepped past me and got in the car.

  “Alright we’ll be there in a few.” I told him then hung up. I looked at Harley, she was looking down at her hands. I walked around the car and got in. After a few miles of silence I reached for Harley’s hand. “Why are you so quiet over there?” I asked.

  She didn’t take my hand, “That can’t happen again.” She said softly.

  I laughed once, “What? Why the fuck not?”

  “BECAUSE Ryder…I’m not one of your little high school whores! I won’t be.” She finished.

  I clenched my jaw pulled my hand away and drove the rest of the way in silence. I had too many things running through my head and knew that if I tried to tell her that I wanted only her, that she wouldn’t believe me.

  We pulled into the hospital parking lot, Harley was opening her door and getting out of the car as soon as I pulled into a parking stall. I hurried to get out and caught up with her, I grabbed her by her wrist and spun her around pulling her into my chest. Her eyes were big but she didn’t try to push away. I cupped her face in my hands and roughly pressed my mouth to hers, she fisted my shirt in her hands and met me with just as much force. Then she tried to push me away, I held her tight, “Someday Harley you’ll let me prove to you how much you mean to me.” I whispered against her lips. She pushed harder, so I let her go.

  “Fix your shirt.” Was all she said then she walked away from me and into the hospital entrance. Dad was standing there with a grin on his face. Harley ducked her head and said Hi to him as she rushed past him. I tried to walk by him too but his arm shot out against my chest stopping me. Bryan walked out at that exact same time.

  “Prez is going to strangle Syd,” he looked from dad to me, “Is that fucking lip gloss on your lips and cheek?” he looked closer. “You little mother fucker!” then he tried to lunge at me. Dad laughed and stepped between us. “You little son of a bitch!” Bryan yelled and tried to get around dad.