CHAPTER 4 BREAKING THE ICE

The air inside the library was electric, and Jenna, wearing a blue floral dress, swung the large wooden doors wide open. They quickly looked at Ryan, who sat at the table with several books on it, lowering his head and concentrating. Realizing he was aware of her, he turned his head toward her, a smile that began lazily curving his lips, making her feel something as light as a butterfly in her chest. “Hello Parker,” Ryan said with a low and pleasant tone. ”Are you prepared to get immersed in the world of the Industrial Revolution?” Jenna carefully took the nearest seat, which placed her right beside him something she wouldn’t have done a week ago. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” she responded, although her heart was pounding more than she would have liked. Their legs touched under the table and she felt a shiver up her spine. When they provide their material on the table and make a fortress of knowledge between them, Jenna gradually is attracted by Ryan’s humor and deep thinking. It was the facade of the bad boy that was slowly and steadily fading before her eyes to expose a man who was even more interesting. “Well,” Ryan began, looking serious, “I was pondering about the social effects; you know, The Industrial Revolution had dramatic effects on the family system. ” Jenna’s eyes opened wide in surprise, but there was interest in them. "Really? How so?" Ryan grew excited, as if he had never seen her before. “Well, before industrial revolution, people of a family used to work collectively in farms or petty workshops but factories altered all these things At once, men were going out to work for hours, women were coming out for work, and there was no such thing as childhood, which is observed today. ” "Wow, that is amazing,” said Jenna, staring at Ryan with different eyes. At this point, the subject asks the informant, ‘Where did you learn all this?’ Ryan’s facial muscles relaxed and for the briefest of moments he looked lost and afraid. “My grandpa, he used to sit me down and tell me about the family’s history, made me all into history, I suppose. ” Jenna felt a heat in her chest region. “Thank you, that is really beautiful Ryan. I had no idea that you are so into history. ” They looked at each other, and sparks seemed to fly between them. Ryan was quiet when he began to talk once more. “You know very little about me, Jenna and I presume there is a lot you were never told about me. ” The words were plain but the tone of voice when he said ‘but’ gave a clear indication of the man’s challenge. Finally, Jenna felt ready to go the whole hog. Well, to begin with, I am an artist. Art is my way of coping, my passion. ” Ryan moved closer to the screen, for the first time really listening to what she was saying. “Ah, really? Mine happens to be the…” “Ah… Bit of everything,” Jenna said, her face slowly reddening. ‘But recently I have been enjoying water colors a lot, You see how the colors mix and how they move… It feels like painting feelings on the paper. ’ “When are you going to let me see some of your pieces?” Ryan asked, and his tone was gentle, almost pleading. ”Perhaps,” said one of them, “after we have vanquished this project?” Jenna smiled, ‘Yes Jenna nodded her head in agreement. "It's a date. " They looked at each other and the words that they had just said resonated heavily in the air. From then on, it was the deluge. They had a good laugh and little looks that said much between them, as they continued with their conversation. They found out that they have lots in common- from the type of movies they both enjoy watching to the fact that they both can’t stand calculus. With time passing by so unconsciously, Ryan looked at the time and whistled. “Oh man we’ve been at this forever now. Do you want to take a break and have a coffee. On me. ” Jenna blinked, and then she threw discretion to the wind. “You know what? I’d love to. “ They were able to sit themselves down in what they considered as a secluded part of a nearby cafegreen with the smell of coffee permeating the air. Ryan took a sip and looked at her intently without taking his eyes off Jenna’s face. “You know, you are very different from anyone I have ever met You do not limit yourself to the first layer of people’s exterior. ” Jenna felt warmth blooming in her chest. “I could say the same for you, Ryan”, she replied, “There is so much more to you than a pretty face”. He had a good, hearty laugh which was deep and resonant. “Hey Parker, you better stop that, or else I will have to show you all my cards. ” The noises of the outside world gradually disappeared as the two of them continued to speak. He mentioned his desire to build a company that would deal with restoration of classic motorcycles and the passion in him was clearly seen as he explained the mechanics of old motorcycle engines to her. Jenna dreamt to go to art school and yet she had her anxieties of not being adequate to go along with her love for creating. “You know,” Ryan said, grabbing her hand across the table and holding it “I have seen the way you see this world and its subtle beauty that other people do not see, I bet your art is amazing. ” Jenna blushed but she did not shy away from him and did not remove her hand. “Oh, you’re welcome Ryan. Thanks for saying that to me. ” The two grew even closer as the night advanced. The main characters were laughing with each other and then, the conversation became more serious and the characters shared some secrets with each other. Next, Ryan talked about his father and how they were not on good terms – the suffering in his eyes made Jenna’s heart cry. In return, she share her anxieties about her parents, that they expect a lot from her and she does not want to let them down. “Hey,” Ryan whispered and took her hand into his own. “You’re incredible just the way you are and whoever cannot see that, is blind. ” The earnestness with which he said it made Jenna’s breath hitch. She raised her eyes to his face and saw how he looked at her, passionate and she had the impression of falling into his eyes, dark brown. ”Ryan,” she breathed out in hushed tones, feeling her pulse race. "What's happening between us?" He looked deep into her eyes, and using his thumb, slowly caressed the back of her hand. “I’m not sure, Jenna,” I tell her truthfully, “But I do like it. A lot. ” Their relationship was somewhat tense; one could say that the air between them was charged. Jenna realized that she wanted to move closer and closer to him as if pulled in by some magnetic force. The free hand came up and gently cupped her cheek, the tingles shooting through her face and down to her toes. “Can I kiss you?” he whispered and his gaze lingered in her eyes. Jenna just simply nodded in response, she was speechless. When Ryan kissed her on the lips, gently at first, it was as if the earth had been turned upside down for her. The kiss got more passionate and progressing to a more romantic touch. When they both broke apart; panting and blushing; Jenna knew that things could never be the same again. “Wow,” Ryan said softly, his face buried in her neck, his arms still wrapped tightly around her. Jenna giggled and she felt that she was on top the world. "Yeah, wow. " When they left the café hand in hand, feeling the cool night air on their faces and their cheeks, Jenna felt like she was floating on cloud nine. Ryan wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly, and then kissed her on the temple. “So, what happens now?” he asked and was it hope and apprehension that colored his tone of voice. Jenna held his hand tightly and felt that anything is possible. “Now, we see where this takes us, together. ” He followed her back to the school parking lot and they continued to kiss and make vague promises under the cover of darkness. When they got to Jenna’s car, Ryan hugged her tightly From the look on his face, Jenna knew he was serious. He whispered the following into her hair, “I do not wish this night to end. ” Jenna slightly tensed and , lifting her eyes to his, she saw a quite unfamiliar expression in them. ‘It doesn’t have to. ’ This is just the beginning; said Ryan. Their last kiss was passionate and full of desire but the desire for much more than just kissing. Due to this, the moment Jenna was driving back home, her thoughts would always run back to their time together, the times they laughed, the time he touched her. She still felt that the situation was on the edge of something significant, and she was right. That night, as she lay in bed, her phone buzzed with a text from Ryan: “Have been thinking about you all day babe. Night angel. ” Jenna went to bed with the smile on her lips and sweet visions of Ryan and the future in her head. The next morning Jenna woke up early feeling nervous for no particular reason, she could not put her finger on it. Each morning when dressing for school she realized that she started caring for how she looked much to the extend of what Ryan would feel about her. On getting to school, she was overwhelmed with joy when she first set her eyes on Ryan leaning on her locker with a stem of a red rose. “Good morning, beautiful,” he said and the smile that lit his face made her feel like she couldn’t stand properly. When he was putting the rose in her hands, their hands touched and she felt that familiar jolt go through her. “Ryan, it’s beautiful,” she said, and placing the flower at her nose she inhaled. “Not as beautiful as you,” he said passionately staring into her eyes. Jenna linked her fingers with his and walked arm and arm to the class with people staring at them, yet she felt as if everything was right. Regardless of what else was in the future for them, no matter what difficulties they may have to endure, she was confident in one thing: she could do it if Ryan was at her side. The Industrial Revolution project that had created their relationships now seemed so far away, replaced by the revolution taking place in their emotions. As they prepared to sit in class, smiling at each other in a way that only lovers do, Jenna realized that this was only the start of the movie. It is the story of two people who are connected in a way that seems almost impossible, and of walls breaking down. The bell rang, and it marked the beginning of the class for Jenna and Ryan, but it was the beginning of the revolution they never thought they would undergo.