CHAPTER 5 UNLIKELY FRIENDS

The next week is like a romance novel; Jenna and Ryan’s bond becomes stronger with each day passing it becomes like a novel. Their project sessions became largely a guise to be near each other, they looked at each other in a way that was suggestive of much more than simple friendship, and the touch of hands where it was not necessary when reaching for a book. One afternoon, as they exited the school, Sarah interrupted the girls’ reunion, and thus broke the circle of trust. “Well, well, well,” she said, with a rather cocky grin on her lips. ‘’If it isn’t the new power couple of Jefferson High . ’’ Jenna looked down at the table and her face reddened, but Ryan grabbed her around the waist. “Well,” he drawled, and his gaze still on Jenna’s face, “what can I say?”“Some revolutions are worth to join. ” Sarah looked astounded and her smile grew even broader across her face. ‘Oh my god you two are actually together! Why Jenna why didn’t you inform me?’ Jenna giggled, nervously, a little because of Ryan’s bear like hug but she was happy that he was here. ‘It is. . fresh. We are still in the process of finding our way. ” ”Well, color me impressed,” Sarah said, looking at Ryan with appreciation. “You better start taking care of her Mitchell or else you have me to deal with. ” The boy’s usual smirk disappeared and he looked at Jenna. ”Oh, I do not know what to say, you must be so lucky!” While Sarah was leaving, Ryan looked at Jenna and winked. Thus, “are you still interested in that study at the park?” Their ‘session’ at the park was nothing like a normal study session one would imagine. Lying on the blanket, they left their books aside, and instead of discussing what was written there, they discussed everything under the sun and slowly but steadily moved closer to each other. ‘Something that nobody else knows about you,’ asked Ryan and raising his hand to support his head, he twirled a lock of Jenna’s hair. Jenna felt her heart thump when he touched her. ‘The only thing I have always wished to do is to watch the Northern Lights,’ she said. “To be able to be that close the the heavens when the sky is spinning and to have that sensation of being larger than life…of being infinite. ” Ryan's eyes softened. Jenna, that is not mundane, and not cheesy at all! I can see you there and your eyes sparkling like the rainbow. ”Your turn,” Jenna said softly. Ryan paused, then he pulled out a small notebook from his back pocket, it looked fairly old. “I write poetry. ” Silent tears started to well in his eyes and that look, that heart breaking, lost boy look, was something that made Jenna’s heart heavy. ”Do you…would you like to hear one?” Jenna nodded, mesmerized. Just like in the previous episodes, Ryan narrated in a soft spoken, singing to some extent, and the emotions that he conveyed were desire, anticipation, and the blossoming of a new love. When he had finished, Jenna found herself crying.” Ryan, that was …incredible,” she said softly. He stared at her, then he moved towards her, pulling her close. They hardly touched their lips and they kissed with such innocence and shyness but the passion that was exhibited was enough to make one desire the same. When they are done, both panting and looking rosy, Jenna got the feeling that the axis of her existence had changed. ”You’re amazing,” Ryan whispered and their foreheads touched. “Oh yes,” Jenna said happily. "Wow. " It did not take long before people realized that they were in a relationship. At school, people turned their heads to look at them and whispered behind their backs all the time. Lunch made Mark to express his disbelief to the maximum. "Seriously, Jenna?" he exclaimed. Is it still ‘we’re just friends’ Ryan Mitchell? Jenna could sense Ryan getting stiff by her side and she curled her fingers tightly around his palm. ;Well, things change, Mark, and, you know, Ryan is not the man that everybody believes he is. Emily folded her arms on the table and she was evidently enthusiastic. ‘It’s like sweet love, the good girl and the bad boy, they should not be together, but they fall in love. ’ “It’s not a movie, Em,” Sarah laughed but the sound that came from her mouth was musical. “Though at times I have to say you both do seem to be in love. ” Ryan smiled, his usual smirk back on his face. ”Well, what can I do? Jenna always makes me act like a gentleman. ” In the home setting however, Jenna’s family was a little more reserved. At dinner one evening her father looked tense and after swallowing hard he said. “Jenna, about this Ryan boy. ” Jenna prepared herself but her mother came in all guns blazing. ”That is why we are concerned dear, we just want to be sure that you are being safe, we have heard some things…. ” “I know what people say about him,” Jenna said in a very authoritative tone. They do not know him like I do and all that he is, the kind man he is, the smart man he is and how happy he makes me. Her parents looked at each other before her father let out a breath. “Okay. But we need to formally introduce ourselves to him. Can you invite him for dinner this weekend?” Jenna's heart leapt. "Really? Thanks, Dad!" Weeks went by and Jenna and Ryan become not only close friends but more than friends. They became more open to each other, tearing down their barriers gradually, literally building their wall down to the bare bricks. This one time, Ryan decided to take Jenna to a secluded area near the old library after school one evening. “Shut your eyes,” he said in a rather animated manner. When Jenna opened them she was astonished. A small, dingy and basic art room was set up before her and fairy lights had been hung above. Paintings and drawings were lying on the floor, which gave the place a rather fairy-tale like ambience. “Ryan this is mind blowing”, Jenna said in dismay, looking at everything closely. "Is this all yours?" Ryan nodded, suddenly shy. Yes. This is my secret place. I mostly paint and write here. And… I wanted to show it to you. Jenna squinted to ward off the thickness overtaking her throat and the burning sensation welling up in her eyes. ”I appreciate you availing this information to me. ” They passed it mainly creating, with Ryan painting and Jenna drawing, the company that required no speaking, but was still full of understanding. Retrieved from 80: This particular scene was captured at night and as the night got black, Ryan hugged Jenna tightly. ‘you know’, he said softly, his lips touching her ears lightly. “You have changed all for me, Jenna Parker. ” Jenna looked up at him feeling so happy inside that she couldn’t hold it in anymore. “You have changed many things in my life too,” It’s is another way of saying that to him. The kiss under the glittering stars was sweet, like a word of assurance, a start of something beautiful. That night as Jenna drove home with her head filled with Ryan, her lips curved into a weak smile. She understood that there would be wannabes, sceptics, critics, people who would rolled their eyes and give sniffing glances and worst of all people who would doubt her. So with Ryan by her side she thought nothing could go wrong. Because at times, the brass, which appeared absolutely inconsequential, was just as potent. And Jenna was willing to explore that…as far as this new-found love can bring her, wanted to see.