Chapter 2

 

The car ride was, for the most part, silent and awkward. Ryden wasn’t exactly sure what to say. She knew she needed to thank him or say something polite, but how do you go about doing that to a stranger who you had only met an hour ago. She silently glanced at the man and bit her lip.

“Uh…Teddy-shi…thank you…for…this.” She said, silently cursing herself for not coming up with something better to say. The older man laughed,

“Just call me oppa.” He said. Ryden’s eyes widened and she looked at him,

“Oppa?” she exclaimed. Teddy nodded, still smiling,

“There you go, much better.”

“w-wait..” Ryden stuttered. Teddy glanced at her and smiled at her stuttering. “You’re not my…my…”

“Oppa means brother too. It doesn’t always have to be a term referring to a significant other.” Ryden sighed. She looked uncomfortable, but she also looked like she understood. “You don’t have to call me oppa if you don’t want to though” he said, feeling a little down. Ryden noticed and quickly shook her head.

“No oppa, it’s fine.” She said quietly. Teddy bit the inside of his lip to keep from smiling, giving her a short nod.

“So what about your mom? Should I come in and explain what happened to her daughter?” he asked. Ryden shook her head again,

“No it’ll be fine. She might freak out even more if she saw if was a guy like you.” Teddy raised an eyebrow,

“A guy like me?” Ryden’s eyes widened immediately.

“I didn’t mean that offensively. It’s just that you’re a guy and you dress like that- I mean there’s nothing wrong with the way you dress! Its just not the style that my mom likes and then there’s the fact that you’re-.” Ryden stopped talking and looked down at the hands in her lap, picking at a string on the brace.

“I’m older?” Teddy asked. Ryden shrugged,

“I’m assuming you are…” she said quietly. Teddy smiled.

“I guess it’s bad to hang out with older guys in your world, huh?” Ryden shrugged again.

“It’s not my way of seeing things it’s my mom’s.” Teddy nodded and put his focus back on the road ahead of him.

“Listen. I’m 33. I know you probably haven’t even hit your twenties yet. I’m sorry if you’re freaked out over this.” Ryden looked up at him,

“…I’m 19. I’m not really freaked out…you’re the one who brought it up. Maybe you’re freaked out.” She said, trying to make a joke and make him smile. Teddy laughed and looked at her,

“Yeah…maybe you’re right.”

 

They pulled up in front of the small house and remained silent. Teddy watched as the younger girl looked nervously out the window, fidgeting with her hands in her lap.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come in with you?” he asked one more time. Ryden nodded and smiled at him,

“Thank you for helping me today.” She said bowing her head slightly. Teddy chuckled,

“It was nothing. Really.” Ryden smiled and turned back to face the house.

“I guess I should get going. It’s getting late. She must be wondering where I am.” Teddy nodded. Then an idea came to his head,

“Hey! Let’s exchange numbers!” he said. Ryden looked back in his direction.

“I don’t have a phone.” She said apologetically. Teddy frowned,

“How can you not have a phone? You’re 19!” Ryden sighed,

“Well…we just got here…and I never really had a use for a phone back in the states.” She said quietly. Teddy sighed, then pulled a pen out of his pocket and turned back towards the back seat, searching for a piece of paper. Once he found one, he wrote a serious of numbers on it and handed it to her.

“Keep this with you and if you ever need anything, call it.” He said. Ryden accepted it and nodded slowly. “I’m serious. Run into and trouble and get to the nearest phone booth.” He said. Ryden nodded again. Teddy looked at her seriously, “Do you remember where that building was?” he asked. Ryden frowned, confused, but nodded. “Do you think you can make it there on your own?” he asked. She nodded once again, unsure of where he was going with this. “Come for a visit around noon if you want.” He said. Ryden looked at him with wide eyes and Teddy cringed inside. The girl in front of him was too cute. When her eyes widened and she met his, his stomach dropped just a little bit, and he got a feeling in his chest that he couldn’t explain. He knew it was wrong to feel this way about a girl who was 14 years younger than him, but he couldn’t help if. ‘Just tomorrow.’ He thought, ‘I’ll let it go for tomorrow and then I’ll stop.’ “So what do you say?” he asked. Ryden thought for a second then nodded,

“I guess that would be okay.” She answered. Teddy grinned,

“Perfect. You can have lunch and meet everyone.” He exclaimed.

“Everyone?” she asked, slightly confused.

“Yeah, the rest of the gang. They’d like you, I can already tell.” He said. Ryden bit her lip nervously and nodded.

“I’ll see you tomorrow then.” She said quietly.

“Goodnight Ryden.” Teddy said as she got out of the care. Ryden bowed,

“Goodnight oppa.”