Because I can ~Ryder~

[Katie Matlin]

She had spent her first night home with Drew, having a load of fun, she realized at first he was acting kind of funny, and when Marisol tried to pull her away at lunch how quick to speak he was. But after school went really well. Katie was in science class, she didn't have a lot of catching up to do because Maya had brought her, her school work everyday faithfully. Katie tapped her pen on her desk lost for an answer to number 3. She reached over opening her book, jotting down the answer in her own words, she elaborated more so then the text book. When she was finished she got up gving the teacher her paper just in time for the bell to ring, it was now her free period. She didn't feel like studying so she walked to her locker grabbing her bag, removing a pair of shorts and a tank top. She went into the bathroom and changed then returned to her locker putting away her uniform. It was the end of the day so she wouldn't have to change back.

Katie smiled seeing Drew in the hall way, she wasn't sure of his scedual but she'd offer. "Come to the work out room with me?" She asked and when he replied he had Algebra 2 she looked down. She looked back up so her eyes could meet his. "Piggy back me there?" She asked with a pouty lip. Before she knew it, he was giving her one right to her destination she held on to him, breathing in his scent and when he placed her on her feet she gave him a kiss and watched him go. Katie walked over to the trendmill and started it, jogging. She looked over at Ryder, whom seemed to be lifting weights and she smiled. "How much can you bench Ry?" She asked him trying to make casual conversation.

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[ryder]

He was swamped with practices for himself lately and even though the seasons of football and hockey weren't entirely at the same time, he still practiced both on his own and trained on his own. Today he was sore but he knew he had to do his usual routine in the weight rom so he headed out of his english class and to the locker rooms. He wasn't too pleased on his way though to hear his little step sister's name coming out of a handfull of mouths, whispers of her being around Eli and then more whispers saying she was getting close with Drew and another about some kid name Brandon and another about Campbell. He shook his head, jesus did kids at Degrassi like to start shit or what? He was lucky that he cared more about himself than her well being though so he went into the locker room and changed into some basketball shorts and a white tshirt before heading into the weight room. He began lifting and when he saw Drew and Katie out of the corner of his eye he kind of wondered if the rumors about Lilli were true and then he shook it off, drew wasn't that stupid to get 3 girls involved... He chuckled abit to himself but then Katie's voice entered his ears and he glanced up and shruggedabit,"Depends on the day to be honest, today I haven't really looked at how much I am benching," he said as he sat up now and he gave her his attention abit more,"So how are you and casanova doing?" he asked with a slight roll of his eyes as he ruffled his hair.

[Katie Matlin]

She jobbed for a bit longer feeling herself sweat then she glanced over at him turning off the machine. She stepped off and sat on the floor and started to stretch a bit. When he asked about Drew and her she smiled at his nick name for Drew and looked down a bit, letting her wavy red hair fall into her face. Could she really say how she felt? Her and Ryder were friends and he didn't seem like the type to talk rumors. She looked around the empty weight room and sighed. "Ryder, to be honest I'm not sure. He acted like everything was fine yesterday when I got back but I've been hearing rumors and I'd always give my boyfriend the benefit of the doubt, I'm just confused. I wouldn't know what to do if I lost him..." Katie admitted biting her bottom lip as she crossed her legs Indian style. The things she heard floating around, kind of bothered her and if they were true she didn't know what she'd do. Everything she worked for, all the time she spent with Drew, her virginity would have meant nothing. Katie looked at her wrist seeing her hair elastic and she ran her fingers through her hair and tossed it up into a messy bun. She wanted to change the subject. "And what about you, any girls you looking at in particular? They must be lined up by your locker. " Katie said with a teasing wink, she figured she'd give him the same respect and turn the question his way?

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[ryder]

He watched her jog for a few minutes and then get off and begin stretching and he listened to her with intent. She seemed to question the rumors being spread about Drew, and of course who wouldn't? Especially since he had been seen quite alot with Bianca in katie's absence. Ryder shrugged abit though,"I'm sure you'll figure it all out Katie, you are a very smart girl," he said and was abit surprised when she turned the question on him. Girls? Well he had hook ups, no girl had been able to keep his interest enough these days for him to like them as more than a fuck. He chewed the inside of his cheek and then shrugged,"Not really, a few hook ups but nothing serious, i don't play stupid games and I won't take someone who does, I'll mess around but I won't committ unless it seems promising," he explained as he let his eyes scan over her, how was it she looked beautiful even when she was sweaty and had her hair up like that? He chuckled to himself and shook his head telling himself to quit with the thoughts, she was with Drew after all.

[Katie Matlin]

At his words she smiled, yes she was smart but her and Drew had been through a lot. She wasn't just about to throw it all away because people wanted to talk about him and Bianca. Katie smiled and nodded. "Yeah I guess I will figure it out, and if it doesn't seem right, I'll get over it." She said confident, she wouldn't relapse over it either, or would she? Katie shook away the thought, she couldn't be thinking light that and she felt a vibration. She reached into her tank top and pulled out her phone skimming a text from Drew that stated he had to go home directly after school and he wouldn't be able to see her before he left. It seemed a little suspicious and she simply answered with an okay Her attention was brought back to Ryder as she blushed and slid her phone back into her cleavage. Katie thought for a moment about what he said about committing and she stood up and walked over to his ruffling his hair. "You'll find one, I'm confident in you." Katie said wiping off her forehead with her wrist. She bit her bottom lip and looked down into his eyes, how she loved brown eyes and he had pretty ones at that. Katie shook away her thought and looked at a strand of hair that feel from her bun and she twirled it. "I don't want to think about relationship anymore Ry, it's depressing. Hang out with me after school?" Katie said she had no plans and they were friends after all. "We could umm grab some lunch and do something of your interest." She suggested hopeful he'd take her up on her offer.

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[ryder]

He watched her pull out her phone and look at it abit disappointed and when she got up and ruffled his hair he grinned. He looked into her eyes and thought for a moment, there wasn't sports practices today for once and he always liked to avoid being at home just as much as Lilli probably, if not more. He nodded to her offer,"Sounds good to me, how about I take you to a nice little chinese place? And then maybe we can catch a movie?"

[/color]he asked, knowing how much that sounded like a date to any other person, and if Katie weren't currently with Drew, he very well would consider it as a date. He got to his feet and he took off his shirt not liking how it clung to his muscular build, he used it to wipe his face and he grinned and winked at her heading for the door,"Meet me out at the front steps after school Katie,"[/color] he said giving her his genuine smile before he headed out of the weight room and to grab a different shirt before going to his next class as the bell rang, but now he couldn't focus, his mind was on the fact he had plans with katie after school and it made him happy actually.[/center]

[Katie Matlin]

She smiled nodding at his suggestion, even though it sounded like a date she was well aware of the fact she was dating Drew, but he was cute she couldn't lie and she'd have fun with him. "Sounds good, I'm there." Katie said and she watched him take off his shirt and a shade of pink touched her cheeks at his wink and she smiled. "I'll see you after school Ryder." She said sweetly and gave him a little wave goodbye. She heard the bell, and decided she would skip out on her study head home real quick and get dressed, she couldn't go to the movies like this. Katie walked down the hall to her locker gathering her things and putting them into her bag. She didn't have much homework, that's why she didn't mind skipping out on her study. Katie walked out of the school over to her car and got in, driving home and when she got there she went directly into the bathroom showering. When she got out she added some moose to her hair, crimping it. Then she went to her bedroom in search of what to wear. She grabbed a pair of black skinny jeans and a purple tube top with graphics on it and tossed them on. She grabbed her purple high heels and slid them on putting on some perfume and looked at the clock, she had to get back to school.

Katie went outside and debated on weather to drive, she knew Ryder drove so she walked to school and waited on the stairs, people were exiting the building as he stood there looking cute excited to hang with Ryder. When he exited the building she smiled brightly looking at him. "Shall we go my non-official date?" She said linking arms with him walking to the parking lot, she was all smiles til she saw them. She watched Bianca and Drew smiling, laughing as they got into her car and Katie looked down a bit broken. "He can't spend time with his girlfriend because he is too busy frolicking around with her." She mumbled angerly, she was thinking outloud. Katie shook her head and walked to Ryder's car awaiting him to let her into the passengers side. When he did she got in looking over at him forcing herself to smile, and although she was hurt she wouldn't let this ruin her 'date' with Ryder. "Sorry about that mood swing, wont happen again." Katie said sweetly buckling her seat belt resting her arm on the middle counsel.

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[ryder]

He went through the rest of his classes without interest and when the final bell rang, he went to his locker and grabbed his hockey lettermans jacket, that was right, Ryder was full of himself to the point he had a seperate letter jacket for football and a seperate one for hockey. He pulled the jacket on and headed outside looking around for Katie. His eyes saw Lilli over with Drew and Bianca talking to them and then a moment later he watched his "sister" run off with Eli Goldsowrthy. Ryder shook his head and then looked to find Katie approaching him. He looked her over and couldn't help himself from whistling,"Well hot damn Misses Class President, I think I'm looking for someone else, her name is Katie, she's about your height, abit conservative in her clothing choices?"

[/color] he teased before he was linked with her arm and he led her to his car. At her comment he knew what she was talking about and he opened the cardoor for her before getting in on the driver side. He put the keys in the ignition and looked at her,"Its his loss Katie, you look gorgeous and he doesn't know what he's missing out on by ditching you for Miss Mexico"[/color] he said with a light chuckle as he peeled out of the parking lot and drove to the chinese place, once there he parked and got out opening the door for her and leading her inside. When they got to the table he slid into the booth and handed her a menu,"Order whatever you want, my treat"[/color] he told her.[/center]

[Katie Matlin]

When he commented on her looks pink had crossed her cheeks, and maybe he was right, maybe she did look different but being in rehab made her think a lot about the way she did things, dressing, talking and the way she presented herself. She watched him start the car and she smiled, she'd be away from Degrassi and all the drama soon enough. At his nick name for Bianca she chuckled and shook her head Ryder was right she did look amazing and Drew wouldn't get to see her like this. "Thank you, your really sweet Ryder and you know how to bring my spirits back up." Katie said offering a smile and soon enough they were there at the food place. Katie smiled and got into her seat taking the menu as she looked around nervously. She hadn't been one to eat, let alone fattening Chinese food. Katie was bulimic in the past so this worried her a little. She looked at the menu she decided she'd eat. When the waitress came over she bowed her head a bit, she took tai chi so she knew a bit about the Asian culture. "Umm, For a drink I'd like a water with lemon, and I'll have white rice with, chicken fingers and crab rangoons please." She said looking at Ryder waiting for him to order and when he did she watched the woman come back with their drinks and she sipped her water for a moment. "So what kind of movie do you want to see, action, comedy a scary one? I'll let you hold on to me during the scary parts." Katie teased with a wink. She was enjoying her time with Ryder. Why she never did this before was beyond her knowledge.

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[ryder]

He glanced down at the menu a few times and when she ordered he just asked for the same thing to make it easy and then he handed the waitress their menus back. When she mentioned the movie, he had almost forgotten about it,"Oh yeah, scary sounds good,"

[/color] he said and he cracked a smile when she said he could hold her at the scary parts. He looked her over and he wondered how Drew could be so stupid as to hurt her. He scowled to himself and looked down drinking his water now,"I'm really an asshole katie, but thanks for thinking I'm sweet,"[/color] he said being honest with her as he chuckled. He looked up as their food was brought out and he handed her a plate and he took a plate himself and put some rice on it and rangoons and a few chicken fingers before putting soy sauce on his rice,"Tell me something though Katie, why do you stick around if its obvious that something isn't right?"[/color] he asked not trying to hurt her feelings, but he just didn't like seeing her hurt and if he had to, he himself would fight Drew Torres if he caused too much damage to Katie's heart.[/center]

[Katie Matlin]

When Ryder called himself an asshole she looked at him. "Your not an asshole, don't down yourself like that." Katie said she wouldn't be hanging with him nor be friends with him if he was an asshole. "Your sweet to me, and that's enough to show that you got a heart somewhere, assholes are not sweet, and they certainly don't take girls out to nice places like this." She said as she took some rice and put it on her plate, she also put a couple rangoons and a chicken finger on there and she put some soy sauce on her rice as well. She took a couple bites of rice and bit the chicken finger and at his question she looked up finishing what was in her mouth. "I stick around because he stuck around for me, while I was in rehab and all." Katie said she was blind to the fact that he was actually more then happy with Bianca, she just couldn't see herself with out Drew. She sipped her water and figured she'd explain a little more. "He was broken, so broken when we first started getting close, I taught him how to harness his anger, taught him he didn't have to be scared or violent and he told me he needed me. I still believe he does, even if the rest of the world doesn't" Katie said she was faithful to Drew, she believed in him when no one else did, and she fixed him. She looked down at her food and took a couple more bites she hadn't received a text or anything from Drew. It worried her but she couldn't just jump to conclusions. Yet he always texted her a lot, something was defiantly wrong she didn't want to regret her decision of sleeping with him she sighed and looked back up to Ryder. "I was a virgin before last night, I don't want to regret giving that to him." Katie admitted and now her expression was a bit broken in thinking that it was a mistake.

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[ryder]

He ate silently as he listened to her speak about Drew like he was some kind of Hercules and they could save one another and this made him feel bad. He knew better, he had witnessed how close Drew and Bianca had been at school in Katie's absence and just a few days ago they had been yelling on the bleachers like two crazy love birds trying to make a point. He chewed his food and took a sip of his water as she reached her last statement and at this he spat his water out in surprise but lucky it missed her and just hit his plate instead,"Damnit"

[/color] he muttered and he put up his hand not allowing her to help him clean it up. "Katie...that..."[/color] he didn't like being the bearer of bad news to his friend so as he cleaned up the water and pushed his plate away he dropped his napkins on the plate now and folded his arms over his chest leaning back in the seat,"You deserve to be loved and happy without feeling like its because your needed, you should feel like you're wanted"[/color] he said catching himself, he couldn't tell her the truth, it wasn't his place, it was Drew's place to tell Katie how he and Bianca were getting close again. Ryder took the check seeing katie was done and he paid it and got to his feet taking her hand and pulling her to her feet,"A good movie will distract you"[/color] he said leading her out to the car again and then heading to the theater.[/center]

[Katie Matlin]

Katie watched him spit his water out and she was confused on what she said wrong. Then it hit her maybe that was too much information and she giggled to herself watching him clean up she finished her food listening to his statement and she couldn't help but to smile. "I feel wanted...sometimes." She said in denial of her feelings, she didn't want to think about this now. When she was pulled her to feet she followed Ryder to his car and got in. She looked over at him and smiled while they drove to the movie theater. She liked the way Ryder made her feel, like she was this person who deserved some kind of special treatment, she didn't she was an ex-addict that got a habit, and allowed Drew to think everything was fine, then she left him for almost 2 months, that wasn't right of her. Katie got out the car when Ryder parked and she walked beside him, it was getting dark, she could hear she heels clicking on the pavement and she smiled, getting to the door. She looked at the movie listing then to Ryder "You pick a scary one, I'll protect you don't worry." Katie said with a corky little smile. When he got the tickets she walked over to the concession stand and ordered a large drink and a large popcorn. What was a movie without popcorn, but this time she wouldn't let him pay as she pulled out her debit card. "Get what you want, my treat." She said looking up at him with a grin.

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[ryder]

He drove in silence as he pondered his thoughts, brooding over the whole situation and it was driving him crazy, normally he was used to keeping his mouth shut because he could give a rats ass less about saving someone elses feelings, but this was Katie. When they reached the theater he got out and offered a light chuckle at her saying she'd protect him. he paid for the tickets and followed her toward concessions and when she offered to pay he shook his head shoving her hand with the debit card away and he ordered the same thing she had and handed the cashier the money, he wouldn't let her pay a dime. He then looked to her and he happened to glance over her shoulder and at this he saw the last thing on Earth he wanted to see, Drew and Bianca walking in hand in hand and heading to the same movie they were. He watched them for a moment waiting for them to have gone into the theater already before he looked to Katie and reached down taking her hand in his,"Come on,"

[/color] he said as he led her to the theater but took his time by stopping and adding butter to his popcorn and grabbing straws, he had to kill some time to give Drew and Bianca time to get their seats so he could make sure to avoid sitting where Katie could notice them. He finally led her to the theater and inside where the lights were dim and he glanced over, spotting the two toward the middle so he immediately pointed to the front row,"I like being up front, its the best"[/color] he said, he felt bad for lying to her, but he knew this wouldn't be the way she would want to find out about things so before she could respond he took her hand and dragged her to the front row right in the middle and sat down pulling her down to sit beside him and he glanced over his shoulder a few times before looking to her,"Yeah here, perfect spot"[/color] he said.[/center]

[Katie Matlin]

Katie put her card back into her purse and narrowed her eyes at him. She couldn't be mad, he was a guy with pride and all that. Katie saw one of her friends working and she decided to say Hi while their food was being prepared. When the food was ready she smiled and took hers off the counter and walked with Ryder to the movie theater. He was acting a little oddly but she wouldn't say anything. Katie listened to his request on sitting up front and she nodded and followed him sitting down. She watched the up coming movie trailers and took a couple bites of popcorn and when the movies started to play she watched. There was a loud noise and a scream and she jumped looking over at Ryder. "Okay maybe you'll have to hold me." She said with a smile, she had almost forgot about Drew at this point in her on little spurt of happiness with Ryder. Katie started to think about it, she hadn't got a text in a while so she reached into her purse and pulled out her phone texting Drew seeing if he was alright. When he replied with, he was just tired and not feeling well she replied with a get better. Katie put her phone away and payed attention to the movie jumping a few more times at the scary parts.

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