Ryan Benjamin Kenner

“Hey, what did I just say? I don’t consider you a pain in the ass either,” she pointed out, nudging his arm with her. “I like to build people up when they think badly of themselves. I’ve been in that place and it’s not fun.”

Ryan smiled slightly at her nudge, “I mean you could be. Probably saving children from fires and maybe kicking crimes ass... bit you're here trying to build me up.”

“Mhh, well, to each his own, I suppose.” Hayden shrugged. “Thanks, that was the goal.”

“Clearly you... are a limp noodle. It’s the hair that gave that away.”

“Unfortunately not. Though I really think he would buy me ice cream, a land of ice cream is just unattainable for me.” Maddie giggled. “You’ve got game, you just need to know how to play it.”

“My game’s a bit horrible and cheesy don’t you think....?” he shrugged, “Hence the whole.... singleness...”

“We were friends, and then we decided it was a good idea to try and be more than friends. For a while it worked. Until it didn’t.” He ran a hand through his hair. “It happens. We just weren’t meant to date.”

Ryan hated this, god he hated this. He stared into the mug, scared about asking his next question. But he did anyway, “S-so you decided to cheat on me...?

Jas rolled his eyes and grinned. “You just don’t know when to quit do you? I literally have supernatural stamina.” He jumped and started doing pull ups from a branch a few feet off the ground, just to show off.

“Someone needs to be your own personal pain in the ass.” Ryan stated. The second Jasper started doing pull ups Ryan rolled his eyes. Always the show off type he was. “Yeah we get it... you get all the chicks and dicks because of your muscles.. but this is a climbing competition not a pull up competition. With that Ry looking up, seeing the branch he could hoist himself up on, “Hopefully this time around you’ll break a limb and not me.”

“Well, I think you are adorable just the way you are. And. clumsiness can be an endearing quality.” She grinned.

“A-adorable?” Ryan blushed slightly, was he adorable, “I’m really nothing to be endeared... uh... just.. weird.”

“Who said anything about going back? It’s just going forward and moving past whatever separated you both. Move on from that and just try again,” she suggested. “You are intelligent, you succeed at living day to day, and deserve happiness to. Everyone deserves happiness, even pain in the asses. Some even consider me to be one at times,” she pointed out, trying to get him to not be so down on himself.

Jasper laughed when he stopped and faced his brother. “I warned you that racing me was a bad idea.”

“And yet I was always the best climber.” Ryan smirked, walking over to to their usual tree, “Now, you going to try and beat me at climbing or is little Jasper too sleepy from running...?”

“I don’t know if there is a huge romantic story behind us. We were friends and always sort of playful and easy-going with each other. Then it sort of turned into more, he asked me out, and we have been together ever since. I love him,” she explained simply, unsure what else to say about it. “I thought I would be a crazy old cat lady with no hopes of marriage, but now I have a great guy. So if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.”

“Kind of like me and Andrea.” He mumbled. It was supposed to be a thought, locked in his head. But for some reason it slipped out. His eyes widened and he looked at Diana in horror. “I-ignore that... I... didn’t... I-...”

“Figured, I’d just let you down quickly.” He smirked. “I’m a nice guy, so I I didn’t want to be rude.“

“Oh please... pretty boys like you aren’t my type, either. I like my man tough... obviously.” He half joked, “You aren't rude. Give yourself that. I was kidding.”

“Oh? How disappointing…I’m sorry my life isn’t as fascinating for you to want to take me to dinner.” he admitted. He had tried several times to go on dates but nothing ever went further than a kiss. He had a block around his emotions now.

Ryan let out a short laugh, a small snort sound coming out at the end. “Don’t think that is going to stop me from asking.” He smiled, “Then again the only think I know about you is that you’re running away and your name is Theo. For all I know you could be a serial killer.”

“Yeah, know anyone who’s looking for a place to crash for a reasonable price?” Grayson asked before shaking his head. “As much as I would love to just say “fuck it” and light these on fire, I really, really enjoy having disposable income.”

Ryan narrowed his eyes, glancing down at the paper then back up at the boy. He’d been struggling with rent for a few months now. So he cleared his throat, “Not sure who you are, and I’m hoping you aren't a serial killer... but... I-I do have an extra room...”

“I can be an asshole, too. I’m not going to turn you away because of that. Especially right now when you need me.” He sat next to Ryan. “Do you want to talk?”

“What happened to us..?” Ryan blurted out. He meant that in general. Not necessarily about their relationship. “I mean before we were us we were friends... you know.. grabbing a coffee... watching shitty movies together out of pure boredom... we were friends...”

The male sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Car accident… a bad one apparently… I’m lucky to be alive all that..” he admitted trying to play it down.

“Why the big secret then...?” Ryan asked. He studied Noah for a moment. Feeling a bit bad that he snapped at him only a few moments ago, “Let me guess... you died and it’s a miracle you’re alive but you don’t remember how? Blunt but.... figured i’d ask.”

Olivia chuckled. “I’m sure that there’s more to you than ‘just Ryan.’”

“Well...” Ryan took in a deep breath, “A whole mess of lack of self confidence... and clumsiness.. tons of that...”

Maddie couldn’t help but just laugh at how dramatic he was. “Unfortunately, I do have a boyfriend that needs my attention.” She sighed just as dramatically. “And he knows how much I love ice cream as well. Though the idea of a land of ice cream pints does sound absolutely amazing!”

Ryan pouted slightly, playing along with the little dramatic act, “So, not even a land full of ice cream will win the fair maidens heart.... mesh I really need to step up my game here....”