From highs to lows and back up again, Ryland needed to force himself to stop sulking about every little thing that was wrong and get out of this funk. Focus on the right. Using Christmas as an excuse for his shit behavior was not going to cut it anymore. His suspension from Beverly Hills High was the catalyst to the fight his parents had on what to do with him. He barely could recall the fight, because he didn't care to remember it. At least not then.

This started a year or so ago, where he fell too far in his own head. When he shouted, the voices overpowered his own voice. His heart weighed a ton, which made it hard to aspire for more. When the expectations caused him to shut in, his depression held onto him, like a noose. For far too long he felt like a dead man walking and only now did he realize what that meant.

This move was turning out to be better for him than he expected. It was forcing him to confront this bottled up anger in him, his frustration on things he had no control over, and the emptiness he gained from being completely aimless. He didn't see his future like Zayden, his big bro, did. He could never be like his brother who mapped out everything and just knew exactly what he wanted. He needed to be his best self, by simply focusing on the present. This is the time that mattered the most. Rather than think of all the questions he didn't have answers for, he'd simply just be and live free.

As he made a special request from the DJ, he couldn't help but replay the incident that caused him to distance himself from the entire student body of King's that wasn't the misfits. People are ingrained with the belief that first impressions last forever and you never get a second chance. For a moment there, he was starting to believe that too.

With a good metaphorical slap in the face by bestgirl Marisol, he knew that wasn't what he believed and that would never be something he'd believe. That was the depression telling him he'd continue to disappoint his father, so why try. Putting so much value in first impressions was a big mistake because than it would be all downhill from there. Luckily, for him, no one held him to any standard. If anything, his year barely knew him since he joined so late in the game. That would be Rye's advantage. The fact that no one knew what to expect. Not even his friends.

There's a spark in him that shows he's indeed his father's son. Whether he is aware of it or not, this flare gets him to shine in moments like these. See, innately, he can resonate his mind with his soul and through that confidence, hard-won, yet deep and anchored in his true self, he is capable of living life and loving those around him in such a honest and raw way.

From the day he was pinned against the locker by Miss Julie Macmillan to their days that led to this dance, he questioned why he was so enthralled by her. At first, he thought it was because she made him so angry that he wanted to ruin that pretty smile right off her soft skinned face. Then he thought it was because she was undeniably gorgeous, and both him and Marisol could agree she was ideal masturbation material. First impressions and looks aside, he started noticing her and why she was considered royalty at this school.

Sure, she was self-absorbed, but so was he. She was dedicated to the things she did, and boy did she keep herself busy. While she was spoiled, she had a considerable amount of emotional warmth radiating from her toward those she trusted with her life. Falling for her grace and her poise was the easy part, admitting it to his whole damn year was something he was finding himself struggling with and for once, he was nervous.

Even with a fortunate, privileged background, he had no class. That's where they differed. He never believed to be a prince charming, and he would never pretend he could be. Part of him was attracted to how well she kept it all together. Another part of him wanted her to show him what was behind it all. What kept her going? What were the dark parts she didn't want anyone to see? What was... behind that smile?

Admitting how lovestruck he was by someone he barely knew simply because she existed was beyond anything he had ever experienced. He got bored easily, and had too much energy to contain, he jumped from one hobby to the next to keep himself busy. Then there was this girl he just couldn't get out of his mind. The most constant thought he's had in a long time. He knew this was a risk he needed to take or he'd never know. He'd never know he'd be good enough to someone who held herself to such a high standard. She who had the right blend of sweet, shy, and headstrong. He knew that he wanted her and so there was no time like the present. They were young, he was dumb, and he was going to start acting like it.

The DJ abruptly turned off the music, causing Ryland to anxiously clear his throat, which was picked up on the mic he was holding. "Hey, yeah. Can I get everyone's attention please?" After some grumbling and chatter of 'who the hell is this guy', Rye steadied his breathing, and in return his racing heartbeat. He knew these kids would lose their patience so he needed to make the speech part quick, or try to at least. "For those that don't know me, I'm Ryland Aspen, that new kid who transferred with only one semester left. I used to live here, that's why some of you, like the cool kids, Marisol, Sonny, Archer, Ariel, and Kavan know me. I'm that kid that called a good friend of mine stupid, when she was just trying to do what makes her happy." Searching in the crowd for Ariel, he waved at her, with a goofy, toothy, grin, in front of everyone, and shouted, "Fuck what everyone thinks. Do you and BE HAPPY! Sorry I can be kind of a douche and thanks for sticking around."

To keep everyone's attention on him, he spun the mic's wire to make a quick circle in front of him. While he wanted to use this opportunity to apologize to Sonny about getting in between him and his girl, he knew that this wasn't the time. Everyone knew about the shitshow that happened on the first day of classes, with Ariel, April, and the rest of them, but no one needed to know that Marisol desperately sought out her boyfriend's attention. She needed to know she was still his number one girl and that wasn't Rye's place to get in between. "NOW, for the point of all this."

With quick improvisation, and requesting a song he knew the DJ would have on his playlist, his soft gaze went from Sonny to Julie. The girl that was turning out to be the apple of his eye, as cheesy as that sounded. Truth was, she was the one thing he wanted to aim for. His destination. The worst thing that could happen was she would reject him, which would suck but he would never know if he didn't at least try. "Since I can't really explain this myself... here goes nothing."

"This is for you, Julie." The ballroom was still silent as they waited for the DJ to bring things back to normal or Rye to make a fool of himself. Instead, what broke the silence was Rye singing to nothing but the sound in his head: "I wanna follow where she goes. I think about her and she knows it. I wanna let her take control. 'Cause every time she gets close. Yeah." His voice was slightly above mediocre. This, of course, wouldn't stop him from using his voice to get his message across. LOUD and CLEAR. At this point, the DJ started to fade the song in slowly. "She pulls me in enough to keep me guessin'. Hmm. And maybe I should stop and start confessin'."

The song at full blast, surprisingly good coordination and teamwork for a last minute grand gesture, Rye decided to switch to his stronger suit. "CONFESSIN', YEAH!" No longer singing, he tossed the mic back to the DJ and let the adrenaline rush into his blood stream. Jumping off the platform, he let his body do the talking, painting a picture of the playful and vibrant soul that he was. His limbs were half liquid in perfect rhythm, and still looking strong, as he went from an air walk to a side glide, the crowd creating an opening for him. The only time dazzling grace could be seen in Rye was when he danced and here he could unleash his unyielding desire for this woman that bewitched him body and soul.

When he approached the drinking table, where both Sonny and Julie stood, and a bunch of others, he did a little shimmy in front of the two, purposely silly unlike the skill and prowess he displayed across the dance floor, "Hey Son, Sol needs you." His expression was apologetic, and it was visible that he didn't want to be involved in whatever problems those two shared in the background. It was time he focused on himself and crash into happiness. Like he was doing right now.


With limited time on his hands, and wanting to take advantage of how confused Julie probably was, he started bouncing in front of her to the beat, "I'm going to do this for the whole damn song, and night, so, yeah..."


He didn't want to lose the momentum and hoped she'd give him the time of day. He'd take a dance, if it meant she'd look past her first impression of him. "Care to dance?"


Beaming in front of her, he clapped his hands and matched Shawn Mendes' words, for the second round of the chorus, "Baby, there's nothing holding me back!" Since the song was already half way through, he did request the DJ to keep the energy high with the next selection, so he could get his crush to focus on the hype rather than think about the possibility of rejecting him.

Offering his hand to grab, while still jumping like an idiot, he gave her a puppy dog pout. Agonizingly anxious yet hiding it behind his conviction and eagerness, Rye waited for her response.

^{Please just take my hand.}