Ryan's heart started beating wildly in his chest as he walked up to Victoria's room. He felt acutely self conscious, not knowing what to say to her within the close confines of her room. He stood in front of her door and sucked in a deep breath and released it slowly before turning the knob to go inside. Thankfully the door wasn't locked and he peered inside. The room was dimly lit and he could make out Victoria lying on her bed with her head into a pillow. It seemed as if she was crying. 

"Go away, Dy. I don't want anything," she mumbled into the pillow. Ryan smiled and walked inside. 

"I don't think I'm Dylan, " he said softly. Victoria jumped up and sat erect, fixing the tee-shirt which had ridden up to expose her midriff. She quickly wiped her eyes and seemed embarrassed.

"Why are you here, Ryan?" She said, avoiding his eyes. Ryan sat down beside her on the bed. 

"Dylan was worried about you," he shrugged awkwardly. He wanted to ask her so many questions but didn't know where to start. Chris's behavior had him worried. Did they really like one another? Could he too fight with Dylan that way for Victoria? 

"Tell him to f*ck off. I'm not concerned about his fake concern, " said Victoria with a shrug. 

"So you and Chris, huh?" Ryan asked and Victoria gave him a glare.

"Yes at least he has the audacity to tell everyone that he likes me," she flashed him a look. 

Ryan gazed at her. Did she mean what he thought she did? "It's not a question of audacity, Victoria. It's about caring. Chris doesn't care about hurting Dylan, " said Ryan, shaking his head a little.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it," said Victoria. "Good night, Ryan," she said, getting up. 

"Are you guys dating?" Ryan blurted out before he could control his mouth. Victoria flashed him a look.

"What if we are? Are you jealous?" She challenged him, standing up to face him. Ryan stood up too, his eyes reflecting the mad jealousy and fury that he felt deep within. It wasn't in his nature to get so perturbed and agitated but right now all he saw was red. He lost his cool at her words. His hands fisted and his jaws clenched while he closed his eyes, breathing in and out to calm himself. 

Victoria knew that there was nothing between her and Chris and there could never be. Although Chris tried to hit on her many times, she wasn't at all interested. Why? Maybe because for the last few years a certain aspiring doctor was all she could dream of. She stared into Ryan's eyes, challenging him to react. She wanted to know how he felt about her. She wanted to know if he liked her a little or only treated her as a sister. 

Ryan opened his eyes and looked at her expectant face, looking up at him with hope. "No, why should I be jealous? Good night, Victoria, " he said, through gritted teeth, turning to walk away. 

Victoria's face fell upon hearing his words. He didn't like her! Her heart shattered to pieces even thinking about it. "You know what? You're a coward. At least Chris isn't boring like you are," she gritted out at him, feeling hurt and frustrated. Ryan stopped mid-stride hearing her hurtful accusation but then turned and walked out of the door.

Victoria felt hit tears flow down her cheeks at his insensitivity. She loved him for God's sake! She had loved him for a long time. Couldn't he see that? She flung herself into her pillow and sobbed brokenly. 

Ryan walked back dejectedly to Dylan's room. Victoria's words kept on going on in his head. He wasn't a coward. He only cared about his best and only friend. He wasn't boring. She would go crazy if she knew the sinful thoughts that crossed his mind every time he looked at her.

Dylan was out by the time he reached his room. He had no wish to stay the night. He quietly slipped out of the house and drove back home, deep in thought. Was Victoria really dating Chris? 

The next morning Ryan woke up with a throbbing head although he hadn't even had a sip of alcohol last night. The whole night he twisted and turned thinking about Chris and how he needed to put some sense in his head. 

He got ready for his classes when he couldn't find his brand new pair of socks to wear. "Mom, did you see my new socks?" He yelled from his room. 

He saw Nate peeping out of his room which was opposite to his looking ready to flee. Suspicious, he glared at his kid brother. "I didn't see it, I swear!" Said Nate, gulping and eyeing Queen. 

"Mom," yelled Ryan, feeling pissed off by now. The other pairs were either dirty or torn and he had set aside to wear the new pair today. His mom, Patricia Taylor came rushing in, looking tired and stressed already. 

"What's up with you early in the morning? Can't you wear another pair?" Asked his mom, entering his room with a spatula in her hand. 

"No, I want my new ones. I wanted to wear them today. I'm sure your favorite son has something to do with this," said Ryan, glaring at his kid brother.

"None of you two are my favorites, " said their mom with an eye roll.

"Of course that chipmunk is. No wonder you came into my room with a spatula. It's such a pain being the older, " groaned Ryan. 

Nate laughed seeing his mom. "Exactly! See, mom has come to swat at you for yelling," he grinned cheekily. Ryan fisted his hands, feeling pissed off and wanting to hit the stupid grin off Nate's face. After a sleepless night and murderous thoughts circulating in his head for Chris, he was unable to tolerate his irritating brother. 

"Mom, please tell him to shut up or I'll stitch up his mouth right away, " gritted Ryan. 

"Why are you getting so hyper today, Ryan? Are you sick or what?" Asked his mom, touching his forehead. 

"Maybe he's lovesick, mom," suggested Nate, with a wiggle of his eyebrows. Ryan lost it and rushed towards him to beat the shit out of him. Nate ran and so did Queen. After all it was she who had chewed his new pair of socks! Their mom kept yelling after them to stop but no one heard a word she spoke. Finally she muttered curses and made breakfast. 

Nate and Queen hid in the garage under their dad's car while Ryan hunted them down. He was getting late so he huffed and puffed to his dad's room and wore his socks instead to college. This was an everyday scene at their house and their neighbors were used to this early morning commotion. 

After college, Ryan had just completed his studies when he received a call from Dylan. "Ryan bro, you've got to come down to Cameron's house. We're all here. It's so much fun," he said. Ryan's first thought went to Victoria. Was she there? But he couldn't ask him, could he? There was only one way to know. 

"Fine I'll be there in fifteen minutes," said Ryan, disconnecting the call. He quickly dressed up and picked up his car keys and walked downstairs. 

"Mom, I'll be back late. I'm going over to Cameron's house, " he yelled and walked out of the house. 

Victoria excitedly waited for Ryan to arrive. She had heard her brother call him. Last night, ever since she had said those words to him, she had been unhappy. She hadn't wanted to hurt him. She just wanted him to react and admit to her that he liked her. But he had driven off home at that late hour and hadn't even called once ever since. She heard her brother grumble all the time about it. Her parents were arriving the next day and Dylan didn't want her to stay at home all alone. So here she was sitting at Cameron's house and enjoying the special dessert that his cook made for them. Cameron's parents were loaded and as such they had a huge mansion with a grand entertainment room where they all loved to gather together. 

Cameron's twin, Cassidy shrieked with excitement hearing that Ryan was about to come to their house. She too was studying pre-medics and majoring in the same subject as Ryan although from a different college. Everytime the two were together, Victoria felt jealous. She knew that Cassidy had feelings for Ryan and she never shied away from him like Victoria did. 

After five minutes, Ryan walked in looking extremely gorgeous wearing a minty green tee-shirt and a pair of figure-hugging black jeans. Victoria could smell the intoxicating smell of his cologne from where she sat. The moment he walked inside, his eyes fell upon her. Victoria smiled apologetically but he just looked away. So he hadn't forgiven her! 

Cassidy jumped and rushed towards him, grabbing his arm and steering him away with her to another corner of the room. Raw jealousy made her see red and she poured some whiskey and gulped it down to numb the pain in her heart.