20: The Stolen Dance

[ K A R A ] "I love you. I fucking love you." Ryder’s words were ringing in my ears. And everything else around me fell silent, like it was on mute. I couldn't hear anything, except the sound of his heavy breaths and the three words that were on repeat in my head. And I didn't know what to say, or how to react to this. I was a deer caught in headlights. "I've known it for a long time now. I just don't think I'd ever say it out loud," he continued saying. Words. Words. Words. I thought of all the vocabulary that I know, but nothing would come out. "Kara... say something, please," Ryder's eyes were searching mine. I panicked. What should I say? What should I do? "Run!" I told myself. And that was exactly what I did, I ran. I heard him calling out after me, but I dared not look back. Run Kara, run! Back at the dinner, I made a lame excuse, something along the line of 'I don't feel well, bad shrimp', and I told my mom I would be in my room. I also told Gabe that we would talk tomorrow at t