The day was halfway over. A bell chimed as the nearby high school let out. Teenagers and young adults poured out of the doorways and into their huge city- well not all of them. While normal people left, all the students who had clubs stayed after. Ryan being the most prominent of the lot. He wasn't the tallest; however, he definitely wasn't the shortest. He stood at 5'10" with semi-tan skin. His hair was dirty blond as his eyes looked hazel. Out of the entire student body, nobody was enrolled in more activities than him. From sports team to student council, he was in it all. That being said, it was quite obvious to see that the end of the day for others was but the start for him.
A good decent bit of time past before Ryan finally wrapped up for the day. Heading out the double doors at last. The sun painted the sky a warm orange as it had began to set. The young man walked towards his home whilst texting his mom. 'Finally done with my work, be home soon.' As soon as it sent, his mother opened it. Just to close it without responding. Ryan sighed before turning his phone off. He went to slide it into his pocket and accidentally missed. Letting go of it prematurely, allowing it to drop to the floor. Ryan stopped walking before taking a deep breath. He turned around to collect his phone, but the impact turned on the camera. He bent over to pick it up while also assessing the damage. However, through the front facing camera he could see a girl standing on the edge of the roof above him.
His head flies upwards as he checks to see if it was true. It was. There was a girl that looked like she was about to jump standing just one step away from disaster. Ryan threw his bags on the floor and didn't even bother picking up his phone. He simple just sprinted into the building and found the nearest staircase.
"Oh please still be up there… I really don't want to see her on the concrete."
All the sports he played helped significantly as he arrived in no time. Bursting through the rooftop door. The sound caused the girl to turn quickly, which almost made her slip. Ryan lunged forward and grabbed her hands pulling her off the ledge and away from danger.
"Are you alright?" Ryan proclaimed, while also breathing heavily.
The girl just looked at him with tears in her eyes before opening her mouth like she wanted to say something, but nothing came out. She did this two more times before ultimately balling her fist up. She rotated her shoulder as she drove her fist directly into the side of Ryan's face. To say he was confused would be an understatement as he collapsed under the unexpected strike. The girl turned and stepped right back onto the edge.
"Who do you even think you are! Do not! And I mean do not! Touch me without my permission. I'm up here for a reason and all you can muster is 'are you alright?' Like what do you think? Would I be up her if I was!"
The girl laid into him, practically screaming at the boy who laid motionless on the roof. Tears streamed down her face as she turned outwards once more. Ryan finally started to move, but instead of standing up, he just rolled over onto his back. Looking up at the sky he smiled.
"Okay. I'm sorry I just didn't know what to say. I'm not going to try and change your mind, but how about you get whatever is bothering off your chest. Your name is Laura right? You're party of the archery club? It was to my knowledge you were popular and had a lot of friends?"
The girl turned back and looked at the boy. She stood there without saying anything for a while before sitting down on the ledge.
"That's me… somewhat… You got the first half right, I don't have any friends. Not any real ones anyways. It turns out everyone I would have considered my friend has turned their back on me."
Ryan slowly sat up while listening. His cheek was on fire from where he'd been hit but it was nothing new to him. He made his way to his feet before walking over to Laura, sitting beside her.
"If you don't mind me asking… What did they do?"
The girl stared at the ground before taking a deep breath.
"They… They've been spreading a picture and rumors about me… obviously the picture is fabricated but nobody really cares if it's real or not… they sent it everywhere… it's all over the internet… My parents disowned me for it… that's not even all of it… but that's all I can bring myself to say…"
Ryan sat there thinking for a second before a wave of realization hit him.
"Oh… Now that you mention it. I've seen the picture you are talking about. But don't worry! I know it is fake, you're much more… how do I say this… developed? In person."
Laura looked dumbfounded that he even said that in the first place. Her fist balled up again before ultimately relaxing. She was about to say something when Ryan chirped up again.
"But hey, I understand," he said while standing up and reaching his hand down to help Laura up, "you don't have anything else to do or look forward to. So you want it all to end. But! You're only doing this because you're alone… and if you were to jump alone, there wouldn't be anyone there for you in your next life either. So let me come with you. I pledge my life to you Laura Fox… and I will be honored to accompany you into the next life."
At first the girl took his hand without knowing what he was talking about. But the more he went on the more surprised she got. Her eyes were about as wide as they could get. She had never had anyone talk to her this way before, but she also assumed he was messing with her. If she went to leap she was curtain he would let go. However, she wanted to believe him. Her foot shifted before she jumped with his hand loosely in hers. If he wanted to let go he could have, but he didn't. As soon as she jumped, he did too. Following her in her descent.
"You didn't let go…" She said with tears in her eyes.
"Of course I didn't… I made a promise, and it was one I never even considered breaking."