Ryder
"You're looking better?" Wilder said as he walked into my room and I spared him a brief glance before I continued packing.
"Oh yeah?"
"Better than I expected."
"You make it sound like it's a bad thing."
"I'm trying to figure out if it is. You, better than anyone, knows why we are going up for the weekend or have you already forgotten?" He said plopping down on my bed and I raised an eyebrow at him.
"You sound pissed."
"More like confused. I'm just wondering when it's going to start," he said and I froze for a brief moment understanding what he meant and I frowned looking up to see him gazing at the ceiling blankly.
Honestly, I could understand what he was feeling. Not exactly a 100% but I could relate to the sense of loneliness whenever it came to going to that cabin or monsoleum. A hall that celebrities and rich families tried to get access to because of its grandness not knowing the hidden history to it. That it was originally my mother's and our inheritance, I thought with a sigh as I ran a hand through my hair before doing the only thing I could do for now. Change the subject.
"I'm planning to go hiking up there tomorrow," I said and he cast me a questioning glance as I dropped the next part of this out of the blue idea. "With Diana. Join us."
"I really do love you elder brother but hell no. Spare my single soul. Who made you believe I want to be exposed to all your sickening lovey-dovey shit? He's a damn liar I tell you," he exclaimed with a sour expression and I tried not to laugh.
"Lovey-dovey shit?"
"Hell no. And for the record, mark my words brother, when I get a girlfriend I'm going to rub all the lovey-dovey shit to your fucking faces to make up for all the horrors I've experienced."
"You do realize you've only been back for less than a week and known her for those days."
"And it's only the beginning. Just wait you see," he said with an amused smile. "But seriously, try to keep it in your pants. You might be dick deep in vagina, body and heart, God knows you are already married to that pussy, but try not to make any babies yet. We love you both we are definitely not ready for that."
He said leaving telling me to hurry up and I shook my head confused. How did an invite to a hike turned into a conversation about my dick and where it should go into, something that is yet a reality? Shrugging it off, I cast it under weird conversations with my brother. We might understand each other better than anyone else, have each other's backs more than often and keep each other out of trouble but conversations were definitely not our forte. Something Diana actually finds ridiculous, I thought picking up my bag as my phone lit up and I was grinning like a fool.
"We're heading out. What's the address again?"
"We?" I asked starting my way downstairs.
"Tess and I. For some reason, she says she doesn't really feel like clobbering you much when she sees you."
"I'm right here, you know!?" I heard Tess on the other side and I could picture Diana rolling her eyes and I chuckled.
"Between you and me, she's just there for the free booze."
"I won't deny it," Tess exclaimed with a scoff.
"Is she actually drunk?" I asked when I heard the slur in her voice.
"Kate and Tony had date night. She just polished off an entire red. She should sleep it off before we get there," she said with a dramatic sigh and I laughed. "I'll meet you there?"
"Getting into the car now. Have you gotten everything?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Don't worry. If not I've got you covered," I said watching ahead quietly as Wilder sat in the passenger seat.
"Sister-in-law?" He mouthed in question and I let out a wry smile throwing him a questioning look.
I was yet to get over my statement and here he was already. Future wife? Maybe I am letting Kaylee get into my head, I thought realizing that this was the second time I'd spoken of marriage related words in the same week. First during the debutante ball and today too and God knows Kaylee has been even more excited to find a partner-in-crime, namely Wilder, just to tease me about it. All I could hope was that they never actually called her that in person like they are used to whenever she's not around. I just got her to try and work on our feelings. I had no idea what calling her sister-in-law would do, I thought as she hang up.
"Have you told her yet?"
"No."
"Seriously!?"
"She'll figure it out," I said vaguely starting the car and driving out of the compound.
"So what's the plan?"
"The plan? We do nothing."
"Nothing? You aren't going to tell her Zoe took a hit against her? What the hell, man!?" He exclaimed and I shook my head trying to contain the slow building anger in me and I gripped the steering wheel harder.
"I don't have to. She knows."
"She does? But you said..."
"I know what I said but do you think Diana would make trouble without expecting some consequences?" I asked and he went quiet for a while before I felt his questioning gaze on me. "Rather she suspects it. She would have noticed Cody and Jared around
...well Jared mostly."
"And you are not worried about that?"
"No. She's perceptive, I thought you figured that out."
"No, the fact that he has a sort of blind devotion to her. Shouldn't you be worried that he probably has a boner for her?"
"He wouldn't win."
"Do you trust her that much or are you just confident?" He asked and I cast him a wary glance.
"Both."
"Then why am I more worried about this than you are? You are not losing my newly found sister to the pair of obsessive freaks. I can't believe you are going to let her stay the weekend. What if she tries something?"
"She wouldn't dare. She's cunning, not stupid but either way she's a fool. As long as she's trying to get into my good graces, she won't try anything in our own territory."
"So it's just the beginning?" He asked and I nodded.
"But no matter what, she gets the final say on what to do."
"Seriously?" He asked laughing and I rolled my eyes at him. "A henpecked husband. Who would have thought?"
"Shut up," I said annoyed but I couldn't hide my smile even if I tried. The rest of the drive was quiet, keeping in mind I ignored all his teasing till we pulled up by the shopping center on the road far off from the Hall where most of the students going with us had gathered.
"Hey, Cody just filled me in. Is she okay?" Ethan called out as we got out and I nodded.
"She's fine. We disguised her long enough for Cody to find her."
"Oh. That's fucking messed up."
"Just keep an eye on her. We don't know if anyone else will try something."
"Why do all these girls try to be your girlfriend again?" Wilder asked and I glared at him. "Okay, okay. Not my best tension breaking one liners but you gotta give me some credit."
He said and I rolled my eyes before they landed on Diana's Jeep driving in.
"Let's go lover boy," he exclaimed clapping my back and I didn't bother sparing him a glance as he rushed towards her Jeep and hugged her as soon as she got down and I held my breath. There were the glasses and the messy bun and one of those damn tight yoga pants this one black with white stripes on the side and I let out a frustrated sigh. I could feel jealous and possessive all I could but I doubt this crazy brother of mine would ever be fazed like anyone else would, I thought shaking my head as I approached them.
"..why? You are already going to be his baby momma," I heard Wilder exclaim and she stared at him obviously appalled and I pulled him away from her much to her relief. "Dude, I had something great going on here."
He said but I paid him no attention as I took his place in front of her and she gave him a stiff smile making me raise an eyebrow at her.
"Don't even ask," she said with a bemused smile but in the dimmed orange street lights as I could see the faint hint of a blush and I grew immensely curious as to what he had told her. Knowing him, something dirty. And embarrassing.
"Didi, are we there yet?" I heard a low groan from her car before Tess popped her head from the backseat.
"Yeah. Need coffee?" She asked in concern turning her head to face her but I ignored them. My main concern, the marks littering her neck. My marks, I thought feeling bashful.
"I'll get it," Tess groaned and I heard shuffling before she got out of the car and headed towards the cafe.
"She's surprisingly tame."
"She's drunk."
"Again tame," I said and she chuckled snuggling into my side. "We have some time before we leave. We're still waiting for the keys. Want some coffee before then?"
I said hinting towards talking to her and she nodded catching on fast making me smile as I led her after Tess and we soon found a table in a corner.
"Definitely a good idea," she moaned feasting on the cream on her drink soon after it was served making me laugh.
"That good?" I asked and she nodded a few strands of her hair fell from the messy bun making her look even more exotic and tempting as I tried to push my betraying feelings down.
"Yeah," she said taking a sip before putting the drink down and met my gaze.
"The game? Zoe was there," she said getting to the point and I had to refrain from smiling at her straightforwardness, one of the reasons I love this woman in front of me.
"She was."
"Revenge?" She asked quietly before her lips pulled into a mischievous smile and she chuckled. "She works fast, slowly yet surely, but fast all the same."
"Should I start getting used to you being calm when you're supposed to freak out?"
"Probably," she said with a chuckle as she shifted on her seat. "Letting myself not get clouded with emotions whenever something is at stake was the first lesson my father ever taught me."
"Sounds like a smart man."
"He is. I might get angry but that wouldn't help my situation. They attacked me first. I reacted and they chose to retaliate. There is no way around this is," she said and suddenly something made sense about her.
I understood why she mostly seemed closed off and desolate to others, why the expressionless like a boss mask seemed to stick out more than the innocent, carefree persona that made her seem naive. The brain over heart strategy never seemed as sadder as it had now. I had chosen it more times than I could count and now I understood why she had chosen to attack when I detached from her. The defense mechanism I'd triggered then had been triggered again and the thought made me clench my hands into fists. It was too similar and I had thought I had it figured out. But now, for a reason I didn't know, she'd grown up too fast.
"Maybe I have gone soft. I did not come across as I intended," I heard her scoff under her breath as if she disdained the fact and I could feel my eyes widen in surprise and a pleasant one at that. Why did she suddenly seem hotter? "Ray..."
Her whisper brought me from my reverie and I cast my gaze on her. She's the only one who had dared to call me that and the end result wasn't me glaring daggers at them, especially when the nickname used to matter to me once. Now, every time she called me that my mind would go blank and my dick hard. Maybe it's time to reconsider this seating arrangement.
"... thank you. I know I don't say it much but I do appreciate all you do for me," she said a blush on her face and I raised an eyebrow in question.
"What exactly brought this up?"
"Other than the mere fact I needed to get it off my chest?"
The blush on her cheeks deepened as I nodded and I was even more intrigued as she looked everywhere but at me. A complicated look had fallen over her face when my phone suddenly rang and I cursed under my breath retrieving it from my pocket before hanging up as I turned to her and she looked at me in confusion as I hang up a second time. And just when I made to ask her her phone rang this time and I cursed out loud looking at the caller ID. Fucking Wilder.
"This better be good."
"The keys are here."
"Is that it?" I asked gruffly berating him inwardly for not sending a text.
"Mostly. It's.. just get back here," he said vaguely before hunging up and I rolled my eyes before handing back her phone.
"Is everything okay?"
"It's almost time to go," I said looking at her thoughtfully as she nodded. "Are you sure you aren't going to tell me?"
"It's nothing important." Then why are you blushing? But I didn't ask out loud as I looked at her amused.
"You sure? You might not get another chance like this?" I asked and she narrowed her eyes at me and I almost laughed at the adorable expression.
"You are enjoying this, aren't you?"
"You don't know how much," I said with a chuckle as she harrumphed and the next moment she was kicking out at me.
After spending a month with this girl I was well aware of all her antics and I had seen it coming and moved my legs around dodging her kick and trapped her leg between my own.
"How... You are incorrigible," she said looking away from me and I chuckled before standing and setting a bill on the table.
"Well so are you," I said winking at her as I held my hand out at her making her roll her eyes at me but nevertheless took it. "I'll get it out of you someday."
"You can try."
"Is that a challenge babydoll?" I asked stopping entranced by the charming smile on her face.
"Maybe, maybe not," she said tracing a finger in my chest provocatively and I shook my head grabbing her hand and pressing a kiss against her cheeks and she giggled.
"You are dangerous you know that?"
"So I've been told. T-they are going to plot more against me, aren't they?"
"And pull out the big guns against you. Because they know you matter to me," I said and she got quiet as we walked quietly and I could see Wilder and the rest still by her car with Tess, their forms all stiff and I was curious as to what had happened as I turned my attention back to her.
"Why do I get the feeling that this has happened before?" She asked and I stopped turning her to me.
"Because it has. Both mother and daughter seem to have the delusion that I am destined to be with her. Many have gotten hurt. From lab partners to close friends. A-and I could have done something but I didn't. Maybe deep down I knew what Heather was doing behind my back. And maybe I turned a blind eye to it because I'm as uninterested as I was since the first day but I'm not going to let any of them lay a hand on you in any way I can," I said caressing her cheek.
"Is that why you have someone following me?" She asked and I could feel myself stiffen as I looked at her wide eyed.
"You know?"
"I'm not a chance believer of coincidences. And you seemed more rattled than I was," she said reaching out to prod at my cheek and I looked at her in disbelief.
"You are not mad."
"Oh I am. We are going to have a long talk about boundaries and the extent of privacy that you aren't supposed to intrude on," she said sternly and I grimaced. Honestly, I planned on easing her into it, but who knew she had already found out. "But for the most part I'm flattered. You could have chosen to turn a blind eye but you didn't."
"And why would I? Babydoll, I protect my family and my loved ones. And it's no different with you. They mess with one of my own, they mess with me," I said not looking at her and I gulped inwardly as I pulled her into a hug. "Especially not you. I didn't interfere because I knew you would want to handle it on your own. But we are in this together now and God knows Wilder won't stay quiet. Not when he knows how much you matter to me. He might not say it but you are already family. And no one messes with family and what's mine."
I whispered quietly waiting for the backlash that came with me claiming her mine when the sweetest words I've ever had.
"No one messes with family or what's mine too."
"Really?" I asked and she nodded smiling sweetly before I devoured her sweet coffee tasting lips once more.
"You know, for the most part this seemed like a coffee date, well when you don't consider all the drama," she said albeit sadly and I could feel my eyes flash for a brief moment.
"No worries. I'll take you out on more dates, leave alone coffee dates. I'll take you out on so many that you'll get sick of them."
"I don't think that's possible. And besides, even a good night on the couch with a movie as just as a good date as any," she said making me chuckle.
"Don't sell those fancy-shmancy dates short just yet. They might surprise you," I said and she giggled hanging onto my arm and I felt my heart flutter ticklishly.
"If you say so," she said looking at me strangely and I turned to her questioningly. "Ray, you do know that I might not give you everything you want. I'm proud, stubborn, obnoxious when I shouldn't be and for the most part, I'm might have some various complexes that I can't list, but I'm willing to try."
"I know."
"And you still want to try and court me."
"With everything I've got," I replied immediately and she shot me a bewildered look.
"Why!?"
"It doesn't matter," I said shaking my head with a small smile as I looked at her.
I was well aware that I was trying me like and pushing it would probably make her snap and she'd distance herself from me. I liked her and I wanted to be with her. It was new to me and for the most part it took a major beatdown to my ego to finally admit my foreign feelings. Linking her arm with mine, she nodded with a reluctant smile before we made our way to the rest.
"What took you guys so long? Anyway nevermind. Look," Wilder called out pointing towards a white sedan.
Given where it was, and the increased number of cars it was more probable they had just arrived. The colorful blur standing by the car with her friends looking around nervously was enough to tell me they were yet to be received and I gave Wilder an impressed nod. There was no way I wanted that Jordan girl around Diana all weekend, I thought casting my gaze back on Diana not wanting to miss any expression. Knowing her, she'd want to spare some feelings along the way, which was the last thing I wanted her to do. I wanted to kill every possibility of her getting hurt in the future if they didn't learn from hurting her once.
"It's on your word, sis," Wilder called out in his ever joking tone but I didn't look away from her.
"Diana? Do you want her here or not?" I asked and her gaze snapped up to me. Though, expressionless, I didn't miss the lost look in her eyes as her eyes darted to everyone's faces but settling onto mine once more and I was aware what answer she was about to give before I took charge and onto the car, shielded away from the others.
"Don't look at Tess or anyone for that matter. I'm asking you. Not anyone else. I'm asking what you want. Do you want Jordan up there or not?" I asked tipping her chin towards me when Wilder called out and tipped his head towards a certain someone and I clenched my jaw hard berating myself for forgetting my every move was under watch before I turned back to her. "Well?"
"No. I don't want her there," she said and I nodded trying hard not to grin like a fool as I nodded to Wilder and he walked off with Ethan.
How he did it, I have no idea. But in the next 5 minutes the colorful blur and her friends, had turned even more disgustingly colourful and we're rushing into the previously white sedan, pelted with eggs and other stuff I didn't care to know alongside a side platter of name-calling and videos for taken. Honestly, it could seem like it was bullying but the last I wanted to do was give more ammunition to those who have gladly hurt her but giving them hope that they would not get into trouble with me. They had been kicked out of one of our parties. It was as good as an easy way to get blacklisted. They'd never step into one again. The rational side of me weighed that it would push them to get another backup to get into the circle once more but I figured we'd deal with it then. Looking around at the thought, I spotted the heavily made up female I'd made to ignore most of my life with a sour expression and I hid my grin before bringing back my gaze to the female who had snugged my heart and I smiled contentedly. The fleeting expressions on her face didn't bother me. She'd realize sooner or later the kind of power I still hold in the school. And as bad as it sounds, the lengths I'd go for her.