Page 6 of Ryder

Ryder finally meets my eye. All I see there is pain, and not from my dad’s hit.

I’m sorry,I mouth.I’m so sorry.

His lips curl up as Dad finally moves and lets him pass us by, but my mom is still holding me. “Remember what I said.” Ryder’s tone is cold. His eyes have lost some of their shine. “Promise me.”

“I promise,” I whisper.

“Promise what?” Dad bellows, but Ryder is already gone.

I collapse, huge sobs wrenching my body as I watch him run down the stairs. A few moments later, the front door slams and he’s gone.

I can’t even form words.

“Did he hurt you?” my mom’s saying. “Did he force you?”

“F-force me?” I garble. “He didn’t do anything! I keep telling you that but you won’t listen!”

Mom crouches down. “I know you think you’re in trouble, honey, and you’re not. None of this is your fault. You just have to tell us what happened.”

I glare at my mother. “I told you the truth,” I grit. She doubles back at my tone. I’ve never talked back to her or used this tone before. “He didn’t do anything. He came in to see if I was okay because I… I was the one who…”

“I don’t want to hear any more.” Dad is pacing now, tearing his hands through his hair. “Why would you do something like that? Withhimof all people?”

His words cut me deep. He dislikes Ryder for all the wrong reasons. His prejudice isn’t warranted because Ryder is a good boy, he always has been despite his shitty circumstances.

“What’s wrong with him?” I fire back. “We’ve known him since we were little kids.”

“And we didn’t like your brother playing with him then,” Mom pipes up. “He’s a bad influence.”

I shake my head. “But it was fine when he was rich, right? When he lived in the right neighborhood? Things changed when he moved across town and you know it.”

“Don’t talk to your mother like that!” Dad warns. “We just want to get to the truth of what happened here, and like your mom said, you’re not in any trouble. He’s an adult, he should know better. We were stupid to trust Luca to be in charge for one goddamn night.”

I wipe my eyes, standing as I fold my arms over my chest angrily. How dare they treat him like that?! Like he’s a piece of scum to be stepped on. I know his dad ripped a lot of people off, but that wasn’t his fault. Why is he paying for the sins of his father?

No matter what my dad says, they hate him for reasons beyond his control. He’s never done drugs, or got into trouble with the law. In fact, when Luca got caught stealing cigarettes, Ryder took the wrap for him.

“Why won’t either of you listen to me?” I grip my scalp tightly, frustrated and angry. “Ryder didn’t do anything, and that’s the truth.”

“Then why was he half naked, on your bed, and you were touching him?” Dad demands. “We weren't born yesterday, Crystal. This is exactly what it looks like.”

“I already told you. You might not think your daughter is nothing but a perfect angel, but that’s where you’re wrong. I like Ryder… He’s a good person…” IloveRyder, but I’m not telling them that.

My dad laughs, but it looks almost menacing as his eyes glint with rage. “He’s never allowed back in this house ever again. Do you hear me, Crystal? Never.”

“That’s great, because he’s leaving town anyway!” I fire back.

Hot tears spring in my eyes at the revelation that I may never see Ryder again. He’s never going to come back here, not after this. And they’ll no doubt poison Luca’s head, but I’ll set him straight.

“That’s the best thing a loser like him could do!” Dad yells.

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “You lied to me.”

Dad turns his gaze on me. “What?”

“You lied to me.” My voice is louder, firmer. “You always told me to treat people with respect and kindness, but you meant people like you.”

“Crystal, go to your room,” Mom says, hugging herself.

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