Chapter Three

The next morning Ryley gets up to Root poking her stomach. "Babe time to wake up." Ryley rolls over. "What time is it?" Root checks her phone. "After 7." Ryley flings the blankets off and rushes into the bathroom for a shower. Once done and dried Root leaves the room so Ryley can get dressed. Root drives Ryley to school. "I'll see you tonight?" "Yeah about that." Ryley leans against the car a bit. "Don't tell me you can't make it." Root smiles. "No nothing like that. I just might be a little late. Got a drs appointment at 4:30. I'll be at your place by 8 at the latest." Ryley kisses Root. "You better." Root chuckles and drives off. Ryley goes to her class. She does the work that needs to be done for next class. In the middle of class. "Root?" A few minutes later. "What's up?" "Can I call you?" "Aren't you in class?" "Mr Jackson is not here." "Sure." Ryley calls Root. "Hey love." "Hey." "What's wrong? You sound sad." "I think Mr Jackson physically hates me." "Why do you say that babe?" "He's failing me on purpose. I swear." "Get me a copy of the last test you did and I'll see for myself." Ryley giggles. "What?" "I know where Mr Jackson is. So should you." Root bursts out laughing. "I have an idea of where he is. Does he not have a wife?" "No she left him for a woman two years ago." "How do you know?" "Cuz the woman his ex wife is dating is my mother." Root laughs. "Wow. Interesting. Is there another reason you called?" "Yeah." "What is it?" "Well um." Root chuckles. "Just ask." "Are you transitioning?" "Yes. That's why I'm gonna be late tonight. I need to get my daily shot." "I see. Shit Mr Jackson is coming back. I gotta go. Talk later." "Yep." The call ends. "Ryley you are requested to go to the office." Ryley looks confused but does as she's told. A few minutes later Ryley is sitting in the office waiting for the principal. Once the principal calls Ryley in she sits down in the chair. "Have I done something wrong?" "Hm? Oh no no. Just something I need to tell you." Ryley fidgets with her ring. "What's wrong Ms Wells?" Ms Wells sighs. "It's your brother. He's been in an accident." Ryley's eyes start tearing up. "Wwhat? Ashton or Eli?" "Eli. He was on his way to work when a car came out of nowhere and hit him straight on." "Can I. Can I leave to see him?" "Of course. Take all the time you need. I will gather all the work you're needed to do and mail it to you first thing Monday." Ryley smiles and stands. "Thank you." Ms Wells smiles back. "Not a problem. Go on." Ryley leaves the office and goes to her locker to get her stuff. She texts Root. "Hey babe can you go to my house and pick up my brother and then come get me?" "Sure. What's wrong?" "I'll explain when you get here." "Alright." Root swings by Ryley's. "Ashton?" "Upstairs." "Come on. We have to go get your sister from school." Ashton comes downstairs and puts his stuff on. "Did she say why?" Root shakes her head. "She said she'd explain when we get there." The two leave. A few minutes later Root honks her horn. Ryley comes over and gets in. "Where to?" "Hospital." Ashton looks at Ryley confused. Ryley notices Ashton staring at her in the mirror. Ryley lets some tears go. "Eli." Ashton gasps. "No." Ryley nods. Once at the hospital Ryley and Ashton run to the reception desk. "Hi can I help you?" "I'm looking for Eli? Eli Newborne." "Just at the end of the hall on your right. Room 211." "Thank you." The nurse smiles. Ashton,Ryley and Root go to room 211. Ryley and Ashton start crying. Ryley walks over and holds Eli's hand. Eli stirs. "Ryley? Ashton? Where am I?" "You're in the hospital. Do you remember what happened?" Eli swallows. "I was on my way to work and mom was texting me. I dropped my phone and went to retrieve it. After that its blank." Eli looks over at Root. "Who are you?" Ryley walks over to Root and holds her hand. "Eli this is my friend Root. Root my oldest brother Eli." Root pats Eli on the hand. "Nice to meet you." Eli chuckles and coughs. "Wish it was under better circumstances." Root nods. "Me too." Eli tries to sit up. Ashton walks over and stops him from moving. "You shouldn't move Eli. You've gotten a lot of broken and bruised ribs." Eli has a coughing fit. "Water." Root pours some water into the cup and holds the cup in front of Eli so he can drink through the straw. Eli puts his head back on the pillow. "Thanks." "Not a problem." Eli looks over at Ashton. "Why do you look so sad? I'll be fine." Ashton nods as some tears fall. "I know. I just." "You just what?" Ashton looks at Eli in the eyes. "I can't lose you too." Eli puts his arms out. "Come here. You too Ry." The two hug Eli. "Now you listen. Neither of you are gonna lose me. I'm gonna get better and we'll continue driving each other nuts. We'll annoy the shit out of each other for years to come." Ashton and Ryley smile and wipe away their tears. "Okay." Root sits in the corner chair while Ryley and Ashton talk with Eli. A few minutes later. "I have to go Ryley." Ryley looks at the clock. "It's time already?" Root nods. Ryley pouts. "Okay. I'll see you later?" "I promise." The two hug and Root leaves. "Where she off to?" "Drs appointment." Eli nods. "I see. So you and Root." "What about it?" "You two like a thing?" Ryley looks at Eli shocked. "What no! Why do you ask?" Eli chuckles. "I saw the way you looked at her when she left. Don't play dumb. Not with me." Ryley sighs. "It's complicated Eli." "How? She likes you. You like her. What's so complicated about it?" "She's going through transition for one. Two I'm still not completely sure she likes me for me yet." Eli shakes his head and chuckles. "Oh Ry. That girl is crazy for you. Even I can see it." "Really?" Eli nods. "Ashton notices it too." Ryley looks over at Ashton. He smiles. "He's right Ry. She's crazy about you." Ryley hums. "Interesting. How didn't I notice?" Ashton chuckles. "You really want an answer to that?" "No not really." "Okay." "Can we come back tomorrow?" Eli smiles. "I'd love that." The two hug Eli. "See you tomorrow." "See you tomorrow." Ashton and Ryley leave. Later that night. "Hey Al?" Alex looks over at Ryley. "Yeah?" "Do you think I'm stupid?" "Not at all. Why would you ask that?" Ryley shrugs. "I don't know. Just wondered I guess." The doorbell rings. Ryley gets up and answers the door. "Hey love." Ryley smiles and jumps into Root's arms. "Hey." The two kiss. Root puts Ryley down and the two walk into the living room. Root sits on the couch by Alex and Ryley sits on her lap. "So truth or dare Alex." "Dare." "I dare you to drink an entire bottle of beer in 10 seconds." Alex chuckles. She grabs her beer and chugs it. "Time." Alex puts her less than half finished bottle of beer on the coffee table. "Couldn't do it?" Alex shakes her head. Root smiles. "I can do it." Alex looks at Root. "Okay hot shot. Here." Root takes the beer bottle and chugs the whole thing in 7 seconds. Alex stares wide eyed. Ryley just giggles. "Relax there Alex. There's steam coming out your ears love." The group has a great time playing different games and drinking beer. Alex starts laughing. "Seriously?" Root chuckles. "Seriously. I kid you not. He was such a idiot." "Did he ever get caught?" Root nods. "Yep. By our parents. They were so pissed." Alex rolls over laughing. "He had it coming. Smoking inside the house just isn't a great idea." Root chuckles a bit. "Yeah." Ryley starts slipping off Root's lap because of her being drunk so Root pulls her closer and wraps her arms around her waist. "Are you okay Ryley?" She shakes her head and giggles. "I feel floaty." Alex chuckles. "I'm gonna take her up to bed." Alex nods. "Good idea." Root gets up and carries Ryley up the stairs and into bed. Ryley curls into a ball. "Come lay with me." "In a bit okay? I'm gonna clean up." Ryley nods. "Okay." Root goes back downstairs and starts cleaning up the beer bottles and stuff. Alex and Sara help. Once everything is clean and put away Root goes and sits on the couch and turns on the TV. Alex and Sara sit beside her. "So Root?" Root hums. "How long have you been a vampire? If you don't mind me asking." Root looks at Alex and smiles. "About 900 years. You?" Alex chuckles a bit. "A little less than you. The 1800's and 1900's were weird for me." Root chuckles. "There was a lot of war going on." Alex nods. "Mhm. No matter where I went." "Have you been to England?" Alex nods. "I lived there up until I died. Then I traveled a lot after that. You?" Root nods.v"I've seen all of England." Alex looks shocked. "All of it?" Root nods. "Took me awhile but yeah." "Interesting. We better go." The three get up. "You should stay here. Ryley would want you to stay." Sara chuckles. "That's true. She loves it when we stay over." Root smiles. "So you'll stay then?" Alex nods. The three go upstairs after Root turns off the TV. "Night." "Night." Alex and Sara walk to the other spare room. Alex stops. "Oh by the way here." Alex hands Root a box. "Thanks." Alex nods. "No problem." Root opens the box while laying on Ryley's bed. She takes out the ring and puts it on. After that she feels Ryley move and lay her head on Root's chest. Root falls asleep soon after.