Seven

"You shouldn't be that worried." Oliver scoffs throwing a fry in his mouth.

Its been two days since the incident between Ryder and I.

Two days since I recommended Blake to Chase's therapist. Yes, Chase had dyslexia too. He's going to start basic education classes and hopefully his condition will get better. He says I'm his 'ride or die' buddy.

I've even gotten close with the rest of the crew and so have my friends but Ryder?

Ryder is another case. I get that we were never friends and his first impression of me was bad and all but after what happened I don't think I can take a sip of water without choking because he keeps glaring at me whenever we lock gazes.

I even tried apologizing but he ignored me!

"I am that worried." Tyson deadpans stabbing his veggie burger repeatedly.

"That's gross," May says scrunching up her nose in disgust while he just smirks and sticks out his tongue.

"You're worried because you swallowed a pea and you're afraid its gonna grow insi––How does your brain work Tyson? Honestly, how do we even know if the pea isn't bigger than your brain!" Ruth half yells throwing her hands in the air. Her red hair flying into April's mouth.

"It's already cooked Tyson, you're just a tad bit stupid to understand that boiled seeds don't grow." I added, paying attention to April who's slapping Ruth's hair out of her mouth.

"Or just too stupid." Oliver states simply.

I glance over to the 'fiesty five table' hoping to see Blake, wanting to ask him about his progress, but he's not there neither is Ryder, only the rest of the group, by the rest I mean Courtney, James and Carter.

"I wonder where the rest are." May whispers beside me when she notices me staring at their table.

I just shrug and take another bite out of my ham sandwich emotionlessly staring at my tray. I'm about to take another bite when a strong pair of hand yanks me backward.

"The fuck do you think you're doing" I half shout at my man handler.

Ryder Anderson.

"Follow me. Now." He orders while I just stare at him blankly.

"I hate to break it to you Anderson, I'm not going to give you a blowjob or whatever you need me for in the middle of my lunch break." I say folding my arms across my chest. "You are not my kind of Daddy."

"This is not the time for jokes Summers!" he said through gritted teeth grabbing my wrist for the second time.

His jaw might pop any moment from the way it was ticking.

A small crowd formed and I can hear whispers of dirty minded high school kids.

"I don't have the time for your bullshit Anderson. You told me to stay away two weeks ago and how's that working for you? Leave me the fuck alone!" I snap yanking my wrist out out of his grip.

Just when I was about to sit down Blake runs towards us. The rest of their group following suit from their table.

"You've got to––she might do something stupid–she's–she–" he punches the table when he's unable to form words from excess panting.

"What's wrong Blake?" Carter's chirpy voice is laced with concern as she rubs his back.

"Ryder dude what's going on?" James asks Ryder who busy is glaring daggers at me.

"Blake what's going on, you're freaking us out." I said placing my hand on his shoulder.

He rises up and points at me "You have to help a friend." He told me his eyes now watering slightly from his erratic breath seizure.

I was slowly getting scared about what was happening.

"Well then your bestie needs you" He almost whispers.

It takes a minute before everything clicks into place. Ariana.

A gasp escapes my mouth.

Is something wrong with her?

Is she suffering from a deadly disease?

Is...is she...dying?.

Why are the two of them freaking out!!

I knew something was wrong.

I start running but then I stop.

I don't know the address.

I rush back and grab Ryder's arm before rushing out again.

"Please tell me you didn't come with that rusty death trap." I said once we got to the parking lot.

He didn't say anything. He slipped his hand inside his pocket and pulled out a car key. He pressed a button and a sleek red car in front of us beeped.

I wrapped my surprise up for another time and just opened the car and slipped inside.

"Is she okay?" I ask once we drive outside the parking slot.

"I don't know." he says quietly. His knuckles are white from holding the steering wheel so tight.

He sighs deeply before running his hand into his hair. Now that I pay attention to him, he looks beat. His eyes are slightly puffy, his lips are chapped, his hair is disheveled as if its been raked a thousand times. But he still looks breathtaking, the way he clutches and un-clutches the wheel when he waits for the traffic or when he runs his hand through his hair when he is frustrated.

"Why am I needed?" I ask staring blankly out the window.

"She's been asking for you for the past two days straight," He gulps. "Today she wanted to refuse her medication and she can't refuse her medication. It's her health we're scared of." He says quietly.

I can tell he's trying his best not to cry from the way his voice was cracking up.

Does she have a disease? My mind screamed, but I can't ask questions...at least not now.

"She'll be okay." I say in a small voice trying not to convince myself otherwise.

I do a double take when we arrive at his house, you know, because it's huge! Not as big as mine but this...this is big. 

The gate opened as Ryder drove up to it, I stare at the fountain as if it's something that is not from this world. 

He parks in front of the house and hurries to the other side to open my door. I smiled before stepping out. It feels like visiting Cinderella and prince charming. How charming.

"This is where you live?" I asked, taken aback.

"What did you think? A wrecked house with a crooked leaking roof and one couch with a black and white TV. A half dead fridge void of anything but a half carton of expired milk?"

"That pretty much sums it up." I nodded.

He rolls his eyes and walks up the door. The door opens from the other side revealing a short grey haired old lady.

"Good afternoon Miranda." He half smiles. Ryder attempted to smile. This is all overwhelming. Her brows crinkle in confusion when she looks at me.

"Hi I'm Alexandra!" I wave nervously at her.

"She's Alex.... The bestie." He says as if trying to remind her of something and her brows shoot up in recognition.

"Oh my!" She steps aside letting me inside. "You're Ally! Anna has been talking about you."

Please call me anything but that!

"I'm Miranda, Anna's nanny." She adds pulling me into a tight embrace. "She's is cute just as you said Ry!"

My cheeks heat up. I place my hands on both sides of my cheeks stealing a glance at him.

He called me cute?

"Come on now let's get you to Anna." she pats my back leading me through the spiral shaped stairs.

"Should I get you something? A drink?" Ryder asks halfway through the stairs.

"You should've ask me while we were still downstairs close to the kitchen." I rolled my eyes playfully.

"Oh!" he mutters quietly scratching his nape. I can tell he's trying to be nice.

It's disgusting.

"It's okay." I smile.

We stop at the front of a huge wooden door. I can see Ryder stiffen by my side while Miranda excuses herself.

"Wait, aren't you, uhm..." I gibber clutching her hands.

I feel scared and weird meeting Anna. It's probably the first time anyone has specifically asked for me well except my art teacher of course.

So yeah, it feels creepy for a little girl I met at the supermarket who turns out to be the little sister of one of the guys I don't really care about at school to suddenly ask for my presence just because I said I was her bestie which I really wasn't but I only said that to make her feel better.

"It's okay," Miranda says in a smooth motherly tone and rubs the back of my hand with her thumb. "You'll need the privacy." she nods and leaves.

Okayyy.

Ryder pushes the door open and gestures for me to step inside first.

As I step inside I see her small body curled up at the side of her queen sized bed sniffing under her blanket.

I walk over and sit close to her at the edge of the bed placing my hand on what seems like her....head? I don't really know.

"I'm not hungry Ry just go away." she grumbles shaking my hand off her head.

"Well then, I guess I'm not having the sleep over with my bestie again." I sigh, feigning hurt.

She instantly shoots up, fighting with the blanket trying to free herself. When she finally sets free.....let's say I didn't get to breathe for two minutes.

"I...need...help!" I wheeze looking at Ryder who is chuckling lightly.

He looked relieved.

"See who decided to show up!" she says placing her small hands on her hips but the smile on her face didn't falter.

Is she really that happy to see me?

"And when I showed up, see who decided to hug me to death!" I glare playfully at her to which she chuckles. Her eyes red and puffy from crying her hair looks worse.

I gently pull her into another hug a gentle and warm one this time.

"Don't ever do this again," I whisper into her ear gently brushing her unkept hair with my hand. "Whatever it is we are here with you....for you. I may not know what is wrong with you but when Ry tells you to take your meds, take them you hear me? You scared us all today."

She quietly nods and pulls away wiping her nose with her hand.

"I didn't get to say goodbye at the mall and Ry wouldn't call you and I wanted to see you again I....I thought you didn't want to see me anymore." She says quietly fiddling with her thumb.

Without thinking I stand up and walk up to Ryder, I can see his eyebrow quirk up as I stand in front of his tall figure.

"I'm sorry!" I whisper quickly before making my thumb connect with my index finger on his forehead.

"Why. Did. You. Not. Call. Me. When. She. Asked. You. To?" I scold flicking him with each word.

"Ow, I–" he tries to rub the spot but I quickly continue to flick him.

"Why. Didn't. You?"

"I don–"

"You. Are. So. Rude!"

"Alex, I–"

"I. Hate. Pickles!" I add randomly, Anna snickers behind me, I also stifle a laugh.

But before my hand could make contact with his forehead again he grabs my wrist yanking me forward our noses almost touching. I could hear my own heart beat crashing wildly against my ribs, my eyes could have torn apart if I tried to widen them any further.

His icy gaze wasms now saying a lot, I can't tell if he is annoyed, angry or amused.

Or all of them.

I clamp my eyes shut as he leans closer, my breathing harsh but slow. I can smell the traces of lavender in his cologne.

"I don't have your number." he whispers in my ear. My legs almost give out when his warm breath fans my neck.

Jesus Christ!

"I..uh–I...forgot?" I stutter awkwardly pulling my wrist away from his grip.

He raises a brow shaking his head, a smirk playing on his lips.

"He already told me he mistakenly lost your number." Anna who was now beside me smirks.

"Oh!" Is all I manage to say.

"Come on let's go have fun!" She giggled running off.

I start following her wanting to tell her to slow down but Ryder crosses his arm over my shoulder making me slow down automatically.

"Wait for me." he smirks shutting the door behind us.

"Slow poke." I huff throwing his heavy arm away but he places it back immediately, I sigh knowing there's no winning on him.

"Is she okay?" I ask looking at through my lashes. I know something is wrong.

He's quiet for a moment before saying;

"She's fine for now."

"For now?" I almost whisper.

"She's not gonna die." He laughs showing his one sided dimple. That's what you don't see Ryder Anderson doing everyday.

"Oh!" I sigh in relief

"Look I know this is too much to ask but I'm gonna need you to take care of Anna for me when she needs you. I'll do anything I swear. Just show up when she needs you." He sounded desperate even though his face doesn't show how desperate he is.

"Anything else?" I smiled tucking back the strands of hair kept trying to flow into my mouth.

His shook his head and gave me an appreciative nod.

I look at Anna who is struggling to open a jar of peanut butter failing miserably each time, I laugh when she throws her hands in the air giving up.

"Were best friends after all, that's what besties do." I conclude.

"Ally let's bake cookies!" Ariana shouts from the kitchen.

I give up.

"In a minute sweetheart!" I shout back. "You coming?" I ask Ryder.

"No." He states simply.

I gave him a look and threatened to share a nonexistent video of him crying in the school blog if he doesn't come to the kitchen. He gave in eventually, even though he said he never cries.

We played a lot of games, watched many movies and Disney cartoons, listened to random songs.

By the time we were done it was already 7:29pm. Ariana slept off during the music session.

"I think I should head back home." I announce to Ryder who is busy watching a tutorial on how to drink water and is actually practicing what they're doing.

This guy is stupid.

"Alright, I'll drop you home." He shuts the laptop and walks towards the door with me following from behind.

The ride home was quiet apart from the music coming from the radio. I quietly sang to the K-pop music that was playing faintly.

Once we arrive at my house I quickly undo my seat belt. For the first time in my life I want to be annoyed by my mom.

As the belt comes off, I open my door only to be stopped by Ryder's surprisingly soft hand on mine.

"Thanks for today." he says for the first time his face showed emotion, he looked grateful and sad all together. I look down to his hands that are on mine and he quickly pulls away.

"It's fine." I half smile and open the door. I walk up to my porch and turn to wave him goodbye.

He swerves his engine making it roar loud.

"I don't own the neighborhood Anderson!" I roll my eyes.

"Whatever." he also rolls his eyes. I twist the door handle and its already unlocked.....weird.

"Oh and Alex?" he calls right before passing.

"Hmm?"

"No one should know about this." he smirks before disappearing.

I shake my head smiling as I enter the living room, closing the door behind me.

I walk to the kitchen to grab an apple before heading upstairs.

"I think mom is sleeping?" I ask myself unsure.

As I make my way to the stairs a familiar, deep masculine voice stops me dead in my tract.

"Look what the cat dragged in."

I took my time before turning around. Oh Lord please tell me this is a nightmare.

But my when was my prayers ever answered?

"Ch–Ch–Chase?!" I gawp.

"Howdee do lil' sis!"

"Surprise!!!" Mom yells from behind him.

"This cannot be happening!" I gasp.

"It sure as hell is." He smirks.

******

••••

Maryam M.B ❣