If You Have A Secret, Don't Tell Us (Ryker)

The hospital was always cold, and smelled like antiseptic. I didn't like coming here, but Mom forgot her lunch at home and I felt bad that she'd have to eat the sham of food from the cafeteria.

Vaguely familer nurses gave me small smiles as I passed by, coworkers of my mom that I should know the names of by now but didn't care enough to actually remember.

One of them stopped infront of me and gave a laugh.

"Looking for your mom?" She asked with a smile.

"Yeah, have you seen her?" I asked looking past her shoulder.

"She was checking in with our newest comatose, should be down that hallway," She explained.

I nodded and at her pager started to go off.

She gave me a dismissing nod and walked off.

I followed down the hall and almost ran into her as she opened the door right in front of me.

She pressed a hand to her heart and gave a long breath.

"Oh! Ryker?" she compoased herself and caught her breathing. "You scared me! What are you doing here?"

I held up her lunch bag and smiled. Her eyes softend and took the bag.

"Thanks,"

From inside the room a friendly female voice came closer.

"Hey Nurse Griff- Oh hey Ryker," Jade stepped out and looked surprised to see me, I returned the gaze.

"Jade, hey," I greeted.

"You two know each other?" Mom asked with a raised eyebrow looking between us.

"Um yeah sort of," I muttered.

"Oh, I had no idea, how nice," She gave a tight lipped smile, she had more questions, I could tell.

I gave a weak smile

"Well, I should go," Jade stated, adjusting her purse on her shoulder.

"Let us walk you out, I'd love to hear how you two met," Mom smiled.

She could be so nosy when she wanted to be.

"Okay," Jade squeezed out.

It was a quiet walk to the front entrance, the silence was lifted once we got there, there was a very nosy family at the check-in desk.

"Auggie shush okay? Hi where looking for room 128?" A woman with graying blonde hair was holding a whimpering toddler on her hip asked the front desk lady. What looked to be her husband was standing beside her rubbing her shoulder. A shorter girl was standing behind them, she kinda looked like Peyton.

Oh no.

Peyton locked eyes with me

"Jade? Ryker?" she called, standing on her tiptoes to get a better look.

Her mom looked over and followed her gaze.

"Jade and Ryker? Your siblings?" her mom asked quite loudly, Peyton shushed her and looked around nervously, making sure no one was listening.

"Excuse me what?" Mom looked at me with dagger eyes.

I looked around for the closest wall to ram my head into.

Peyton's mother handed the child to her husband and dragged Peyton over to us.

"Hi, are you Jade or Ryker's mother?" her mom asked my mom.

"I'm Ryker's mother, I'm sorry, I'm very confused, who are you?"

"I'm Helen, Peyton is my daughter," She explained.

Mom looked at me again, the vein her forehead was starting to throb.

"Who's Peyton?" she asked me.

"I'm Peyton," my sister spoke up, giving Mom a small smile.

"Peyton, Ryker, and Jade are biological siblings. Your son didn't tell you? Not that I'm shocked I just found out a few days ago myself, " Mrs. Marshell made clear.

My heart was about to beat our of my chest, my axenity was running high.

"You told her?" Jade exclaimed at Peyton.

"I'm pretty sure we aren't supposed to tell anyone that," I muttered at the same time.

"It was an accident," Peyton winced.

"Biological siblings? Ryker, what's going on?" Mom asked with a sharp tone.

" I - uh," Icleared his throat and tried again. " A couple of weeks ago, we met by accident, long story short these are my sisters, Jade and Peyton. And Hale, but she's not here right now,"

And it better stay that way.

I glared at the doors, praying that Hale didn't walk through.

"I'm sorry I didn't realize they were still keeping it a secret," Mrs. Marshell apologized sincerely.

"No I'm glad you did, it seems me and my son have a lot to talk about," Mom glared at me.

Well fuck...

"Well I would love to have you all over for dinner, I know it a bit late notice but how about tonight?" Mrs. Marshell asked, a wide smile on her face.

"We'd love to," Mom replied sharp tongued.

"Jade, can your family come?" Mrs. Marshell asked Jade.

I bounced on my feet.

"I'll talk to my dad,"

"Wonderful, Peyton will you get in touch with Hale?"

Peyton nodded, tucking her hair back behind her ear.

"Perfect, we will see you all tonight!"

With that, the Marshell said goodbye and disappeared down the hospital halls, not before Peyton turned around and mouthed something to us.

I'm calling you later.

She turned back around with a huff.

Jade and I looked back at Mom.

"I have patients to check on, we'll talk later," She glared at me and huffed.

When she was a good distance away I turned to Jade.

"Well, I guess I have to tell my dad now," Jade stated, rubbing her temples.

"You have fun with that," I mocked.

"Oh yeah because your mom just looks thrilled. I gotta go, see you later," She laughed.

"Can't wait," I rolled my eyes.

-*-

Peyton called as I was waiting for Mom to come home.

"Hey," I muttered as I anwsered.

"Good your all on," Peyton sighed,"

"Hey, Peyton what time is dinner?" Jade questioned.

"What dinner?" Hale asked.

I looked at the my phone, since when did Hale have a cell phone?

"Hale?" I asked.

"Yeah?" She answered.

"You have a phone?" I questioned.

"I'm using Lev's, Jade gave her, her number for special cases. So what's so special?"

"Peyton's family is having all of us over for dinner," Jade answered.

Hale started to ask a bunch of questions and Jade tried to answer them, but they mostly just ended up talking over each other.

"Guys, Focus!" Peyton bellowed into the phone. They both stopped talking. "Remember the other day, when I let it slip to my mom that I found my bio family?" Peyton asked Hale.

"Yeah?" Hale groaned.

"Well today at the hospital, my family ran into Ryker's mom and well long story short our parents kind of know everything. Expect the magic part that's still under wraps," She sounded proud at the last sentence.

"So was I only one who remembered the secrecy is key because our lives are in danger part?" Hale asked sharply in disbelief.

"Yeah we know it's not great," I intervened. "Are you coming to dinner?"

"Why do I have to go?"

"Becuase were siblings and our parents want to meet," Jade answered, I could her hangers sliding in the background.

"I don't have parents, so I ask again, why do I have to go?"

"Hale," Peyton warned.

"Urgh! Fine. I never thought I'd say this but, I'm so happy I never got adopted."

Peyton huffed and I laughed.

"Hale!" Jade exclaimed.

"Just be at my house at five-thirty, and use the door," Peyton intervened.

I looked at my phone, giving a weird look. What did she mean use the door?

"Yeah, yeah," Hale muttered as she hung up.

"See you guys soon, my dad just got home," Jade whispered and left the call. That left Peyton and me on the phone.

"So hows your Mom handling the news,"

"I don't know, she still at work,"

"Oh, then I'll see you later?"

"Yeah see ya," I hung up, wanting to take a nap before tonight's headache.

-*-

Mom didn't get off her shift until late so we didn't get a chance to talk until we were in a taxi on our way to dinner.

"It's not that I'm angry that your interstead in your family history. But why did you keep it from me? I mean I had to her it from that women, do you understand how embarrassing that was?" She exclaimed.

I nodded.

"Sorry Mom. We were just not ready. We are still getting to know each other. I don't think anyone was ready for this yet,"

She gave a short nod and straightened up, pulling her curly hair into a ponytail.

"So, what am I walking into?" She asked with a tinge of nervousness.

"Umm Peyton's family is kinda an all american type but I think there something going on because Peyton kinda off and Jades just has her Dad, who's a fireman. Hale's an orphan, one of those independent trauma types. So it's not too bad,"

"Okay, I can handle that,"

The taxi pulled over and let us out. I'd never really been to Peyton's before so it took me a second to find the right door.

We were the first to arrive. Mrs. Marshell welcomed us with a huge grin.

"Hello, please come in. This is my husband Kevin, you two didn't have chance to be formal introduced earlier.

"Hello, Lydia Griffen, nice to meet you. And you've met Ryker,"

They kindly shook hands.

I gave a polite smile.

"Of course, I look forward to getting to know him better," Mrs. Marshell smiled brightly.

"Yes me too, I'm glad we're doing this,"

"As am I," Mr. Fell added cooly behind us, Jade at his side.

"Oh wonderful, please come in," Mrs. Marshell gestured for them to enter the house.

We stepped to the side to let them in.

"Hello, I'm James,"

They locked eyes and Mom relaxed into a smile.

"Lydia, Ryker's mother,"

They shook hands and Mr. Marshell introduced himself.

Peyton stepped forward.

"How about you all go and sit and I'll wait for Hale?"

"Wonderful," Mrs. Marshell lead everyone into the dining room. I hung back with Peyton, and Jade.

"Well so far so good," Peyton breathed.

"Yeah, let's hope it stays that way. Mom is so stressed out, how's your dad?" I asked Jade.

"He's fine, maybe a little weary about socializing, but he's understanding,"

There was a small knock at the door.

"Hale's here," Peyton muttered as she went to the door.

I followed her.

I stood shocked.

Hale to an absolute shock was wearing her new clothes. Hole free jeans, a black sweater with a red knit scarf, knee-high black boots. Her normal wildly curly hair was pin-straight. Her eyes were touched lightly with make - up.

It was unsettling to see. Like some kind of double twin thing.

"Why are you starring at me?" She asked disgruntled.

I turned to Peyton.

"Doesn't look like Hale but speaks like Hale," Jade muttered.

She gave a glare.

"So, what's going on?" Hale asked as she stepped into the house.

"Come see for yourself," Peyton smiled pulling Hale to the dining room.

Everyone turned to us.

I felt Hale tense, you could tell she wasn't used to being the center of attention, I was right there with her.

"Everyone this is Hale," Peyton introduced.

I took a seat next to my Mom and Jade sat next to me.

Mrs. Marshell was the first to speak.

"It's lovely to see you again, where're your parents?"

Peyton shot a look at her mother.

"Mom!" she snapped.

Hale gripped Peyton's hand firmly.

"It's fine," she told Peyton, she looked back to the table. " I was never adopted, I grew up in a behavioral correction academy,"

"Where are you living now?" Mom spoke up.

"Still there, but I have to move out soon,"

Mom gave a slight nod, she had a look in her eye that let me know she had something stirring in her head.

"Please seat. Let's eat," Mrs. Marshell started to pass food around.

Vague dialog followed through the meal, our parents conversed about their jobs and things going on in the city.

I gave Hale a slight to her leg under the table, which earned me a glare from her. I leaned over a bit to whisper to her.

"Hey, which fork do I use to stab myself with?"

Hale looked like she was swallowing her laugh and looked at the display of untesils.

"Mhm, I'd say the salad fork,"

Jade kicked both our legs and scowled. Which only caused Hale and me to snicker.

Mrs. Mashell made an apple pie for dessert and brought out some ice cream. That's when they decided to come back to us.

"So," Mom started. " How did all of you meet?"

Hale dropped her fork, she murmured an apology and picked it back up.

Jade cleared her throat.

"At a party, on our birthday. We didn't know we all be there, it was a coincidence, fate,"

"Then a bunch of people came in with smoke bombs. Jack and Mayline saved us and brought us back to their place," Peyton helped.

"Jack and Mayline were friends of our mothers, they are the ones that placed us with our families when we were young," Jade picked back up.

"Our birth families lived in a very close community a few miles from here. Our birth father led a raid that killed a lot of people, our mothers thought it would be best if we were sent away, so he couldn't find us. It was easier if we were apart," Peyton told them.

"Ever since that night, they have been teaching us about our heritage and keeping us updated," Jade finished.

"And why didn't you tell us this weeks ago?" Mr. Fell asked, leaning back in her chair.

"We were supposed to keep it a secret. Our biological father is a very dangerous man. The fewer people that knew where his kids were, the better," Hale answered.

"So you all share a father?" Mom asked.

"Yea, we have different mothers. It was all part of his plan. Having kids in different parts of the community-made him powerful," Jade nodded.

"That's crazy," Mr. Marshell muttered.

"Welcome to our world," Hale grumbled.

Peyton shot a glare at Hale, who just shrugged.

"The point is that it's important that this stays a secret," Peyton urged.

Tiny footsteps echoed down the hall. A little boy with curly brown hair and a groggy face walked in.

"Auggie you're supposed to be napping," Mrs. Marshell sighed.

"I heard voices. Why are you having a party without me?"

"Later buddy, come on back to bed," Mr.Marshell picked up the boy and carried him back down the hall.

Mrs.Marshell cleared her throat and gave a pleasant grin.

"Now that everything is out in the open, right?"

"Sure," I responded.

"Then let's move on to happier topics, I want to get to know you all,"

The rest of the night turned into a verbal questioner between the four of us. It took a while to finally get out of the door.

On the way, home Mom started up a conversation.

"That was actually kind of nice,"

"Yea,"

"I love you Ryker. Don't forget that,"

"I know, Mom. Feeling's mutual,"