A New Chapter Begins...Again

f o u r t e e n

Tom's POV

It's been about a week since you got home. It's getting easier to walk, but you're still in pain

Tom: Hey shortie, I'm home!

Harrison: I think she's asleep upstairs

Tom: I'll go check

He goes up to your room to find you asleep with a ton of work papers around you. He picks them all up and moves them to the dresser, covers you up in a blanket, then Kristen calls him

Kristen: Hey Tom

Tom: Hey, what's up?

Kristen: Can you grab the kids from school? I'm really busy at work right now, and y/n's not answering me

Tom: Yeah, y/n's asleep at the moment, but I've got them, no worries

He hangs up and leaves to get the kids

Mrs. Smith: Are you Mr. Holland?

Tom: I am, yes. Is everything okay?

Mrs. Smith: Well...

Tom: Hold that thought. I'll put the kids in the car and come back to talk privately

He puts the kids in the car and heads back to the teacher

Tom: Alright, what's going on?

Mrs. Smith: Ryker has been acting really strange in class. I thought maybe he had a bad day, but it's been the past few days

Tom: I'm so sorry. I'll talk with him tonight...

Mrs. Smith: It's been affecting some of his work. We have a math test tomorrow, but I want him to be successful

Tom: I might keep him home. I just have to talk with my wife

Mrs. Smith: If he does come, he'll take the test, and I'll give him the chance to correct it at home

Tom: Great, thank you so much for caring and looking after him

Mrs. Smith: It's part of my job Mr. Holland

Tom: Have a great night

Tom goes back to the car and drives home. He notices Ryker's off when he runs inside

Tom: Hey bubs

Ryker: Hey

Tom: You doing okay?

Ryker: Yeah

Tom: Then why did your teacher pull me aside to tell me otherwise?

Ryker: I don't know

Tom: Ryker, I can't help you if I don't tell me

Ryker: Why do you even care?

Tom: Because I'm your father. Would you rather talk to mom later?

Ryker: Sure, whatever

Tom leaves closing the door behind him

Your POV

Tom: Hey, you're up

You: Yeah. Are you okay? You look sad

Tom: I'm a little sad

You: Why? What happened?

Tom: Ryker's teacher told me he's been acting weird in class. I noticed it when he ran in from the car. When I asked him about it, he asked why I cared

You: Spidey...

Tom: Why does he hate me?

You: He doesn't hate you. Come on, let's go

Tom: Where?

You: Ryker. Now help me up, the pain's bad today

Tom helps you up and you head into Ryker's room

You: Ryker Dominick!

Ryker: What?

You: What's gotten into you?!

Ryker: I'm just not sleeping well, okay!

Tom: No, not okay. What's going on?

Ryker: It's not the lady anymore...

You: What?

Ryker: It's a guy

You: How did it change?

Ryker: There was a guy on the beach while me, Haylee, Liam, and Mattie were playing

Tom: What did he say to you?

Ryker: He didn't

You: Ryker...what happened?

Ryker: He grabbed me...

Tom: What?!

Ryker: He grabbed my arm, but I kicked him, and we ran inside

You: Oh my god! Why didn't you say anything!?

Ryker: We swore not to

Tom: Ryker, what did he look like?

Ryker: He was tall, brown hair, kind of tan

You: Oh no

Tom picks you up and runs to the bathroom knowing exactly what was going to happen

Tom: You're okay...

You: H-how di-did h-he k-know?

Tom: I don't know

Ryker: Mom?