The Orphan

Chapter Eighteen.

Autumn-

I looked around creeped out.

There's being concerned for someone and then there's this guy.

I tried my best to ignore the text and called the only person that came to mind.

"Autumn?"

"Hi Tori."

"I take it you forgive me?"

"I'm ready to come home." I agreed.

"We'll pick you up at the school."

She hung up without letting me get another word in.

It had only been a couple of minutes since what happened at the parking lot, I was begging to god they weren't still there.

Their voices caught the wind and I heard them before I saw them.

God doesn't exist in my world, so why would he of all people help me!

I figured hiding behind some shrub and listening to their conversation would be my best bet for survival.

Yes I'm aware I'm being over dramatic, but I still wasn't ready to face them, not now, not ever.

"I can't believe you said and did those things to her!" Chase tutted.

"Neither can I." Ryder's tone sounded guilty and sad.

He's a better actor than I thought.

"Then why did you? why would you say all those things to one of us!" Chase was yelling but not harshly, just trying to understand.

"I only said all those things, because she would always yell at me! I just yelled back the only stupid things that came into my head! And she was always around that guy Mason!" he spat the name.

Excuses! they were just excuses!

"What has Mason got to do with this?"

Good question.

"He's always around her, they aren't good together! there's just something about him I don't like! and for some reason she always goes crawling back to him! he hurts her and she forgives him just like that!" Ryder snarled.

That's not true! Is it? No it's not! its not!

"Someone's jealous." Chase chuckled.

"What? no!" Ryder defended himself.

Thank you! finally he admits the truth!

"Don't lie to me, we're practically brothers, so what If you like her, what's so wrong with that?"

Shut up Chase! you don't know what you're talking about!

"I haven't liked anyone before like, like liked someone for a very long time, so it's all new to me again, and I have a feeling I'm doing it wrong." he sighed.

No! no! no! even if he does like me, I will never in a million years ever fall for him!

"Ya think?" The question was rhetorical.

"Well how do I...not be an ass?"

Chase started laughing.

"What?"

"Nothing." Chase's laughter died.

I didn't need to be here right now. I should be at home!

Where's Tori when you need her?!

"So? do you have any advice for me or are you just gonna laugh at me?"

"Well, for starters you can get over getting jealous every time you see Mason and her together."

"That's impossible." he stated.

I really don't want to be here right now! Listening to all of this is making me sick!

"You don't have to get over being jealous, just pretend you aren't, act like you couldn't care less."

He shouldn't care at all!

"And?"

"When she starts yelling at you, don't react, and even if you do react, don't react badly."

"Easy enough, anything else?"

"That's all I can think of on the spot, any questions?"

"Yeah actually, how do you know this stuff?"

"Chloe"

"How do you know it works?"

"I still have Chloe don't I?"

Ha, well, I guess it's my job to make sure it doesn't work.

The car pulled up just as the two were about to leave.

I snuck out of the shrub and into the passenger side of the truck.

"Hurry, lets go!" I urged Tori.

Tori spun the truck around in a U-turn and sped down the street.

I looked at the two frowning boys in the review mirror.

I hope they didn't spot me.

"Why are we in a hurry?"

I shook my head, "we're ok now." I assured her and she slowed the truck down to speed limit.

"So in other news..." she grinned down at her hand.

My mouth dropped open at the silver ring with a diamond in the middle resting on her ring finger.

I squealed in excitement at the news.

I'm usually not the squealer and the girly type of girl, but to this I made an exception.

"Details!" I gushed studying the ring on her hand.

"A few days ago. He set up this huge thing with lights in the tress and glow sticks in the pool, rose petals on the ground, it was so magical! Then when he proposed he said, 'I knew from the first time we kissed we would be together forever', It may have been cheesy as fuck and a total cliché, but I just realised, I love both those things when it comes to Dylan."

I laughed with her at the statement.

I couldn't be more overjoyed with happiness for her, it was a long time coming.

"So shall we celebrate?" she asked me an evil smirk crossing her face.

"What did you have in mined?" I grinned knowing whatever it was it would be something the law didn't approve of.

We did another U-turn and headed towards town.

I didn't know what she was thinking of, but I felt in the mood to do something against the law, especially when there's a cop trying to protect me.

****

Tori's engagement ring Above^^^