My Brother's Best Friend

14

9 years ago

Sophia's pov:

I get home after a long day of school. I hear chattering from the living room and find my brother and his friend sitting on the couch, talking.

At least, Johnny is talking.

Ryder notices me and I offer him a gently smile. "Hi Johnny. Hi Ryder." My brother lets out a grunt and continues on the conversation, completely ignoring me. I take a seat next to Ryder and realize how close we are.

I move, knowing he doesn't like people close to him. He gives me a side glance, but doesn't say anything.

I take off my shoes and let out a sigh. Ry raise an eyebrow at me asking if I'm okay. "Just a long day. Also my feet hurts." I point to my aching feet.

Johnny goes to the kitchen for drinks and as soon as he's out of sight Ryder picks up my legs and start to massage them. "What happened?" He asks in a whisper. "I had a ballet class."

I lean closer so it's easier to whisper in his ear and he bends down a little too.

"Don't tell mommy, but I don't like to dance. I'm always hurt." I tell him and he squeezes my hand. "I won't." And holds out his pinky. I link my own with his, but let go quickly when Johnny appears in the room.

"Sophia don't bother him. I already told you." He looks at my leg in Ryder's lap and continues," and get the hell your feet off of him."

"She's fine." Ryder cuts in and gives my brother a glare. I swallow and try to take away my feet, but Ry wouldn't budge.

Mommy comes in and kisses Johnny's forehead.

But not mine.

"Hi mommy! How was your day?" She might had a bad one and that's the reason.

She looks at me and shrugs. Oh, okay. I give her a smile, but that falters when I catch sight of Ry's hand.

They are all bruised.

Mom and my brother is too occupied to notice anything around them so I take his hands in mine and examine them. "What happened this time?" I ask him.

He just shakes his head, curls of dark chocolate hair falling in front of his eye. "Nothing. Don't worry."

I look up to see my family talking in the kitchen so I quickly press a kiss to each hand. I look at him making sure it was okay.

"All better now." Is the only thing he says.

"Ryder, dinner is ready come on!" I hear mom.

I pull my legs away and he gets up, extending his hands for me. I take them and head towards the kitchen. We sit beside each other while my mother serves the food for my brother and father.

She tries to do the same with Ryder, but he takes it from her. Mom doesn't question it and starts to eat along with the rest of my family.

Ry puts food on my plate first then his. He grabs my hand under the table and closes his eyes, praying. He reopens them and starts eating with his hand still interlocked with mine.

~~~~~~~~~~

I jolt awake after hearing a loud crash.

A minute later my door softly creaks open and Ryder's head pokes in. He realizes that I'm awake and makes his way over to me.

He sits down at the end of my bed and looks at me with soft eyes. "Johnny."  I understand it and nod my head. "Is he playing again?" I ask and he gives me a nod.

Johnny can stay up however long he wants to and he usually takes his chance to play video games all night. For an eleven year old boy he sure doesn't care about his studies.

Ryder moves closer to me and tucks me in.

Since Johnny asked him to stay over he can't sleep in here with me. He just checks up on me through the night to make sure I'm fine.

He gives me a quick kiss on the forehead and holds my hand while rubbing his thumb up and down. "Go back to sleep."

I close my eyes and darkness takes over me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The front door opens reveling Ryder and Johnny. Ry looks upset and even sad and I just want to hug him.

When Johnny goes to the kitchen I give Ry a big hug.

He wraps his arms around me and pulls me closer, inhaling my scent. "You okay Ry?"

He nods and sniffles a little. "I missed you."

Suddenly I'm pulled out of his embrace and facing Johnny. "What the hell do you think you're doing?! I told you to stay away from him you little brat, no one wants to be around you!" I flinch back from his harsh words and tears start to prick my eyes.

"Hey!" Johnny doesn't have that strong grip on my arm anymore and is falling to the floor. "Who gave you permission to touch her like that?!" I have never heard Ryder this loud and angry before.

My brother's eyes widen an I can see fear flashing through them.

"Man what was that? You can't just shove me and then yell at me."

"Yes I can. I just did." Ry replies while studying the bruise that started to form where Johnny grabbed me.

"I didn't expect you talking in full sentences will be yelling at me. I'm a bit hurt about it."

"Good."

He leans down until his lips are touching my ear. "It's not that serious. But if you want, I'll take you to the doctor." He offers but I give him a smile and shake my head.

"Hello! I'm still here. What are you doing with her?" Ryder looks at him with a death glare and turns back to me, assisting me back to my room where he took care of my bruise.

When he was finished putting some cream on it and a wrap so it wouldn't bother me, he kissed it and tucked me in, saying I need to rest.

He went downstairs to my brother, told him he's heading out and snuck back into my room through the window. He laid under the covers and snuggled up to me.

"Thank you Ryder." I whisper into his chest.

"Anything for you, Angel."

Word count: 1057