Write The Rain

Chapter Four

RJ's car screeched as it barreled up the driveway. I scowled at him "Ry, we're already in trouble. Please don't make it worse" I begged. He turned to me and the fury in his eyes immediately dissipated. "Hey, you okay?" he asked. A hand wrapping around my shoulders. "I am fine, let's just go" I mumbled. I reached for the lock on the door, but RJ grabbed my arm before I could step out. "You're not going in until you tell me what's wrong" he growled protectively. 

I sighed in defeat and shut the door to prevent the cold air from getting in. "I just felt like I was being a dick to you tonight, and I am sorry" I sigh. RJ says nothing, but moves closer to me and captures me in a tight embrace. "Apology is of course accepted. We say stupid shit that we don't mean to each other all the time. It doesn't mean we love each other any less". RJ paused as he reached for my hand and brought it to his lips. 

"Now come on, we gotta go face our parents and I have to go make my boyfriend some hot chocolate." I grinned despite the circumstances we were in. "You really are the light in my life". I say adoringly. A lopsided grin made it's way onto RJ's face as it flushed red. 

Hand in hand we walk through the doors where we are greeted by two fairly pissed off men and one belligerent woman. 

"Hi Mom" RJ says, raising his hand in greeting in a fairly cheeky manner.

"Hi Mom?" Juniper repeats in disgust. She pauses for a moment and looks at us as if telling us silently that she is grateful we're home safe. She sighs and exhales slowly and then turns her attention back to us. "Now as much as I am happy that you both made it home safe, could someone please explain why neither Mason, Pryce, nor myself were updated at any point tonight?" 

I turn to RJ in hopes that he will take the lead, but I decide to do so myself after he excuses himself to the kitchen, where I know he slipped away to make the hot chocolate he promised me. 

"I know we 're home really late and that you guys are upset, but I can explain" I start. I look to RJ and resume. "We honestly were just having a really good time and forgot to check our phones. We went out to dinner and we got really tied up in talking to our waitress. I tipped her our gas money unknowingly". Pausing, I blush in embarrassment at such a dumb mistake. Juniper's mouth turns upward slightly as if she is amused by this. Resisting the urge to jokingly flip her off, I continue. 

"So, we were running low on gas, so we stopped at a station, but didn't have money. RJ thought the dial being under 'E' meant that the car was stuck. So we spent the next while trying to figure out how we'd get home. By the time we checked our phones it was way past 9:00 PM and we forgot to even think of letting you guys know what was going on."

I looked down at my feet in faux shame, hoping that I could lessen the punishment with the sympathy card. 

Juniper crossed her arms and turned to my guardians. "Hmm seems like an honest mistake to me." she said. My uncle shrugged, clearly tired. "honestly I am over it. So long as they tell us where they are at in the future and look at their damn gas gauge, I say case is closed." My uncle says, rocking on his feet as if he were going to fall asleep standing up. My father's lips were pursed as if he were deep in thought. "Andrew, Ryland?" he said turning to me. RJ poked his head around the corner "Yes Mason?" he asked.

Ignoring the fact that my boyfriend appeared from thin air, my father continues. "I think we're all in agreement that our biggest strife was simply the lack of communication. I think grounding sounds kind of unreasonable as you two didn't even break any rules. But!" his voice boomed as he crossed his arms and stood bolt upright. If this happens again, I think it's fair that there is some type of punishment. Consider this a warning, both of you." my dad pauses and turns to Juniper and my uncle as if waiting for any objections.