Second Chance

Chapter 7

An hour after they got home, Ryder entered the house. The twins were doing their assignments in the living room.

"Hi" Alexis greeted warmly but was ignored. "I don't know why you bother" Alex said gruffly.

"It's just a matter of time before he acknowledges us" Alexis said and continued her assignment.

"Hi" Ryder said softly as he entered Ryan's room. Ryan looked up from his phone.

"Hey" he replied just as soft. Ryder closed the door to Ryan's room and sat on his bed beside him.

"I told you not to do anything thing" Ryan said when he noticed Ryder's bruised knuckles.

"I can't let him get away with hurting you" Ryder said not looking and him.

"It's been a while we spent time together" Ryder said looking at his brother.

"You're avoiding everyone including me" Ryan accused and Ryder sighed.

"Are you happy? Dad getting remarried, getting new siblings and moving?" Ryder asked making Ryan frown.

"I wouldn't say happy but I'm not sad either. It's an arrangement I'm become comfortable with. And honestly, they're nice people" Ryan said.

"Right now, you're the only one I care about. From a distance you seem happy and you guys get along quite well." Ryder said.

Ryan shrugged. "I'm okay. But you and dad are not" Ryan pointed out.

"Dad is obviously happy. Why else would he do all if this?" Ryder said.

"Your actions and reactions are making dad sad. They're not that bad when you get to know them" Ryan said but Ryder said nothing.

"If you keep this up, they might have to get a divorce" Ryan added. Ryder stood up.

"You seem okay. Everything is fine then" Ryder said and began to walk out.

"Dad had been crying, Ry. He's trying to be strong in our presence but he falls apart in secret." Ryan said.

Tears gathered in Ryder's eyes but Ryan couldn't see because his back was to him. Ryder walked out of Ryan's room without saying anything and his heart felt heavy.

During dinner, Ryder decided to join them but he didn't make conversation with anyone. He ate in silence and listened to their conversations. Richard was glad that Ryder joined them for dinner.

"Ryan" Alice called when she noticed his face and Ryan froze for a second.

"I'm fine" he said making Alexis chuckle.

"No. You're not" Richard said.

"What happened?" Alice asked and Ryan glared at his food. He didn't want to talk about it because he felt embarrassed about what happened. After a moment of silence he finally spoke.

"A boy was pissed because I was in his seat. I didn't know seats were claimed in the school especially on the first day. I sat in his seat and well, this happened" Ryan said.

Richard frowned so did everyone at the table. "Is that allowed? Isn't bullying supposed to be prohibited? Should I file a complain? Alice asked obviously angry.

"I'm fine though" Ryan said. "He shouldn't bother you anymore" Ryder said making all heads turn to him.

"Ry, violence is..." Richard was saying.

"Not when I'm protecting my brother" Ryder cut him off, stood up and left the dining.

"Maybe I should have just kept quiet" Richard said lowly in a sad voice. This made Ryan angry but he said nothing. Alice rubbed his back.

"It's going to be fine" she said and they all finished dinner in silence.

A few days later, Ryder decided to end the war he created between himself and his dad.

"Alice, where's dad? Ryder asked Alice who was in the kitchen.

"He's out. I'm not sure when he'd be back" she replied softly and Ryder's face fell.

"Is erm... Is everything alright?" She asked

"You don't have to tell me anything. He'll be back soon" She consoled and continued her cooking.

After some minutes, she turned off the cooker and turned to see that Ryder was seated on a stool, his head on the counter with tears dropping down his face.

Alice was conflicted on what to do. She knew that Ryder didn't like her and her presence in their lives so she sat beside him not knowing what to do.

He suddenly sat up and used the back of his palm to wipe his tears.

"I've been so horrible to you. I've been so selfish and horrible to you. I thought that dad was replacing mom and was hostile to you. I'm sorry" Ryder said and burst into tears.

Alice was shocked. She wasn't expecting him to break down like that especially in her presence. She always saw him as strong and independent.

"Oh Ry" she said and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm not even upset with you. Maybe I was but not anymore. Please stop crying." She said and began to run her fingers through his hair to calm him down.

Ryder eventually calmed down and felt vulnerable. He couldn't remember the last time he cried.

"I ruined your shirt" he muttered making Alice chuckle.

"Nothing laundry can't handle" she said earning a smile from him.

"Please don't leave. We need you here" Ryder said. Alice patted his hair.

"I'm not leaving" she assured and they both smiled.

"I'm back" Richard announced as he came in. Alice and Ryder walked out of the kitchen together making Richard's eyes widen. Ryder gave a sheepish smile.

"Welcome dad" he greeted and Richard's jaw dropped. Richard laughed and almost cried. He went to hug Ryder who hugged him back. The twins ran down the stairs to welcome Richard when they saw father and son hugging.

Alexis ran back upstairs to get Ryan and they both went down the stairs to watch the happy reunion.

"I thought you were replacing mom. I didn't want you to forget her. I was so selfish I didn't see that not letting her go is more damaging" Ryder said.

Richard and Ryder both sat outside to discuss as per Ryder's request.

"I'm sorry for making you sad, I'm sorry for ignoring you, I'm sorry for saying that I hate you. I don't hate you dad" Ryder said.

"Ry, you're 17 and you're still a teenager. I shouldn't expect you to understand all of my actions. I'm sorry. I'm not replacing your mom. I can't forget her. Moving on is not forgetting her but just opening a new chapter of my life. I loved Raine and now I love Alice. It's okay if you don't call her mom, we don't expect you to. You could see her as a friend if that arrangement works better" Richard said and Ryder nodded.

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