Second Chance

Chapter 10

Things looked fine except that Alexis was avoiding her mom and Ryder. She thought she was being subtle about it but everyone noticed.

One day, Ryder was determined to get to the root of the matter. He left school as soon as the bell rang and waited for her outside the house. Ryder ignored the boys as they walked inside and held Alexis back.

"Alexis, what's going on? You've been avoiding me. Did I do something to hurt you?" Ryder asked. Alexis shook her head.

"You did nothing wrong" she said not looking at him.
"How can I fix my mistake if you don't say anything" Ryder asked already frustrated with her attitude.

Alexis ignored him and turned to go inside and Ryder held her arm to stop her.

"What exactly is your problem?" She screamed surprising Ryder.
"First you ignore us and treat us like we're your enemies. Now you're acting like a good son and taking my mom away from me. Why don't you just go back to ignoring us all and I'd at least have my mom back" she screamed at him.

Ryder's jaw hung open in shock. She stormed into the house to see the whole family shocked at her outburst. She ignored them and ran upstairs to her room and locked the door.

Ryder didn't enter the house, he got on his bike and rode off. By the time the others had recoverd from their shock he was long gone.

"Wasn't that what she wanted all along?" Alex asked himself quietly. He felt sad that she had bottled up her feelings all this time.

Ryan looked at Alice who had sunk into the couch and was feeling lost. Ryan and Alex went to their rooms without saying anything to each other. The atmosphere in the house was awkward and tense.

Alexis had burst into tears as soon as she got to her room. She didn't open the for her brothers when they had knocked later.

Alice told Richard what happened as he also noticed the weird atmosphere. Ryder came back to the house in the night, spoke to nobody and he was out early the next day before anybody woke up.

Alexis was avoiding everyone in the house. She felt ashamed of her actions and decided to hide away. She didn't walk with her brothers or sit with them at lunch. She ate dinner in her room too.

Ryan was comfortable with Fred and having him as a friend. He then decided to introduce him to his siblings as his friend and decided to do it during lunch.

"Hi Ryan" Fred greeted and sat down beside him.
"Hi" Ryan replied. Fred froze for a moment.
"Did you just talk?" Fred asked amazed.

"I'm not dumb" Ryan replied with a smile as the teacher entered the class. As they walked to their next class, Ryan decided to bring the matter up.

"Where do you go during lunch break?" Fred shrugged.
"Join us for lunch then" Ryan said surprising Fred.
"Why?" He asked.

"You're my friend and I want you to meet my siblings" Ryan said.
"I don't think so" Fred said.
"Why not?" Ryan asked.

"I don't go to the cafeteria" Fred answered. "Why?" Ryan asked.
"I just don't okay." Fred snapped surprising Ryan.

"Okay. I understand. I'm sorry for pushing it" Ryan said and they walked into the classroom each going to their respective seats.

As soon as the class ended Ryan was out if the class without waiting for Fred like he usually did. Fred noticed this and felt bad.

He quickly gathered his things and went after ryan. He caught up with him just as he was about to enter the cafeteria.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you" Fred apologized.
"I'm sorry for pushing you" Ryan apologized too and they both smiled.
"Will you come over to my house then?" Ryan asked hopefully. Fred looked away.

He didn't want to say no but he knew he couldn't and Ryan couldn't mask his disappointment.
"It's okay. I'll see you later" Ryan said and entered the cafeteria.

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