Overcome

Chapter 9- School Blues

"Do we have to go back, I'd really rather stay here," I said as we were driving down the highway.

"Yes, as saddening as it is I have to take you back to your Mom at some point."

"I'd rather just stay here and not have to think about anything." I answered as I looked out the window watching the trees and other cars fly by.

"Me too." He said with such a depressed tone it made me turn to look at him.

"Ryder? Are you...are you ok?" I asked my voice becoming shaky. I've never heard him like this, or even seen him sad. He's always happy and sort of well....cocky.

"I just got some news from my Mom..." He faltered and his eyes filled with tears. He blinked them back and wiped a stray tear that fell with the back of his hand.

"No, stop you don't have to tell me. Don't worry, you don't have to tell me anything you don't want to." I said and put my hand on his.

"I want to, I haven't told anyone. Its been to long. I need to tell someone." I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze as he contiued "my Grandpa....he's gone....." He croaked and tears streamed down like a waterfall "I didn't believe it for a while. I just chose to ignore it. It was the only way I could even be ok." He wiped the tears fiercely with his hand and continued on "we were so close....he was the only thing that kept my parents together and me sane. He use to take me fishing on his boat to get away, my parents would just yell and yell, it drove me crazy. I would literally like a fu**ing baby just cry myself to sleep every night. I never knew if one day when I woke up one of them would be gone. I never knew, that's what really killed me inside. I never knew. My Grandpa could help me forget for a little while. He'd remind me everytime I came over that its ok, if they split up you'll be just fine. Your parents are working it out and which ever way they decide to go they'll still always love you.....he said that they'd always love me......he really thought they'd always love me. He didn't even know that they kicked me out.....he die.....he died having hope for them...for me. They didn't even tell him Aria. They forced me to lie to my Grandpa to save their sorry as*. My parents don't even care about me. They always said I was just a burden to them. That I should just move out and find someone else who cares."

As he spoke I just listened and watched. He was so full of rage and sadness that it was intimidating. He looked like he could burst into tears while beating someone half to death.

"They didn't care about me.......they never did." He stopped and kept his gaze on the road.

"Ryder...." I had no idea what to say. He had rendered me speechless. "Pull over."

He looked at me then just went with it and pulled over to the side of the road.

"Your parents are jerks. I cant make up some exscuse and say that they're not cause they are. And it tears me up inside to know that someone could bring you, Ryder, to tears. And kick you out. I'm just.... I'm so sorry Ryder. I'm so sorry."

"Thanks," he said while trying to stop crying as his body wracked with sobs. "Come here." He pushed up the middle council quickly and pulled me towards him. I scooched closer as he wrapped his arms around me. I wrapped my arms around him and laid my head on his chest as I listened to the steady beat of his heart.

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Monday At School

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I walked through the doors of Cherryville High with a bunch of emotions flooding through my mind. That weekend with Ryder was anything but normal. He confessed his huge crush on me, told me the backstory about his parents, even cried in front of me. I don't think I've ever even seen a guy cry besides TV. And as amazing as it was that he was so open to sharing his feelings with me, it was kind of overwhelming. His Grandfather just died so he was a little frazzled but still I don't understand why he would want to open up to me. To me of all people.