The Secret

Chapter 3

I walked up the stairs to my apartment drained from school and work. What made this worse was that the elevator suddenly decided to stop working. That's what I get for living in a  dangerous place, not that I picked it out. I had no choice. I also had no choice as to what time I was suppose to be home. Let's just say if you want to live then you come home as soon as you can. Preferably before dark but sometimes that doesn't happen. 

I was breathing hard once I finally got to my floor. An unfit person's worse enemy are the stairs. I don't care what anybody has to say about that. It's true. When you're running you're really climbing flat stairs. That's my logic. I unlocked the door to the apartment and stepped in. My brother's cooking made my stomach rumble and I followed the scent to our small kitchen. 

Ryder had his back facing me as he stood over the hot stove. If we didn't tell you we were related, you would never know. While I was bleh, he was WOW. His hair color was the same as mine and was usually cut close to the scalp but sometimes he let it grow a little, like now. He had a lean muscular build that girls died for. To me, it only meant he won most of our usual play fights. He had eyes the color of charcoal and silky smooth skin.

"Oh, that smells good. What is it?" I asked walking toward the stove. He blocked my way and gave me an evil grin. I tried to push him away but he was too strong. Or maybe I was just too weak. 

"Go wash your hands kiddo. I'm having company over so may you please eat in your room?" he asked while bringing his hands up in a begging manner. 

"Jennifer, Casey or Tracy?" I asked and he gave me that evil smile again. My brother was one of those people who didn't believe in relationships or love. Who could blame him? He grew up in a house where abuse was normal. I'm just happy that when the unspeakable happened he was old enough to move and he took me with him. I followed the same beliefs as he did but to a lessen extent. 

"It's a new girl, Veronica. Aura you should see her! Not literally since you're going to be in your room," he said as he continued to cook. At least he wasn't abusing the women, just breaking their hearts before they even realized it. "Well, how was school?" he asked.

"Well Rebecca wants me to figure out her boyfriends secret since I'm like the only one he doesn't know. Yeah, I know it doesn't make sense. Well I gave in because she decided she wanted to "cry". She thinks she loves him, how would she know what love is? Well anyways, her plan is already not working because I bumped into Daniel and had a conversation." 

"What happened after that?" he asked before he tested out whatever he was cooking. Reason for loving Ryder: he never judged you because he was probably worse.

"Well, since he completely destroyed my project he made it up by telling my teacher what happened. He's giving me two days to do it by the way," I said when he narrowed his eyes at my project being destroyed. He let out a sigh of relief and fixed me a plate. He handed it to me and I took in the heavenly scent. Another reason for loving Ryder: he was an amazing cook.

"Good, I thought I would have to come to the school and whoop a teacher's ass," he said and I laughed as he got into a fighting stance. "I could take out all of this fake anger on you." He stalked toward me and I put the food on the counter. I backed away before turning around and running away. I wasn't fast enough and he picked me up and slammed me on the couch while tickling me.

"No.... Ryd..... sto.....can't..... brea-" I said not being able to finished my words. I laughed until I felt my insides start to hurt. He finally stopped and threw me over his shoulder and spun me around. I punched at his back but obviously that wasn't helping much. Curse my weak body!

"And the winner is....... Ryder Thomas! And the crowd goes wild!" he said as continued to spin me around. He put me down and I stumbled as the room spun around me. 

"You cheated!" I yelled at him and he put his hands up as if he was going to tickle me again. "Ok, you didn't cheat! Don't tickle me!" I yelled backing away. I didn't think I could handle another tickling experience. He dropped his hands and started to laugh and I scowled at his bent over form. 

"I won't tickle you as long as you stay in your room tonight," he said and I nodded and went into the kitchen to grab my plate. I walked the short distance to my room but before opening the door I turned toward him. 

"Give Veronica a kiss for me." 

"I'll give her more than just a kiss," he said smiling. "Oh, before I forget. Some girl kept calling the house for you. It wasn't Grace, I know that for sure. I wrote the number down and placed it on your bed."

I nodded and opened the door to my room. It wasn't much, just four walls with a bed, closet, and dressers. There were no posters on the dark green wall and that's how I liked it. I spotted the piece of paper on my black bed and picked it up and called the number. It wasn't long before someone picked up.

"Care to explain what happened today?" Rebecca asked angrily. I wasn't surprised that she had my number. She had ways of getting what she wanted. And I didn't have to be a psychologist to know what she was talking about. She somehow found out that I talked to Daniel before I was suppose to. It's not like this wasn't going to happen anyways so I didn't see the problem.

"It was his fault. He ruined my project and talked Mr. Thomas into giving me more time to do it. That's it. Well, at least your plan is starting. I told him I was a new student and despite what you said, he talked to me and was interested in the conversation," I said. I just had to gloat about that. Rebecca you were wrong and I was right! Well, sort of. 

"He really talked to you? Wow, he must be hiding something from me," she said mostly to herself. I didn't understand Barbie logic. How the hell does that mean he's hiding something from her? He definetly deserved somone better, at least smarter, than Rebecca.

"Is this conversation over? I have better things to do." Like sit and stare at the wall. That was much better then this. She stayed quiet and I was about to hang up the phone. 

"No, now we have to fix this plan. You ready for a night of planning?"

"Let me think about it," I said taking a pause for effect. Something that I hated them doing. "No."

"Good, so here's what going to happen..." Did she not just hear me? Bad thing about being invisible: you're not listened to. So I stayed on the phone with Rebecca as she fixed an already stupid plan. I half listened, half did my project, half ease dropped on my brother's date. Too many halves, I know. But I'm passing math with a high grade so it's alright. 

"Wait you're giving me his number?" I asked when I finally decided to listen to her. 

"Have you not been listening to my plan?" she asked. NO. "You don't have classes with him so I'm going to give you his number.You're going to call it and asked for someone. Then realize you have the wrong number and recognize that you called Daniel. Faster way of getting you guys close enough but not too close."

"No, I'm not doing it." This was just too stupid. None of it made sense. 

"Good, I'll give it to you tomorrow," she said and hung up. I groaned and slammed the phone down. I angrily ate my food as if it was the reason for my anger.

Why can't anyone just listen to me for once?