It Could Happen...Someday

So Now You Know...

Ryder.

I watch her silently walk towards the large Victorian building.

A nagging voice in the back of my head keeps urging me to go inside with her. To talk to her.

I grip the door handle to do so, but something stops me.

No matter how badly I wanted to, I couldn't open the door.

I look up just in time to see her slip away.

With a huff I slump back in my seat.

"Damn it!" I smack the steering wheel.

I quickly back out and head to my house, a million thoughts racing through my mind.

What is it about her that made her so mysterious? So attractive?

What was she trying to tell me?

How the hell can I get her to trust me enough to tell me what happened?

I try to suppress my frustration enough to safely make it down the road.

I get to the front door of my cream-colored house when I hear a disgusting laugh.

"It's about time you got home," My brother slurs.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Suspension from the campus grounds again."

He laughs and takes another gulp of his Jack Daniels.

"You got away with suspension? Again? God, when are you ever gonna learn that in the real world, you can't just do whatever the hell you want?!" I throw my arms in the air.

"That's where you're wrong, brother dear. Because I can do whatever the hell I want."

I can't keep my emotions together any longer. I shove the door open.

Mom is quietly humming in the kitchen while washing dishes.

I assume she is stressing out over Dad or Rick again. This is what she does to maintain her sanity: Keep busy.

I shake my head and walk past the den. My father immediately responds.

"Where the hell have you been?"

"Just went for a joyride around town."

"So you think you can do whatever you damn well please, is that it?"

"No sir," I say stiffly.

"I think you do. You're a selfish bastard who thinks of no one else but himself!"

"I am not!"

"Yes you are! That's why I had to save your ass three years ago! You think you've proven anything by doing what you did?"

My mom timidly steps between us.

"Richard, please. It's late-"

"Shut up, woman! How many times have I told you it's none of your damn business!"

"Dad!" I defend her.

I let out an aggravated breath, rubbing my face.

"How many times do I have to tell you it wasn't really my fault?!"

"Then who did it, huh?"

I stare at the floor in silence.

"See? You always shut right up. So that leaves me with no choice but to believe it was you, and that you're a useless coward!"

"Even if I told you the truth you still wouldn't believe me."

My father scoffs, sitting back down in his recliner to watch his precious football game.

I clench my jaw and head straight to my room.

There is no way I'm staying here tonight.

I pack a duffel bag and rush down the stairs again.

Before I leave, I stop in the kitchen to tell my mom goodnight.

"I'll stop by in the morning, okay?" I kiss her forehead.

"Alright. I'm sorry about your father, he had a rough day at work."

"Mom... You don't need to apologise for his behaviour all the time. You and I both know he will never forgive me for having to flee the country for almost three years."

Her grey eyes sadden.

"I can't help but hope he realizes what really happened someday."

"Me too. But I need to get going."

I kiss her again and leave her behind in the hell hole I once considered 'home.'

The beach house is honestly more comfortable and homely.

I look around the the emptiness for a moment before tossing my bag to the side.

Flopping on the couch, I turn on the TV.

Suddenly my phone buzzes.

Hm, I don't recognize the number.

I open the text message anyways:

Hey kid, remember me? It's Drew.

The name sounded familiar, so I reply:

Kind of. Lol

Well when you figure it out, text me. Haha, He replies.

I shake my head and chuckle.

After setting the alarm on my phone I quickly fall asleep...

——————————————————————-

6 a.m. comes around way too early

My alarm goes off at least ten times before I finally shut it off and get up.

I quickly shower, dress, and drive off to see my mom before school.

She makes me breakfast and we talk for a bit since my brother is still passed out in his room and my dad has gone to work already.

After a half hour or so I decide to take off for school.

Surprisingly, I'm about fifteen minutes early, so I decide to hang out in the office.

While leaning over the countertop, I notice a yearbook from my freshman year setting off to the side.

Since I had nothing better to do, why not take a trip down memory lane?

As I skim through the awful candids, the horribly cheesy smiles, and the unnecessary amount of school pride plastered on every other page I finally reach the ninth grade pictures.

I find mine of course, spiked hair and scrawny build. I can't help but laugh.

Then my eyes land on a familiar chubby girl with glasses, braces, and acne spotted all over her face.

"Hah! No way! It's Birth Control Brookes!" I say to myself.

I remember tormenting that poor girl... But I'm sure she's forgiven me by now.

I look on the side of her picture row to put a name with her face.

That's when I about dropped the book.

I frantically turn to the senior page and search for another name: Andrew Brookes.

Oh my god... It's her brother.

The pieces were starting to fall into place.

It all makes sense now.

And that is the very moment I found out that my Mystery Girl is the one and only: Macyn Brookes.