Dull Silver

Chapter Nine

Ryker

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The shade of jade he was sure he would never see again was right before him- again. He was sure he was mixing reality and fantasy, again. "Noelle," he breathed.

"Ryker," she replied, her tone soft. Ryker and Noelle walked off to the side, trying to avoid being the center of attention anymore.

"What- what are you doing here?" Ryker stuttered. He moved his hand to push her red hair behind her ear, but she batted his hand away. Ryker tried not to feel offended, but he was worried Noelle didn't really love him anymore. He could never stop loving her.

"I could ask you the same thing, and with this group," she gestured to the crowd. "But, uh, my grandma brought me here, after she told me my father had died." She uttered the last part tentatively. Ryker's face went into shock.

"I'm so sorry, Ellie," he tested her old nickname, when she didn't show her face of disgust, he continued. "I'm here with them, well, because Anaximander," he gestured to the tall blond, "he found me. I ran away from home last night. My parents are getting divorced."

Noelle put her hand over her mouth. "So it's been determined. Both our lives are shit right now." Ryker laughed. "But, I'm so sorry Ry, do you know how Cassie and Max are handling it?"

Ryker shrugged, "I'm not sure, better than me, probably. I walked out right after they told us. At least, Cassie and Max stayed." Noelle nodded, wiping dirt off her sunflower dress. Ryker couldn't take it anymore, he jumped right to the chase, "Ellie, do you still miss me like I miss you?"

Noelle gave a small smile, "All the time, Ry. I haven't stopped missing you since October." Noelle pulled her hair into a quick ponytail, a perfect curl falling in her face.

"Then I have good news for you." Ryker told her. Noelle quirked her head, confused. "I'm going to Ohio Prep this coming year, I got in end of this year." Noelle's eyes sparked.

"Really, Ry?! Why didn't you tell me?!" Noelle said, batting his arm in mock-anger.

"Because I wasn't sure if I was going to go," he paused. "But, my parents still have to pay for it, and I don't know how to go back to them." Noelle nodded, thinking.

"Ohio Prep is really understanding, maybe we should just go to them and explain, you got in on a scholarship, didn't you?" Ryker nodded, the only reason he didn't follow Noelle in freshman year was that his parents wanted him and Max in the same school until Max graduated. "Now, introduce me to your... motley group."

Ryker walked back to his table and introduced Noelle to everyone. Noelle narrowed an eye at the names Anaximander and Iphigenia, but let it pass as they gave her nicknames to call them. "Now, your grandma is probably wondering, let's go see her," Ryker mentioned. Noelle grabbed his hand, and Ryker flushed red.

Back at Noelle's table, her grandmother had the same grin she always did when Noelle was happy. "Hello, Ryker," she said.

Ryker smiled and gave a small wave, "Hello."

Noelle turned to Ryker, "Do you think your group would be okay with my grandma and me sitting with you?" Ryker nodded, everyone in that group had just accepted Ryker's presence, so why not Noelle's?

As Noelle's grandmother explained to the waitress, Noelle pulled another chair over to the table, sitting next to Ryker. "So, tell me a little about yourselves," Noelle prompted.

Iphigenia, like her twin, was the first to speak, "Nax and I are twins, probably not surprising, honestly. March is our father. Ben is my boyfriend of 6 years and I'm 22. You might have heard of my name prior, not to boast, but I'm the Ambassador of New United States."

Noelle looked surprised and impressed. Yes, she had heard of Iphigenia prior, but she didn't know that she was only 22. That had to be the youngest Ambassador of New United States.

"As Gen said; twins. However, I'm gay, so Kane is my boyfriend of, oh so many years. Just kidding, it's only been 3 years. I'm also the mayor of New Ohio, but, though nothing is official yet, I'll most likely be running for the Challenges in the coming years."

Noelle was also impressed by Anaximander. He and Iphigenia were making superior accomplishments at such a young age. "Well, you certainly have my vote." Noelle added. Anaximander gave a nod of thanks to her. Ryker, though he was there for the entire conversation, didn't realize how much these twins were accomplishing.

***

The group finished lunch and headed back home. Except Noelle was going to follow Ryker back to the apartment while her grandmother headed home. "Be home no later than 11:30," Noelle's grandmother told her.

"Not a problem," Noelle replied as they split ways. Noelle slipped her hand into Ryker's, a feeling of warmth flooded her body. The feeling she had been missing for so many months. Anaximander opened the door and flicked on the lights, and Ryker came in behind him, Noelle at his side.

"We really need more chairs in this house," Anaximander noted as the living room didn't comfortably sit seven people. Ryker and Noelle sat on the couch with March next to them. Iphigenia and Ben gave up and sat right on the floor. Anaximander resumed his spot in the arm chair, Kane on the floor sitting by his feet.

As everyone had sat down, the phone rang. Anaximander looked over to Iphigenia, and she rolled her eyes as she got up to get the phone. Noelle rested her head on Ryker's shoulder as she listened to the mindless conversation Ben and Kane were having. Ryker didn't have a single clue what Ben and Kane were talking about, but he didn't mind. It was just nice to have Noelle by his side again.

Though everything would be subject to change soon.