Flower

Love Can Be a Bitch

(Ryder's POV)

I had Baby's windshield wipers on the highest setting they could be on. It had started pouring down rain about three blocks away from Kailiope's house. It had been sprinkling a bit earlier, but now I had to lean forward just to make sure I could see well enough.
A white sign came into my view that told me I should be going 40 miles an hour. I flicked my eyes down to my speedometer and saw that I was closer to 60 miles an hour than 40. I hope Kaufman police decided to stay inside due to the horrible weather, because if not I was screwed.
I flicked my blinker on to turn left when my phone started to ring. I glanced at the screen and saw it was Carter. I picked it up.
"Hello?" I asked moving my eyes across the road to make sure a cop wasn't going to catch me committing a double crime.
"Ryder, it's pouring rain. Where are you?" Carter asked. I heard his teeth chattering.
I had forgotten I had dropped him off down town to job hunt before I went to Kailiope's.
"I'm sorry, Carter. I'm on my way to see Rosalie. I'll call Kailiope to come get you."
"No!" Carter's voice cracked. I had to keep myself from laughing. I remembered the time my voice was changing, it was hell.
"Why not?"
"You know why!"
"Oh, right. Well, I have bad news for you. She's dating that Greyson kid, and more than likely he'll be coming with her, so it's not like you'll be alone with her."
"I knew we should've stayed here." Carter said, a twang of disappointment in his voice.
"Sorry champ. Love can be a bitch, but I'm going to call her, I don't need you getting sick. Where are you?"
"I'm in front of Whataburger."
"Okay, she'll be there in a minute." I hung up the phone, made a left turn and clicked on Kailiope's name.
The phone rang about four times before I finally heard her voice.
"Hello?" She asked.
"Hey, Kai, I'm sorry to bother you, but I forgot I had Carter go job hunting for us earlier and now he's stuck in the rain. Would you mind going and picking him up?"
"Carter, your little brother? He's so cute!" Her voice said baby cute, poor Carter. "Of course I'll go get him. I can't believe you left him out in the rain."
"I didn't mean to, I just had seeing Rosalie on my mind." I said.
"Oh, you're so adorable. I really hope she takes you back."
"Me and you both." I breathed out.
"Where is he?"
"He said he's in front of Whataburger."
"Alright, Wren and I will be down there in a minute."
"Oh, by the way, congratulations." I said.
"Congratulations?" She asked confused.
"You and Greyson. Aren't you two together?'
"Oh," she giggled. "Well, not officially yet, but he did tell me he loved me the other day." She whispered.
He said he loved her, but they weren't dating? Isn't that backwards?
"Oh, well, that's.."
"I know, backwards, but I don't know, I like the way we're taking things. It just feels...right." I could hear the smile in her voice.
"Hey! Whatever works for you two is great. There's no set order. As long as you're happy."
"I am."
"Good. Okay, Kailiope, thank you, I'll come pick Carter up later."
"Take your time." She said right before I hung up the phone.
I threw my phone across the bench seat and turned down Rosalie's street. My heart started to race as the familiar field started to come into view. I pressed harder on the gas until I saw her driveway. I turned off my head lights as I pulled up the long driveway. When I got closer to the house I killed the engine and got out of the car.
The rain pelleted me as I ran for cover on her porch. I looked at that door I had knocked on so many times. I took a deep breath, ran a hand through my soaking hair and took a step closer. I raised my hand and then lowered it. I shook my head and raised my hand again. Before I could change my mind, I knocked on the door and shoved my hands back into my pant pockets.
I heard Pixie barking and I smiled. That dog loved me. I heard shuffling around and then the click of someone unlocking the door. I watched the door swing open and reveal my beautiful flower. She had her crazy colored hair pined up in a bun on top of her head, thick eyeliner hidden by her clear rimmed glasses, a sweatshirt and some jeans on. She was holding that leather bound journal she would never let me see. She looked as stunning as I had remembered.
She looked me up and down and I watched as she put her hand on the door and move to shut it. I placed my forearm on the door and pushed back.
"Rosalie, let me explain." I started.
I instantly felt pressure disappear from the door and before I could react her hand struck my cheek. I felt a stinging pain on the side of my face and all I could do was run my tongue on the inside of my mouth where the pain was.
"Explain? Why don't you just leave me another fucking letter to 'explain' why you're back after leaving me without even saying fucking goodbye." She yelled at me.
I could see the tears starting to brim in her eyes.
"Roalie,"
"No, don't. You don't know how much I was hurt after you left. You don't know how many of these fucking pages are dedicated to the pain you left me with," She threw her journal at me. "I don't want your explanation. In matter of fact, fuck you, Ryder Allen. Never speak to me again. Go back to wherever was more important than me." She slammed the door before I had a chance to get a word out.
I now felt the tears starting to form in my own eyes. She hated me. I didn't blame her, because I would hate me, too, if I was her.
"Fuck!" I screamed against the storm.
I wiped the tears from my eyes and turned to leave. My foot kicked something. I looked down and saw Roalie's journal.
I opened it to a page.