Secrets And Lies

Chapter 11: Faking it

Ryan

"Ryan, you're going to be late for school"

My mother ripped the covers from over my head. There was nothing my mother could do to get me to go to school, even if that meant getting out of the comfort of my bed and walking around town until school let out. I would deal with everything tomorrow.

"Not going. I don't feel good," I faked a sneeze.

"Nice try. You've been in enough trouble. You're not skipping"

"I'm sick." I retorted, mustering up a hacking cough.

"Ryan Laine Fi..."

"Mom, get out!" I shouted, interrupting her. 

"Mike, get in here!" She called over her shoulder. Was she going to try and get The Warden on her side?

"What's going on?" My mother unnecessarily interrupted him getting ready for work, seeing how he was still buttoning up his shirt.

"Your hard-headed daughter is trying to skip school." Of course, she said this in her patented Lynn Fitzpatrick calmness.

"Mom, leave her alone." Quade said from the hallway.

"Stay out of this, Quade." Again calm.

"Lynn, why don't you go to work? I'll handle...my daughter." My dad emphasized the word, 'my.' 

My mother checked her watch. She must have decided that being on time was far more critical than my plan to play hookey because she gracefully turned and floated out of the room.

My dad closed the door and sat at the end of my bed.

"I know you're not sick, Ryan." He patted my leg. "You have been locked in here since Saturday. Care to tell me why?"

"Can I just say that something happened, and I need to take a personal day?" I asked, avoiding eye contact.

"Come on, darlin', give me something to work with."

"Okay, fine." I sighed, giving in. "Someone recorded me having a private conversation with Sam and sent it to people." Technically, I wasn't lying. I was talking to Sam; we just didn't know it.

"I see.." He stood up and kissed my forehead. "You can stay home today. But tomorrow you will have to put your big girl pants on."

"Don't ever say that." I deadpanned, to which he chuckled.

"Is there something I can do? Maybe put the fear of messing with the sheriff's daughter into them? Do you know who sent it?" He asked, his hand resting on the doorknob.

"No, and no one of consequence." I said, snuggling down deeper under my covers.

As much as I wish I could let my dad handle Axel for me, I couldn't let him fight my battles. Not to mention that he would have found out that underage drinking was involved. He nodded and told me to call if I need anything.

Quade

"Where's Ryan?" Taylor ambushed me at my locker.

"Home. She didn't want to deal with all this shit," I explained, putting my backpack away.

"I've been trying to ignore the questions..." She paused, sinking her front teeth into her bottom lip.

"I know I'm going to sound like everyone else, but can you tell me why your mother sent her away? Ryan said that you all fought before she left, which isn't anything new. What was different about this fight that had her shipping your sister off? I know that what she said in her sleep has something to do with it." She whispered.