Borderline

Chapter 13

The next week went smoothly. Eli unpacked all of his crap and got settled in, while Joshua and I just shoved our duffel bags under the bed.

I didn't sleep the night before school started.

"Ryder, come on. You need to sleep," Joshua coaxed. I shook my head.

"I can't do it, Josh. Too much stress." Eli was passed out on his bed in the same place he had been for an hour. I paced beside Joshua's bed.

Well, it was technically our bed, since he let me sleep in it with him. The damn thing was big enough for a small family to sleep in.

Joshua flopped back down and pulled a pillow over his head. "Whatever. Can you at least sit down? Your pacing is making me nervous."

I sat down on the floor, my back resting against the side of the bed.

"Thank you," came the muffled reply.

It didn't take long after that for Joshua to fall asleep. I sighed.

Tomorrow was going to be hell.

***

"Good morning, sunshine! Time to wake up and-" Eli stopped when he saw me sitting there, eyes as big as dinner plates. "Oh. You're already up?"

"Never slept," I mumbled, continuing to stare ahead, unblinking.

"You didn't sleep?! What the hell, Ryder?! You need sleep!"

I had the urge to roll my eyes, but my body didn't respond. "So what?" I said.

"So what?! Ryder, you're not going to-" He stopped again. I felt him staring at me. "What's wrong?"

"What time is it?" I asked, ignoring his question.

"5:37. Why?"

"Where's Josh?"

"Asleep."

I said nothing.

"Ryder, what's the matter?" Eli bent down and stared right into my wide eyes. I stared right back, unfazed.

I blinked once.

Eli continue to stare at me.

I continued to stay silent.

Eli closed his eyes and sighed before standing back up. "Whatever," he muttered.

A few minutes later, some clothes were tossed at me. I caught them with my face.

I blinked and looked down at them, since they had fallen into my lap. I picked up one of the pieces and examined it, giving Eli a questioning look.

"School uniform," he stated simply before disappearing into the bathroom.

I sighed and stared at the now closed bathroom door.

Suddenly, there was a tap on my shoulder. I whipped my head around, balling my hands into fists.

Joshua sat there with a shit-eating grin on his face.

"What?" He teased. "Did I scare you?"

I said nothing, staring at him with no emotion.

Joshua stopped smiling. "What's wrong?"

I said nothing as I turned my head away. I started picking at the pieces that made up the school uniform I'd been given.

"And don't say it's nothing."

I remained silent.

"Olivia?"

I froze, then nodded slightly.

I heard Joshua sigh behind me before he picked me up and sat me in his lap, facing him.

"You realize she can't hurt you anymore, right?" I nodded. "You have to let that go and forget about her."

"I can't just do that," I whispered.

"Then can you at least shove those worries to the back of your mind? At least for today? We can talk about this later if you want."

I sighed, then nodded. "Y-Yeah...I-I'll try..."

Joshua pulled me in for a hug, which I reciprocated. I heard the bathroom door open, but I didn't bother to move.

"Seriously? Can you guys start getting ready?" I turned to see Eli glaring at us.

"It's not even 6 o'clock yet."

"School starts at 7," Eli said, grinding his teeth.

"Okay, fine." I sipped off of the bed and bent down to pick up my clothes. "I'll be ready in 5 minutes."

I made my way to the bathroom, locking the door behind me.

***

True to my word, I walked out 5 minutes later, fully dressed and ready to go physically.

Mentally, I was in my own personal hell.

"Finally," Eli snipped, rolling his eyes.

I couldn't take it anymore. "Dude, what the hell is your problem?"

Eli looked at me and raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

I glanced over at Joshua, who was ready to go and sitting on his bed. I spoke as I made my way over to Eli, who was standing by the door. "I mean, you've been acting like someone shoved a stick up your ass all morning."

Eli looked me dead in the eyes and shrugged.

"Don't just shrug at me," I snapped.

He didn't shrug this time, but he also didn't answer my question.

I threw my hands up in frustration. I saw Eli flinch a little, but thought nothing of it. "Whatever! I don't care why you're acting like a stuck up little brat! But you'd better stop or I'm going to end up punching you in the face!"

I angrily picked up the backpack I had packed the night before and stomped out the door, not bothering to slow down when I heard the boys come out of the room.