The Badboy And His Clique

xviii

*Brody's POV*

"What movie you wanna see?", I say and look at Aspen.

"Umm it doesn't matter. Whatever you want.", she says and I role my eyes.

"Umm scary or funny?", I ask and she puts her hand on her chin like she's thinking.

"How about scary.", she says and I nod.

I think about last night. About how much fun we had running from the neighborhood watch guys. But I also remember how she pushed me away after I told her that I liked her a lot. I decide to bring it up one more time.

"Hey Aspen. Can I ask you something?", I say and she looks at me.

"Yeah, sure. Anything.", she says with a soft smile.

"Last night. Why'd you push me away after I told you I liked you?", I say and her smile fades.

She looks at me with soft eyes before turning to face out the window.

Shit. Now I've done it.

"I'm sorry for asking.", I say and she turns to look at me.

"No it's fine. Can we go somewhere to talk? I don't know if the movies is the right place.", she says and I nod.

*Ryker's POV*

I watch as Sage cooks breakfast on the stove for me and Arrow.

"Are your parents gonna want anything?", she says.

"Umm my mom is still at work. She works the night shift at the diner. I think Aspen's mom works there too.", I say and she smiles.

"Yeah. She does. What about your dad?", she says and I tense.

I haven't talked about my dad since he died. It's a sore subject for me.

"Ryker? You okay?", she says and I nod.

She seems to have caught on that I don't wanna talk about my dad cause she doesn't ask again. I walk over to her and wrap my arms around her waist.

"What you doing?", she says smiling.

"Nothing. Just hugging you.", I say and kiss her neck.

I hear a cough and look over to my left and see my mom standing there with her eyebrows raised.

"Hey mom.", I say and smile.

"Hi Ms. Bobay.", Sage says with a soft
smile.

"Hi. It's nice to meet you.", my mom says and winks at me before walking to her room.

"I'm gonna go talk to her. I'll be back.", I say and kiss her cheek and walk over to my moms room.

"Hey mom. How was work?", I say and she looks at me.

"Who's your friend? She seems nice.", she says and I smile.

"Yeah she is. I really like her.", I say and my mom smiles.

"That's good. Well I'm gonna get some rest.", she says and I nod.

I walk out of my moms room and close the door. I walk back into the kitchen and see Sage placing some food on a couple of plates.

*Aspen's POV*

We get to Brody's and I feel like stomach's in knots. I'm about to tell Brody about my dad.

Brody walks around the front of the car and opens my door.

"Thanks.", I say and he smiles.

He grabs my hand and leads me up the steps and starts to open the door.

We get inside and he starts pulling me up stairs.

"Brody. You're hurting my arm.", I say and pull my arm away.

"Brody? Are you home?", I hear a man's voice call out.

"Fuck.", Brody says and walks down the steps.

"Yeah I'm home.", he says and the mans eyes land on me.

"Who's this?", he says with a smile.

"My names Aspen. It's nice to meet you.", I say.

I can feel the tension between Brody and his dad. Brody starts to walk up the stairs and I follow. We get to his room and he closes the door behind me.

"Brody.", I say and he looks at me.

He walks over to the bed and sits down. I walk over and sit next to him. I grab his hand and look over at him. I kiss his jaw then turn his head and kiss him.

He pulls away and says, "What was that for?"

"It just looked like you needed it.", I say softly.

We sit in silence for few minutes. Just breathing in each other's air.

"You ready to know.", I say and he looks at me with soft eyes.

"If you're ready to tell me.", he says and I nod.

"Okay. Umm when I was ten, my dad left me and my mom. I was devastated. I thought that if he didn't want me then no one would. And then last night you told me that you liked me a lot and it just made me put up this wall. It's so hard for me to trust, to let anyone in. When he left I thought that every boy I fell in love with would leave.", I say and feel my eyes begin to water.

I look down at my hands. I don't want him to see me cry.

"I'm sorry. But listen.", he says and tilts my head up. , "I would never hurt you."

I smile and bring my lips to his.