TRUST

Chapter two

It was raining, that kind of dull rain that closely resembles a dripping sink. Pulling his hood up and zipping his jacket, Easton walks with the kind of determined purpose of someone on some kind of secret mission. Then again he was on a sorta secret mission, one so important he was willing to risk his life.

Finally a large gray brick building appears in front of him and he steps onto the porch then into the door. Inside the building things were just as depressing as the outside would have you think if not more. He slowly came up to the front desk an smiled at the lady on the phone.

"welcome to reconstruct can i help you?" the lady asked in an overly friendly not welcoming at all voice. Easton instantly hated her for her fakeness but knew he needed to get his way past her.

"I'm here to visit a patient." his voice came out matter of fact and straight to the point.

"who are you here to see?"

This was the point of no return it was now or never. He could feel the anxiety begin to bubble up starting in his stomach and making his heart race. For a moment he couldn't think of what he wanted to say he just stood there frozen to worried to move. Never before had he not been able to control his fear. Not even when he had a gun pressed to his skull did he worry but this was so important he knew he couldn't afford to screw up.

"I'm here to see CC Rivers." the words felt wrong coming out of his mouth he hadn't spoken her name in forever and it wasn't really even her name, not really anyway. As he waited and the lady typed on her computer screen the weight of the world seemed to rest on his shoulders.

"I'm sorry but she was checked out by her uncle about three hours ago." the woman looked at Easton quizzically. Panic quickly over took all rationality and he ran back out into the rain. Nothing at all made any sense they didn't have family left. Easton made sure no one knew about Courtney everyone thought she died in the fire. As he thought about who might have taken her he realized that their was only one logical suspect and that was Logan.

Taking out his phone he dialed the number he had dialed so many times as a kid but not once sense the accident. 724-555-4432. After a few rings he heard the phone pick up.

"hello?" the voice spoke hoarsely like he had just woken up.

"its Easton."

"Wha-what?! No way man... what kind of sick joke is this cause its not funny!!!" The voice stuttered out in absolute shock and unbelief.

"meet me at the place." not waiting for a response Easton hung up the phone and started making his way down the street.

The walls still had the remains of several old posters. They featured everything from transformers to movie stars. So many child hood memories threatened to overcome his mind but he refused to think about any of them.

He could still remember building this place with his dad and Ryder. For months he had begged and begged for a tree house but for months and months his dad was to busy. The day they built this place was just about the only day he got to spend with his dad and actually have a good time.

The crunching of foot steps advanced towards the tree house and Easton almost broke down when he saw Ryder starting to climb the rickety ladder. It had been a little over a year sense he last saw his friend. After the fire everyone was presumed dead but only his mom was dead. To protect Courtney he had to enroll her in a boarding school for the blind AKA reconstruct. It was the hardest thing he ever had to do but there were things he had to figure out. Now that he knew what he knew he wanted his sister back. Easton couldnt believe she was gone and the Logan had figured out she wasn't dead.

His thoughts were interrupted by Ryder suddenly slamming him up against the back wall. He looked mad really really mad like someone just ran over your puppy on purpose mad. With just as much force as a semi truck Ryder rammed his fist into Easton's gut effectively stunning him.

"what the hell man!!!!" he shouted right in Easton's hunched over figure.

"dude i..." Easton was interrupted by Ryder.

"No this isn't okay your my best friend i thought you were dead do you understand what all i went through!!!! How could you do this to me!!!" the hurt in his voice was evident and it pained Easton to hear it but he knew the fact of the matter was he was right.

"i had to." it wasn't a good excuse or the explanation he knew he would eventually have to give it was just all he could think to say.

"i missed you just dont ever die again because next time you better actually be dead or i will kill you."

Some distance seemed to appear between them now and they both just stared at each other. Ryder's hair was the same dirty blonde it had always been sense child hood, but now it was cut shorter then he use to keep it. Easton realized now just how much he had missed having a best friend.

"courtney... I needed to keep her safe... Something bad..." it all hit him at once. He abandoned her when they needed each other the most and now she was gone. This was all his fault how could he let this happen?!

"hey, Easton, it will be okay alright? Just tell me what i need to know. we can work it out just like old times. Remember when you got caught shop lifting or sneaking out or in we always worked it out." why did he sound so concerned he didn't even know anything yet, Easton thought to himself. It was at that moment he felt the wetness running down his cheeks and he knew he was crying. Something in him just snapped and he sat down on the run down wooden tree house floor broken and scared.

Ryder felt bad but he didn't really know what to do. He had never seen Easton so vulnerable before and to be honest it really scared him. Easton was always the strong one who knew what had to be done and always was the one to do it. The only thing Ryder knew was that he was in way over his head. No matter what though Easton was his best friend and Ryder would do anything to help him.

It was dark now and neither of the two boys had moved from their spot on the floor. It was as if time was standing still and no one knew what to do to start it back up. Once Easton had given Ryder just enough information so that he would understand the situation they had fallen into a comfortable silence.

"come on." Ryder said as he stood up and climbed down the ladder.

"where we goin?" Easton still didn't feel like moving after his cry fest he felt to tired to function.

"my house."

"your mom..."

"loves you. Now come on you stupid head." and that was all that needed to be said. Easton reluctantly got up and followed Ryder. They walked past all the familiar store fronts and even grandmas home made treats. Finally they arrived at the Rivers house hold. The same old wrap around porch and the same old torn up duct taped screen door greeted them. Mrs.Rivers burst through the front door ready to yell at Ryder for being late but then her eyes fell on Easton. She didn't ask any questions she just ushered both boys inside and handed them extra pillows and blankets.