Slightly Destroyed

chapter 21.

(edited)

So here I was doing last minute homework at twelve-thirty am. I stare at my clock on my night stand. I am officially seventeen as of thirty minutes ago.

Which means Ryder and I are seventeen today. I've always dreaded my birthday since his death because it's not as special anymore, especially since he died a day before our thirteenth.

I pick up my phone from beside my binder, I lock int and scroll through my contacts until I get to the end where the last contact was listed as Twin Brother.

I hesitate on clicking it, but of course like every year I do so anyways. I place my phone by my ear as the call rings. The silent house was suddenly filled with the sound of the band Journey playing.

I get up from my desk chair and walk to the connecting door of Ryder's room. I see his phone, perfectly placed on his nightstand.

The call still ringing, I pick up his phone and stand at the front of his bed, the door leading to the hallway in front of me.

I cradle Ryder's phone in my empty hand.

The ringing ends and the voice mail begins "Hey this is Ryder, sorry I couldn't get you. I'll call you back when I can. Leave a voice mail when you hear the beep" and with that his voice was gone and the beep began.

A tear escapes as I heard his voice again "Ryder, it's me, again. I basically just called to hear your voice again pretty much. And I know your listening but I love you and miss you and Happy seventeenth Birthday" I whisper into my phone as I slid down to the ground, my back leaning against his bed.

I end the call and his screen lights up.More tears fall as I see his lock screen. It was the last picture we took with each other on the beach by our cottage. I was on his back laughing as he twirled me around and the sun setting behind us.

The funny thing was my home screen for my phone was a picture of us on our last birthday together.

Ryder had his arm swung around my shoulders, as we leaned back in the dinning room chairs, laughing.

"Have a great day sweetheart" Dad says as he kisses my forehead the next morning when I come downstairs. I nod my head and give him a small smile.

"Thanks dad" I mumble before he kisses my forehead again.

"Ready Becca?" Mason questions coming down the stairs with Nick trailing behind him, I nod at him.

My family knows that my birthday is now a touchy subject and don't speck about it much unless it's after dinner. And that's usually the birthday dinner, cake and presents.

But other then that they kept quiet.
~~~~~~~~~~
I hoist my messenger bag higher over my shoulder so it doesn't slip off as I walk down our schools ramp, heading towards my locker.

I stop at my locker as I see it decorated. Oh my friends, I want to hate them but I can't.

Thankfully after weeks of physical therapy my ankle was strong enough for me to stop using crutches. I was very thankful for that. I still limped a bit just to ease the pain from my ankle.

As I spin the dial on my locker my friends pop up on either side "Happy Birthday!" both girls exclaim, while the boys smile softly at me.

I take out my notebook and history textbook before locking my locker "Thanks guys" I give them a small smile, they return with huge smiles.

"We also have another huge surprise,because we know that your seventeenth birthday was supposed to be special for both you and Ryder" Kyle says as both boys grab me by the shoulders and leading me down a hallway.