Colorful (Adopted by Emblem3)

Chapter 27: Born Free

Song of the Chapter: I was born free by Kid Rock

Oh my gosh I jammed so hard to this song at the kid rock concert I went to last summer.

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Ryder's POV:

As I finished my sandwich Drew walked in waving a slip of paper in front of Wes' face.

Wes snatched it from Drew's grasp and unfolded. His eyes scanned the slip.

"Alright bro." Wes said pulling him into a bro hug.

"Kelsey's number?" I asked Drew.

"Hell yeah." He said.

"Alright. You guys are free to go." Tony said as we all sighed in relief.

We all walked out to the parking lot and piled into the SUV.

Time flew by as we pulled into the driveway in what felt like two minutes, but it's actually like twenty minutes away.

I walked inside and plopped onto the couch. I pulled out my homework and completed it as fast as possible. Why spend more time on it than I have to?

Wes jumped onto the cushion next to me, Drew jumping onto the other couch next to Keaton.

"Were watching a movie." Wes said turning on Netflix.

He clicked on Olympus Has Fallen.

I grabbed the white blanket that was on the floor in front of me and pulled it over my torso.

(A/N: If you're not from the U.S you might not understand/like this next part. Sorry. If you're not going to read the next part, the chapter title goes along w/ it)

The movie really got me thinking. I'm truely blessed to live in America. I'm blessed with all of the freedoms I have and the people that keep us strong. I truely love this place.

My head lazily layed onto Wes's shoulder as I slowly began to fall asleep, which I don't see how I could, as a loud and intense movie played right in front of me.

~~~

"Ryder! Wake up!" Wes yelled as I jolted awake.

"Don't touch me!" I yelled shaking.

~Flashback~

"Ryder wake the hell up!" Dad yelled over the loud men talking, smoking, drinking, and gambling in the living room.

Dad yanked me up by my hair. I stood up and nodded. "I'm awake." I mumbled.

"Good, now go clean the kitchen so the guys and I can eat." He ordered. I nodded and trudged to the kitchen.

After the kitchen was cleaned my dad walked in.

"You call this clean you fucking slut?!? Clean it again bitch!" He yelled as a single tear slid down my cheek.

"Don't fucking cry!" He yelled, as a stinging sensation spread across my left cheek.

~ End of Flashback ~

"Calm down Ryder. It's just me. Wes." Wes' voiced cooed from somewhere in the darkness of the living room.

"Thank God." I stuttered out, still terrified of the horrible flashback and accusation that Wes was my father.

Tears started streaming from my eyes and down my cheeks.

"Awe. Come here Ryder." Wes whispered, pulling me into a tight hug.

I always feel protected around these boys. They're my rocks.

I held onto Wes for, what seemed like, dear life.

"It's okay. I gotcha." He whispered, his hand running through my hair, down my back, and back through my hair.

"You're dad won't get you as long as I'm around. I promise. I will do everything in my power to protect you. I love you Ryder." He whispered, kissing the top of my head.

"I love you too Wes." I mumbled into his chest, the shirt beneath me, now tear-staind.

Wesley's POV:

"I love you too Wes." She said. Finally.

She's finally opening up to me. The girl we thought, would never love us, said she loves me.

My baby girl loves me.

I know I'm not her legal father but, I'm a legal gaurdian so, I have permission to call her my baby girl.

"Hey, why don't you go get ready for school and I'll get you some yogurt." I said as she nodded and jogged upstairs.

I stood up and walked into the kitchen, poured some blueberry yogurt into a bowl for Ryder.

Sometimes I worry about her health. What if one day she stops eating completely? She's making amazing progress already. She's too strong to give up, isn't she?

Ryder's POV:

I looked at myself in the mirror, after I showered and got dressed.

My high-waisted denim shorts, my red baseball shirt that said 'Team Inspire', shirt courtesy of Keaton's closet. I have a black one but, I wanted to wear a red one. My black All Star converse tied.

I liked it.

I slid my phone into my pocket and jogged downstairs.

I think today's going to be a pretty good day.