It's Always 2 VS 1: A LeLi Fanfiction

Chapter 2

"Non of your business." I growled at her, balling my hand into a fist in my pocket.

"There you go again, getting all pissy." She rolls her eyes and leans against the wall. "I'm not leaving until you tell me."

"That was a rookie move kid. I don't care about my grades like you do. I can wait here all day. Plus, we only have an hour left." I smirked and crossed my arms over my chest. She let out a long sigh and shook her head.

"Whatever. You win. We're going to your house after school to study though." I widened my eyes at the thought.

"No!" I frowned almost instantly. She can't come to my house. She furrowed her eyebrows and cocked her head at me.

"And why not?"

"Because, I uhh, have to pick up my brother from daycare, then I need to do other things." I made up some random stuff I had to do, chewing on my lip.

"Brother? You don't have a brother."

"Yes I do. He's 3." I wasn't lying about that part, he was born on the night of the incident. On the night I went rouge.

"What's his name then?" She acted like the caught me. She smirked and crossed her arms over her chest, leaning on her right leg with her left knee bent. I noticed she was doing that thing where she arched her back. Now THAT got me. That always got me.

"Noel. Noel Michel Conrad." I smiled a little at the thought of him. He's too young. Way to young to have to go through all of this.

"Well, I'd love to meet him. How about I'll come with you to pick him up?" I sighed at this. I guess she has to find out at some point.

"Fine." I shook my head and walked back into class without saying anything else. I was silent the rest of class. What's she gonna say about this? Where will I live if she tells someone? School went by slowly and annoyingly. I walked out of my last class and met up with Lisa at her locker, seeing as I carry my bag with me.

"Hi." She gave me sort of a side smile and followed me out. "You bought a motorcycle?"

"Yup. Well. Kind of. I built this one myself. A 1950s replica. Works like a dime." I smiled a bit. I hopped on it and turned on the engine, hearing it roar to life.

"You pick up your baby brother on that?"

"Mhmm, he rides in the baby seat on the back." She stared at me with a face there was no description for. I couldn't tell what she was thinking. "What? He has a helmet. Gotta train them early."

"Whatever. I'll meet you at your house." She hopped in a black Mercedes and drove off. Probably to her house first. I sped to the daycare and walked in.

"Ah, hi Ryder, how are you today?" The lady at the front desk smiled at me.

"Doin' just fine Mrs.A. How about yourself?"

"I'm doing great, thank you. Noels in Mrs.Tanners room today. She's just down the hall."

"Okay, thank you." I smiled at her and walked into the blue hallway and made my way to a yellow painted classroom that reeked of baby food.

"Hey Ryder, they're just getting Noel cleaned up, he'll be out in a second."

"Dumped his food all over himself again?"

"Yup." She the lady laughed again as another one walked out from a room, carrying my brother. I smiled at him and said my thanks to the ladies before carrying him to my bike. We made it to my house at the exact time Lisa pulled up.

"Hey." She smiled, her eyes widening as she let out an 'aww' noise at the sight of Noel. "So this is the famous Noel I'm just hearing of." She smiled at him, playing with his hands.

"Yep." I laughed at her. She was good with kids. She always was though. Surprising with her being the youngest in her family and all. She followed me in and set her bag down on the counter as I held Noel tight in my arms.

"Where's you parents?" She asked as I froze again.

"Oh uhhh-" I NEED AN EXCUSE! "WORK!" I blurted out suddenly.

"Umm, okay?"

"Yeah, they'll be back about the time you leave."

"How do you know when I'm leaving? And my parents wanted to know if I could stay. They're fine with it if your parents are. My sisters having a sleep over with some of her annoying soccer friends."

"Oh." I nervously chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck with an open palm. "Yeah. But uhh, I just remembered, my parents are working the night shift." I must've sounded like an idiot. Night shift?! That's the best I came up with?! Seriously!? Me. Who lies to his teacher 24/7!?

"Okay. Maybe I can catch up with them in the morning. No school tomorrow by the way, I just got an email."

"Shit." I mumbled to myself.

"What was that?"

"Oh, umm. I said pig. I'm hungry and bacon sounds good."

"Oh, we should go out for bacon cheese fries then. Outback Steakhouse is open until 10 I think." She smiled. If only she knew.

"Umm, okay. I guess. I'm gonna put Noel in his room to see if he'll sleep." I just wanted to get out of there. It was too awkward. I have so much to say, but I just can't tell her anything anymore. We've grown too far apart. Unfortunately. I hurried up the stairs and walked into the baby blue room, cradling Noel in my arms and swaying from side to side, jumping a little to rock him.

"Dadd-" He giggled, grabbing onto my shirt.

"No buddy. I'm your brother. We can't see dad anymore. Remember?" I looked at him in silence. "Oh who am I kidding? You're a baby. You don't remember. You were too young. Whatever I say when you're older, it wasn't your fault." I smiled down a little, his face going blurry from the tears threatening to drip. I felt one roll down my cheek, then another, followed by a steady stream. "We can't see them anymore bud. I'm sorry this is your life, and I'm sorry I have to tell you when you're older, asking where your mom and dad are. We'll make it though kiddo. I promise." I kissed his forehead and saw he was asleep. He's lucky he can't remember anything. It was all so vivid to me. It was three years ago, but it seems like it was yesterday.

"Ryder?" Shit. I quickly wiped my eyes and turned to see Lisa at the door.

"Oh, uhh, hey."

"Ryder, where are your parents really?"

"Oh. How much did you hear?"

"Enough to worry. Now what happened?" She walked over to me and ran her fingers down my right arm.

"It's nothing."

"Ryder come on. Someone like you doesn't cry for no reason. You can tell me." I looked at her for a second with pleading eyes. I took in a long breath and started.