Ocean Eyes

Workplace Visits

Quillayute Hardware and Hunting always smelled of tobacco, sawdust and cinnamon. Ryder Kane loved that. It was a quaint, cabin like structure, with log walls and a porch showcasing handmade wood carvings and chairs. There were two large windows on either side of the door and Sarah kept them lively with flower boxes. The indoors was larger than one would have thought, with high ceilings and wooden beams. An upstairs was gated off, where Jim and Sarah lived. One half of the store was a workshop, full of freshly cut lumber and whirring saws. The other was the actual shop, with everything ranging from electrical tape to shotguns.

When Jim had heard what had happened at school, he had locked the guns up, saying he couldn't trust Ryder with them anymore. He was joking, she hoped. She probably wouldn't trust herself with them either.

Rain fell in sheets against the shingled room. Ryder smiled at the sound, closing her eyes for a second. Cutting off all sight, the rain seemed to envelope her senses. It reminded her she was home.

"Boo!"

Ryder nearly screamed at the sudden sound behind her. Opening her eyes, she spun around. Jim stood innocently a few feet away, restocking the flashlight supply. Ryder bit back a smile. She didn't know why he was pretending it wasn't him- they were the only two in the store besides Sarah, who had long since retired to the kitchen.

"That's not very nice, Jim." She chuckled, going back to her work. The camping section had been left in disarray after some teens had come through, and her job was now relegated to cleaning up the tents.

"Neither is punching someone in the face." Jim grinned teasingly.

Ryder had gotten off easily- a two week suspension. Merediths mom wasn't very happy, but who really took the cake was Mrs Harple. The teacher who Ryder had only known a few weeks and had talked to only a few times had found her as she was leaving school. It was safe to say that Ryder hadn't expected so much anger could be in such a small woman. Apparently she had mentally taken Ryder under her wing and was severely disappointed in her. Ryder didn't care.

"You got me there." Ryder was actually quite thrilled about the suspension. It meant time off school and more hours she could pick up at the store. "She was talking about my family." Her playful tone was lost as she once again grew angry. Nothing was more important to Ryder Kane than family. When someone messed with them, then damn right she would mess them right back.

"Speaking of family..." Jim trailed off, setting down a pack of lights and turning to Ryder. "How's your mom been?" Jim had been a friend of Caroline's father before he passed away. He'd watched her grow and grew to love her as a child. Seeing her leave La Push and engage in her reckless and dangerous lifestyle was heartbreaking. But looking at Ryder, he was sure it couldn't have all been bad. At least some good came from it.

"She's gotten better." Ryder sounded hopeful. "She yelled at me Friday when I got suspended. She remembered Seth's birthday. And she even came and ate dinner with us last night."

Jim noticed the sad look in her eyes. "But?" He prompted.

"But sometimes I-" Ryder snapped her mouth shut as a herd of three teenage boys poured in. They shook out their jackets all over the freshly mopped floor and she felt her lip curl in annoyance.

"You go man the register, I'll finish up over here." Jim smiled, nodding encouragingly. She frowned, knowing that he just wanted her to have more human interaction, just like Sue. Why didn't they understand that they were enough? She didn't want or need to socialize with anyone else.