Shattering Me

21~ the Unexpected Arrival

The ride back home was fun.

The best part is that I mean that down to the letter. Just being able to say that I was going home again was the greatest feeling I could imagine. Ryan was at the wheel beside me and the windows were down so that the fresh air pummeled my face as we drove away from the school.

I had just danced myself into a mini coma and made Ryan carry me all the way to the car. Of course, he dropped me onto the gravel once we were in front of it and I had a new bruise on my back to show for it, but I was happy. Happy, and unable to shake it.

There was this lightness in my body that wasn't there before. As if I'd been carrying an invisible weight for so long that I didn't even know it was there. Or maybe it was more like I'd been trapped in a block of ice that finally fell apart and set me free. Either way, I was happy.

I laid my head back against the headrest and stared out the window, thinking about everything and nothing at the same time. Like how much my life had changed in just one year.

Instead of a rich rebellious trouble maker with a hatred for all things peaceful, I became a freeloading careless performer with a bit of a masochistic side.

Instead of living with my illustrious parents and sister for the rest of my life, I lived with a violent artistic ninja hulk...and I liked it. I couldn't flaunt my name and expect to get away with anything anymore, but at the same time I didn't feel the desire to.

I wasn't worried about being an image of perfection or disappointment now. I was just me, Kai ele' Cane, and that made me feel more alive than anything else in my life.

The urge to be irritating rose up inside me again, and I turned my attention from the dark blue skies outside the window. I faced my favorite target.

"Hey, Rye? If you were forced to sing in a life or death situation, what would you sound like?"

"No."

"No?"

"There are no bullets deadly enough to make me sing for you," he growled.

Ah, you just know that you've hit the right chord when your roommate starts growling.

"But what if I was dying alone on the floor, and the only way to save me was to sing for a sadistic doctor that demanded it as payment?" I honestly never knew where the words that came from my mouth originated. But I had learned not to question myself. As long as my test results looked sparkling, I saw no reason to think about my actions outside of school.

"I would...prepare the funeral arrangements and begin filing the lawsuit."

"Asshole!" I laughed and almost punched him in the arm. I stopped myself because I did not want to be in a body-bag after he retaliated. Ryan had told me once that his family weren't actually mutants of any kind. Supposedly, they were all just gifted physically and trained well to utilize that strength. I didn't believe that for one second, but I also couldn't help but notice how serious he got when we talked about things like that.

So, we never talked about our families. It was just things about the future. Plans for the next project, thoughts on politics, and most importantly, what we'd have for breakfast the next morning.

We were still talking about that subject in particular when we pulled into the street and parked next to home. "I can't eat anymore red meat for breakfast! How much more weight do you expect me to carry around everywhere?"

"Enough for you not to get blown off your feet every time a strong wind comes around," he growled and called me a feather-weight. Then his eyes locked on something next to the house.

I followed his gaze to see a woman with a large bag on her back standing in front of our door. When I slammed the car door shut, she turned quickly in surprise and looked our way. She had big brown eyes and soft peach lips. Raven black hair spilled down far past her shoulders and Asian features framed her gentle face. She could very well be the perfect model if not for the lack of significant curves and boobs. Still at least an eight and a half out of ten.

Her eyes locked in our direction and her face warped into an ecstatic smile that had her bouncing slightly in her white convers.

"Who are—"

Ryan burst forward, leaping over the car and rushing so fast that I thought he was about to tackle her into oblivion. But then he stopped...and he lifted her into an enormous hug that swept the petite girl right off her feet. She squealed as he spun her around...and around.

"What are you doing here?" he cried with a stupefied smile on his face. He set her down so gently that she could have landed on an eggshell without cracking it. "When did you get here? You should have told me you were coming!"

"I wanted to surprise you, Rye. I just flew in from – tonight," she beamed, casually dropping the nickname only his family used for him. Well, his family, me, and now apparently her.

Ryan looked like he was about to flip out in delight which seemed to drain the emotion from my lips. I coughed awkwardly and he finally remembered I was there.

"Oh, right. Kai, this is Arden. My girlfriend."

... ... oh... ...

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I bet you thought you had ideas forming about Ryan that made this a surprise ;) 

I usually don't like revealing too much before it's writing, but I just have to say how much I love the character. I have big plans for Arden, so just wait and see what comes later on!

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