Everything Changes

Chapter 8: The Makeover

                                                                                                                       Ryders P.O.V Continued

As soon as I reach Derek's house, I jump off my bike and head for the door. I quickly tuck my helmet under my arm as I knock... I hear giggling from the other side and my heart swells, knowing someone was excited to see me.

Derek yelled from the other side of the door.. "Ohhh no you don't, Emmy!" Then the front door opens and my favorite little monster jumps out, hugging my leg while squeaking.

"Yay! Wyders here!" I laugh, picking her up and giving her a kiss on the check. After leaving my house, I needed this kind of unconditional affection. "Oh, no! It's a monster! What are you doing, silly?" She just smiles big and giggles.

Derek walks up, shaking his head with a smile. "Well this one is supposed to be eating her lunch," He gave her a light glare. She just shrugged and hid her head in the crook of my neck.

"Yet she seems to think that you are going to save her from having to eat." We step into the house and head into the kitchen where I set Emmy down. She takes off towards the kitchen table, giggling.

"Well I am her knight in shining armor. Plus it doesn't hurt that I'm her favorite person." I turn towards Emmy and give her a dramatic smile. "Isn't that right, Emmy?" She looks back at me, trying to balance the colorful fork in her hand.

        "Ha! As if Emmy would love anyone more than her big brother." He gave me a slight shove and faced Emmy. Trying to get a reaction out of her. She giggles and puts some chopped up food in her mouth. Ignoring him. He looked betrayed.
       
        Derek leaned against the kitchen counter keeping Emmy in his sight while I opened their fridge."How long do you have to babysit for?" I asked, leaning against the counter before opening my soda.

"Not much longer. The party starts in an hour so we have time to kill. Eric should be here soon." He turns his head away from Emmy, usually indicating he doesn't want her to hear his next words. "This is going to be a wild night. Tons of girls to choose from."

"Hey, I like having options as much as the next guy, but calm down! You and I both know there are more to parties than girls." I whispered back, minding my choice of words. I just wasn't really interested in dealing with other girls. Derek gasped, placing his hand over his heart as if I had just told him that beer no longer exists.

"Bro. Never say that again. Did you fall off your bike recently or something? Catching feelings for Alison?" This earned him an eye roll.

"No, it probably happened when I got smacked into yesterday by some girl. I guess she smacked some sense into me." I gave him a sarcastic look.

       "Oh? Who was this girl that dared to smack into the great Ryder. The poster-boy of teenage aggression." He gave a half-smile. Casually referencing the fights I've had in my past.

        "Not sure about her name but she was hanging around with that one girl. Blonde hair... Uh, Emma? We were all in the same grade, that much I know." I'm pretty sure her name started with an 'A'. But Derek would know better than me. He keeps up with that kind of stuff more.

      "Oh? Aria; she was in my history class last year. Dude, that girl rarely says  anything. Where did you run into her?"
     
"When I was at the pet fair, picking up special snake food for Eric's snake. " He owed me for making me run his errands. "She was hanging out with the puppies while the employee flirted with her. She looked uncomfortable." Dude seemed oblivious.