The Reputation

Chapter 6

Chapter 6..

Julia's P.O.V.

I stirred in my place as the sun rays peeked through the curtains. I feel so tired even though I did nothing tiring yesterday and above all that I was up all night thinking about Ryder and what he said before he drove away.

I went to sleep around 5am. I blinked as I stood up from bed and headed towards the bathroom. I did my business, washed my face, and went downstairs. As I went into the kitchen I found Ben cooking by the stove.

"Hmmm.. Smells good" I said as I sat on one of the stools.

"Good morning to you too" Ben said sarcastically.

"Good morning" I said giggling as I smiled sheepishly.

"Here you go" Ben said as he placed a plate full of food in front of me.

"Thank you" I said taking a bite from a piece of bacon, "When did you get here yesterday?" I asked chewing on the piece of bacon.

"Around 2 midnight" he said as he took a seat beside me.

"Ohh.. and Amy said nothing?" I asked with a teasing smile.

"Of course she did. She was like 'you're not a teenager anymore to come home around midnight, this is the last time'" he said mimicking her voice.

"Sounds like Amy" I said laughing.

We settled into a comfortable silence as we ate.

"So, you never told me that you knew Ryder" Ben said standing up to put his plate in sink.

"W-What R-Ryder?" I stuttered like an idiot and my mouth opened in shock.

"Yeah" he said with a smirk. "What? Cat got your tongue?" he said when I didn't answer.

"Umm.. How do you even know him" I asked.

"Ryder is James' brother" he said.

What a small world. I thought to myself.

"Oh" I said after a while.

"I saw him yesterday, and James told me that he goes to school with you. You never told me that" he said with an eyebrow raised.

"I never thought I had to update you everyday about the 'friends' I make, even though he is not a friend, he's a complete jerk" I said, muttering the last part to myself.

He furrowed his eyebrows at my sarcastic remark, "A jerk? Looks like you two talk at school." He said with a smirk tugging on his face.

"Oh god" I said putting my head on the counter.

He laughed.

"I'm just teasing sis. But yesterday, when James knew you were going home alone, he told Ryder to drive you. Did he?" he asked.

"Umm no.. I mean yes he did" I said hesitantly.

"Good" he said reaching out to take my plate to put it in the sink.

"He's a good kid" he said after a long silence, "He may seem like he shuts everyone off and is rude, but he's gone through a lot".

"What do you mean, he's gone through a lot?" I asked furrowing my brows in confusion.

"I meant what you understood Julia" he said looking me in the eye.

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion at his vain reply, "Alright then" I said standing up, "Do you have any plans for today?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm going to see how everything is going at our house" he said.

"Oh, okay, see ya then" I said walking out the kitchen and heading upstairs to my room.