Never the Same

Fourty-one

"Aspen, wake up," someone whispers in my ear, I shake them off and cover my head with a pillow. "Wake up before I pour cold water on you."

I woke right up and said, "I'm up, I'm up. What time is it?"

"Three in the afternoon darling." I rub my eyes and put on my glasses to see Ryder standing there.

"Why are you here?" I get out of bed and head over to my bathroom. I pull my hair back with a headband, I brush my teeth and Ryder stands in the doorway with his usual clothes on.

"Day one. Get ready babe." I roll my eyes and spit into the sink.

"What should I wear?" I start putting on my contacts but Ryder stops me by placing his hands on my waist.

"Your glasses and sweatpants with a baggy tee shirt." I look at his arms and remove them from my waist and walk back to my bedroom.

"Go downstairs and wait for me." I shoo him away and he goes down without hesitation.

I grab a pair of light wash ripped jeans, a UCLA sweatshirt, and my white vans. I throw my hair up into a messy bun and apply mascara, concealer, and eyeliner. I throw my phone in the back pockets of my jeans. "Bye mom. I'm going out," I yell and grab Ryder, heading out the door.

"What part of sweatpants don't you understand," Ryder asks and we start walking towards his house.

"The sweat part. I don't even sweat in them. Will you tell me where we're going?" My hoodie was big on me and I pulled on the sleeves so they could cover my cold hands.

"Mi casa."

"Why?" We're now in his lawn and he's giving away the normal signs when he wants to hold my hand.

"Because I wanted to do something with you that I didn't have to make you dress up for. It's rare when I see you like this." I smile softly and tuck one of the pieces of hair that frame my face behind my ear.

"Thank you." We get to his house and I'm not sure if I should knock. Ryder's hand brushes against mine when he goes to open the door.

"Aspen," Daniel says when we get into the living room.

"Hi baby bear," I say and give him a high five.

"Why are you wearing glasses?" He scrunches his nose and looks up at me.

"Because I need to see. Here try them on." I take them off and put them on him, I smile. "You look very handsome. Just like your broth-." I stop myself from saying the end of that sentence. Ryder just smirks from the doorway and walks into the living room.

"I know I do babe," Ryder says and I just glare at him.

"I was talking about Carlos, look at how hot he looks." I bite my lip seductively and stare at Carlos. He wasn't wearing a shirt, only pajama pants and he was watching TV.

"Thanks homie. I know I do. You look beautiful as always," Carlos says and winks at me. I could tell this was getting under Ryder's skin.

"Thank you homeboy." I sit on the couch and sling my arm over his shoulder.

"Don't you have a date to get ready for," Ryder asks Carlos and gives him the go-away look.

"Oh yeah. Nina? Right? I'm pretty sure it's Nina," Carlos says and I laugh a little.

"You're just like your brother. You know that," I ask him.