Misinterpreting Fate (Book 2)

24. A Start

Chapter 24: A Start

Sam

The feeling of Ryan's weight laying on me as his lips gently played along my neck was one I wasn't used to yet, but I didn't want to end. I wasn't sure how we managed to end up like this - on his bed still fully clothed - but I didn't mind. It honestly felt really nice to be doing this with him. Kissing him and holding him was actually relaxing.

The front door of the house slammed shut and Ryan was immediately off me, standing on the other side of the room. He looked panicked, and I didn't know why. It sounded like his mom and little brother were home. Sure, maybe her catching us like that wasn't a good idea, but it's not like it would be the end of the world. But the look on Ryan's face as he flung himself off the bed and to the other side of the room said otherwise. I sat up, watching him, trying to figure out what was going on in his head.

"Don't mention us to my mom," Ryan said in a harsh whisper. "She doesn't know about us. About me. Okay?"

I nodded, his behavior suddenly making sense. I don't know why I didn't think to ask him whether his mom knew or not. He just seemed so confident in wanting me that I couldn't imagine him still being in the closet.

Suddenly Ryan's little brother, Matty, came running into the room. Matty was seriously a mini version of Ryan, looking exactly like Ryan had when he was the same age. At least, that's what I could tell from the pictures Ryan and his mom have shown me over the years. Matty was only five, younger than Ryan was when I met him - long before his brother was born.

Matty struggled a moment to climb onto the bed before Ryan gently lifted him up. The little boy immediately threw himself into my lap. I never understood why he liked doing that so much. He literally just laid there giggling.

I was suddenly reminded of Regal. My own little sister. She was about the same age as Matty. Did she act the same way he does? Does she crawl into laps just to giggle? Does she like to give people hugs and laugh at any silly face you make at her?

Mrs. Helder appeared in the doorway, obviously looking for her youngest son. She called him off of me before greeting me. "Hello Sam," she said. "I didn't know you were over."

Ryan spoke up before I could. "Yeah, he brought me some work I missed yesterday."

He and I both knew that was a lie, and I'm surprised she didn't catch it, considering I was pretty sure she knew I had been sent home early too yesterday. Plus, Ryan was suspended for a week. He'd get all his missing work on Monday to complete before he could come back, which he was thankfully able to do after the nurse spoke up and told the principal what I had said about Shawn.

"That's nice of you," she said simply. I couldn't tell what kind of mood she was in today. Usually it was obvious. "You're more than welcome to stay for dinner, Sam."

I nodded my head. "I just have to ask my parents, but thanks."

Then she turned and left Ryan and I alone, off to find Matty who had disappeared on her again. I wonder if Regal did that too.

"Ryan," I said, looking at him. I was going to ask him his opinion on whether I should get to know my little sister or not, but he spoke up before I could say anything.

"She doesn't know about me," he said quietly, even though he had already said that before. "I'm scared to tell her, okay? She's rarely in a good mood anymore and when she is, I don't want to risk making her upset again."

"Would she? I mean, she's fine with me and my parents..."

Ryan sighed, sitting next to me. "I don't know. You know how she can get. Her reactions are unpredictable, especially after Dad..."

I ignored the part about his dad. I knew that was a sore subject for him. "I'm surprised she hasn't killed you yet for getting suspended again."

Ryan laughed a bit. "Right? This is why I don't want to tell her. She'll actually freak."

I didn't know how to respond, so I just leaned my head against his shoulder. I wasn't going to push him to say anything to her - I knew how it felt to hide who you really were from your family. Granted, we had different reasons for it, but still. At least he was out at school and with our friends.

A high-pitched giggle in the other room reminded me of Regal again. I lifted my head up and looked at Ryan. "If you didn't know you had a brother until right now, would you want to know him?"

He looked a little perplexed before answering. "What is going on in that brain of yours? Matty may be a little twerp most of the time, but he's still my brother. If I had a choice though...? I have no idea. I can't imagine not having him around all the time, you know?"

I shrugged. "I guess. It's just weird, trying to figure out if I want to get to know Regal and whatnot."

"Wait, what?"

I stared at him, realizing I hadn't told him anything about my mom or half-sister yet. I then explained the whole situation, from my mom being the crazy woman we saw in the street to the grocery store with Poppa to her bringing Regal to my house the other day.

"Dude," he said when I finished. "That's insane."

His phone chimed at before I could respond and he grabbed it. He tossed it aside after reading the text, not bothering to answer it. "Fucking Shawn," he muttered. "He keeps texting me. I don't want anything to do with him after what he's done to you."

I leaned over Ryan's lap to grab his phone. "You should talk to him, seriously. I honestly think it'll be good for both of you."

I didn't want them to talk, but I felt guilty for kinda stealing that chance from Shawn yesterday. He deserved his side of the story to be heard too.

I unlocked Ryan's phone, thankful I still knew his password, and read the text Shawn had sent. Please talk to me. There were several more like it from the past twenty-four hours, none of which Ryan had answered.

I sent back: Ok. Meet at the lake now. Then I stood up, tucking Ryan's phone into my pocket next to my own phone.

"Come on," I said, grabbing Ryan's hand to try and pull him up.

He didn't budge. "Why? Sammy, what did you send him?"

"We're going to the lake. Come on." When he still didn't move, I gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "That was your last one until after you talk to Shawn."

He rolled his eyes with a small sigh. "That's not fair."

It may not have been fair, but five minutes later, we were leaving his house - him with the promise to be home in time for dinner and me not accepting the dinner invitation. I wasn't planning on staying while Ryan and Shawn talked. I just needed to make sure they actually do talk to each other, which is why I was still holding his phone hostage and not allowing Ryan to kiss me yet. I knew making the two of them talk wasn't the way to ease my guilt of doing that to Shawn in the first place, but at least it was a start.