Searching for Safety

Chapter 14

 I woke up as Ryder started to sit up, and I quickly moved my arm and picked up my book. I yawned and rubbed my eyes before starting to read again, tuning everything else out as best as I could. My eyes started watering because of the dim light and I could feel a headache starting, but I just wiped my eyes and continued to read, I was almost done with the second book now.

"I don't care, tell me what you said to her." Ryder said, I blinked, keeping my eyes on the page. It didn't register that anyone had been talking, so I was really confused.

"Ryder, now really isn't-" Alec started.

"Tell me what you said damn it!" Ryder half yelled. Alec sighed and shook his head.

"I snapped, and and I told her she doesn't listen, and Magnus didn't care she existed." He said quietly, Izzy and Clary both gasped and Clary smacked his arm.

"What the fuck is wrong with you Alec!? All she's been worried about is inconveniencing us and meeting her father!" Izzy yelled. I saw Ryder's fist clench out of the corner of my eye and I bit my lip.

"I know that I just-"

"If you knew that why the hell would say something like that!? You're a complete and total asshole Alexander!" Clary yelled. The car stopped and I looked up, causing everyone to be silent.

"Is this the hotel?" I asked casually. Alec nodded and I got out of the car.

"Pop the trunk." I said as I shut the door. They all got out and joined me behind the car, grabbing their bags. Clary stormed after Alec who had grabbed his bags wordlessly and started for the hotel. Izzy followed them after she had her bags, starting to jog as it started to rain. Ryder put his bags on the ground and shut the trunk, slamming it as he did. I stopped and looked at him, he was staring at the ground and his fists were still clenched. I put my bags down and walked over to him slowly, I pushed his now wet hair out of his face gently and let my hand rest on his face. He looked up enough to see my face.

"Don't. Don't tell me you're fine, you're not and I can tell." He said as I started to open my mouth. I hesitated.

"I'm upset, yes. But I'll be fine, I know he-"

"He shouldn't have opened his god damned mouth! If he wasn't okay with this trip he should've said so before we left, instead of being unacceptably inconsiderate!" He yelled, interrupting me. I took my hand away from his face and sighed.

"He didn't mean it, and I know that." I said softly, trying to use a soothing voice, hoping it would help him calm down.

"I don't care if he meant it or not he shouldn't have fucking said it! He was being an asshole and unnecessarily taking frustrations out on the least deserving person! He made you run off and that is beyond dangerous right now. He could've gotten you killed! I could fucking-" I pulled him by his shirt collar and pressed my lips to his firmly. He froze for a few seconds before relaxing and leaning in, wrapping his arms around my waist and taking the lead. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he started smiling as we continued to kiss. I shivered slightly as the wind picked up and he slowly pulled away. I opened my eyes and looked up at him shyly, with slight smile.

"Well that was... Surprising." He said starting to chuckle. I bit my lip and smiled, my face turning red.

"Like, good surprising or...?" I said shyly. He started laughing, which made me blush more.

"Amazing surprising. Especially since you're already back to being all shy." He said still laughing. I smiled and sniffled a little, the cold was making my nose start to run.

"We should probably go in." I said pushing my drenched hair out of my face. He picked up his bags and started to reach for mine, so I grabbed them and started jogging to the doors of the hotel, giggling as he grunted.

It took us a few minutes to the room Alec had gotten for us, but once we were finally in we got settled in and changed out of our wet clothes. I poked my head out of the bathroom door and caught Ryder as he was pulling on a shirt.

"Hey- Oh, sorry! I'm gonna jump in the shower, so you can pick which bed you want." I said. He nodded and chuckled again.

"I'm not a girl, you can look at my chest. Don't use up all the hot water, I wanna shower to." He said smiling at me. I nodded and shut the door, locking it out of habit, and I started the water. I peeled off my wet underwear and got in the shower, sighing in relief as the hot water hit my shoulders and back. I quickly washed my hair and got out, drying off with one of the fluffy towels on the counter. I took a deep breath and sighed heavily as I realized I didn't grab dry clothes to change into.

"Hey Ryder?" I said loudly through the door.

"Hm, yea?" He said after a second. I sighed again and bit my nail.

"I um, I need something to put on." I said slowly. I heard him going through a bag and I face palmed as I realized that he was going to have to bring me underwear as well. There was a light knock on the door and I jumped. I cracked the door open just enough to reach my arm out and grab the clothes.

"Thank you." I said as I pushed the door shut again. I groaned and got dressed quickly, then braided my hair. I looked at my reflection and bit my lip. Ryder had handed me a dark red t-shirt that was fitted, and a pair of black silk shorts, that were tight and shorter than most of the shorts that I owned. I took a deep breath and left the bathroom, walking over to my bag and looking for my pills. I heard a bottle shake and I turned to look at Ryder, who was holding my pill bottle in his hand.

"I figured you might want one." He said casually. I rolled my eyes and smiled slightly, walking over and sitting next to him on the bed.

"Thank you." I mumbled as he handed me one. He nodded and stood up, heading to the bathroom.