Alleyway BxB

XV (Ryder)

MONDAY, 8 OCTOBER
NATHAN COVINGTON

It was a Monday, yet another day of staying at home from school... and the day after Matt and I's initial court hearing against our father. The idiot had shown up drunk too. The outcome was plain obvious. But for the mean time, Matt could stay with me and that was all I cared about.

Maybe I shouldn't think about it.

I was alone for the morning. Marcello decided to go to school and Matt had just been asleep. Not that I was any better, I had just woken up from a nap and spent the day doing absolutely nothing fun.

Reading, typing, catching up on school work.

That was until Marcello and Cameron burst through the door with Ryder, Jaxon, and Carter behind them.

"Dude." Jaxon kicked his shoes off and stared at the interior in awe. "Cells, you came up with the design, right? This place is cool."

Like a proud mother, she strolled past everyone, and the boys moved aside for her. "I did. Are you all hungry? Cello isn't the only one who can cook here, you know?"

"That'd be great, Cells. Practice really drained us today." Cameron got himself comfortable on the couch I was on.

By the smell of everyone, they all took the effort to shower. The usual trace of Axe was replaced by the surprising scent of body wash.

"You said you were feeling lonely, right?" Marcello flopped onto the couch and wrapped his arms around me. "They wouldn't stop asking about you, so I brought them here... Of course, I had to pull a few strings to stop a potential murder."

Just then, the rest of the house came to sit down on the rug in front of us. Much to my surprise, Isaiah sat down with Ryder close by his side.

Isaiah and Ryder.

I gawked at the sight. "No way."

The history between the two was probably just as bad as, if not worse than, Zach and I's history.

"I know. I just needed some time to—you know—get everything off my chest, express my feelings." Isaiah smiled with a peculiar innocence.

Ryder, on the other hand, scoffed. "He almost beat the shit out of me. I might look like you tomorrow."

But Isaiah upheld the glint in his eyes. "The most pleasurable thing to happen since my birthday."

There was a quick shift behind me. Marcello perked up. "The most what?"

"They're a little cold, I made them before Cello and Cam picked you guys up." Out came Marcella as she balanced six plates along both of her petite arms.

Ryder leaned forward, looked ready to help, but she stopped him.

"I've been doing this for years, Ry. I'm fine." She served the plates—Ryder, Cameron, Jaxon, Carter, Isaiah, and Marcello took one. On each, a perfectly constructed burger laid plated with their very own handful of fries and cup of gravy. "But I love the effort."

As she got comfortable on the other side of Isaiah, Marcello sat himself up—nudged me to do the same. "I bet you haven't eaten all day, huh?"

Before I could respond, a bare but lightly-salted fry was shoved in my mouth.

This isn't bad.

"Shit. I forgot about the gravy. Did you want gravy with that?"

I got it down, and opened my mouth to respond but another fry was shoved in it instead—this time, with gravy.