Aaden always wanted somebody to be there for him. Somebody who wouldn't hurt him and will treat him like a real person. After an accident with his mother, he meets Ryder. Ryder will do anything to protect Aaden because he felt an immediate connectio...
After ignoring my alarm 3 times, I finally stop it. I roll over and look at my phone. 8:30 am?!? I jump out of bed and hurry to get ready. Today is the last day of school before fall break. I could care less about going to school, but I can't stand to miss today, I need to say bye to my friends. I rush to the bathroom to brush my teeth, and I throw on the first outfit I see in my closet. I grab my school bag, which I don't really think I need today and I head downstairs. My mom is in the kitchen cleaning up from breakfast, "Where are Sarah and Jake?" I ask while I grabbed the last two pieces of bacon off the counter and shove them in my mouth. "They already headed out sweetie" she responds. "And they didn't think to wake me up, that's messed up" I thought to myself but didn't bother to say it out loud. "Thanks mom!" I yelled walking out of the door. "Bye honey!" she yelled back waving.
I hopped in my car and started on my way to school. I go my usual route before I realize that there's road work being done. I pulled a very illegal U-turn, and went down the street over from my usual route, because that was another way to my school. As I'm driving down the road I see a guy sitting on the curb of the road with his hands covering his face. He looks as if he's crying. Being the caring person I am, I slow down contemplating whether I should pull over to him or not. I probably look so creepy slowing down and staring at this dude. I look at the time 8:45 am, it's almost the end of first period, I can afford to miss it. I bring my car to a halt and get out. "Hey" I say to him with a gentle smile and a wave. He uncovers his face and looks up to me confused. "Oh, um, sorry for bothering you, just you looked pretty sad as I was driving by and I wanted to check if you were okay" I said. "I'm fine" he said in a low voice. My gentle smile faded a bit, "Are you sure you're okay? You didn't look okay to me" "I'm fine" he said once again. He got up and walked back into the house. I wonder if I made him mad, or annoyed him. But at least he's okay. I got back in my car and continue on my drive.
I arrive at the school, 9 am, passing period time, I sneak into the school like I was there the whole time. I head to my locker where I spot Amaya, my best friend, at hers a couple down from mine. She spotted me and walked up to me. "Where were you??" she said hitting my chest. "I woke up late" I put my hand on my chest dramatically, "Damn, that hurt". She rolls her eyes at me, "You literally left me in first period ALL alone, could've gave me some type of warning, what time did you wake up to be THIS late." "8:30" I said. She furrowed her brows, "Then why did it take you so long to get here, you're house is only like 10 minutes away"
The warning bell rang
We both start walking and I try to explain. "There was construction on the way I usually take here and when I was taking another way here, I saw a guy on the curb crying" She raises an eyebrow, "A boy crying?" "Yeah" I said, "But he told me he was fine". Her face relaxed, "okay that's good" We walked into class as the final bell rang... right on time.
The day continues to go on pretty slowly until it's finally lunch time. I arrive to the lunch room late because I wasn't in a rush but I didn't grab lunch because I wasn't necessarily hungry. I kept thinking about the guy I saw this morning. I wonder if he was really okay? I wonder why he wasn't in school? He looks about my age, but I guess he doesn't go here. I spot Amaya walking up to me and I greet her with a smile. She sits down, "Ryder". "What" I respond back to her curious about what she's going to say. She doesn't call me by my first name often when she has something to say. "That guy this morning. What street was he on?" I try to think back to this morning, "Your street actually now that I think about it, a couple houses down from you" Amaya's eyes widen. "I think I know who-" She was cut off by the bell, and everyone started to get up and head to their next period. This is where me and her split up for the day. She headed to her art class, where I headed to gym, the best and last class of the day.
I walk into the gym and head straight to the locker room, I hurry to get changed and don't talk to anyone. Which isn't normal for me. I'm a very social person usually. I walk out to the gym and join the rest of the guys in basket ball for fun. The class goes by in what feels like a couple minutes. I can't stop thinking about that boy. Before I know it, it's time to head out. I see Amaya in the parking lot and hug her as I say bye. "I'll see you soon" she says. I nod and head to my car
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I start my car and begin to head home, the temporary construction on the road was finished but I still decided to take the route I took this morning back home. I was worried about the guy I saw this morning. I don't know why but I was, and I just wanted to see if he was out there. "I probably sound just like a damn creep" I thought to myself. My thoughts are stopped when I see him sitting on the porch of a tan house. The house didn't look very didn't look the best... but it was still good enough to live in. He sits there on his phone for a while, but I think he noticed me stop slightly, and he got up and went back in the house hastily. "God!" I hit the steering wheel in frustration setting off the horn. I feel like such an idiot! I look back to the house and see him peering out of one of the windows. I don't want to seem creepy so I drive away.
I make it back to my home and walk in, my mom was sitting on the couch watching TV with my sister, Sarah. "Hi Ryder" she says. I walk by and don't say anything back to her. "Ryder?? Are you okay?" I don't say anything once again and just head straight upstairs. I slam my door and throw myself onto my bed. I feel like such and idiot, I must seem like some creepy weirdo to that guy. But what I'm wonder is, who is that guy... and why do I care?
