But Why Not

Chapter Three

Monday rolled around again; Zach and I were walking to lunch.

"Hey! Knight!" I heard from down the hall.

I turned toward the voice and saw Ryder jogging up to us.

"Ugh." Zach grabbed my elbow, "Come on, Erin."

I yanked my arm away and glared at him before turning my attention to Ryder. "What's up, Ryder?"

"Me and a couple of guys are going down to the beach to play soccer tonight. You know shake off the Monday blues. You want to come?"

I smiled. "Sure! That'd be terrific!"

"Great. Here," he fished around in his pocket for his cell phone, "Give me your number and I'll give you mine."

"Sure." I reached back for the pocket on my backpack to get my phone, but Zach grabbed my wrist stopping me. I smacked his hand away and handed Ryder my phone. We exchanged numbers.

"Terrific. I'll pick you up at seven." he beamed and ran off to catch up to a friend.

"Erin!" Zach exclaimed. "You can't go to the beach with them!"

I huffed. "Why, Zach? Hm? You can't tell me what I can and can't do!"

"Erin, we had this discussion already! Ryder is not a good guy! You have to stay away from him."

"When you learn that you can't control my life, come find me. Cause I'm not dealing with an overprotective best friend. I already have overprotective parents. I don't need it from you too."

That was Zach and I's first fight.

Later that afternoon

"Erin, you cannot go to the beach with Ryder Daniels and that's final!" my dad bellowed.

"But, why not? And how did you even know I was going?" I demanded.

"There's this crazy thing called a cell phone." he answered sarcastically. "Zach texted me. He's worried about you."

I groaned. "I cannot believe him." I muttered.

"Erin, you can't go to the beach with Ryder Daniels because one, tonight's a school night, and two, Zach is right. Ryder isn't who he appears to be. He's an awful kid. I've arrested him multiple times. Stay away from him. Do you understand me?"

I rolled my eyes and walked away.

"Erin Knight!" My dad yelled at me as I walked away. I just was not dealing with this right now.

"Matthew," my mom hushed him coming out of the kitchen, "Just leave her alone. She'll understand when she gets older."

I huffed as I rushed up the stairs. Haven't heard that before.

I slammed my door and dialed Ryder.

He picked up after the second ring. "Hey, Knight. What's up?"

"I need you to pick me up down the street from my house. My parents don't want me goin' but I am."

I heard him chuckle. "You're quite the rebel aren't you, Knight. Alright. I'll still see you at seven?"

"Definitely." I gave him the address and hung up.

I quickly changed into a swimsuit, Nike shorts, and a muscle tank top.

I carefully climbed out my window and down to my yard below.

I was ready to have some fun. But I had no idea what I was really in for that night.

You guys I'm so sorry for the lack of updates! I have had some health problems. I was in the ER two weeks ago and just this past Friday everything was resolved. I'm slowly getting better and healing.

I'll be able to update more frequently now with this, hopefully, behind me.

I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!

Avery