Song for the chapter: Be the One, by Dua Lipa

"You just abducted me, you know." I cross my arms over my chest, holding my nose in the air.

I hear Ryker's breathy chuckle before he speaks. "I'm not keeping you against your will." When I turn to him with raised brows, he glances at me and the corners of his mouth raise. "We're going to the same place."

I take a deep inhale. "Whatever. Still abduction."

He has a smirk on his lips when I look at him; his wet hair was sticking to his forehead, which he was running his hand through to get it off. Since it was wet, it almost looked jet black, different from his normal raven color. Odd. The white shirt he wore now clung to his broad body, thanks to the rain. His lip ring was so strangely attractive to me, especially when he tugged it between his teeth.

I had to tear my eyes away from it—away from him.

His hazel eyes were fixed on the road, until they glanced over to mine.

"What?"

"Nothing." I say, too quick.

Another smirk plays on his lips. "How about I get you another coffee? Make up for the one you're currently wearing."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, right. Not happening."

"It's just coffee, Maddison."

I ignore the fluttery feeling I got from him saying my name.

"It's never just anything with you, Ryker. You're notorious for sleeping with anything that moves." I snort. "I'll pass."

"Is that so?"

"It's a fact."

I see Ryker's jaw flex. "Well, I was just being polite. And, trust me, you're not my type, princess."

I don't know why it infuriated me—and kinda hurt me—that he said that. I knew Ryker wasn't my type; I'd never willingly date Ryker. He's a man-whore and an idiot. But...dang. That really did hurt.

I cross my arms and stare out the window the rest of the way home. Stupid Ryker and his stupid car and his stupidity all around.

When we pulled into our neighborhood, I was relieved. Of course, Ryker being Ryker, he pulled into his house and not mine. I rolled my eyes and opened the door.

"What? No thank you for my generosity?"

I glare at him. "Bite me." Then I step out and slam the door. I stomp across the street and up my porch steps, getting inside.

I truly hated Ryker Brooks. I couldn't wait to finally save up enough money and move out of here and get as far away from him as possible.

*  *  *

The next week that passed was busy. Almost every morning I had a morning shift at Joe's, which was ironically called Joe's Joe. Then I'd have to hustle to Lowe's for the rest of the day I'd work there.

I missed Joey. I haven't seen her all week and she hasn't reached out. I guess it's been hard for her to get out, which I understood. But I missed being able to talk to her and hang out with her whenever I felt like it.

I was currently working, dealing with a customer who thought they had no fault in the world.

"You don't understand, I bought it from here."

I exhale. "I understand that, ma'am. I really do. But like I said: you bought that in a clearance buyout. We cannot return it."

The woman scoffs, slamming her hands on the counter and grabbing her curtain rod.

"All you guys are after is money. Vultures, the lot of you!" Then she storms away.

I roll my eyes and shifted on my feet as Ali, the cashier beside me, approaches me.

"Are you okay?"

I snort. "I'm good. Just another one of those people who think they're right about everything."

Ali looks at the doors the woman left from. "She has some serious issues. Sure you're good?"

I nod. "I'm good. Just about to take my break soon, anyway."

She smiles before heading back to her register. I work for the rest of the day with minor hiccups. As the store closes, Ali and I walk out of the back room.

Ali is a super nice girl; blonde hair, green eyes, and just graduated high school. She offered me rides home on nights we closed together since I'm on her way home. She didn't ask questions or try to get personal, which I loved. It was just a simple work friendship.

"You hungry?" She pipes up as she starts driving.

I hated eating in front of other people; I eat too much, too fast. I don't like to eat in front of anyone I'm not comfortable with so they don't get to judge me on how I eat.

"No," I smile with an exhale. "I'm tired."

"Okay." She hummed as she turned on the radio.

I leaned my head against the window for the short drive, not wanting to see if dad was waiting at home already drunk or not.

When we pulled up to my street, Ali pulled up in front of my house, like she always does. If dad caught wind of someone pulling into the driveway, he'd have a million questions that I didn't feel like answering.

"Thanks, Ali." I smile at her.

"No problem. You work tomorrow?"

I nod. "Then I'm off for a couple days, finally."

She chuckles. "See you then."

I get out of the car, waving her off before she drives away. I turn, my eyes catching Ryker's from where he sat on his porch step. It looked like he was tying his shoe or something, but he was definitely watching me.

With confused, furrowed brows, I scurried off inside quickly. Dad was gone, so thankfully I was able to just get upstairs, get showered and get to bed within the following hour. The next morning, I didn't have to work at Joe's. I was thankful, because I was able to spend a little bit of extra time at home.

I poked my head in dads room, just to see what he was up to, and my heart plummeted at what I saw. He had opened his and moms wedding album, sitting beside his head, and was clutching one of her favorite old shirts next to his chest. He had a bottle of Jack Daniels on the night stand, and empty bottle of bourbon on the floor.

It was moments like this that made me realize that he's just like me: in pain and missing her. He's just venting in a different way.

I grab his quilt and place it over his body and leave the room, shutting the door. I walk to my room, get dressed in a pair of skinny jeans, a blue v-neck and white sneakers. I grab my vest and slip my phone in my back pocket. I walk down the stairs, take my wallet from the counter, and head outside.

I saw, immediately, some car pulled in Ryker's driveway and him underneath the hood. The guy was standing beside him, motioning with his hands. Ryker looked so focused on what he was doing, it almost looked attractive.

I shook the thought from my head and kept on my way.

I walked to town, making my way to Lowe's when I felt my phone vibrate.

Karmiah: Wanna hang out tomorrow?

Maddi: Doing what?

Karmiah: It's Saturday! Frat partyyyyy

I roll my eyes as I push my way through the back doors and clock in.

Maddi: Sure, if I'm free

Karmiah: I'll pick you up at eight

I snort at my phone and set it back in my pocket. It was the ending of June, and Kar and I didn't start our classes until September. But the summer session was still going, and leave it to her to be able to find a frat party going on.

Ali didn't come in today, called out sick. And I wasn't on the register, I was outside. So I spent all day long putting bags of soil onto shelves, restocking pots, and helping sweet older women trying to find the right type of plant they wanted.

I even got complimented on my shirt—which had a little picture of Stitch on it from Lilo and Stitch and read 'weird but cute'. I loved shopping at Hot Topic, so I loved getting complimented on my clothes.

The day went on normally, which I was happy for. Now I could spend the next two days in bed, in peace. I made my way to the back, where my supervisor was talking to another employee. I gave him a courteous wave and pushed open the double doors.

Since Ali wasn't here, I walked.

Not that I mind it, but anything can happen at night time and be missed.

I crossed my arms over my chest, letting the soft summer breeze caress my exposed skin. It was warm, yet cool. One of the many benefits of living so close to the Canadian border is the perfect balance between the two. I liked summer and the heat, but at night? I loved this.

I glance up, a small smile on my face as I see the million of stars dancing across the sky. I've always been in love with the stars; wanting to see them, know about them, just gaze upon them.

See that, Maddibear? My mom cooed beside me on the porch swing. All of that magical sprinkles of God's hand in the sky? Can you imagine that power to just speak and something so magnificent comes into existence?

I sigh, missing her. There wasn't a moment I didn't miss her. I longed to be able to grow up with my mother, like a normal teenager should've. For Joey to have been able to. So we could've all stayed together and been happy.

Now moms gone, and it's caused a ripple effect I never would've imagined. Dad's drowning his sorrows away, Joey can't bare her new family, and I'm stuck in the middle, just trying to help them both.

I look up again, tears stinging my eyes. "I miss you, mom."

I sniffled quickly and quickened my pace home. I didn't wanna be seen crying on the side of the road. Soon enough, I saw my street and turned right.

I was walking down the street, in the middle since no cars were passing, when I saw Ryker at his mailbox. It's like, ten. Why is he checking it so late?

I roll my eyes and fully intend to ignore him, but he stumbles forward, leaning on the mailbox. My steps falter as I eye him suspiciously.

"Are you drunk?"

Ryker's head turns quickly in my direction. But before he can turn away, I've already seen the damage.

"What the—" I cross the street. "Who did that to you?"

Ryker struggles to yank the latch open, but ignores me.

"Did someone jump you?" I move closer, trying to look at his face.

I can hear his angry inhale, but he's still ignoring me.

I let out a quick breath and pull the latch open myself, Ryker barely giving me a glance. He reached inside and grabbed his stack of envelopes before putting it under his arm.

"You're just gonna ignore me, then?"

Ryker scoffed. "Isn't that what you want?"

I freeze. It is, but his face looked messed up.

"Well, yeah, but I just don't want you dying because of whatever happened to you."

Ryker took a step backwards, a small limp evident. I watched him carefully.

"Don't worry about me." His voice was flat...detached, almost.

I opened my mouth to say something, anything. But nothing came. He gave a single nod before he turned around and walked into his garage, closing it behind him.

In the years I've known Ryker, he's never looked like that. He's have some busted up knuckles here and there, but he'd never be mangled up like that. It worried me and I didn't even know why. Was he okay? Was it from someone he knew? Was something much worse going on? I had no idea what to think.

I frown, going to my own home and trying to forget about him. But I couldn't stop thinking about the boy next door with the troubled face and the haunted eyes.

A/N

I know this is much shorter than my usual chapters. I usually write 3k words, this was 2k. I'm not sure which y'all like better, so let's see how it goes.

Thanks for reading, lovelies! Don't forget to vote, comment, etc! <33