It was 10:50 pm and Ryder had just gotta home from work. He parked the car in the garage and saw that Dakota's car wasn't there, something was different about the outside of his house. It was really strange that his car wasn't there. He's mostly always there when he gets home. Oh, this seemed bad. Oh no, this only means one out of two things:

1. Neither teen is home or 2. Rebel's in a mood.

He should go with one, but something inclined him more to take a wild guess and go with the second option. If he was right, then it couldn't be good.

Ryder sighed as he turned off the car, took  his laptop bag from the backseat and got out. He fumbled in the dim lighting with my keys until I found the key for the door and unlocked it, then entered the house and closed the garage door after himself.

He flicked on the light in the hallways, the one leading into the laundry room and the other to the kitchen. He kicked off his work boots, by the door to the garage and went into the kitchen. He made his way over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water, uncapped it and drank a generous amount.

The feel of the cool water running down his throat felt utterly refreshing, he nearly let out a soft moan before threw the bottle into the recycling. Work today had left him more  exhausted then usual, but something was still wrong with Rebel and he had to make sure that she was alright. He wondered if Riella had gone by her friend's house. He would have top call her, then his mom, knowing that she was still out.

Ryder made my way through the dining room and upstairs to younger sister's room, pulling out his cell to shoot his baby sister a text. He took a deep breath in and knocked on Rebel's door just as his text went through. When he heard no reply from her, he sighed out softly and turned the knob and pushed open her room door. He was a surprise when he saw both his sisters passed out on the bed, fast asleep. It was actually cute to see them all snuggled up under her covers. He smiled at his baby sisters and went over to their sleeping figures and pressed a kiss to both their forehead. "Goodnight girls." her whispered as he left the room, closing the door after himself.

He couldn't stop smiling knowing that those two were alright, and home safe. He began to text his mother to tell her that the girls were home and soundly in bed. Ryder walked down two doors to his room, then turned on the lights as he shut the door after himself. One by one he began removing his clothing, his jacket, sock, button-up, falling down after him as he advanced to the bathroom, in desperate need of a shower. It had been a long day, and he needed a warm shower to help loosen the tension in his shoulders.

A soft groan escaped his lips once the hot spray cascaded down his tired face and body, melting away at his stresses, but not all of them, as he thought about Rebel, hoping that she was truly okay, and that nothing was wrong.

~ ~ ~

Once back in his room, he lotioned himself with some coco butter and he got dressed, boxer briefs and sweatpants only, then left his room and made his way back downstairs in search of something to eat. He raided the fridge, grabbing some white cheddar, Turkey slices, lettuce, mustard, mayo, etc. He shut the fridge door with threw heel of his foot and almost caused everything in his hands to end up on the floor when he jumped and saw Rebel standing by the entry way with a groggy look on her face.

"How the hell were you so quiet?" He shed, dropping everything on the counter. He was amazed at her silent approach and how she nearly made him shriek like a girl. Rebel could have be a ninja if she wanted to with her light feet.

When she didn't reply he brushed it off and reached for the bread. "You want a sandwich?" He offered, trying to start up a conversation. She looked up at her brother , shirtless and hungry, an uninterested stare looking back on him. "Okay then, I'll just take that as a yes... or a no...?" No answer. "Okay I'll make you one anyways."

While Ryder began making their sandwiches he looked up and saw that Rebel was now sitting there watching him make their food. "So, how was school today? Anything eventful happen?"

She sighed, and he paused, putting down the cheese slices, irritated with her silence. "Bell, I'm trying here, talk to me."

She lift her eyes to his emerald eyes, and huffed out. He guessed that she was irritated with him out something else, but he couldn't care less.... maybe. Her bandaged hands didn't fly over his head though, he had caught that when she frightened him. She had roughed someone up and he wanted to know who, it was no wonder he found Riella in the room with her. She had fixed her up. "I skipped school after second, well during second period. Dakota and I went outside to the bleachers then we taped Heidi Jericho making out with some girl, and then we went to the diner and ate. We left the diner and went to the gym." Ryder arched an eyebrow at her summary of her day.

"So, why are you pissed off?" He asked, not missing the fact that she didn't state the real issue. He knew he was testing the unknown waters of Rebel's temper, but he was curious. Rebel shrugged and picked up the sandwich that had already made and took a bite out of it.

He watched as she chewed. "This is a good sandwich." She mumbled, as she took another bite. Ryder sighed and combed a hand over his hair. "Bell, please, talk to me."

She looked away and exhaled deeply, swallowing. "Mindy came to the gym."

"Mindy, as in the Mindy Gillihum, the girl that you've hated ever since you were like five—six years old; that Mindy?" he questioned.

"Yep, she tried to piss me off and well, she succeeded. I fought with her, just like she wanted me to." It was then that Ryder finally inquired about her hands.

"Who won?" He asked with a nod to her hands. He knew more than anything that Rebel was capable of handling herself in any situation, but he was a bit afraid of the answer that he might get. She just looked at him, not saying a word. "Oh, tell me you didn't kill her." Ryder paused, and waited for an answer. "Bell!" He pressed.

"I didn't, okay. What's with you and Dakota, thinking that I would do that?" She grossberg then slid off the stool and grabbed a small bottle of juice and her sandwich and stormed out of the kitchen.

"And there goes the conversation. Why did I do that?" He whispered. Ryder picked up his sandwich, taking a huge bite out of it, as he walked over to the landline and saw that there were fourteen missed messages. Ryder hit play and sat down at the table to listen to them.

'Hey Bell, it's Dakota, why aren't you answering your cell? Are you still home? Call me okay. We need to talk.'

. . .

'Bell, it's Dakota please pick up, I know you're not asleep... call me back,     okay.'

. . .

'Bells come on, this is like the fifth message I've made. Please pick up.'

. . .

'Rebel, why aren't you answering your phone? Are you okay? Bell, I need to know if you're okay. Come on, I've left like eight messages, now. Please, please call me back.'

. . .

'Okay, okay this is the last message that I'm leaving you. Please... I hope you're okay. I'm gonna stop bothering you now, just don't shut yourself off.' There was a sigh then the beep sounded.

Ryder took another bite and decided that he should call up Dakota back. He'd probably have an answer for him, he could only hope.