The next few days - four actually - go by at an exceedingly fast pace, and the next thing I know, I’m sitting on Jansen’s father’s jet on the way back to California. So in all we spent eleven days there, and now we’re going back to Vernon. I don’t know where we are, and everyone else on the jet besides Ryder is asleep, so I’m not gonna ask him. We’ve been on here for about eleven hours though.

Ever since that day I told Ryder to forget about it, he seemingly has. He hasn’t uttered a single word to me since I walked out of the room that day when Marissa, Matt and I hung out. Whether he’s mad at me now or what, I don’t know. I guess he did go to the doctor though. His left hand is wrapped tightly in some adhesive looking gauze.

I look out of the window, and all I see is what I believe to be is water. We’re so high up, so I guess it could be anything, but it looks like an ocean. I look around at everyone else on the jet out of bored-ness. Marissa is sitting up in the front with her brother, Ryder’s sitting alone, Mollie is sitting with Jansen and Faith and Matt’s closest to me, but not actually in my row.

Luckily, Matt has simmered down on all of the flirting and innuendoes since my and Ryder’s break up. He and Marissa both, I think, are trying to keep me busy, not give me time to think about it. That day we hung out, we didn’t come back to the house for like ten hours. We went to a carnival thing, the harbor, we went to the zoo, to the strip mall and we got our portrait drawn by one of those street drawing people. Marissa’s choice.

I’m just ready to be off the jet and on solid ground again. 

A few hours later, the jet lands and Ryder’s the first one out of his seatbelt. I guess he wasn’t really asleep then. He stands up, looks over at me for half a second and then the door of the jet opens down, and he walks down the stairs. I follow suit, getting out of my seatbelt and standing up. I hit Marissa and Matt both in their heads as I walk by them to wake them. We all grab out luggage and get out.

There’s three cars here for us, one of them Sarah’s, and the other two, I don’t know. I say bye to the others and walk over to Sarah’s car. I don’t know how she knew that we were coming back today, but apparently she did. I slide in the backseat, and Ryder gets in the front, closing the door wordlessly. 

Marissa and Cash get into a silver Honda car, which I guess is being driven by one of their parents, and Matt gets into last car with Faith, Mollie and Jansen. Sarah looks over at Ryder and then looks up in the rearview mirror at me. I avert my eyes and look out of the window.

        “So how was Australia?” Sarah asks. Neither Ryder, nor I say anything and Sarah clears her throat. “Good then?”

When neither of us replies, she says, “Okay.” Then she starts the car and drives out of the strip and onto the road. I pull my phone from my pocket, and unlock it, turning it off of Airplane mode. The ride back to the O’Connor’s home is quiet and not to mention awkward. Very awkward.

When we make it back we both get out, I grab my luggage, Ryder grabs his and Sarah unlocks the door, ushering us in. Ryder goes up the stairs quickly, and I follow behind him, a few steps behind. He goes into his room and softly closes the door, and I do the same. I plop down on the bed, lying back and looking up at the ceiling.

There’s a knock on my door a mere few minutes later and I roll my eyes, sitting up as the door opens. What’s the point of knocking of you’re just gonna come in anyways? I look to the doorframe and see Will standing there. He’s got a slight grin on his face, and he’s still wearing his work clothes.

        “Hey Mick.”

        “Hi Will.” I retort, broadly. 

He pushes himself up off the doorframe and sits down at my desk chair. “What’s wrong?”

        “What do you mean?”

        “Something’s wrong with you.”

        “Nothing’s wrong with me.” I assure him.

He shakes his head, “I don’t believe that.”

I raise my eyebrows, “No?”

        “Nope.”

        “Why’s that?”

        “Because you look sad and I just came from Ryder’s room and he’s lying on the floor staring up at the ceiling mumbling something to himself.”

        “What’s that got to do with me?”

        “Well you’re his girlfriend, aren’t you?”

        “Not anymore.”

He raises his eyebrows this time, “Wait, what?”

        “We broke up.”

        “Why? You didn’t even date that long.”

        “I don’t wanna talk about it.” I mutter, falling back on the bed and pulling the pillow over my face.

        “Well for what it’s worth I think y’all will get back together.”

        “I dunno.” I mumble into the pillow.

        “Well I do, and you will. I mean you two are like I don’t know…ice cream and cake.”

        “Thanks?”

He chuckles, “Yeah, sure. Dude take that pillow off your face.”

        “What time is it?” I wonder, ignoring his request.

        “It’s 7:30.”

        “I wanna sleep now.” I inform him, getting up from the bed and pulling my drawer open.

William scoffs, “Sleep? Why? It’s only 7 p.m. Even little kids don’t go to sleep this early.”

        “I don’t really feel like being awake anymore. Plus dreams are way better than reality.”

        “That’s deep.” Will says, nodding and putting his hands in his pocket. “And F.Y.I. just because you and Ryder broke up, doesn’t mean you stop living.”

        “I’m still living. I told you I was fine.”

        “Well you don’t look fine. You look like you just learned your best friend is moving to another country or something.”

        “Nice analogy.” I reply sarcastically.

        “Thank you, I try. Now, you and I, we’re going somewhere tomorrow whether you wanna have fun or not.”

I sigh heavily, “Where are we going?”

        “A fun place.” He says, and with that he leaves the room.

I walk behind him, closing the door. I take off my traveling clothes and pull on a t-shirt and a pair of pajama pants. I lie down in my bed and after a while, I fall asleep.

        “McKenna, wake up!” Jacob’s voice shouts loudly.

I jump up, startled, and look at him. “What is it?” I ask irritated.

        “Get up.”

        “Why?”

        “Because you me and Will are going out.”

        “Where to?”

        “This place in L.A.”

I groan, “Why does no one tell me anything anymore?”

He shrugs, “Beats me. Get up, get dressed. Be downstairs in twenty.”

I mumble something incoherent and tell Jacob to go away, which luckily he does. I get out of the bed and stretch. Yawning, I rub my eyes and walk out of my room. I nearly collide with someone, and as I open my eyes guess who I see. None other than Ryder himself.

        “Sorry.” He says quietly, and then reverts to his room, coming from upstairs.

        “It’s fine.” I mutter ever after he’s closed his door and I know he can’t hear.

This is exactly what I meant by awkward. I walk into the bathroom and grab my toothbrush, quickly brushing my teeth and then washing my face. When I go back into my room I pull out the first two articles of clothing that my hands grasps. Turns out to be a plan grey t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans. I get dressed slowly and deliberately and then grab my phone. I stuff two twenties down in my pocket just in case there’s something I wanna buy. Then I turn my light off and slide on a pair of flip flops and walk downstairs.

I plop down on the couch, and see that it hasn’t been ten minutes, let alone twenty. “Oh McKenna, I’m glad I caught you.” I hear Sarah’s voice say from behind me.

I internally groan. Fuck. She’s gonna ask me what’s wrong, I already know it. “Yeah, what’s up?” I ask in monotone.

        “You’re different.” She observes, sitting beside me.

        “What do you mean I’m different?”

        “Not just you,” She adds. “Ryder too. What, did you two see something traumatic in Australia or something? How was the trip by the way?”

I take a deep breath, “No and it was fine.” Sarah takes my face in her hands softly, inspecting it. “Erm, what are you doing?”

        “Just checking to make you sure you aren’t high or something.”

        “Yeah, no. Not my style.” I assure her, pulling my face back.

        “McKenna, you know I love you, don’t you? You’re like the second daughter I’ve always wanted.”

I chuckle, “I love you too Sarah. You’re like the mom I always wanted.”

        “So you do know if something…bad happened in Australia, you can tell me, don’t you?”

I nod, “Yeah, I know.”

        “So what happened? Did you…do something you’re regretting?”

        “What do you mean?” I ask her, knowing she doesn’t mean what I think she does.

        “You and Ryder, you two didn’t do anything?”

        “Are you asking if we had sex?” I ask bluntly.

        “Well yes, if you want to be direct.”

I lick my lips, “No, we didn’t have sex. We didn’t do anything.”

        “But why are you two both so…dejected?”

        “We broke up, Ma.” Ryder voice says, suddenly in the room. I turn around and see that Ryder’s just walked down the stairs. He walks past the couch, and pulls the front door open, leaving. Seconds later, I hear his car start and then leave.

        “You two broke up?” Sarah asks in disbelief.

        “Is it so hard to believe?”

        “Well no, I guess not. Well there’s no wonder you two are so miserable.”

        “I am not miserable.” I tell her. “I’m okay.”

        “You keep telling yourself that. Surely it’ll come true eventually.” Sarah replies, standing up. She pats my shoulder and walks off, going back to her room I assume.

        “Ready?” Will asks, coming down the hallway from his room, Jacob in tow.

        “I guess so, since I’m pretty much being forced to go.”

Jacob cocks his head, “Hey, you’re not being forced to go. If you don’t wanna go, you don’t have to.”

        “Really? Okay, then I’m going back to my room.”

        “Just kidding, you’re coming.” Jacob adds, chuckling at his stupid joke.

So the three of us all go outside, Will locking the door behind us. We get into Jacob’s car which is an actual car, not a truck. I didn’t bother to see what kind it was, I don’t really care. But if I had to guess from the interior, I’d say it’s probably like a Honda or a Ford or something. Needless to say, distinguishing cars isn’t my area of expertise.

        “So no one is gonna tell me where we’re going?” I ask fifteen minutes later as we get to L.A.

        “Nope.” They say simultaneously.

        “Why not?” I huff.

        “Because if we tell you then you’ll be all like: “OMG, I don’t wanna do it.”” Jacob tries to imitate my voice and fails miserably. Will bursts out laughing, and I thwack him in the back of his head.

        “Don’t laugh at your brothers’ idiocy. And if you’re not gonna tell me, can we at least get some food? I’m starving.”

        “Sure, what do you want?” William wonders, looking up in the rearview mirror.

I shrug, “Doesn’t matter to me. Whatever you guys like.” So Will pulls over at a Pizza Parlor and we get a large pizza. Somehow we’re supposed to eat it in the car, as Jacob doesn’t wanna go in. “Don’t you want any? You said you were hungry.” Jacob says, looking at me as he chews his slice of steaming hot pizza.

        “I’m just waiting until it cools, is all.” I assure him, reaching between him and Jacob and picking the cup up from the cup holder. “Whose is this?”

        “Mine.” Will tells me.

        “Can I have some?”

        “Sure.” He replies, averting his eyes back to the road.

We eat the pizza - I go in for it when it’s cool like a smart person - and then a while later - ten, fifteen minutes later - Will pulls into a parking lot. I look out of the window, and peer up at the name of the place.

        “Benny’s batting Cages?” I read it out loud.

        “Yup,” William says, getting out and then Jacob.

        “Why are we here?” I whine, crossing my arms but also getting out.

        “Because batting is fun.”

        “Yeah, but we won’t be here long. We’ve got another place to be.” Will says.

        “Oh joy.”  I reply sarcastically. “I don’t even play baseball, like I don’t even know how.”

        “Well this isn’t baseball. It’s batting. All you gotta do is hit the ball with the bat. Capisce?” Will tells me.

I groan but nod, “Capisce.”

        “Good, now come on.” Jacob urges, pulling my arm sleeve.

Ten minutes later I’m in one of the cages with Jacob and Will. I’m the only with a bat or a helmet though. “I really don’t wanna do this.”

        “Yes you do. Don’t lie to yourself. It’s not healthy.”

        “Yeah, whatever.” I mumble.

The machine starts off pretty slow and it turns out I’m not too horrible at hitting the baseballs. I weakly swing the heavy bat towards them, only hitting them a tiny bit. Then after a few seconds they start coming out faster, like five at a time. Try as I may, I can’t even hit one of the five flying balls. I scream as more start flying towards me, pelting me.

          “Dude, swing the bat!” Will calls from where he and Jacob are now outside the cage.

          “There’s too many!” I shout back, turning around and looking at him. I turn back to face the machine and the next thing I know, I feel the impact of a baseball smashing into my face.

          “McKenna?” A voice says. I open my eyes and blink a few times as my eyes adjust to the bright light above me. Then I close them again.

        “Dude, is she woke?” Another voice wonders. I think it belongs to Jacob.

        “Yeah, I think so.” Will. That’s whose voice it is. “McKenna, wake up.” He says soothingly, patting my arm.

I open my eyes all the way and blink again. I groan and squint, putting my hand up to shield away the blinding light. “Finally, you’re awake.” William comments.

I sit up, looking around. “My head hurts.”

        “You got hit in the head with a baseball, I bet it does hurt.” Jacob retorts, coming into the room.

        “Where are we?” I ask confused.

        “We’re still at the batting cages. This is just a room in here.”

Will holds an ice pack up to my head, pressing it down slightly. I wince as I get a sudden brain freeze. “Sorry.” He mutters.

        “Do I have a bruise or anything?” I wonder.

        “Sorta. It’s small though.” Jacob assures me, handing me a small mirror.

I look into it, tenderly pressing down the portion of my head that’s now red. It doesn’t hurt too badly. It resembles your typical sunburn though. “Want some water?”

          “Yes please.”

William hands me a paper cup full of water, and then takes the ice pack away. My phone rings in my pocket, the ringtone making my head hurt more. It’s more like a headache. A really bad one though. I sniffle and pull my phone from my pocket. I slide my finger across the screen and answer it. “Hello?”

          “Hey you.”

          “Hi Matt.” I say tiredly.

          “What’s up?”

          “Cringing in pain, but that’s it.”

          “What do you mean?”

          “I got hit in the face with a baseball.”

He clicks his tongue, “Wow, that’s…something.”

          “Yeah, it’s all Will and Jacob’s fault though. They forced me to come here.”    

          “Think you can get away?”

          “Erm, I don’t know. Why?”

          “I wanna hang out with you.”

          “We just spent eleven days together in Australia.” I remind him.

          “Yeah, but with other people.”

          “You mean alone then?”

          “Yeah.”

          “Sounds like a date to me.” I say accusingly.

          “No! No, not a date. Just two friends having fun together.”

I sigh, “Okay. Give me a few hours though. We’re apparently going somewhere else.”

          “We don’t have to go to the other place if you don’t wanna.” William says.

          “Hold on Matt.” I tell him, and then I look over at Will. “What’s the other thing?”

          “Paintball.”

          “Yeah, I think I’m gonna pass. Next time though.”

          “We’ll be holding you to that.”

I pull the phone back to my ear, “Well I guess I’m free to hang out with you then.”

          “Cool, so where do you wanna meet?”

I shrug, and then remember he can’t see me. “Um, doesn’t matter to me. Where are you right now?”

          “I’m at my house. You can come over if you want.”

          “Are there other people there?” I wonder. I don’t wanna be in Matt’s house all alone with him. That’s just a bit too suggestive.

          “Oh yeah, the whole clan.” He replies.

I sigh, “Okay well I guess I’ll come over then.”

          “Okay, I’ll text you the address.”

          “Alright, bye.” I say, hanging up the phone.

          “Going over Matt’s?” Jacob wonders.

I nod, “He wants to hang out.”

          “Are you sure you’re up for it?” He wonders.

I nod again, “Yeah I’m fine. If I get there and don’t feel good, I’ll call one of you to come get me. Okay?”

          “Okay.” They say in agreement.

Thirty minutes later, Will is dropping me off at the address which Matt texted me. His home is in uptown L.A. It’s really nice actually. Judging from the outside, its two stories. I knock on the door thrice, just to make sure I’m heard. There’s a doorbell, but I didn’t notice it until I knocked. The door opens and Matt’s standing there before me. Will honks and waves as he drives off.

          “Hey.” He says, stepping aside to let me in.

          “Hi.” Immediately I hear the sound of voices all talking at once coming from what I guess is the kitchen.

          “Twin sisters and a brother, they aren’t the quietest kids.”

          “Understandable.” I say, nodding my head. “So what are we gonna do?”

          “Well you can come meet my mom and little sister and brother or we can go to my room and do whatever.”

          “Um, I’ll take the first one.”

          “You really make me feel like some kinda sex offender or something.” Matt says, chuckling under his breath. He leads me to the kitchen, and clears his throat. “Guys.” He says, loudly. Two little girls and a little boy all turn to look at us, and I see a petite brown-haired woman who looks to be in her late thirtes, early forties. Matt’s mom I guess.

           “Oh I didn’t know you had company, Matt.” She says, smiling at me. “You are?”

          “McKenna Bryant.” I say quietly.

          “Nice to meet you, I’m Matt’s mother. You can call me Alice though if you’d like.”

          “Nice to meet you too.” I tell her, nodding.

          “Are you Matt’s girlfriend?” One of the twins asks. I think Matt told me that they’re five and Max is seven.

I shake my head quickly. “No, no. Just his friend.”

          “You’re pretty.” The other twin tells me.

          “Oh, thanks. You’re pretty too.”

          “That’s Leah and that one is Lauren.” Matt tells me, distinguishing his sisters. So the one named Leah is wearing a pink shirt and the one called Lauren is wearing a purple one. I think I can remember that. Max smiles and then goes back to playing with his little car toys or whatever.

Ah, being a kid. Now those were the days. Boys still had cooties, no one hated each other, and the only time you had a problem was when you couldn’t find the red crayon. What I wouldn’t give to be a kid again.

          “Hey mom, are you working today?”

Matt’s mom nods, “Yeah. I’m actually leaving in about ten minutes.”

          “I don’t have to babysit do I?” He asks hopefully.

Alice chuckles, “No. The kids are going to Aunt Taylor’s house.”

          “Good.”

I chuckle, “Don’t act like you don’t like to babysit.”

          “I’m not acting.” He assures me. “So how’s your head?” He asks, leading me out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

          “It’s okay.” I say, pressing my fingers against the bruise. “It hurts a bit though.”

          “So how’ve you been?” he wonders as we walk into his room.

I look around it, surveying it. There’s a large king sized bed pushed up against the wall. It’s got red bedding. There’s a plasma TV mounted on the wall and a desk with a laptop on it. The room isn’t exactly dirty, but there are a few articles of clothing lying on the floor. Then in the corner there’s a basketball and a football. Beside them a helmet and what looks like a…jockstrap. Only Matt would leave such a thing just out on the floor.

          “I’m okay.” I tell him, answering his question.

          “Really?”

I nod, “Yes really.”

          “You don’t look okay.”

          “Don’t forget I got pelted in the face with a baseball about an hour ago.” I remind him.

Matt walks closer to me, and I step back a step, just to not let him get within such a close proximity. He clears his throat, “Well I think Ryder is an idiot for letting you go.” He whispers.

          “Actually, I broke up with him.”

          “Either way, he’s a dumbass for letting you get away so easily.” He says, stepping closer.

          “Matt,” I say, wanting him to stop getting closer. I take another step back and my back hits the wall.

          “Yeah?” He wonders.

          “Don’t.”

          “Don’t what?”

          “Don’t try anything. I literally just broke up Ryder.”

          “I know, and I respect that.”

          “Do you?”

          “Yes, I really do.” He reassures me. He steps back and sits on his bed. “I’m not gonna do anything you don’t want me to do, okay?”

I nod, “Okay.” Then he pats the space beside him. “Come on. Sit with me.” I sigh, but cross over to the bed, and sit on the edge.

          “I won’t bite you know.”

          “You are just so persistent, you don’t stop.”

He shakes his head. “On the contrary, I do stop but only when I’m positively sure that I won’t get the girl.”

I roll my eyes, “Boys.”

Matt doesn’t say anything in response. He just chuckles, and lies back on a pillow, propping his legs up and turning the TV on. After a few minutes, his mom calls upstairs, “We’re leaving now!”

          “Bye!” He shouts back down, and then he sits up, staring at me.

          “Stop it!” I mutter, hitting him.

          “Stop what?”

          “Stop staring at me!”

          “Why? You’re gorgeous.”

I cover my face with my hands. “Matt.” I groan into them.

          “Uh huh?”

          “Why do you always make things so difficult?”

          “How am I making things difficult?”

I look up at him, “Because you say things like that but you know that I just got out of a relationship.”

          “Am I really that bad?”

          “What do you mean?”

          “I mean, is there a specific reason you won’t go out with me?”

          “Well no, not e-“

          “Then how about tonight?”

          “For what?” I ask suspiciously.

          “A date.”

          “I dunno Matt.”

          “Come on. Please?” He asks, making his eyes go wide and bore into mind.

Oh what the hell? I don’t have anything to lose.

          “Sure.” I say with a sigh.

          “Really?”

          “Yeah.” I assure him.

          “You’ll go on a date with me?”

          “Stop acting like I’m so out of your league or something.”

          “You are.” He says, nodding.

          “Yeah, right. Okay.” 

Author's Note: So here it is! Long chapter. 4,002 words actually. I know you're all probably not liking that McKenna's going on a date with Matt, but I seriously have an amazing plan for what to happen next chapter. So yeah, don't be too upset. I know there was barely any Ryder in this chapter, but he'll be in the next chapter a lot! Promise. (: