Here's the next chapter! :D
Dedicated to @Fizzsohail for helping me out from something related to the threads! :)

CHAPTER 25: Unexpected

“That’s great news, Dillan. Congratulations.” I exclaimed.
“Thanks. You know, when I shot the last goal, everyone began to shout my name.” he said, probably puffing up his chest with pride.”

I rolled my eyes and said to myself,”Yeah, right.”
“It really happened. Don’t give me sarcasm.” Dillan yelled out from the other side of the phone.
“I didn’t say anything. I bet that happened.” I said innocently. He could be too full of himself sometimes.
He murmured something to himself and then spoke, “And yeah, Ian was great as well. He shot the first goal for our team. That guy’s awesome.”

My full attention immediately went on his words and I released that it had been such a long time since I talked to Ian. We went out on that day and after that, I don’t remember any conversations that I had with him.

“Yeah Ian. I’ve seen him play, he seems nice.” I said, sitting on my bed.
“He seems nice? It sounds like you like ‘him’, more than his play.” Dillan spoke in a teasing tone.

Dillan has always liked Ian more than Ryan since we came to college because according to him, Ryan is a heartbreaker whereas Ian is a heart-welder. Seriously, which guy talks like that? Heart-welder?

“I’m not such a bad friend to steal your crush from you.” I joked.
“I’m not gay, Jade.” he said nonchalantly.
“There’s nothing bad in that. You don’t have to hide it from me Dillan, I’m your friend.” I said dramatically, searching aimlessly through my drawer.
“Yeah, an asshole friend.” he commented.
I chuckled and spoke, “No need to be so verbal about it. Anyways, when’s your next match?”
“On Monday, it’ll be the qualifier for the semi-finals.” he informed, pretty excitedly.
I threw my hands in air dramatically and groaned, “Great, which means I am going to miss another match.”
“It’s alright. You must spend time with your family as well.” he stated and then continued, “Speaking of which, what did you do last night? Must have arranged some kind of family night?”

I gulped in. How to tell him that I was at Ryan’s for the majority of the night?
“Nah, dad was quite tired so we went to sleep early.” I lied.
“Oh. Hey, I’ve to go out with the teammates now. I’ll talk to you later. Take care and have fun.”
“Yeah, bye.” I spoke and placed the phone on the bed.

I went downstairs and saw dad watching television, one of the re-runs of the baseball match.

I smiled to myself, watching my old man lying on the couch in the dark, only the light coming from the T.V was the source of light in the room.

I walked to him and lay next to him, hugged him from the waist. Dad’s attention went to me. He smiled and hugged me tightly.

“How’s my kiddo?” he said, caressing my head gently.
“Great as ever.” I whispered, making myself comfortable.
He kissed my forehead and went to watch his game again. It was a kind of feeling that I had been longing for a very long time. Spending time with my dad, talking to him, playing silly games with him, it was all I wanted at that moment.

I loved my dad and I knew that no matter what happens in the future, he’d be always on my side, giving me strength and love to carry on in life, fighting over every obstacle.

_
_

I stepped in front of the door, ready to ring the bell. I was so tensed to go inside. After what I saw yesterday, it was quite terrifying to go there again and witness a family’s dispute. I used to adore that family when I first met them. They seemed such a power family, a family in which everyone held their own importance. But then I saw the darker side of the night, where the father was so full of himself that he didn’t give importance to his own children and the women he once loved. I just saw a glimpse of it and was so affected, but their whole family goes through it every day. Ryan saw his parents fight through his childhood. As a growing teenager, he saw his father treating his mother in a way that affected his whole life. He had so much hatred for his father that it couldn’t be removed so easily. It must have affected him to trust on anyone, to love someone again.

I finally rang the bell and waited, my hands getting sweaty already. It wasn’t like something bad was going to happen but I was just afraid to face them again after what happened last night. How would talk to them?

Why was I so tensed anyways?

The door finally opened, revealing Annabella. She passed me a small smile and got aside to give me some room to enter in. I looked at her and saw a look on her face which was trying to tell me something. She titled her head a little to her side, making me look in that direction. And as I did so, I was drained out of blood.

Ryan’s dad was here again?

“Your dad’s here.” I spoke, standing still on my place.
“Sure he is. Back to make this night hell.” Anna commented.

The night was sure to be eventful!

“Jade, it’s so nice to see you again.” Mr Matthews’ voice interrupted my thoughts.
I looked at the powerful man sitting on the couch and forced a smile,”Nice to meet you too, sir.”
“Don’t be so formal to him, Cupcake. No need.” Ryan said while walking down the stairs. The scene in front of me looked like something from a movie where the main actor walks down dramatically, grabbing everyone’s attentions. And the significance, Ryan looked incredibly handsome, just like a Hollywood star, by only wearing a simple grey hoodie.

He looked in my direction and gave me a big smile and winked, looking at youthful as ever.

I guess he was actually running on my words!

Ryan’s dad turned his upper body and looked at Ryan, his eyes narrowed and his hands in his pocket.”You don’t have to be so blunt all the time, you know?”
“Maybe I got it from you.” Ryan said nonchalantly, rushing down the stairs and to where I was standing. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and shouted as he began to walk with me,”Look mom, your girl’s here.”

We entered the kitchen where Lisa was standing, looking worried. Wasn’t it obvious for her to get tensed? But why was I so? Was something bad going to happen? Only God knew.

She looked at us and tried her best to change her expression. She walked to us and smiled, “Sure, she’s my little girl. I always wanted a daughter.”
“Hey! Be happy because you already have one.” Anna yelled out from the kitchen door, making all of us laugh. Probably I was the only one who was laughing with my full heart and not to cover up the tension.
“I know but I always wanted a daughter like Jade.” she smiled unconsciously, probably thinking about something.
“And why’s that?” Ryan said, placing his chin on my shoulder, making me shiver a little.
She must have observed it because she smiled to herself and then said, “Because she’s composed, sweet, a true fighter.” she paused and chuckled at her own words. She looked at Ryan and me, tears building up in her eyes but she tried to cover it up and spoke, “and someone who can sacrifice anything for someone she loves.”

That left me speechless! I knew what she was indicating towards; the relationship that Ryan and I had! I stood still at my place, looking at her as she smiled at me, making her way to my heart and affecting it with only her words.

“That’s true.” Ryan whispered softly in my ear and kissed it before walking away.

That was one moment which left me confused. I realized that how much I wanted to get back with Ryan. That thing was in my head from such a long time but Lisa made it even clearer that night.

I turned around and saw Ryan taking a bottle from the refrigerator and ready to walk away so I spoke, “Ryan?”
He titled his head in my direction and said,”Yeah.”
I quickly went to him and whispered, “Why’s your dad here?”
“If I knew why, do you think I would have allowed him to stay here for a second?” he spoke, shaking his head.
“No.” I said, earning a chuckle from him.
“Exactly.” he whispered and then continued, “well anyways, he’s leaving soon.”
_
_

The dinner was incredible. I knew Lisa didn’t make it as I came to known from Ryan that she was a ‘sucker’ at cooking. His words, not mine.

“The dinner was delicious, thanks Lisa.” I complimented, placing the spoon on it’s place.
“Thank you dear but I didn’t make it, Amelia here did.” she indicated at a beautiful woman standing by the table. I smiled at her and was about to compliment her for her food but Mr Matthews took my chance to speak.
“Obvious, you never learned how to cook.” he said arrogantly, not even mattering to look at Lisa, which I found very rude. If Ryan was eating with us, he would have said millions of things to him but he wasn’t here, he refused to share the same table with his father. I had to admit, he had some real  guts.

Lisa decided to stay quiet and got herself busy with fixing her plate. I felt really bad for her, she didn’t deserve any of this.

“So what dad? She’s a great mother, it doesn’t matter if she knows how to cook or not.” Anna replied firmly. The temptation to backfire at Mr Matthews was building up in me but I decided not to speak as it was there family business and if I interfered in it, it would only make everything more complicated.

“Yes, a mother who can’t even raise her son with some manners.” Mr Matthews snapped out.

Nobody spoke anything; we all were trying to ignore him. Isn’t it the best way to run away from your problems? Do just ignore them? But I knew it wasn’t going to work for long because no matter how much you run away from your problems, they’ll follow you through the way.

“She has neither been a good mother nor a desired wife. Just running behind money.” Mt Matthews grinded. I looked at him with surprise and that was when Lisa finally spoke, “Shut up, you’ve spoke too much.”
“Pain to hear the truth, huh Lisa?” he said bitterly.
“Just get the hell out of my house!” she shouted, pointing toward the door.
“Your house? It’s all build up by my money.” he reminded, getting up from his chair.
“Yes it is mine and my children’s house, not yours because I bought it, with the money I earned.” she backfired, standing strong on her side.

The rate of breathing was increasing with every step Mr Matthews was taking toward Lisa. And that was when I understood why I was so tensed the whole time.

He reached her, his fist clenched and his firm jaw clenched. Someone with no eyes could even sense that something bad was going to happen.

His hands raised, ready to charge at Lisa. I jumped up from my side, ready to run to him to stop him but then Ryan’s voice interrupted me.

“Take a single step toward her and you won’t go in single piece from here.”

We all looked at him as he entered the dining room with rage. He stared at his father with so much hatred. He waked next to his mother and spoke firmly, “You’ve said and one enough, now leave.”
“You’ve brought up to be such a spoiled brat. Do you see what you’ve done, Lisa?” Mr Matthews said.

I tried my best to control my breathing, it was increasing my every second and I couldn’t help it. Dr Brown said my health wasn’t so well, I had to look after myself even more as an asthma attack could trigger anytime.

And at that time, I was sure I was going to have a panic attack. I had never seen such an intense scene in real life. My parents never fought or at least not in front of their children.

“I was quiet the whole night because of mom but you’ve crossed every limit now. Just get the fuck out of here before I do something you’d regret.” Ryan commented, indicating his mom to stay away from this and let him handle it in his own way.
“You little bastard.” Mr Matthews grinded and what he did next, was enough for all of us to gasp.

He punched Ryan on his jaw.

My chest began to tighten up and I could even hear my heart thumping. I was more than terrified. Blood ran through his lips. He tried to maintain his balance which was quite tough for him because he was already injured from his shoulder.

“Ryan!” Lisa screamed, rushing toward her son but he stopped her.

I ran toward him but before I could do anything Ryan launched at his father as well, targeting her eye.

The whole room went silent after that. Mr Matthews looked at Ryan with disbelief.

“I came here to meet you but you did this?” he pointed toward his eye and continued, “you’re dead for me from now.”

And after that, he walked passed me and out of the door.

We all rushed to Ryan, with my chest going up and down frequently, causing it to hurt more than expected. My throat was making wheezing sound but I couldn’t do anything to stop it, I forgot to bring my inhaler with me.

Ryan looked me and spoke, “Are you alright?”
I nodded my head and looked down at the ground, trying to control my breathing. As I was doing so, I felt someone’s warm hand gripping on my arm. I looked up and saw Ryan as he said, “Come on.”

And he began to walk me toward his room. Through the way, he kept on asking me if I was okay and ran his hand over my back to calm me down.

He made me to sit on his bed as I was breathing heavily, I regretted not bringing my inhaler with me. Why do I have to be so careless?

He rushed to his drawer and searched for something. He came back and said, “Here.”
I looked up and saw him holding an inhaler. I was surprised to see it. Why did he have it?
I inhaled from him with Ryan helping me do so, making me feel better than before.

“Thanks.” I managed to say.
He didn’t say anything, just kept looking at me. I raised my hand and pointed it toward his new injury, toward his jaw,”You are bleeding.”
“It’s alright. I’ll put some ointment on it later.” he spoke slowly, still staring at me.
“Um, why do you have that?” I asked, pointing at the inhaler.
But again, I didn’t get any answer from him and I decided not to push in more because of what just happened downstairs. How could his father do that? He punched his own son for no reason!

Tears started to build up in my eyes as I looked at Ryan staring at the ceiling. He had went through so much and I was there, ignoring and planning to torture him.

“Ryan, will everything be alright?” I asked, just like yesterday.
He looked at me and was surprised to see the tears in my eyes. He wiped them away from his healthy hand and smiled softly, coming closer to my face, “I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise.”

I smiled at him and hugged him. It felt incredible and warm to be with him. I felt safe, like nobody could even touch me if he was there with me.

“Ow, you just made it hurt even more.” he complained. I pulled away quickly and inspected his jaw and shoulder and asked, “Where?”
“Here.” he said, pointing to his chest, to his heart to be more specific.
“Cheesy.” I commented adding a chuckle at the end.
He joined me as well and then pulled me back into a warm hug.

We stayed like that for a little while as Lisa came in to check Ryan’s jaw but those few minutes were enough to make me realize how much I wanted him back in my life.

I've always loved you and I'll love you Ryan

**********

Well, that last line was quite unusual! XD

Hope you liked it! :D