Lacey

Chapter 15 - Lacey

Me: I fucked up Dane

Dane: What's up babeMe: I made out with my stepbrother and his friends *crying emoji and accidently told Ryder that I had been abused when I was angry with him *crying emojiDane: Can I ask you a question Lacey?Me: Of course you can Dane. I don't know how you are still talking to me after what I just told you *crying emojiDane: Do you love me?Me: You know I do Dane. With all my heart.Dane: As long as you love me, there is nothing that you could say or do to upset me babe. You are it for me and all I desire in this life is for you to be happy. Lord knows you deserve it. If they make you happy than I won't stand in the way of you exploring your feelings with them xx As long as we are together in the end that is all that matters.Me: I don't know what I did to deserve you Dane. I still don't think I do.Dane: Don't say that babe. I will always be here for you like you have always been there for me. We will be together again soon and if I have to share you so be it. But if I find out they ever hurt you, I will bury them aliveDane: I know you have been worried about your stepsisters. I went around there earlier in the week to check on them. I have some news so will call you tonight. It is 2am babe, get some sleep. Everything will be ok xxx I love you xxxMe: I love you too Dane. Goodnight xxxOnce more I wake up to the comforting weight of Ryder's arm wrapped possessively around my waist. Yawning I sit up and turn to face him. "Ryder, why are you in my bed again. I locked my door for a reason," I say grumpily. "And I have a key to your door for a reason sweetheart," he replies with a yawn. "Besides you were screaming horribly in your sleep again. You must have been having a terrible nightmare" he continues, hauling me down to lay on top of him. "What do you mean again" I panic. I haven't had nightmares for awhile to my knowledge? "You scream in your sleep every few nights. Most times I just sit beside your bed and wait for it to pass but the last two night I couldn't stand it any longer and decided to offer you comfort," he says with a shrug.I can feel my cheeks heat with considerable embarrassment, and I try to roll off of Ryder. "Please Ryder. Let me go. Shouldn't you be getting ready for school?" I hiss, my petty irritation with him rising the longer he holds me close. "I am having the day off sweetheart. I want to talk to you about what you told me last night too." His words send a chill down my spine, and I stiffen in his arms. Bile rises in my throat and my eyes go wide. "Please Ryder. Forget I said anything" I choke out, emotional tears forming in my eyes. Ryder's arms tighten around me and he growls "If someone has hurt you sweetheart you need to tell me. I will fucking end them." "Ryder please" I start to beg, unable to hold back the tears that are now flowing seamlessly down my face." "Lacey" he pleads. I can't do this. Not now. Not with him. "Ryder," I beg again."For how long," he asks in a low voice. I consider not answering him, but I have already said too much and might as well give him something. He has a murderous look in his eye, and I can't deny the comfort he is offering me feels good. The last few years of my life I always felt dirty and disgusting when I was touched. I have Dane to thank for helping me over my personal trauma and for allowing me to see that touch doesn't always have to mean shame and guilt and that I could be free to explore the sensual pleasures consentual touch could bring.Wiping the tears from my eyes, I raise them to meet his. "Four years," I reply grimly with a sob. Thankfully Ryder doesn't ask any more questions, he just holds me to his chest and allows me to cry until I can't cry anymore, caressing my back soothingly and murmuring sweet words into my hair. I don't want to have feelings for Ryder, but I think it is too late. I was falling for him. Hard.We spend the rest of the day watching old horror movies together in the home theatre. Honestly, it was just what I needed after my break down and I was thankful that he had accepted that I didn't want to talk about it. By the time the guys showed up after school I was snuggled in Ryder's lap with him tenderly stroking my hair. "Well doesn't this look cosy" Saint drawls the moment he sees us."Fuck off Saint" Ryder snaps at his best friend "If you are going to be an asshole you can fuck off home," he continues bitterly. I can feel him tensing beneath me, so I twine my fingers with his and wrap his arm around my waist.Saint doesn't respond, instead he just cocks his head to the side and stares at us for a moment, studying us as he would an insect, before he comes and sits down beside us. "So, what are we watching? he asks wearily, ignoring Ryders outburst. West and Lawson just look at each other with matching bewildered faces and then make themselves comfortable as well. "It," I reply to Saint, offering him what I hope is a reassuring smile.The guys hardly concentrate on the movie, repeatedly turning in their seats to look at us with genuine concern in their eyes. Finally, it is West that speaks "Is everything ok Ryder." Ryder sighs beneath me. "It will be," he answers with a strained smile.The next few days pass in a blur with the guys being extra nice, weirdly even Saint. He hasn't exactly warmed up to me yet, but he has stopped glaring at me so much. Every so often I still catch him staring at me with a weird expression on his face, but I try and ignore him and not let his disdain for me ruin the friendships that are forming with the others. Ryder has been so sweet and has carried my backpack everywhere for me along with carrying my lunch tray to our table at every break. West has taken to holding my hand all the time and walking me to class like a total sweetheart and Lawson, ok Lawson hasn't really changed much. He still calls me wifey, carries me everywhere when he can steal me from West and insists that I sit on his lap in class and at lunch time, to the considerable amusement of everyone else.The only thing that hasn't changed is how they feel about me spending time with Matt. Once more I am cornered after class by Mr Marone while he excuses everyone else. Like I have said before, the guy is seriously hot but he just gives me an ick vibe and doesn't know when to quit. It doesn't seem to bother him one iota that he could lose his job for harassment. "Just wondering if you have given any more thought to my offer yesterday Lacey," he says while stroking his index finger across my jaw, making me shudder with revulsion.Mr Marone's nostrils flare at my shudder and I seriously think he took my reaction to him touching me as lust. Gross. "I'm fine thank you Mr Marone. I don't need tutoring outside of school hours," I reply."Matt has helped me immensely with my math assignments"."I bet he has" Mr Marone replies with a creepy wink. "If that is all,l may I go please Sir," I ask, wanting nothing more than to get the hell away from him. Apparently the word sir turns the creep on as he visibly shudders and readjusts himself while he is dismissing me.By Friday there are posters everywhere announcing the details of the junior prom. Lawson hasn't let up about me being his date but I haven't given in to him yet because I was still deciding if I wanted to even go. Last period is a study period for me so I make my way to the library to meet Matt so that he can help me with an upcoming math test. I genuinely can not believe that he still tutors me after all the brutal beatings he has suffered at the hands of Ryder and his friends. I am five minutes early so decide to message the guys and tell them not to wait for me this afternoon.Ryder: Lacey don't push me on this. You are NOT riding home with Matt.Lawson: Want me to drag her out of there, Ryder? I am totally happy to blow off last period and take kitten home *winking emoji *eggplant emoji *moisture emoji *wedding ring emoji *married couple emojiWest: Smooth Lawson *cry laughing emojiRyder: *angry face emojiSaint: Can you Neanderthals please stop using so many emojis.Me: I will see you later Ryder *eyeroll emojiRyder: We are throwing a party tonight at home Lacey, don't be late.Me: I have work tonight, have fun with that.Ryder: YOU ARE NOT WORKING AT A FUCKING BAR LACEY.Me: We have already had this fucking conversation Ryder. You can't stop me. See you later!!"Everything ok Lacey," Matt asks as he places his backpack on the ground and takes the seat beside me. Breathing out a sigh I reply "Yeah. Ryder is just being his caveman self. How about you? How was your day Matt?"."Good thanks, now that I am here with you," he replies with the most beautiful smile. I don't know what is in the water around here, but it wasn't fair to my heart, and pussy, that there were so many good looking guys attending Saint G. "You have caught up on almost everything, want to get out of here?"he continues hopefully.I hesitate for a second but then shove everything hastily back into my bag. "Sure. What do you have in mind? I reply with a smile. Matt returns my smile and takes my backpack from me. "Want to go down to the lake and feed the swans" he enquires."I have never been to the lake, that sounds nice." Matt nervously takes my hand as we leave the school building and it feels so nice that I don't bother taking it back. It was kind of nice to know that I was wanted and Matt was a nice guy. I loved spending time with him, away from the intensity of Ryder and his friends. As much as I have come to love the guys, they could be a bit much.We spend two pleasant hours feeding the swans and walking hand in hand around the lake, talking about school and life. By the time Matt drops me home, I have half an hour to get ready for my first shift at the club. It may only be kitchen work, but it was better than not having an income and honestly the owner had been the only one who had called me back to offer me an interview. By the way he had looked at me when I sat down, I knew straight away that he would have loved if I was older and able to work behind the bar or up on stage. For once I was glad that I was still underage.When I reach the front door, I can hear music pumping in the house, LED by OmenXIII blasting through the speakers. Thankfully it isn't nighttime yet so there isn't anybody outside and I hope that I can slip in and out without being noticed. Once again my father isn't home but I am used to him not being present in my life so I don't let it upset me. Nobody is in the foyer or front room, so I run up the steps as fast as I can. My stomach drops when I open my bedroom door and find Ryder, Lawson, West and Saint in there.Huffing I roll my eyes at Ryder "What now," I ask. "Why haven't you replied to any of our messages or answered your phone Lacey," Ryder asks with an angry scowl on his face. "My phone died" I reply honestly, walking over to my bedside table to plug it in so that I have charge when I go to work. "Where were you? Lawson checked the library, and you weren't there," he continues, raising from where he is lounged on top of my bed. "None of your business," I snap back. Argh, these guys give me whiplash. We have had such a good week, but Ryder's Mr Hyde keeps slipping. "It is my business when I receive a photo of you leaving the school early hand in hand with that fuckwit Matt." He seethes.Putting my backpack on the ground, I walk over to Ryder and place my hands on his chest, trying to calm him down. "Matt and I went down to the lake, and we fed the swans. That's it, Ryder. I am home now. Can I please get ready for work now," I plead. Lawson walks up behind me and wraps his arms around my midsection. "I called the club and told them to shove their job up their ass. No wifey of mine is working in a dump like that" he deadpans as he places soft kisses on my neck. I am almost too turned on to be angry for a second. "You did what," I scream and pull away from Ryder and Lawson. "I can't fucking believe you Lawson. I needed that job" I yell.I can feel tears forming in my eyes due to his stupidity and the heartbreak of knowing that I won't be making any money to help out my stepsisters. Lawson looks heartbroken when I finish yelling at him, so much so that it makes me feel guilty for raising my voice at him. I walk back over to him and wrap my arms around him. "Lawson you can't keep ringing people and cancelling stuff on me. I appreciate your concern, but I desperately need a job."Lawson sniffles and then wraps his arms around me with a huff. "I know that kitten. That's why Saint pulled some strings and got you a job at one of his parents hotels in the city," he replies. "What," I shriek in delight, looking towards Saint who is actually smiling at me. "I didn't do it for you Lace so calm down. I did it so Ryder, Lawson and West would stop moping about you working in a seedy bar." I don't even care that he apparently didn't do it for me, I can't help it when I launch myself at him and kiss his face a million times in thanks. Saint tenses for several seconds and then he presses his lips to mine, caught up in the moment. When he realizes what he has done he quickly sets me down and walks out of the room without saying a word.