Unconditional Validation

Chapter 11

"Y-yeah", Killian muttered with his head hanging low.

"Until you can get your act together, don't talk to me, Tyler, or Skyler!" I replied. I turned and walked out of the bathroom to get my things from my desk.

"W-Wait!" BRRIINNGG!! The bell to dismiss this class period rang over Killian's plea from the bathroom.

Tyler.

When I got back to my desk, from what could have been a bad situation, the bell rang to dismiss us from the current class.

Ugh, two more classes until I get to go home. I told myself with an irritable tone. I wish fucking Killian didn't have to ruin our moment! I needed that! I was throwing around angry thoughts in my head while walking to my next class.

I was about to think of something else when I ran into my sister, Skyler! I silently cursed to myself, I really needed to stop not looking at where I'm going. Emanuel was standing next to her as well.

"Whoa there, bro! Where are you going so fast?" Skyler asked while crossing her arms with a confused smile.

"Sorry, sis, I was in my head while hurrying off to our next class", I replied quickly with some nervousness behind my voice.

"You're fine, do you want to talk about what's on your mind?" Skyler asked me with her sisterly concern while placing a hand on my shoulder. I looked both at my sister and Emanuel, while trying to hold down the panic attack that was rising in me. I couldn't let them know what happened.

"No, I'm fine", I smiled quickly and hurried off towards my class.

I couldn't stop thinking about what happened to the bathroom earlier. That feeling of comfort from Justin, it was very pleasant and glorious all together! It was also not like how I felt when I was with a girl. I wanted that feeling from Justin again, even if people hated me for it. I shook it off because the class was about to start, and my sister also walked into the classroom as well. It felt like I could only have these feelings to myself, I couldn't even tell my own sister about them.

The rest of the school day went by pretty fast, so I was relieved that I didn't have to be around everyone. I met America at her car because I left my shopping bags in her by accident, so she was going to take me home. We both got into the car and headed off of the parking lot.

"So, how was the rest of your day?" America asked me curiously while she was trying to focus on driving. I went quiet for a bit. I couldn't tell her what happened, not yet at least.

"It was normal and boring, you know the usual" I laughed, while she rolled her eyes with a smile, "What about you?"

"To be honest, mine was also normal and boring. I wanted to go back out shopping", America laughed when she said the last part.

"I wanted to do that as well!" I laughed with her.

"We need to do that again!" America smiled. I nodded with her in agreement.

"We sure need to", I replied with a smile as well.

It wasn't long before America dropped me off at my house. I got out of the car and thanked her for driving me. I walked into the house, took off my shoes, and went upstairs. When I got to my room, I dropped my backpack onto my desk chair. Not knowing what to do because I didn't have any work to do, I flopped onto my bed and pulled out my phone. I just started watching YouTube videos until I heard the front door close a bit loudly. That was the cue that Skyler just got home.

"Tyler, I just got home!" I heard her yell and then I heard her turn on the TV downstairs. I rolled my eyes to myself with a smile.

After what seemed like hours upon hours of boredom and YouTube videos, our parents finally came home. I heard my sister greet them as soon as the door to the garage opened. My panic was starting to rise again because I forgot that our mom literally told me that she wanted to talk to us tonight. While I was trying to forget about the conversation, I smelled what our dad was cooking us for dinner tonight. It smelled very divine! It was chicken alfredo tonight.

"Tyler! Come down for dinner!" I heard my dad call upstairs to me.

I don't want to!  I groaned to myself painfully.

"I'm coming right now!" I exclaimed while rushing downstairs.

Our mom, Skyler and I sat down at the table while our dad started plating everyone's food. I noticed that Ryder still wasn't home yet! His place at the table was empty, even though it didn't have a plate. Besides everything that has been going on, I've been worried about my brother. I bet Skyler has been worried about him as well. We started eating, and the chicken alfredo was so delicious! It melted in my mouth, too.

"So, since we're all here, I do need to talk to you", Mom started talking to both Skyler and I, "Well, actually two things."

Oh no, what does that mean? I thought to myself.

"What is it?" Skyler asked her curiously.

"First, have either of you been in contact with your brother, Ryder?" Mom asked us with a concerned, shaky voice. Skyler and I looked at each other with a nervous look.

"N-No, he hasn't reached out to us at all", I nervously responded, while Skyler nodded in agreement to what I said.

"Hmm, weird. Well if he doesn't get in contact soon, we'll have to make a search party for him", she frowned with what looked to be actual sadness. Our mom is usually rarely genuinely sad, to be honest.

"Why hasn't he come home yet?" Skyler asked our mom with concern behind her voice. The table became quiet and awkward for a bit before anyone could answer.

"We don't know why, we're trying to figure that out", our dad quickly responded, so we could get the conversation over with.

"Oh, okay" Skyler and I replied in unison. We looked at each other nervously again while finishing up our dinner.

"On a lighter note, Skyler, remember, this Saturday is your new album release party!" Our mom told us in between her final bites of food.

"Oh I remember, mom," Skyler smirked.

"One more thing," Mom stood up from the table quickly and walked out of the kitchen. She came back with a bright blue Tiffany shopping bag! She set a box in front of me and another one in front of Skyler. "This is for your hard work since you started the school year!"

I opened up my box, and there was the matching necklace to the bracelet I had bought earlier! Skyler opened hers and it was a silver and diamond tennis choker necklace.

"Thank you so much! I love it!" I beamed brightly, Skyler also thanked our mom as well.

"Anything for my babies!" Mom smiled with content.

The four of us finally finished our dinner, and we cleaned up everything together after that. I got ready for bed once I had gotten upstairs again. Took a shower, brushed my teeth, and got into my outfit that had the blue crop top shirt. I put away my new bracelet and necklace with all of my other pieces of jewelry. While I was laying in bed trying to fall asleep, I started scrolling through my social media platforms. I was looking at a fashion post when I heard a notification for a text message. I looked, and it was from Justin!

'Good night Tyler! Can't wait to hangout with you tomorrow! ;)'

His text made me smile to myself while having this warm, fuzzy feeling inside of me. Another feeling that I definitely didn't want to leave my mind ever.

'Can't wait either! Good night Justin :)'

I sent him my response and started to drift off to sleep. I couldn't wait to hangout with Justin tomorrow.