Unconditional Validation

Chapter 14

Tyler.

Justin and I rushed through the front door after I had unlocked it. I quickly glanced over at the front sitting room. Nobody was in there. We both went to the family room. To our surprise, not only did we see Ryder sitting on one of the chairs, but we also saw the rest of my family spread across the room! All four of them stopped talking among themselves, turned to face us, and just stared.

"H-Hey", I nervously waved to my family like they were strangers.

"Hello, sweetie", my mom smiled slightly, then turned to Justin, "Hello Justin!" He just nodded and smiled in response.

I looked over at Ryder, who was now just looking down at the ground. After taking a step closer, so I could actually be in the family room, Ryder quickly stood up from his seat. I flinched a bit. I knew he wouldn't deliberately hit me, but what he did next surprised me. Feeling him wrap his arms around me, I slowly returned the hug.

"I-I'm sorry if I've made either of you worry about me", I faintly heard Ryder muffle into my shoulder. I motioned for Skyler to join us, which she did.

Mom and Dad had left the room, so we could have our sibling moment.

"It's okay, Ryder, we were definitely worried about you, but we're not mad at you", I was rubbing the middle of his back softly.

"I'm sorry", I heard Ryder sniffle a bit, "I'm sorry that I let my emotions of anxiety and anger control me. Instead of standing up for the two of you, I fled and ran away."

"To be honest, Ry, we would've done the same thing as well", Skyler was trying to reassure our triplet brother.

Ryder let go of the sibling hug and looked between the two of us, "I know".

There was a bit of silence between us triplets and Justin.

"Has Killian done anything else to either of you?" Ryder asked more sternly while drying his tears.

Justin and I slowly looked at each other with nervous expressions.

Skyler was the one who answered for us, but not how we were expecting it. "No, not really".

"Tyler?" My brother turned to me with genuine concern.

"I-I-", I was trying not to stutter from the anxiety of guilt.

"Tyler, I'm not going to get upset." Ryder gently placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Y-Yes, he has", I hung my head low, "He's been treating me like a low life ever since two weeks before Justin's birthday party". I was trying to push the tears down.

Ryder went quiet again and took his hand off my shoulder. However, I saw anger rising in his eyes.

Justin had seen it too. "Bro, before you get angry, I'm letting you know now that there were times that I saw it happen. I did try my best to stop Killian from doing anything else. Also, yes, I did already go off on him at school", he put a hand gently on my brother's shoulder.

I saw that the flames of anger in Ryder's eyes were starting to die down.

"I trust you, bro", Ryder pursed his lips a bit.

"Next time I see him, I'm going to have a few words with my fist", Skyler cracked her knuckles, "Nobody messes with my brothers!"

"Skyler, I don't want you to get expelled", I was being soft-spoken now.

"You didn't deserve to be put through that nonsense, though, Tyler!" Skyler was still a bit frustrated.

"I know, sis", I gently replied, "However, we can't have our parents finding out about this, or the party".