Unconditional Validation

Chapter 14

Skyler nodded, already typing out a message to set our plan in motion. "I'll text you both in the morning to remind you. We'll meet at the corner by the gym before school starts."

"Okay, that works," I agreed. "And maybe we should come up with some key phrases? Things we can say if he tries to provoke me."

Ryder scribbled down a few ideas. "How about, 'You don't get to treat me like that anymore,' or 'We're not afraid of you'? Simple but effective."

I smiled, feeling a sense of solidarity building. "I can do that. It's just hard to believe I'm actually going to do this."

"It's going to feel empowering, trust me," Skyler said. "And once we do it, you'll realize how much strength you really have."

Just then, a sound came from the kitchen—Mom's voice floated in, cheerful as always. "Dinner's ready! Come and eat, everyone!"

We shared a glance, momentarily distracted from our plans. "Guess we should break for food," Ryder said with a grin. "Can't strategize on an empty stomach."

As we headed to the kitchen, I felt lighter, buoyed by the support of my siblings. We settled at the table, laughter and conversation flowing more freely than they had in weeks. For a moment, it felt like everything was back to normal.

After dinner, we retreated to our rooms to prepare for the next day. As I lay in bed, my mind raced with thoughts of the confrontation. I replayed the plan over and over in my head, picturing every possible outcome, both good and bad. But one thing was clear: I wasn't facing this alone.

The next morning arrived with a mix of excitement and nerves. I got ready slowly, trying to steady my breathing as I dressed. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, the weight of the past few weeks pressing down on my shoulders. But underneath it all, I saw a flicker of determination.

At school, I met up with Ryder and Skyler at the designated spot, our faces a mirror of each other's resolve. "Are you ready?" Skyler asked, her eyes bright with anticipation.

"Yeah," I replied, my voice steady. "Let's do this."

As we walked through the halls, I felt the tension in the air, students buzzing with excitement for Halloween weekend. But all that faded as we approached the courtyard where Killian usually hung out with his friends.

There he was, leaning against the wall, laughter spilling from his group like they were the only ones who mattered. My heart raced, but I kept my focus, reminding myself of the plan. Ryder nudged me gently, and Skyler took my other arm, anchoring me.

"Let's go," Ryder whispered.

We stepped forward, and the moment Killian spotted us, his smile faded into a cocky grin. "Well, well, look who decided to show up," he sneered, his friends snickering behind him.

I took a deep breath, stepping forward with Ryder and Skyler flanking me. "We need to talk to you," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

Killian raised an eyebrow, feigning nonchalance. "Oh? What's this about? You're not scared of me anymore?"

"Actually, that's exactly why we're here," I replied, surprising even myself with the steadiness in my tone. "You don't get to treat me like trash anymore. I'm done letting you bully me."

His expression shifted, just for a moment, and I could see the gears turning in his mind. "You think you can take me on? What a joke."

"We're not here to fight you," Ryder interjected, his voice firm. "But we're not afraid of you either. You need to understand that we won't let you intimidate Tyler anymore."

There was a brief moment of silence, and I could feel the tension crackling in the air. Killian's friends looked between us, clearly unsure how to react. "You think this changes anything?" he scoffed, but the bravado was starting to slip.

"Actually, it does," Skyler said, stepping forward. "This is us reclaiming our power. You're not going to push Tyler around anymore. You're nothing without your little game."

I could see his expression faltering, and for a split second, I felt a rush of triumph. But then he straightened up, anger flashing in his eyes. "You think you can just walk away from this? You'll regret it."

"Maybe," I said, refusing to back down. "But at least now you know I won't just sit back and take it."

With that, we turned and walked away, my heart racing with adrenaline. It felt like something had lifted a weight from my shoulders, making the air feel lighter.

As we stepped away from the courtyard, I could hear Killian's friends whispering behind us, their laughter dying down. Ryder and Skyler exchanged glances, and I could see the pride reflected in their eyes.

"See?" Ryder said, a grin breaking across his face. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

"No," I admitted, feeling exhilarated. "It felt... freeing."

Skyler chuckled, linking her arm with mine. "We're just getting started. Next time, he won't be so cocky."

As we walked through the halls, I felt a new sense of purpose, a strength that came from knowing I wasn't alone. Whatever came next, I was ready to face it, with my siblings by my side. Whether it was a school bully who had his own damn issues, or even my controlling parents. I shuddered a bit when I thought of how much our parents controlled Skyler and me with our "careers". Hopefully, Skyler's music release party will be great. I mean, they're always great, but things are different this year. Very different from previous years.