Alexa
I wasn't sure how to feel.
For the rest of the week, things were.... odd. Well, okay, not that odd, but the fact that I had people that didn't hate me was a weird feeling. My... friends were still my friends — who knew that'll last this long? Jason and Justin have been all right to me, and as for Cameron, he's way too friendly.
Cameron allowed me to hang around him, outside of my room, unless if I left to go be with my friends. I was able to sit next to the twins, too, but that consisted of either awkward silence or weather talk, that went like this:
Justin: So I see the sky's blue
Me: Yep...
Jason: Yeah, lovely weather, huh?
Me: Totally....
That was just as awkward as silence — actually more so, probably, but it beats before.
I steered clear of my dad, except when he was with Veronica. Basically, I made sure not to be alone with him. Or Ryder and Zach, as well.
Then, Friday arrived.
I was excited. I'll be able to hang out with my friends, without my... messed up family for the entire weekend.
But of course life hated me, so guess where I won't be going? Over to Jackson's or the others. Because my dad said I couldn't go. I mean, I was meaning to go without asking him, and then he said I couldn't leave the house.
Oh, well. I tried to think positively. I still had Veronica, Cameron and the twins. What could possibly happen?
Well...
Cameron was going over to a friend's, the twins going to a late movie, and Veronica went over to her mother's house, because she needed help — as if I didn't?!
I shouldn't have to tell you how bad this is, to only be in a house where everyone currently in it despises me. My dad. Zach. Ryder. I'm so screwed. The moment they were all gone, I dashed to my room, but what good would that do? I don't have a lock.
Right now, it's eight o'clock in the evening. My heart was pounding, my eyes darting nervously. No one has bothered me yet, and I'm probably being paranoid....
Or not... I thought with dread as the doorknob creeped open. I could only feel dread, wishing I could just drop dead at this very moment. I wished to be anywhere but here.
Ryder entered, wearing a smirk on his face. I braced myself. I stood up from my bed, my legs shaking in fear. Oh goodness, I am so probably gonna die now...
"Hey..." I said timidly. I'm all alone. Vulnerable. In a house where no one cares about me. Not even a little bit.
"Hi," Ryder said, almost as if humoring me. But then he says, "Looks like you finally don't have anyone to protect you, huh?" He cracked his knuckles. "I think I figured it out. Your dad doesn't care about you whatsoever, does he?"
"Um.."
Damn it.
The abuse from Dad has gone down, since I try to Avoid him and he has Veronica now, but I suppose it was still obvious how little my dad cared. Still didn't think Ryder was smart enough to realize, though.
Ryder took a step forward. I took a step back.
"Can't you just leave me alone?" I asked, almost in a whisper.
"No," Ryder answered, leaping forward and grabbing my hair, leaving me to struggle. "You are nothing but a nuisance."
Do not say something smart. Don't you dare. At least value your life a little. Don't comment on his vocabulary. Don't. Don't. Don't.
"Let go," I say, calmly, even though the hair grabbing is hurting my scalp a lot.
"No," Ryder growled, shoving me into the wall.
I gritted my teeth. Stop being so weak. I took a deep breath. I raised my leg and kicked him in the only spot that makes him a man. He lets out a cry of pain, letting go of my hair and clutching his pants.
Without looking back, I dashed out of my bedroom, down the hallway, into the living room where I slowed down because Zach was on the couch for some reason sleeping, and then I opened the front door, stepping outside.
I quietly closed the door, my nerves feeling like they're on Fire. I can't believe I just did that.
I could feel Many different emotions engulfing me — fear, guilt, adrenaline and a little bit of excitement. I really can't believe that I did that.
I mean, sure, I'm probably going to regret that, but for now.... outside of the house... I feel relax and calm.
I took a peek at the window to see Ryder there in the hall. I gulped. I should probably leave the lawn, too.
So I quickly made my departure, not looking back.
•••
Crud.
It's so dark out. I continued to walk, my arms crossed firmly. I want to go over to Jackson's house, but I don't want to be a bother. His family is probably asleep by now.
I sighed, my eyes growing heavy. Should I go back to the house?
Nah, I decided. It's the weekend, Zach and Ryder probably stay up past five a.m. they'll be expected me. And Dad, well, I would hate to wake him up if he's asleep.
Whatever.
"Alexa? Is that you, kid?"
I glanced up to see... a figure. Clearly this person knows me, but I couldn't get a good look at his face. I inched a step forward, just as he began walking toward me. I really hope it's not some murderer.
I breathed a sigh of relief when I see that it's Dylan, Ryan's fiancé's brother. I've only met him once before, but it was obviously him.
"Hi," I said.
"What are you doing out here?" Dylan asked.
I shrugged. "Wandering around, I guess."
Dylan rolled his eyes. "Come on."
"Where are we going?" I asked, following him in the opposite direction he was originally going.
"To our house," Dylan answered. "Though, Ryan and my sis are gone for the weekend. Are you lost?"
I shook my head. "Nope," I said, popping the P, because I'm a Wattpad character.
"Okay." Dylan sighed. "So shouldn't you be at your own house?"
"Don't make me go back!" I practically begged. "At least... not yet."
Dylan stopped in his tracks. "You don't have a good home life, do you?"
I freeze up. "Erm, what do you mean?"
"You know exactly what I mean," Dylan said. "Be honest. Your home life is terrible. Right?"
I sighed. "I guess you could say that." To be honest, I don't even know why I'm keeping it so... secret, maybe I just don't want to become a burden to anyone.
"Well, you can tell me all about it when we get to myself," Dylan said.
"I suppose I should," I said thoughtfully. "Okay, let's... wait, it won't be such an issue? Like, I don't want to throw my problems at you."
"You're not throwing your problems at me," Dylan assured me. "Now let's go."
"Okay!"
—
I plopped down on the couch, while Dylan sat on the chair next to it, putting his feet on the coffee table. He explained to me that Ryan never lets him put his feet on the coffee table, and he wasn't here now, so that's why he wanted to. I gave a small laugh at his reasoning.
"So, start talking," Dylan said, looking as relaxed as ever.
"Okay," I said with a slight sigh. "Veronica — my stepmother — and three of my stepbrothers are... somewhat okay. But my dad and and other two stepbrothers absolutely loathe me and... Erm, abuse me. I dunno why. So I left... And so, yeah. Oh! Also, I have a brother that's in a coma. And that's about it, really."
Dylan took that in. He processed that. And then he sputtered, "WHAT?"
I nodded. "Yeah."
"That's awful!" Dylan said. "You need to find a new home as soon as possible. Maybe here. After all, Ryan is your uncle. I'm sure he could get custody of—"
"I don't want to be a bother," I hurriedly said. "Really, it's fine. Honest." Lies. "Um... besides, I did say three of my stepbrothers and Veronica are just fine. Plus, she's pregnant with my new brother — wow, I have a lot of brothers — and I would like to get to actually know my younger brother when he's born."
And I would like Andrew to get to know him, too.
But Dylan was deep in thought. Of what, I did not know... because I can not read minds, so yeah...
"Well," Dylan finally said, "you can sleep in the guest room for tonight if you want. Wait, no, not if you want. You will sleep in the guest room. Okay?"
"But..." I yawned, my eyes getting even more heavy. "Well, I suppose it couldn't hurt to stay here for tonight."
"Yeah..." Dylan said in a weird voice, as if his mind was elsewhere. Or like he was plotting. I don't know. But he was up to something, I could tell.
"Well, thank you," I told him.
"No problem."