Alexa
"You saved Ryder's life?!"
Michael and Jackson scowled at each other, clearly not liking the fact that they just said the same thing at the same exact time.
I sat across from them, sitting next to Elliot at the Pizza Palace. With pizza in front of our faces, I told them why I was late to meeting with them, which included the part where I saved Ryder's life.
Jackson and Michael were gaping at me, eyes wide. I wish that I took a picture right then and there, because their faces were priceless and they wouldn't like having identical expressions on their faces.
Elliot, on the other hand, simply stared at me with the blank face that he often had, but his eyebrow was slightly raised. Goodness, it wouldn't hurt to show some emotions when necessary.
"Yes, I did, that's what I said," I told them, taking a careful bite of my pizza, chewing it then forcing myself to swallow. This time I got sausage. It was good as usual, but there's a nagging feeling in the back of my head that i couldn't quite place.
"But why?" Michael asked, wrinkling his eyebrows. "He's so mean to you. No one would've blamed you if he got ran over!"
"Yeah!" Jackson said. "And I don't agree with Michael often, so you know we're right."
I pursed my lips. "Yeah... no, I don't think so," I said, shrugging my shoulders. "I would've blamed me. I mean, I was literally right there. I had to do something."
"Yeah, like advert your eyes," Elliot muttered.
I stared at him, a little shocked. "Oh my god, did you just say a joke?"
"It wasn't a joke."
"Oh," I said. "Come on, you guys, I couldn't just do nothing. I'm sure any of you would have done the same thing in my shoes."
"Nope."
"No."
"I'd laugh... Walt, was that too honest?"
"Yes," I told Michael drily, who didn't seem at all ashamed. "Listen, it's all ready in the past. Let's just move on and stop talking about the fact that you are so wanting death on Ryder."
"Can you blame us?" Jackson questioned.
"I suppose not," I told them. "Still, though, I don't regret my decision."
"It's his own damn fault," Michael pointed out. "He was the one in the street."
"Well, that's true," I agreed. "But... mistakes happen..."
"Idiotic mistakes." Elliot rolled his eyes.
"Again, that is true," I said.
***
After eating at the Pizza Palace with my friends, who still didn't understand my reasonings, but I suppose deep down even I don't. It was the decent human thing to do, and I don't really think that it's a big deal.
They said that they wouldn't have done the same thing, but I know that's bullshit, because they're good people, truly. Their egos just won't allow them to see reason.
I sighed. It was well after five, which meant that my dad must be conked out. Ever since I made friends with these guys (and the fact that he remarried) it has been so much easier to stay out of his path.
My life has gotten somewhat easier, though my life isn't sunshine and rainbows. I still have to deal with bully stepbrothers — Zach and Ryder — and bully classmates. I'm waiting for Ethan to do something; there's no way that he's just throwing away years of torment down the drain, no matter how much I may really and truly want him to.
Life has ran me over a gazillion times, and I'm not about to start letting my guard down until I know that I'm in the clear, like when I can move away from this hellhole or when all of my tormentors are six feet under, hopefully not by my hands, because that would just mean jail time, and that's certainly not the freedom from the toxic people in my life that I would want.
Who knows though? Maybe one day I can finally be happy, putting the past behind me as if it was just a long and bad dream. With Andrew waking up, that's all I'll need anyways.
I need to go visit him again soon, I suddenly thought, feeling guilty for even having a little fun and not having him in my thoughts every waking hour.
The fact that I'm hanging out with my brother's closest friends while he's unable to, due to the fact that he's in a coma, kind of makes me queasy and even more guilty than ever.
I should've been the one.... He had so much to live for... if only he'll wake up.
"You okay?" Michael nudged me.
I nodded. "Of course I am."
The four of us continued walking, until we departed ways, each of us going home.
I wonder what Ryder will say when he sees me, I thought with dread.
I stepped inside my house to only see Ryder on the couch, fiddling his thumbs, looking either queasy or nervous, I couldn't tell. Blake and Ethan were no where in sight, so they must've went home already.
Ryder glanced at me when I came in, but not maliciously, like he normally does, which immediately caused me to go on high alert. Something is most definitely up.
I'm just going to pretend not to see him, even though I literally just made eye contact with him.
"A-Alexa!" Ryder called.
Well, crap, that's not going to work now and why the hell did he stutter? He stood up, making his way over to me, but not how he normally does. He cautiously approached me, with raw emotion on his face. Well, this outta be good.
"What do you want?" I asked him, just simply wanting to desperately go in my room and sleep. We have school tomorrow and hanging out with my friends is exhausting, so early sleep is exactly what I needed currently.
"Erm, well..." Ryder continued to fiddle his thumbs, as if it was a sign of nerves, though I haven't the slightest idea why he would be nervous. I should be the nervous one, truth be told.
"Yes?" I urged on, annoyance in my tone, though I did try — and failed — to hide it.
"You saved my life," Ryder pointed out — is he talking to me just to state the obvious? "And you didn't need to. You weren't obliged to...... yet you did."
"Hm, did I?" I said sarcastically. When is he going to start hitting me? I mean, sure, I probably shouldn't egg him on, but I've learned that he really does not care about what I say; I'll get hit anyways. Plus, idiots can't pick up on sarcasm.... I don't think.
Ryder rolled his eyes. "You don't need to make this any harder for me," he said. Make what harder exactly?
I stared at him with a raised eyebrow. He looks as if he's going to be sick.
"I'm sorry, OKAY?!" Ryder suddenly exclaimed, causing me to flinch back from his very loud apology and then I realized.....
"You're... Sorry?" I said flatly.
Ryder frantically nodded his head. "I really am!" he said. "You could've let me get run over.... but you didn't. I'm so so so sorry! I should have never been mean to you!"
"Ya think?" I muttered before I could stop myself. Ryder looked down guiltily. I sighed. "Fine, whatever, I'm gonna go—"
"Wait!" Ryder said. "So, um, yeah... I know you may need some time, I understand. In the meantime, I'll get Ethan and Blake to stop picking on you. I'm sorry."
"Okay," I say. "Yes, I do need time, but if you could, that would be most appreciated."
Blake and Ethan were already a nuisance before Ryder entered the equation, so I figured, why not? But for now, this is all Ryder is getting.
"Um... Zach is sorry too," Ryder said, "but he's way to embarrassed to face you and far too stubborn to just... apologize, so yeah, just wanted to let you know that you don't have to worry about him either."
"Okay," I said again, mentally scoffing.
Seriously, Zach? You bully a twelve year old girl for no reason, and then you're too embarrassed to face them when you know you are very much in the wrong and shouldn't have done such a thing?
"Um... Er, so goodnight," Ryder said awkwardly. "See you tomorrow."
"Okay," I said once more.
***
"You have got to be kidding me," I practically groaned. "First Cameron, and now you two?"
Jason and Justin sat on my bed in my bedroom. Is this becoming some kind of trend, or something? Because, quite frankly, I don't think I life this trend one bit.
"Hi, Alexa!" the twins said together, and then scowled at each other, per usual. They hate talking at the same time as the other. Andrew and I were never that in sinc, though. Man, I miss him so bad it fucking hurts.
"Hello." I sighed softly. "What do you guys need... and do you have to be here?"
"We were waiting for you to get home from wherever you were," Jason said.
Justin nodded in agreement. "Where were you exactly?"
"Somewhere," I responded. "Why were you waiting for me specifically?"
"Wanted to see if you had any plans for tomorrow," Justin said.
I shook my head, a bit hesitant. "No, why?" I asked. "I mean, aside from school and all."
"Well, how about the three of us hang out tomorrow after school?" Jason said. "It'll be fun."
What?
"Erm, why?" I asked.
"Because it'll be fun!" they both repeated together, but for once, they didn't care that they spoke at the same time.
"Well, I guess, sure," I said. I did spend time with Cameron and that was fun. This might be fun too. "But can you get out now?"
"Fine," they said, this time causing them to narrow their eyes at each other, before finally leaving my bedroom.
This has been an eventful day.