c h a p t e r • 43

-Okay. I'm gonna hold your hand so don't punch me okay.-

Lili's POV

I awoke with a gasp, jolting up into seating position from another nightmare.

As if on cue, my phone dings from a new notification.

I grabbed my phone and saw that there was a message from an unknown number.

Unknown: Meet me at the Cafè tomorrow. 4am sharp. If you want to know more. Tell the cops and you're dead.

-C. Skulls

I stared at the odd message.

"What the fuck is wrong with these people?" I exclaimed to myself.

"Stupid odd messages acting as if they're so cool with their unknown numbers." I mutter, calling Ryder.

What? He did say I should tell him everything about this or along the lines of that.

"What's wrong, Shortcake?" He asks worriedly with that sexy voice of his.

"I got another odd message from an unknown number again." I say, sighing as I look at the clock.

2:34 pm.

"Could you send it to me?" He asks and I nod even though he couldn't see me.

"Okay. Wait a sec." I say, taking a screenshot and sending it to him.

There was a long silence before he spoke again.

"Can I come to your house? I'm worried." He says. I heard shuffling in the background.

"Of course but please be careful." I say.

"Okay, Shortcake. I love you." He says.

"I love you, too." I say as he hangs up.

-•-

I was starting to get anxious. Ryder wasn't here yet and I haven't heard from him since the call.

I groaned frustratedly and went for the door to go check on him but the knocking on my balcony door stopped me.

There's stood Ryder, in a hoodie and sweatpants.

I sighed in relief and hurriedly brought him inside.

"I was worried sick!" I say.

He chuckles at me and hugs me as I hug him back.

"It's not even past half and hour." He says but I roll my eyes.

"Whatever." I say.

I pull him to my bed as we just cuddle with my head hurried in his chest and his head dipped down to the crook of my neck.

"I was worried, too, you know?" He says and I nod. "I'm so scared of losing you like I lost her."

"How did you lose her anyway?" I blurt out and shut my eyes at my blunt question. "I mean, you don't have to tell me, now." I trail off.

"It's okay. No more secrets, right?" He says and I hesitantly nod.

"My twin was a bright person and saw the good in everyone. She was the sunshine in our family. She kept everyone sane and kept the family together. But the sun doesn't last forever even in paradise." He says, pulling me closer. I squeeze his arm in comfort.

"When we were about 11, our dad was rarely home. Sometimes, he would come home hurt and one day Anna and I were kidnapped. Those stupid bastards, Crushed Skulls did it. They challenged my dad for his title and when he refused countless times, they decided to kidnap his children." He grit his teeth.

"We were held captive for about a week. Anna and I were only given some water and bread for the whole week. They would sometimes hit me and tried taking advantage of Anna. I tried protecting her. I really did but...it wasn't enough." He closed his eyes as if reminiscing the painful memory.

"When my parents and the cops found us, their leader tried killing me but Amma pushed me away and got shot in the heart." His grip on me tightens. "It was my fault, Lili. She died because of me and I saw it happen in front of my eyes."

I wanted to cry for him. Cry for his pain. For everything that he's been through but I had to stay strong for him.

"Ryder. Don't beat yourself up for something that happened in the past. You have grieved for long enough. It's time for you to move on make the time she gave you more useful. She didn't give up her life for you, just so you can sulk about it. She wanted you to live happily. Live for her, too. Don't waste the time she gave you." I say, softly.

He held me tighter if that was even possible. He held as if he never wanted to let go and honestly I don't mind.

"Thank you." He whispers. "Don't ever leave me." He says, his voice breaking.

"I won't." I touched his arm, smiling.

"Better not." He says.

-•-

I woke up, with Ryder's arm wrapped around me.

"Wake up, dumbass. We have school." I say, shaking him so he can release me.

He groans and hugs me tighter.

"You brought this upon yourself." I muttered.

I trailed my finger up his neck and pinch his weak spot.

He let's out a manly shriek letting go of me instantly as he falls out of bed.

I howled in laughter as he laid there tangled in my sheets on the floor in annoyance.

I laid on the edge of the bed, peeking at him.

"Oops." I giggled.

Despite his tangled situation, he let a smile take over his face as he stared at me with...adoration?

My heart melts at the thought.

"Go get ready, dicktard." I say, getting out of bed.

"Of course. See you later, milady." He says, taking my hand in his, kissing the back of my hand.

I bit back a smile from his dorky action.

"Off you go, young lad." I say, waving my hand gracefully.

He chuckles at me and leaves through the window.

I smile to myself.

He's the only good thing that's going for me right now so dear self I hope you don't fuck up like you usually do.

I shook off the thoughts in my head and started preparing for school.

I did the usual morning routine and got dressed into something more cozy since it's kinda cold outside.

Damn, L. A. weather.

-•-

"Do you have a date for tomorrow?" Nat asks taking my by surprise.

"Huh? Oh, I'm not sure. How about you?" I ask, trying to avoid the question.

Ryder hasn't asked me yet and I don't even know if he wants to go.

"Landon asked me." She smiles sheepishly.

I grin at her statement, excitedly.

"Someone's got a little crush..." I sang.

"Do not." She blushes.

"Lies lies lies." I wave off.

"When did he ask you?" I ask.

"Last night. He came to my house with Kyle and flowers and pizza." She laughs as if remembering the incident.

So, that's where Kyle went.

"Don't tell me Ryder didn't ask you, yet." She says with a mischievous glint in her eye.

I shrug.

"He probably doesn't wanna go...and where are we going." I ask, now realising this is not the way to the cafeteria.

"You'll see." She says. "Put this on."

She hands me a blindfold.

"Why? I'm not gonna put on a blindfold at school." I argue.

"Just put it on. I promise nothing bad will happen." She pleads.

I raise an eyebrow at her.

Is this how he's gonna ask me? I mean, what else could this suspicious act come from?

I huffed and tied around my head.

"Okay, what numbers am I showing." She asks from my side.

"2." I guess.

She makes a wrong noise. "I'm not holding up any numbers." She says smugly.

"Whatever. Just get this over with, dumbass." I say.

"Okay. I'm gonna hold your hand so don't punch me okay." She says and I nod.

I felt her hold my arm and I slapped it anyways.

"Hey!" She says.

"Oops." I said not feeling sorry at all.

She continues to direct me and I swear I almost got hit by a car.

"Okay, you can take it off." Another voice says.

"I was the one who's supposed to say it, stupid!" Nat whisper-yells.

"Sorry!" Landon's voice chimes in.

"What the fuck-" I trail off as I open the blindfold.

In front of me, there was rose petals and candle lights on the parking lot ground.

I felt someone touch my shoulder from the back of me as I turn around, I'm met with Ryder's handsome face.

I bit back a smile when I saw him.

"Will you go to homecoming with me?" He asks, his face filled with hope.

I hummed, teasing him.

"I don't know. What do you have to trade with me if I say yes?" I tried keeping a straight face.

"You said yes and I have food in the car. I also can trade with you this smoking hot body." He smirks.

"Fine then. I will not-" He cuts me off with a kiss on my lips. "Okay, maybe I will."

He grins widely and drops the flowers he was holding.

Everyone around us cheered and only then, I realised people were watching us.

He holds my waist and spins me in the air as he says, "We're married!"

I laugh at him as he puts me down.

"Slow down, boy." I grin, giving him a peck on his lips.

"I love you, Shortcake." He says.

"I love you, too, Giraffie." I grinned.

"I have never seen this guy smile this much in my entire life of knowing him! Whipped as fuck man!" James' voice booms making everyone laugh.

-•-

A/n: I have nothing to say except;

The calm before the storm or something along the lines of that.

Also, love you guys!