pa

y

d into the kitchen, and mom

s schoo

, different da

fridge and sea

er as Dad walked in and sm

ll you about y

o get

your mouth will ge

he pulled out pa

you, Ryker

okay,"

re's a party ton

d on the

arty?" D

anie

I hate t

ike her," he sai

ued about was Melanie. Dad couldn't stand h

can I

Ryder

r, Evan, and Fris

us under the bus and mad

shrugged. Yeah, Ryder'

oked a

you thi

. If we say no, he'll

help. You r

ged while

s go. If you have a pro

up po

Evan and Frisco

ooked

Your brother has the worst

t to go to this stupid party. I

ents l

boy," D

ing food for dinne

s told me. No, Matt. I don't like her either, but

oked a

oming to dinne

but they always have drama. Thanks to Ryder and his poor j

walked in and shut my door, shuffling to my bed and lying there. I stared at the c

my older sister

gh d

she strolled over a

ual bul

ut

ou there'

rstand you, b

can't tell anyo

ell me she is nothin

terrible as th

back at t

ot. She wasn't

f like

e lau

you need h

ou know abou

isn't quiet a

arty since the last one was a fucking disaster. God

airs. I had more fam

r," Matt s

at

fer to them as a

moody son

alking to his dad while Fris

ing is so 90s, Ry

t give a flying fu

ake, Ryker!"

don't need opinions

I didn't understand how

haven't chan

the counter

" Mat

oom until everyone

I didn't feel like deali

*

r

ike he has gotten

bitch. Since her, he has

lked to Jord

time. But it's been months. Ho

aid. "It affected not only Ryker but e

hrough my hair

ut Ryker got t

We're keeping an eye on th

out for Ryker at the

problem,"

*

y

an't stand the girl for obvious reasons, but there're other reasons as well, a

l anyone. I didn't want to feel like a crac

stopped and stared. I shoved my hands into my pock

creech echoe

er!

py kiss. Pretty gross. I walked away as my cousins made their

. I said I'd come, but it didn't mean I had to enj

even here?"

yder can't think with anythi

s that from his dad. Frisco prefers to use his fists over his mouth, which he got from his dad. I li

anywhere but

the best of me. My co

ur dad nothing woul

," I

e said, "This l

Valerie standing th

al," Ev

uys," s

to this monstrosi

not sure why I'm here. Wha

ghed. She walked over, emptying the contents into th

ck on Ryder. We'll

eaving me al

e me as the part

to keep my bro

ve me

me or listen to Ryder

t laugh. Something about her calm natur

your first

mall talk, which

guys. They turned out to be pleasant, co

about the

here's more to him than meets

ea

matter. Our past doesn't d

t her as s

ng came from the house. We looked at each other,

ed, "Fight.

d my brother and cousins. My blood boiled.

l my

ped into the fight to

think you can touch

ink you can jump us!

you off because she pla

my face, and my body r

, "You're nothing

e kicked in the front door w

no! Not t

nded onto the ground. They helped us take

e marc

veryone! How dare you come into

h dad. We stood there, wi

but trash!" Mela

a pathetic whore who can't kee

ver piss

t o

on, boys," h

Melanie added one mo

She got out wh

impossible happened. Val walked up. Without saying a

e!" Melani

have a big mo

us, winking at

ned an

*

hed us up. Dad leaned against the co

h antiseptic, I hissed between my

from now on, including you, Ryder. What were you th

" Ryder

yo

. I do,"

should do it

way the f

ho knocked out Me

d at eac

d, "Va

like her,

rie took a shine to

to me as they

?" I

ed their

g to bed,

oked a

s Val

re's more to her t

w s

ker to smil

ttom jaw