"Ryder! What happened?" I asked as soon as I saw him sitting on the bench in the park with his head in his hands.

I was feeling really bad about leaving Christian. But something in Ryder's tone told me that it was a really important emergency.

"I am pretty sure I am going to jail for being bisexual." He sighed.

"No. You are not. What happened?" I said as I sat beside him.

"My parents saw me kissing Alex." He stated and my eyes widened.

"Oh."

"Yep. And then at that exact moment I got a burst of confidence and I told my parents about my football scholarship." Ryder added.

"Oh."

"And guess what?" He asked as he looked at me.

"Oh my god." I gasped as I saw the forming bruise on his cheek. Did his parents slap him?

"My dad slapped me." He confirmed my thoughts.

"Well, if you land up in jail, I'll be there with you. I am pretty sure when I murder your dad, I'll end up in jail as well." I glared at the grass.

"And then they gave me their iconic speech of how I am a disappointment to them and how they are ashamed of me. First it was football and now this. And then every parent's words after they find out that their kid is not straight- it is just a phase." He rolled his eyes. "Why can't they just, for once, not think about their reputation and think about me?"

"What about Alex? What happened to him?" I asked.

"He got their glares. A lot of them. And then we both walked away. He offered to stay with me but I just told him that I needed some time alone." He shrugged.

I just wrapped my hands around him and pulled him in for a hug.

"And then after I was alone, my thoughts ran wild and it just made everything worse. So I called you." He said as he snuggled his head into my neck.

"Don't worry. At the end of the day, they are your parents. They will have to accept you. Just as you are. And if they don't, you can stay at my place. Brandon's room is empty anyways." I said.

"You are the best, you know that?" He sadly chuckled. I just hummed in response. That was when something caught my attention. I pulled away from him and looked him in the eye.

"You and Alex were kissing. Did you forget to tell me a very important part of the story? The part where you and him started dating." I deadpanned. Ryder immediately went red.

"It kind of just happened. And then last night, I asked him out and he said yes." He looked away, trying to hide his blush.

"Wait- you asked him out? That's amazing! I am proud of you." I smiled.

"Thanks. I just wish my parents would think the same." He sighed.

"They'll come around." I assured him.

"Hope so. You don't mind if I crash at your place, do you?" He asked.

"When do I ever mind it?" I rolled my eyes.

I was drying my hair after my shower when I heard someone knock at my door.

"Come in." I called. The door opened revealing Ryder.

"The shower in Brandon's room is not working." He stated.

"Oh yeah. I forgot to tell you that. You can just take a shower here." I shrugged.

"Yes ma'am." He said as he made his way into the bathroom.

Hardly had it been two minutes since Ryder went to shower when I heard him calling me.

"What now?" I shouted.

"You are out of soap." He shouted back.

"I'll have to go all the way to the storeroom to bring another one. Just use shampoo or something." I rolled my eyes.

"I am not using your cherry shampoo as a body wash. Just go and bring it." He stated.

"Okay mister wannabee." I glared at the bathroom door as I wrapped the towel around my wet hair and walked towards the door.

Just as I was about to open the door, someone knocked. I opened the door only to see Christian standing there.

"Hey Chris!" I smiled.

"Hey. Just came to check on you. You kind of left in a hurry. You good?" He asked.

"Is that why you are here? Or did you just miss me?" I smirked. "Come on in."

He rolled his eyes but I was able to see the blush forming on his cheeks.

"Val! Come on! Give it to me. What's taking you so long!" Ryder shouted from the bathroom. Does that guy know the meaning of 'patience'?

"Is that..." Chris trailed off. Wait. This is really awkward. He probably thinks I was showering with Ryder.

He just stood up and walked out of my room.

"Chris, wait!" I called for him.

I ran down the stairs, calling out his name.Thankfully, I saw Aunt Feli talking to him. She was here to wish me a late birthday.

"Aunt Feli. Thank you for stopping him." I said as I walked towards them.

"Aunt? Dr. Parker is your aunt?" Christian looked at me and my eyes immediately widened as I looked between Aunt Feli and Chris. I still hadn't told him that I had asked my aunt to help him out.

"Christian-" I was about to explain but he cut me off.

"I told you I didn't need your help. Still you didn't listen to me. I thought you liked me. But it's just an act out of pity, isn't it?" He glared at me.

"Christian, it's not like that. Please listen-" The sound of the door closing interrupted my words, making me flinch.

I just turned around and ran upstairs. Then I ran back downstairs towards the storeroom and searched for my body wash. Once I found it, I ran back upstairs and knocked on the bathroom door. A little louder than necessary.

"Jesus! Stop pounding on the door." I heard Ryder's voice as he opened the door and stuck his hand out. Instead I just threw the bottle in the bathroom and slammed the door shut.

"Val. Calm down. You just had to walk a few steps to bring that. Not run a mile." Ryder commented.

I just ignored him as I sat on my bed and let the tears finally roll down my cheeks.

I was not crying because I was sad. I was crying because I was angry. At myself.

I was angry that even when I try to do the right things, at the end of the day, my heart is the one which gets broken.

I was angry at the fact that I care about the people I love too much.

I was angry because I am weak. I only helped Christian because I couldn't sit there and see him throw his future away just because he was not ready to let anyone help him. I couldn't stand seeing Christian or anyone around me so sad.

But guess what, Valerina?

The world is not a happy place.

A/N

Sometimes, I hate my own created characters *sighs*

Valerina: I hope you are not talking about me.

Ryder: Of course she is talking about you. The chapter was in your POV.

Christian: No one can hate Valerina. She is probably talking about you, Ryder.

Ryder: Nah. No one can ever hate me.

Shut up guys! This is the authors note!! You are not supposed to be here!!

Valerina: Sorry!!

Christian: We'll be going now.

Ryder: But who do you hate?

Get lost, Ryder.

Ryder: Okay. Sheesh. I am going. No need to shout.

Anyways, hey guys!

I did an early update!! Wohoo!!

I hope you liked the chapter.

QOTD: What do you do in your free time?

Now a days, I have a lot of free time and very less things to do.

Also, if you guys make any covers and any fan-art, do send them to me!!

Until Next Time...