Ariel

The apartment feels empty and odd. Now that my mum and the twins have gone so has any feeling of home. The only room I feel comfortable in is my bedroom and even then, it doesn't feel quite right.

Since returning from school, I've spent two hours on the phone with the twins' dad, I've packed up several boxes of Tilly and Tobias's stuff which he's going to pick up tonight and now, Ryder is sitting on my bed waiting for me to tell him my opinion on his plan to take down the drug dealer he's been watching.

Ryder looks at me expectantly and as much as I hate to do it, I have to say, "It's a fucking shit plan."

"OK. Can I ask why?" Ryder leans back against my wall and frowns.

"Because it's too risky, so much could go wrong. You're too involved, Ry, and it's making you reckless." I shake my head and sit down opposite him. "I knew that drug dealer wasn't like the rest, because you would have made a move by now."

"I need to take him out properly, I can't have anything coming back to her."

"Ry, every one of those dealers you eliminated in the past, you did without it falling back on you. However, this plan will definitely lead back to you and her, which will result in a lot of trouble. And you, for some unknown crazy reason, have managed to survive eighteen years without a criminal record so let's keep it that way." I glare at him.

He smirks. "I'm not stupid. I know how to not get my hands dirty."

I roll my eyes and wave my hands. "Whatever, but I've given my opinion. You decide what to do with it."

Ryder nods, looking serious.

"And I'm sure your hands are very dirty with where they've been. I really hope you get yourself checked before fucking Taylor because if I find out you've given something to her, I'll fucking disown you as my best friend, slice your dick off and use it in one of my art pieces."

"Which would make you a fortune." Ryder smirks.

I narrow my eyes at him.

"You know me, El. I wouldn't do that to any girl so I definitely wouldn't do it to Taylor."

"Good. Can we lighten the mood up now? Because I spent two hours talking to Mr Boring about how I can't afford to stay here alone, then over an hour packing up the twin's toys for them to take to their dad's place and you are doing a fucking shit job at distracting me from my problems." I stand up and grab my stress ball. I love this stress ball. It's so satisfyingly squishy and smooth and a perfect handful. "Have you touched Taylor's breasts yet? Do you compare the feel of different breasts of the different girls you've been with? I don't. I love all breasts."

Ryder laughs. "Me too. I heard you and Kayla kissed in public today which I'm guessing means you're no longer a member of the Secret Club."

"Yes, but my exit from the club was accidental." It was also a blessing because Kayla has actually started to tell people we're together. She still doesn't do public displays of affection but she's not hiding there being an us. "She's meant to be telling her parents tonight. I really hope it goes well. I should message her."

"Must be serious if she's telling the parents."

I grin as a warmth spreads through me. "Yeah. I really like her."

"There goes my hopes of you and my sister."

"As much as I would love to be your sister in law, just because I'm into girls and so is Riley, does not mean we will be into each other." Where did I put my phone?

"Really? There was me thinking lesbians had it so easy because they were attracted to every single other lesbian." Ryder rolls his eyes.

"Haha. So how are you and Taylor? And where were you today when she was beating the shit out of Teresa. It was amazing. Also, where were you during the whole school assembly about Miles?" I grab my bag and tip it out onto the bed.

"Me and Faithful were talking to someone who we could help us out with something."

"Will they?" I sort through the bag. Shit, what was I looking for?

"I don't know yet." Ryder frowns.

That's what I wanted, my phone. "Well, you missed out on the fight action, Taylor was badass. Seriously, that girl has got some crazy in her. In a good way. I seriously love her."

"No, you're into Kayla."

"You jealous I might steal Taylor away from you?"

"No, because you would never do that to me."

"I wouldn't. I could never ruin your epic love story. Name one of your kids after me." Where is my phone? I pick up a compact mirror among the items scattered across my bed. I've been wondering where that was. I stuff it in my pocket.

"Sure, if you name your kid Randy." Ryder holds out my phone.

"Not happening." I snatch it from him and look at my phone.

"Message Kayla because she's telling her parents about you two tonight," Ryder says, picking up my sketchbook.

I grin and start typing. "You know me too well."

Me: I'm here if you need to talk, hug, rant... x

"Can I have this?" Ryder says, ripping out a page of my sketchbook.

"You know some people would kill you for what you just did." I frown looking up from my phone.

"Good thing you're not some people." Ryder winks, folding the paper and tucking it into his wallet. He stands. "I have to do something but do you want me to come back after? I can stay with you tonight."

"No, it's ok."

"Are you staying here permanently by yourself?" Ryder frowns

I shrug. "This place actually belongs to the twin's dad. There's talk of renting two of the rooms out short-term so it covers the bills and rent. When I spoke to him today he suggested that would be better than me struggling to pay it by myself. We're not sure how long my mum is going to be in rehab."

"Stay with me and my brother. I don't want you staying here with strangers," Ryder says.

I smile softly. Ryder is so amazing.  "Maybe."

"You can sleep in Riley's room. She doesn't plan on coming back." Ryder kisses my forehead. "You're my family, sister in law or not, so think about it. The room is yours whenever you want it."

"Thanks, Ry." I wrap my arms around his waist and hold onto him. Tilting my head back, I look him in the eyes. "Don't do anything stupid. I really don't want you to fuck up your life because of one impulsive and reckless decision."

Ryder grins. "Don't worry, everything will be fine."