Taylor

I can't find my phone anywhere. Or rather, I can't find my old phone which I need to contact Jay so I can arrange for him to pick up his bags. The best idea I've come up with is to leave them outside my house and message Jay to tell him to collect them.

I really don't want to have to drop them at his apartment. Not only are the wheely bags massive and heavy but after today's visit, I don't trust him to not get violent. The Jay I knew and trusted doesn't exist so I want to avoid seeing him in person.

A knock on my bedroom door halts my search through my drawers. Kneeling on the floor, I look up as Mya opens the door and peers in. I feel guilty because we didn't spend any time together this afternoon like my dad suggested. But I was distracted with Ryder, who stayed until my parent's returned from work. I introduced him as my boyfriend which was greeted with an awkward tension.

Once Ryder left, I had to sit down with my parents to discuss the video and the fight I had with Teresa. Then I was subjected to a speech about it being inappropriate to have a boy here when they are not present, especially this earlier on in the relationship. I couldn't exactly argue, me and Ryder alone tends to lead to activities they clearly don't want me to get up too.

"Why is your room such a mess?" Mya frowns as she looks around at the open cupboard doors and pulled out drawers.

"I can't find my phone."

"Your phone is there." Mya points to the one Ryder gave me which is laying on my bedside table.

"No, my other phone."

"Why do you have two phones?"

I shrug, grab my bag laying next to me and look through it again. "Ryder gave me one."

Mya frowns and starts to bite her nails.

"What's up, Mya?"

I know there's something bothering her because even though she's not the sister I remember, she still has the same habits. Mya always bites her nails when she's worried.

Mya clears her throat. "Does Ryder know it's not you in the video?"

I rock back on my heels and arch an eyebrow. "You know about the video?"

Mya steps into my room and nods. "I also know you're not denying it's you." She continues biting her nails and mumbles, "I can say it's me."

"No." I shake my head.

"It's not like I have anything to lose; I don't have any friends, I hide in the toilets at break and the school year is almost up. It's my final year, Tay, but you still have another year to go." Mya looks at the floor.

"I don't want you to say anything. It will become old news soon and people will forget about it," I say with as much conviction as I can. Really, I don't think her speaking up will make any difference. People will just have two targets instead of one to attack. "You can sit with me at break if you want. Me, Kayla and Ariel are more interesting than a toilet. Only slightly though."

Mya gives me a weak smile. "Thanks, Tay. Do you want me to help you look for your phone? It's probably fallen under the bed or something."

"No, it's fine. I probably left it in my locker," I say quickly while shaking my head. I really don't need her looking under my bed. "Why were you asking if Ryder knew about the video?"

"I wanted to make sure he didn't think you'd be up for anything because of it." Mya frowns. "After it got out at our old school, I had loads of guys trying it on with me. They'd say I was up for anything and try to make me do things. I don't want you to go through that."

I stand, walk over to Mya and hug her. She stiffens before hesitantly returning the embrace.

"I'm sorry you went through that alone. But I trust Ryder, and he hasn't forced me to do anything I don't want to do," I say stepping back.

Mya smiles. "Mum and Dad seemed pretty annoyed when you introduced Ryder as your boyfriend."

I laugh. "Yeah, but I didn't actually go against their rules or disobey Dad. I said I wouldn't leave the house, I didn't say I wouldn't have people over."

"Well, you can't have him over without them being here now."

I huff. "I know. They weren't this strict with Miles."

Mya chuckles. "Miles didn't look at you like he wants to eat you, Ryder does. They're just trying to stop you from getting hurt."

"I know but it still sucks. And seeing as I'm grounded for a week and can't see anyone, will you keep me company?"

"I'd like that."

"Can you do me a favour first?"

"What?"

"I need to drop some things off at a friend's place tomorrow, it's really important. I'm going to come back after school get the bags, drop them off then I'll come straight back. Can you not tell Mum and Dad, please?"

Mya frowns. "Can't they come here and get it?"

"I promised I'd drop it off. I'll be back before Mum and Dad get home. I promise."

"Ok," Mya says. She shuffles, looks around my room and turns to leave.

"I'm going to start a new series on Netflix if you want to stay? Kayla suggested it and usually her suggestions are always good."

Mya nods. Our relationship is definitely not back to how it was, I'm not sure it ever will. But I can start to make the effort to build a new one, a better one.

***

Standing outside the school, Ryder stares at the road; when I follow his gaze he doesn't seem to be looking at anyone or anything in particular. I wonder if he's looking for Jay like I've been doing since we arrived at school. I still haven't found my old phone so I'll have to drop the bags off at his this afternoon. I really hope he's not home and Winston is.

"Where's Kayla?" I ask Ariel.

"Her parents are dropping her off this morning." Ariel grimaces slightly, shakes her head and focuses on me. "So isolation for two days? That's going to be fun. Not."

I shrug. I'm actually looking forward to being away from the staring eyes and whispers. Ryder yawns and rubs his eyes. I nudge him with my shoulder. "You look exhausted."

"Thanks," Ryder says sarcastically and places an arm over my shoulder.

I lean into him. "Late night?"

"Yeah. I had stuff to sort out."

I arch an eyebrow. I always wonder when he talks about stuff if he's talking about drug-related stuff. I believe Ryder when he says he doesn't take drugs but I know he's involved in them somehow; dealing them, supplying them to dealers or moving them around, I just don't know what exactly. I haven't asked for details because the less I know the better but I'm not I'm not happy he does it. I know its hypocritical, but I'm worried he'll get arrested, beaten up or worse. The people involved in selling drugs can be dangerous.

"Ugh, I've got to have another meeting today about what I want to do when I leave school." Ariel looks at her phone and huffs. "How many fucking meetings is it going to take for them to understand the words, I have no fucking clue what I want to do with my life?!"

I chuckle. "Why don't you make something up?"

"Because I hate lying. Lying leads to more lying which leads to having to remember all the lies which will end in me going for an interview and getting a job working at a large corporation where I'll wear a suit and drink lattes every day. It will be fucking horrendous."

I laugh. "Sounds bad. What are you going to do once you leave school, Ryder?"

Ryder shrugs and glances at Ariel who rolls her eyes.

"What?" I ask.

"Go on, Ryder, tell her what the bad boy wants to do with his life." Ariel crosses her arms and grins. "I don't know why you're so embarrassed, it's not that unbelievable. I think you could do some good. A lot more than what you do now, anyway, and it's less dangerous." Ariel waves her hand at somebody and shouts, "You owe me an explanation!"

The person stops and Ariel strides towards them. I chuckle and turn to Ryder. "Tell me, what does bad boy Ryder want to do with his life?"

Ryder rubs the back of his neck and says quietly, "Police Officer."

I did not expect that answer. "And you're on track to get into the police force?"

"Yeah. Once I get my exam results, I'll apply. There's no reason I won't get in."

"How about your involvement in... stuff?"

"Not going to be a problem. Despite the rumours, I have no criminal record." Ryder grins.

"I can already imagine you in the uniform. You're going to be one hot officer."

"Because that's the only reason I'm doing it, for the uniform," Ryder deadpans.

"I thought as much."

The school bell rings.

"I'll see you at the end of the day and drop you home," Ryder says.

"I still can't believe I'm grounded for the week. I was hoping you could come back to mine again today."

Ryder smirks. "And what did you plan on us doing?"

My face heats up.

"I'll see you at school, and in the evening you'll have to make do with picking up the phone and talking to me for the next seven days. One of the perks of me being your boyfriend, you have unlimited access to my amazing conversational skills." Ryder kisses me.

Even though it's Friday and I have to get through two days without seeing Ryder, it doesn't dampen any happiness. I'm dropping Jay's bags off today so he'll be out of my life. Seven days isn't too long and it will be a good opportunity to spend time with Mya. And after being in isolation today and on Monday, people may start to forget me and the video. Maybe, life will finally start to get better.