The sad story of the babysitter

Chapter twenty - The girls are gone

Lily's POV:

A couple of days ago I saw Ryder. Since then I haven't seen him. I left him to explain everything. My heart believes every word, which he said, but not my brain. Yes, there is a part, which still loves him, but there is other, which is scared that he might hurt me again. I don't want the same things to happen, no matter that Ryder told me that he won't do it. I want to believe him, but I can't. I trusted him, I told him everything and he just played with me. When I read his message, I started silently crying. I miss him, but I can't forgive him that easily. 

I get up and decide to go and talk with Lizzy. She might know what I should do. I haven't told her about that. At least she didn't have problems like that. When I had a problem, she was the one who will help me, not mom and dad. That's why I don't share with them anything. I'm sure that they won't help me or not the way I want. 

When I was done, I went downstairs for breakfast. This time both of them were here. 

- Finally, you decide to wake up. It's 10:00 am already. - mom said

- It's the weekend. I can sleep how much I want.

- What will you do today? Any plans?

- What do you want me to do? I was thinking to go out today. Maybe for a walk. 

- Who will be with you?

- You don't need to know everything, but I will be alone. I don't want people around me. 

- I will need your help for a while. I need to re-do some things in the garage. - dad said

- And what are these things?

- You will see when you come. I will wait for you there. - he said and left

I got up and walked after him. I am pretty sure that he doesn't want me to help him. Dad wants something from me. Whatever it is, I won't tell him anything. They don't care about me so I don't need to tell them what I do and with who I am. 

- With what can I help you?

- I didn't tell your mom, because first I want you to explain to me. 

- Explain to you what?

- Around two weeks ago, I saw you outside with a boy. Do you have to tell me something?

- A boy? I wasn't with...

That's when I clicked it. Probably it was Ryder. Back then we still used to go out together. I miss those times. Everything was normal. 

- Won't you tell me?

- Probably you didn't see good. I don't have friends so there is no way that I was with someone. Especially with a boy. 

- Don't play games with me. I know what I saw. 

- I am not playing games. I really don't know what are you talking about.

Dad didn't say anything. I used the chance to walk away. I walked through my mom and told her that I am leaving. Not like she will care, but I don't want her to call me, asking me where I am and with who. Like every person, I want to keep my privacy. 

Soon I arrived at the forest. As usual, I sat at the end of the wooden bridge. 

- Lizzy. Lizzy, are you here? I need to talk with you. 

I felt the familiar breeze. Dear Lizzy, you have no idea how much I miss you. 

- I need to tell you something. Do you remember the boy with who I came here?

The breeze hit me again and I followed it to the shore. 

Ryder, right? What about him?

- We are not friends anymore. I fall for him, but he lied to me. All this time he was pretending. This was never real. He just wanted to get me and then dump me. It was all a game for him. - I said and tear up

Did he explain everything? I mean did he tell you why he did it?

- He said that it was only at the beginning, but after hearing my story, he has changed and decided that he won't dump me. 

I think that you have to believe him. I saw the way he was looking at you when you two came here. This wasn't pretending. I think that he really likes you. 

- So now you are on his side. I thought that we are sisters.

We always will be, but I don't think that he was faking it. Maybe at the beginning, but for me, he fall for you. Lily, you have to talk with him.

- I did it a couple of days ago. We met occasionally at one park and I left him to explain everything. My heart trust every single word, which he said, but not my brain. I am scared that he might do it again, no matter that he said that he won't do it. 

Do you love him?

- What?

What I said. Do you love him?

- Yeah, I guess. I'm not sure. I mean, I miss him, but how I said how can I be sure that he won't do it again. I don't trust him. 

And that's your mistake.

I was about to say something when my phone started ringing. It was Ryder. I ignored it. 

Who is it?

- It's Ryder, but I don't want to talk with him now. 

Pick up. Maybe it's important. He won't stop calling you. 

Finally, I picked up. I will tell him that I don't want to talk with him. 

- Look, Ryder, I... - but he cut me off

- I need your help. It's urgent. 

- Why don't you ask your friends?

- Please. Only you can help me with this. My parents will kill me. 

- Ok, calm down. What has happened?

- The girls are gone. 

- How they are gone? I don't understand. 

- Just like that. Mia and Lea are not home and I have no idea where they can be. Ashley had to watch them, but how you can tell she didn't do a great job. 

- Who is Ashley?

- The new babysitter. Can you help me find them? Please. You are the only one who can do it. 

- Ok, I will come. I'll be at your house after like half an hour. Can you wait for me there?

- Yeah, sure. Thank you so much. 

- It's ok, but this doesn't mean that I forgive you. I will do it only because I love them. 

- I know and I appreciate it. 

With that, I hung up. To be honest, when I heard that they are gone, I felt how my heart broke in two. I might be mad at Ryder, but the girls don't need to take the consequences of that. If I haven't left, this wasn’t going to happen. I won't think about this now. The most important thing is to find them. 

- Lizzy, I have to go. Mia and Lea are gone and Ryder is freaking out. 

I hope that they are ok. Go and help him. Maybe you can use the chance to talk with him. 

- Now it's not the time for that. I will go. I love you. 

I love you too. 

I left and started running. I need to be at his house as fast as possible. How can you let two kids go out without an adult? Who knows where they can be? I hope that they are ok. 

After half an hour, I arrived at Ryder's house and knocked on the door. One girl opened it. 

- Who are you?

- I am Lily and I guess that you are Ashley. 

- What do you want?

- To walk in.

- I am sorry, but I can't let staggers inside. 

- Like how you let two girls go out alone. - I said and walked in

- Lily, you came! - Ryder said and gave me a hug

When we pulled apart, I looked at him and saw tears in his eyes. Was he crying? I didn't believe that he can cry, but I see that he is really worried for Mia and Lea. If I have to be honest, me too.

- Since when they are gone?

- I came home like an hour ago and they weren't here. I have no idea when they walked out. Someone here was supposed to watch them. - he said and looked at Ashley

- What? - she asked

- We need to find them before mom and dad come home. Will you help me?

- I can help you. - Ashley said

- No, you will stay here. You already caused enough problems. - I said

- Who said that I will listen to you?

- I agree with Lily. Stay here, because all of this is your fault. 

Both of us walked out. I looked at him and saw that he is worried. I rubbed his back and grabbed his hand. Ryder looked at me and I smiled. 

- We will find them. Trust me. 

Ryder nodded his head. I suggested him, search them in the places, which we usually walked to. We went to the ice cream shop, the park, which we went to the last time and even one restaurant. Ryder told me that his parents go there from time to time. Nothing. They weren't there. We heard thunder. Probably soon it will start to rain. It was 4:00 pm and his parents will come home soon. 

- What if we don't find them?

- Hey, don't talk like that. You have to be more positive. I am sure that the girls are somewhere here. I promise you that we will find them. Let's go now. 

I know that he is worried, but that won't help us. We were walking for an hour, but there was a sign from them. It started to rain as well. That's the last thing that we needed. We walked around couple more stores and even went to the mall. Mia and Lea weren't there. I looked at Ryder and saw that his eyes were full of tears, ready to fall down. I stopped walking for a second and gave him a tight hug. I might still be mad at him, but I know how he feels. 

It was 6:00 pm. I suggested him, walk to one last park. It was raining and both of us were wet. We arrived there quickly. 

- MIA, LEA! ARE YOU HERE? - I shouted

We were about to leave when I spotted two shadows under a tree. 

- Ryder, look. - I said and pointed to the tree

We walked closer. Finally, we found them. Both of them were wet and scared. If I was their mother, I was going to kill them, but since I am not, I only will give them a hug. 

- Mia, Lea. 

- Lily! - both of them said in sync and hugged me

- What are you doing here alone? 

- They can explain us at home. Let's go now. - Ryder said and we walked back home

In the moment we entered the house, the girls ran up to their mom. 

- Where have you been? Do you know how worried we were for you? - miss Collins said

- I think that you need to explain to us why did you leave. Ashley was supposed to watch you. - Ryder said

- She isn't doing anything. - Lea said

- Don't worry, you won't see her again. I fired her. - miss Collins said

I sat on my knees and looked at the girls. 

- Will you tell me what were you doing outside?

- We went to search for you. - Mia said innocently

- Me!? But why?

- Because we want you back. - Lea said

- But you don't where I live, neither my phone number. Do you know that someone could hurt you?

- Why didn't you tell me? I could call Lily and ask her to come here. - Ryder said

- Because all of this your fault. - Lea said

- Excuse me. 

- If you didn't do who knows what to Lily, she was never going to leave us. 

- And why do you think that it's my fault?

- Lily loves us. Why she would leave us? Mom and dad did nothing to her and the only one who left was you. - Mia explained

- Girls, go in your room and get changed into dry clothes. Later I will come to talk with you. - I said and they left

- I won't say anything. - miss Collins said and both with her husband left

- Hey, don't mind them. They are too young to understand. 

- But they are right. If I haven't done these things to you, the girls still would be with you and all of this was never going to happen. 

- That's not true. Don't blame yourself. 

I got closer and gave him a hug. It hurts me watching him like that. I want to tell him everything. That I miss him and that all I did was stupid, but I couldn't do it. I love him, but I can't avoid the fact that I am still scared. 

When we pulled apart, I went to the girls' room. 

- Hey girls, I need to tell you something. Sit down. 

They sat on the bed and I sat in front of them. 

- Ok, I want you to listen to me carefully. I don't know who has told you that or from where you have heard it, but it's not Ryder's fault that I quit. I have personal problems, which I have to resolve. When I am done, I will come back. Please don't be mad at him. Ryder has nothing to do with it. 

- Ok, we won't be mad. - Lea said

- Do you promise?

- We do. - both of them said

- Good. I have to go now. Promise me that you won't do this again. 

- We promise. 

I gave them a hug and went downstairs. I was ready to leave when Ryder grabbed my hand and stopped me. I gave him a look and he returned with a smile. 

- Thank you for the help. 

- You know that I will do anything for them. 

- I hope that soon everything will be ok. 

- Me too. - I gave him a smile and left

I felt how a couple of tears fall down on the way home. I know that I have to tell him how I feel, but I can't beat up my brain. For some reason, it's always doubting in Ryder. At the same time, I can't stop my feelings for him. He helped me and was with me in times, in which no one else was. I trusted him because I knew that he won't play me and I think that I did the right decision.