Fifth
1271 Words
One week with no phone, no tv nor any devices of any kind. No sweets, no eating in my room and no guitar. My fathers punished me s**tless.
"Entertain me!" I pulled on Ryder's sleeve as he prepared my breakfast, supporting my chin on his forearm.
"Didn't you say not to bother you?" Ryder responded dully, a slight cut adorning his cheek from when he slipped yesterday.
I huffed, retreating my hold from his arm and crossing my hands around my chest.
"Because of you I am grounded. You have to take responsibility and do what a good assistant does!"
"Because of me? You are the one who locked me outside the house! And as your assistant, I have to keep you safe, not entertained. I am not a buffoon."
I rolled my eyes, making my way around the island.
"Yeah, because you don't even have the qualification to be a buffoon."
"Pardon, the place was already taken by you."
A blanket of silence fell above us and I couldn't refrain myself from biting my nails. Now that I was grounded, I couldn't dare to mess with Ryder anymore in fear of my dads extending my punishment. I was left to do... nothing.
"Listen... we'll go play basketball after I finish your breakfast. Now stop biting your nails and go wash your hands so you can eat!" Ryder demanded without rising his head from the food, making me look at him with furrowed brows.
"Basketball? I don't know what diopter your invisible glasses are, but I am in a wheelchair, I can't play basketball."
"You can still try shooting the ball through the hoop. It's a way of killing time."
I rolled my eyes, shaking my head vigorously.
"It wouldn't be fair. You're closer to the hook, you're gonna humiliate me."
"There's no competition, Carter."
"Yes it is! It has been a constant competition between us since you joined the football team!"
Ryder stopped his movements, looking down with clenched jaw and shoulders tensed. He then turned to look at me, a peculiar expression plastered on his face.
"Then let's make it fair and square..."
"Are you serious? A chair?"
"I am the same level as you, aren't I? Stop complaining!"
I watched Ryder sit on the wooden chair, his legs parted and ball bouncing between them (don't be perverted) .
"You're ready to lose, pimple?" He asked, looking at me with a confident sneer.
"What are you talking about wart? You will lose today... your basketball virginity."
"Try me, b***h!" Ryder spat jokingly, dribbling the ball between his palms. He then threw it at my chest, stretching his arms to the hook invitingly.
We began playing, each taking a turn to shoot through the hook. Every time I would match a score, Ryder would do too, and every time I would miss, he would also do.
"Are you playing easy on me?" I said when Ryder once again missed the hook, making our scores be even.
"Why would I do that?"
"Because you pity me!"
A moment of silence followed before Ryder threw the basketball at my chest with a scoff.
"I don't pity a**holes, I destroy them!"
"Good mine is glued on the wheelchair." I stuck my tongue out, throwing the ball and scoring another point.
Ryder rolled his eyes, going to collect the basketball from wherever it had landed. I followed him with my gaze, biting my lips when he bent over and his jeans tightened over his butt.
"One more round?" He asked when he came back, and I swiftly turned my eyes to his face.
"Yeah, ok...It's getting cold anyways." I muttered, looking at the clouds invading the sky.
With one more point for me and two for Ryder, we ended the game evenly.
"I really didn't let you win, Carter. You're awesome at sports, wheelchair or not."
I looked in Ryder's eyes, wanting nothing more than to be able to read them. But I wasn't a psychologist, I couldn't understand human emotions. How could you possibly read the sincerity in a pair of organs?
"Whatever." I responded emotionlessly, making my way inside the house and in the living room. I went to stay by the window, while Ryder left for the kitchen to make some hot chocolate. Then he came back in the room and sat on the windowsill, looking with me at the thickening gray sky. I wish people could be as easy to read as nature.
"This time yesterday you were locking me outside the house."
I looked up at Ryder, almost snorting the chocolate through my nose.
"And you were getting buffalo-mammothus mode."
"What?"
"Nothing."
I let my eyes wonder on the boy's biceps, then up his bare neck and raven locks. I smirked, placing the chocolate on the ground beside me before wetting my index and sticking it in Ryder's ear.
"Why would you do that?" The boy shuddered, placing his palms over his ear.
"Why not?" I responded with a shrug, cleaning my finger on his shirt.
'ཀ'❋'ཀ'
"Ryder, please join us for dinner! I am sure my stupid of a son put you though hell. We can at least apologize with a lasagna and a cold beer."
"Oh, no, it's no need for that, Mr. Matvey. Carter has been surprisingly human today."
"Hey!" I scoffed, entering the kitchen and pinching Ryder's sides in annoyance. "Don't talk s**t about me!"
"He was actually complimenting you, son!" Dad signaled me to sit beside him and I made my way to his right at the kitchen table. He then turned his attention to Ryder, offering him a friendly smile.
"You should really stay for dinner, Ryder. We can know you better this way."
At my fathers' incessant insistences, Ryder had no choice but to agree. He took the seat beside me and waited for papa's lasagna to be cooked. Then when the food was served in plates, we all ate in silence, the three men making casual conversation, and me rolling my eyes at what was said.
"So, Carter, Kathy called and told me she could take you to hospital this Monday, but due to having your usual check up on Tuesday morning, you'll do that at hers too."
I scrunched my nose, looking at dad with a scowling face. "You're telling me I'll be staying at hers for two days?"
"Three, because Tommy misses you and he wants for you to stay and spend time with him."
I felt Ryder flinch beside me, but I didn't pay attention to him.
"Dad.... Kathy's family is a nightmare! They are not only homophobic and transphobic, but hypocritical too! I don't understand why you're still in touch with them."
"She is my niece, Cart, and she wants to help you."
"Maybe I don't want her help."
"You don't want anyone's help."
Not having a combative reply, I crossed my arms around my chest and huffed loudly.
"Then Ryder comes with me. If I suffer, he suffers too."
"Honey, Ryder can't stay with you three full days. He has a home he has to return to."
I proceeded to throw my hands in the air dramatically but Ryder stopped me when he spoke up and shook his head.
"It's fine for me, Sir! We have winter break and as long as my aunt can look over my brothers, I can go with Carter anywhere."
A huge smirk formed over my lips as my fathers and Ryder agreed for him to accompany me.
If I am not able to scare him, my dad's family will surely do a better job.
- Writer
