Broken Promises

Back to school.

"Yeah, they said I could go back." I smile.

"That's great, and Argus is okay with you taking the week off?" she asks.

"Yeah, they are completely fine with it." I smile.

"I gotta get back to school, but I'll take you home later." Collin smiles.

"Bye puppy," I smirk at the way he rolls his eyes.

"You're going home?" Hazle asks.

"Yeah, in two weeks I'll be adopted and they have to do home check-ups randomly so I have to," I answer.

"It was really great having you here." she smiles.

"It was really great being here." I smile.

"Hazle, where is the t.v. remote?" His father asks her.

"On the t.v. stand you old fart." she laughs, I giggle a little with her.

"I do hope you'll come over for dinner tomorrow at least," she asked.

"Of course, I'll be here." I smile.

"Good" she smiles.

"Well, why don't you go pack,, and I'll make up a snack," she asks.

"You don't have to." I smile.

"No, I insist," she answers.

"Go pack," she demands playfully before I can protest.

"Okay, okay. I'm going" I chuckle as I walk out into the living room.

"Still watching the same thing, James?" I ask his father.

"The remote is too far away," he grunts. I laugh, walking over to hand it to him.

"I'm going to miss you Rylee." he smiles.

"It's nice to feel needed sometimes." I smile before walking upstairs.

I continue to pack my things for a bit before Hazle calls me down for a snack she made, of course, I couldn't say no after everything she and James have done for me these past few weeks, especially since they asked no questions about why I was staying there but instead opened their arms welcoming. We made some small talk before Collin pulled into the driveway.

"I think Collin has taken a liking to you." Hazle smiled.

"We are just friends Hazle." I laugh lightly.

"James and I were just friends too." she winks at me. Oh geez, this woman thinks her son has fallen in love with me.

"Hey." Collin smiles walking inside.

"Hey, puppy." I smile, watching him roll his eyes.

"Hello darling," he smirks, I stick my tongue out at him and roll my eyes.

"Did you finish packing?" he asks, sitting beside me.

"Almost," I answer laughing softly looking at Hazle.

"You go pack, I'll clean up." Hazle smiles.

"No, you made the snacks. Go sit and watch T.V. with James, I'll clean up." I smile.

"I couldn't ask you to do that," she says shaking her head.

"You aren't asking, and Collin will help me." I smile looking over at him.

"What? I didn't even eat any of it," he questions crossing his arms like a child.

"Fine," I smirk, picking up part of the brownie she had baked shoving it in his mouth.

"Wow." Collin laughs shaking his head.

"Now you did, so you can help," I smirk walking away.

I can hear the muffled conversation from the dining room as I start to clean up, I put away all the baking items and start washing the dishes.

"Hello, darling," Collin whispers in my ear, putting his hands on my waist.

"Hello, puppy." I smile.

"Washing dishes, I see?" he asks still not moving.

"Yes, you can dry them for me," I smirk.

"Maybe, I'm comfortable where I'm at." I feel him smirk along my neck.

"F-r-i-e-n-d-s." I laugh.

"I know, I know." he sighs moving away from me.

"We agreed when I came to stay, we wouldn't catch feelings for each other." I laugh.

"It was a stupid agreement," he mumbles, drying the bowls I've washed.

"What was that?" I ask him gaining a questionable look.

"Nothing." he sighs, we sit in silence for a little, I stop washing dishes and dry my hands.

"What are you doing?" he asks.

"You'll see." I smile. I pull his phone out of his back pocket.

"Password?" I ask.

"You know it." he laughs.

"I forget and always end up typing in mine," I answer.

"19-14-80" he laughs lightly.

"You ever going to tell me why it's that?" I chuckle.

"Maybe, maybe not." he laughs, I roll my eyes ignoring it once more. I open his music app and hit the playlist we made together. I turn the music up just a little, not so loud it would bug his parents but loud enough.

"Oh, I see." he chuckles shaking his head.

I go back over and continue to do the dishes humming along to the music playing in the background, soon Collin starts humming to and I smile before I sing the words. A few seconds later Collin starts as well. I don't know how we got here, but I love it. We start dancing around the kitchen and singing together, before making our way back to the sink as the song ends laughing together.

"Well, done," James says laughing.

"Geez, you scared me," I say jumping back a little.

"You guys are adorable." Hazle smiles.

"Just friends." Collin reminds her.

"Yeah, yeah. That's all I've heard these past few weeks." Hazle rolls her eyes.

"Let a woman dream, puppy." I smile at him.

COLLIN'S P.O.V.

I watch as she does the dishes from afar, these past few weeks we have gotten so close. No one knows she's here and it's perfect bliss being with her, she's amazing in every way honestly. We have played video games together, and I'll admit to her kicking my ass in them. Not to her but to myself. We have danced together, slept in the same bed, cuddled even. I don't know why I'm sad she's leaving. I didn't have feelings for her before, it's against the rules for me to like her, or for her to like me.

"Everything okay?" I ask as she climbs in the car.

"I just need a break away from them." she smiles slightly, as her eyes start to water.

"Your birthday was really that bad?" I ask.

"No, just after the party was over, some things I happened I don't really want to talk about." she sighs.

"Okay, that's okay. Why don't I take you back to my house and you can stay as long as you want?" I ask.

"That sounds nice. But there have to rule in place," she answers quickly.

"Okay, tell me them," I answer.

"No s*x," she says imminently. I laugh, the shock is written across my face clearly.

"Sorry, I just need a break from guys. I need to focus on my internship and school." she huffs.

"That's okay. Your body your choice Rylee." I answer, she gives me a questionable look as if she's never heard it before.

"No catching feelings," she states. I nod, I don't expect to catch feelings for her anyway; she's not really my type honestly.

"No one can know I'm there except John and your family," she says, I give her a puzzled look and nod my head again. She has her reasons for this and I have to respect them.

"Deal?" she asks taking in a tight breath.

"Deal." I smile, she laughs pushing me playfully.

I walk towards her, 'friends. F-R-I-E-N-D-S. Get that through your f*****g head.' I put my hands on her waist, she jumps a little from the contact.

"Hello, darling," I whisper in her ear.

"Hello puppy." she smiles, I roll my eyes. Not because I hate it, quite the opposite actually. I force the thoughts out of my head.

"Washing dishes, I see?" I ask, clearly, that's what she's doing you, i***t. I'm just buying time to stay where I'm at.

"Yes, you can dry them for me," she smirks.

"Maybe, I'm comfortable where I'm at," I smirk along her neck.

"F-r-i-e-n-d-s." she laughs laugh.

"I know, I know." I sigh moving away from her.

"We agreed when I came to stay, we wouldn't catch feelings for each other." she laughs again.

"It was a stupid agreement," I mumble, drying the bowls she's washed.

"What was that?" she asks, I give her a questionable look.

"Nothing." I sigh, we sit in silence for a little, she stops washing dishes and dries her hands.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"You'll see." she smiles. She pulls my phone out of my back pocket.

"Password?" she asks, I told her at least a hundred times.

"You know it." I laugh.

"I forget and always end up typing in mine," she answers looking embarrassed.

"19-14-80" I laugh lightly.

"You ever going to tell me why it's that?" she chuckles.

"Maybe, maybe not." I laugh, she rolls her eyes ignoring it once more, she must've asked a hundred times what it means. Little does she know it's her birthday backward. I smile to myself seeing how clueless she is. She's on my phone for a few seconds until I hear the music start to play from the playlist we made together. She turns the music up just loud enough for us to hear and enjoy it together.

"Oh, I see." I chuckled shaking my head.

She comes back over and continues to wash the dishes humming along to the music filling the air around us, I start humming as well, she smiles as she continues to look down, not noticing me looking at her, she starts singing the words and a few seconds later I join in, I smile thinking about the time's we've done this at work. I don't know how we got here but I love it. Soon we are dancing and singing around the kitchen as I make her laugh with my crappy dance moves. As the song ends, we end up back at the sink where we started, laughing together.

"Well, done." my father says laughing.

"Geez you scared me," she says jumping back a little.

"You guys are adorable." my mother smiles.

"Just friends." I remind her.

"Yeah, yeah. That's all I've heard these past few weeks." she rolls her eyes.

"Let a woman dream, puppy." Rylee smiles at me as if she only knew what I was dreaming about with her.

"I'm letting her dream." I laugh.

"You guys go finish packing, James and I will finish up here." my mother smiles.

"We are almost done, as soon as Collin dries that brownie pan." Rylee giggles hitting my hand.

"I'm going, I'm going." I laugh.

We finish by wiping up the counters before heading upstairs. I hand Rylee her clothes as she folds them nicely putting them in her bag.

"Oooh," I say pulling out black lacy underwear.

"Collin" she scoffs.

"What? Can't I keep them, darling? As a reminder of us?" I say jokingly making a pouty face.

"Are you going to masturbate to them?" she laughs.

"I'm done," I say throwing them at her, really, I was trying to hide my red face.

"I'm sorry puppy," she whines, wrapping her arms around my waist.

"Stop that," I say quickly.

"Why?" she looks at me confused. She really has no idea? I roll my eyes instead.

"Never mind darling." I smile.

"Let's finish packing," I continue pulling more clothes out.

"I can get the rest of this; do you mind grabbing my toothbrush and stuff out of the bathroom?" she asks.

"Yeah, sure," I answer. Handing her more underwear and socks I had picked up.

"Thank you." she smiles sweetly.

'Stop doing this to yourself, Collin!' I yell at myself as I walk into my bathroom. My phone dings in my pocket.

Text: Layla.

'I miss you, baby.'

'We aren't together Layla, stop texting me.'

'I will always be yours.'

'No Layla seriously stop. I like someone else.'

'What? Who?!'

'None of your business.'

'Collin please, I can change.'

'You f****d someone else while we were together, actually three people while we were together. I don't want to be with you Layla, I can't trust you. Just leave me alone, seriously I'm done.'

I lock my phone, putting it back into my pocket. I walk back out to my room, where Rylee sits on my bed writing in a book, she's been doing it since she got here.

"What are you writing?" I ask, she jumps back a little.

"I'm not writing anything." she laughs, closing it quickly.

"Give it," I say sternly.

"No." she scoffs, holding it closer to her chest.

"I'll get it one way or another," I say a smirk playing at my lips.

"I'd like to see you try." she laughs.

I walk over to her, grabbing her by her ankles and yanking her towards me. She gasps, perfect. I bend down like I'm going to kiss her, and just as our lips are about to touch, I fight the urge and quickly rip the notebook out of her hands. She lays there confused for a second as I jump up and open it to the page she was on.

A sketch, I look at it more closely as I see her bound to the bed and blindfolded with a guy, who looks a lot like me eating her out. A speech bubble is drawn near her open mouth, it reads 'oh puppy.'

She jumps at it but I hold it higher, flipping back a page. A smirk plays at my lips as I see her drawing of herself naked, riding me with very accurate descriptions of our bodies. Another speech bubbles. This time on both of us, mine reads 'c*m for me, good girl.' Her's reads, 'I'm going to c*m, puppy'.

Finally, she jumps up and grabs it out of my hands. Her face is red and flustered.

"So, puppy huh?" I smirk.

"They are just sketches, stuff I do in my free time," she mumbles shoving the book into her bag.

"Would you like them to be a reality?" I ask, placing my hands on her hips.

"Friends Collin, remember?" she scoffs, pushing me off of her. I know she wants more, she just proved it through her drawings.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." I say quickly sitting beside her.

"I know they didn't mean anything; I was just teasing you." I smile.

"You should have just let it go," she says sinking herself back into the bed.

"Rylee, we made a deal remember? I would never do anything without your consent, f**k I even asked to cuddle you when you laid on me." I laugh.

"I know, I just don't like when people see my sketches." she sighs.

"Well, if you ever want to show me them, I'd like to see them. You are extremely talented." I smirk.

"f**k off." she scoffs and leaves the room.

I glance at her bag, and then back at the door.

"Don't!" she yells from down the hallway.

I let out a small laugh and follow behind her. "I wasn't going to!" I yell back.

"You guys heading out?" My mother asks as we get downstairs.

"In a second." I smile.

"Okay, do you need anything?" She asks.

"No, I just really wanted to say thank you, for everything. It's been great being here." Rylee smiles.

"It's been great having you here, and remember our conversation from earlier." my mother smiled, I gave Rylee a questionable look but she just looked at me and smiled.

"Yeah, I think I have to." she smiles before hugging my mom and walking back upstairs to grab her stuff.

"What was that about?" I ask confused.

"Girl things." my mom winks at me and walks away.

"Go help her with her bags!" My mom yells.

"On it." my father and I answer in unison.

"Not you James!" my mother yells again.

I laugh and head up the steps, carrying her bag down for her as she laughs about some stupid joke I made.

"You'll be back tomorrow for dinner?" my mother asks.

"If Collin isn't tired of me yet," she smiles.

"Never darling," I smile she leans into me lightly pushing me.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Rylee," my mother smiles at her.

"Bye Rylee," my father says hugging her.

"Bye James," she smiles hugging him back.

We get in the truck and start to drive; she puts the password in my phone without asking this time and turns on our playlist. A romance song we put on it as a joke comes on and she changes it. I laugh as she looks at me with her face all red, she finds the song she wants to listen to. She puts her foot on the seat and bends her knee, her hand out the window while her head rests looking out the window.

I didn't want this to end but I knew it had to. She could still come over and sleep over sometimes. But I will never forget these past few weeks with her. I pull up to her house and she gives me a light smile.

"Do you want me to come in with you?" I ask.

"No, if I ever need to run away again, I don't want them to know I'm with you." she smiles.

"Okay, goodbye darling." I smile as she gets out of the truck, grabbing her bag.

"Goodbye puppy." she smiles closing my truck door. I go to drive off but I watch her, to make sure she gets inside okay. I see Luka, looking between her and me. I was f****d, there is no way he doesn't know it's me. I wait for her to walk up the steps, she turns to look at me and gives me a smile and I leave.

I can't stop thinking about her, it's been five f*****g minutes and I hate it.

RYLEE'S P.O.V.

I look out his truck window, reflecting on who I was when I left and who I am now. I stopped cutting myself again, I haven't had the urge to do it in a few weeks, I felt light and airy when I was with him and I'm dreading coming home. He wasn't wrong about the sketches, I wanted them to be a reality. We had a deal though, from the moment I got into his truck, no feelings, no s*x. I made the rules and I broke them. I knew leaving would make it easier for me now, I wouldn't have to see him freshly showered, messy hair in the mornings, or sleep next to him at night knowing I could have him. No guy turns down s*x. I snicker to myself at the thought. I took my frustrations out on my sketchbook though he was never supposed to see them.

I think to myself as I walk towards the door, I turn and look at his truck once more, giving him a small smile before he drives away. I watch as his truck continues down the street and I hate it, I don't know why I hate it, I'll see him tomorrow.

"Hey." Luka's voice pulled me from my thoughts.

"Hey," I answer setting my bag down and walking towards the steps.

"Glad to know you are alive," he said playfully pushing me.

"I told you I would be safe," I answered sitting down.

"Were you safe?" he asked raising a brow, he looked down the street in the direction of Collin's truck.

"Ewe, I wasn't having s*x!" I yelled pushing him off the step.

"Yeah, I'm sure you weren't" he laughed.

"Would you like to inspect me and make sure I have no hickeys?" I laughed.

"No, I don't think Daisy would like that." he laughed lightly sitting next to me, he kept his eyes on his hands as he spoke.

"Hey, I'm happy for you. You know that right?" I ask, pushing him.

"Yeah, yeah I know," he answered, clearing his throat.

"Is there something you need to ask me?" I ask.

"No," he said pausing for a moment, he turned his head to look at me. "Yes." he sighed.

"Go ahead, Luka." I smiled.

"Did you leave because of me?" he asked.

"God no. You are my best friend, even if you half confessed your love for me while I was half sleeping and you were drunk. You can't get rid of me that easy Luka." I smile.

"Then why did you?" he asks.

"I can't really explain it. It was just a feeling I had, my anxiety took over and I left." I answer.

"Where did you go?" he asks.

"I stayed with a friend." I smile.

"A boyfriend?" Luka asks sheepishly.

"No," I answer honestly.

"For three weeks you are gone and y'all didn't f**k or date? What about a kiss?" Luka asked laughed.

"None, though they almost had to give me mouth to mouth when I choked on a carrot." I laugh, he laughs and the silence settles between us.

"Are you happy?" I ask.

"Yeah, oddly enough I am," he answers.

"I'm glad," I answer with a smile.

"Are you?" he asks.

"I haven't cut in three weeks, I eat three meals a day and don't just sit in the shower for the water anymore." I smile.

"That's great, but are you happy?" he asks.

"I'm content." I smile.

"Content?" he asks.

"Yes, I like the way I'm living now. I don't hate myself when I look in the mirror anymore, I don't have the urge to cut myself anymore even when I'm stressed out." I answer.

"That's good," he replies.

"And you?" I ask, thinking about that night he showed me his fresh marks.

"I don't, not since I got with Daisy," he answers.

"Good, I'm really glad," I answer.

"Am I still your best friend?" I ask.

"Yes, but she's my girlfriend." he smiles.

"You put her first, no matter what okay?" I ask smiling.

"I will," he answers.

"Good." I smile as I see Daisy walk up the sidewalk.

"Rylee!" Daisy smiles at me.

"Your back?" she almost questions.

"Just for the last week of school, I'll be gone all summer." I smile.

"You never-" Luka starts and I cut him off.

"I should get inside; they are probably waiting for me to tackle me or something." I laugh standing up.

"Hey, Rylee?" Luka asked.

"Yeah?" I ask turning around.

"Best friends?" he asked a sad smile playing on his lips.

"Forever Luka." I smiled.

"I'll see you guys later." I smile and open the door.

"I'M HOME!" I yell leaving the door wide open.

"NEVER LEAVE ME AGAIN!" Melissa runs jumping on top of me for a moment before the guys catch up.

I turn around to close the door to see Daisy on the phone and Luka looking at me with a sad smile. I know I hurt him in unimaginable ways but he's happy with her, someone who can love him and treat him better than I can. I smile at him before closing the door.

"RYLEE!" Dean yells as he hugs me tightly.

"Glad to know you guys can last three weeks on your own." I laugh.

"Tell me everything, where were you?!" Melissa smiles.

"There's not much to tell, I um stayed at a friend's and worked at Argus for the past three weeks, they brought my homework home so I didn't miss anything but that was about it," I answer.

"No details on who it is?" she asks.

"No." I laugh.

"Let me get your bag." Jason smiles.

"Hey, where's Jake?" I ask lowly.

Noah points upstairs and I give him a sad smile before walking up the steps.

"Hey, big brother." I smile opening his door.

"Hey," he sighs barely looking at me.

"What? I don't get a hug or anything?" I ask he stays quiet. Everyone makes their way up the steps and I walk into his room closing the door behind me.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"Nothing, just don't feel like talking," he answered.

"Is this because I left?" I ask.

"No." he scoffs.

"Jake it wasn't your fault. I had a feeling that I just needed to leave for a while." I answer.

"Did it help?" he asks, still not looking at me.

"Can you just look at me!" I yell pushing his phone out of his hands.

"Just leave again Rylee." he huffs.

"Just tell me what you really want to say, Jake!" I yell again.

"No!" he yells back.

"Why not? You've never been afraid to speak your mind before!" I yell once more.

"Because I don't want you to f*****g leave again!" he yells in my face.

"I didn't leave because of you bub." I smile.

"Yeah right." he scoffs.

"Look." I sigh pulling up my sleeves.

"Okay and?" he scoffs.

"Do you need more proof than my arms are clean?" I sigh standing up and pulling down my leggings.

"I don't want to f**k you!" he yells.

"Gross, just f*****g look you, i***t," I yell, he looks at my thighs quickly before averting his eyes.

"No cuts?" he asks.

"And I eat three meals a day now." I smile sitting back down.

"You really left for you?" he asks.

"Yeah, I really did. And I finally feel like me again." I smile.

"Good, don't ever f*****g leave like that again," he yells pulling me into a hug.

"I love you bubs, I wouldn't leave forever without telling you." I smile hugging him back.  

"I love you too Rylee, I'm sorry for being such an i***t. I said I would support you and I didn't." he sighed.

"You support me all the time, remember? It's normal for you to break down sometimes." I laugh lightly.

"How are your ribs?" he asked.

"Good, the friend I was staying with kept an eye on them." I smile.

"Oh, hold on." I smile opening his bedroom door.

"Where's my phone?" I ask raising a brow.

"I have it." Jake laughed reaching in his nightstand.

"Thanks." I smile as he hands it to me.

Text: Collin.

'Thank you, for everything.'

'Of course, darling.'

'Stop thanking me.'

'I can't puppy.'

'Stop that'

'Puppy'

I smile to myself as I lock my phone, everyone is watching me and I'm smiling like an i***t.

"Just a friend huh?" Noah asks raising his eyebrows up and down.

"Shut up." I scoff pushing past him.

"What's his name?" Melissa whispered.

"Not telling you." I laugh.

"So, it is a guy!" Jake said quickly, f**k.

"Could be. Maybe not." I smirk.

"Wait!" Noah stops, sniffing me.

"She has a scent of cologne on her!" Noah yells. I thought I covered it up.

"It smells familiar," Dean smirks.

"Oh, f**k off. You guys aren't going to figure it out." I laugh.

"There's a football game tonight, wanna go?" Melissa asks.

"Yeah, I could use some fun." I laugh lightly.

"Okay cool. Go change and we can go." she smiles.

"I feel like this is a trap," I said eyeing her up.

"It's not." she laughs.

I walk away slowly pulling out my phone once more.

Change contact name from: Collin to: Puppy.

Text: Puppy

'Are you going to the game tonight?'

'Yeah, with some friends, did you want to go together?'

'FRIENDS.'

'I know, we are just friends that does not mean we can't hang out.'

'Noah sniffed me trying to figure out which guy I was with.'

'Lol seriously? Why not just tell them?'

'It feels like a secret to me lol'

'That's because I am, are you embarrassed by me darling?'

'Of course not puppy, but I don't know how they are going to react to it.'

'You never know until you try darling.'

'I know puppy, that's what I'm scared of.'

'Stop being so scared darling, step out of your comfort zone like we talked about.'

'I just did that, for three weeks.'

'And look how good that worked out for you darling. We aren't dating, you stayed with me as a friend. We didn't f**k or anything although we still could. Wink wink.'

'Not the time puppy.'

'Just think about it okay? You stayed with me and I helped you get better; shouldn't they see that as a good thing?'

'I'm going to embarrass you in front of all of your friend's puppy.'

'How are you going to do that darling?'

'Puppy...'

'Stop that.'

'Puppy.'

'Enough'

'Keep it up and I'll make those sketches become a reality darling.'

'Fine.'

'Don't say I didn't warn you.' 

I smile as I put the phone down, it's been three weeks since I left here to stay with Collin. We got extremely close over that time, we have never done anything s****l or close to it but I feel like I can be myself around him like he has seen me at my absolute worse and still continues to worship me. Through the panic attacks, the urges, the nightmares, the late-night sobs, binge eating and not eating all in two days, wanting to puke anytime I ate more than a bite of food. and all throughout it, he has been so gentle, pushing me a little farther away from those thoughts every day.

I sit in my room as I let the thoughts wash over me, I felt at peace when he was around me but now that I'm alone once more I feel like a piece of me is missing. My god, I think I love him. Push the feelings down and forget about it, friends. Just friends Rylee. Don't f**k this up too.

I walk over to my closet and throw on a cute dress that goes to my mid-thighs, a little tighter up top that flows out at my hips. Best part? It has pockets. I look at myself in the mirror and smile, I couldn't have gotten here without him. I grab a pair of boots and walk downstairs.