Broken Promises

An Army.

"Rylee, what happened?" He asked concerned.

"A school fight, I'm fine" I smiled.

"And the other guy?" He laughed.

"Way worse" I smiled once more before returning to work. The day was slow but I really didn't mind it. After a couple of hours, I went on break and checked my phone. A few notifications from different apps that I swiped away until I saw a text from Lucas and Max. My heart sank a little as I read them.

Text: Max

'Can we talk about what happened?'

'Rylee, I know I messed up by yelling at you last night but I was right, and if I wasn't you wouldn't have called Lucas.'

'And the comment this morning, I didn't mean it I was just mad over the fact that you were in bed with him. I know it's not an excuse but it's the truth.'

'I understand things are hard for you right now and I'm not trying to tell you what to do but I think if Lucas sticks around things are going to be worse for you'

I knew he was right but a part of me just wanted it all to stop. I scrolled over to Lucas's Message.

Text: Lucas

'I know you are mad at me and I'm sorry Rylee. Things are just confusing right now for me.'

'I should've stuck up for you today, Rylee. I should've told everyone to f**k off or corrected them for the things they said as they passed by but I didn't and I'm sorry'

'I just don't know where our relationship is at and I didn't want to start doing boyfriend things if that's not my place'

"Hey fry Ry," Collin said pulling me from my thoughts as he slides a small fry over to me.

"I'm not hungry, thanks though" I smile looking back to my phone.

"I didn't ask" he replied taking my phone from me.

"Not you too" I groaned.

"You didn't eat lunch yesterday either, eat," he said with a demanding expression, Collin was in our school but a grade above me I have no doubt he knows about the bet. I pick up a few fries and shove them in my mouth, he smirks at me as I chew and swallow.

"Good girl" he smiled handing me my phone, I rolled my eyes looking back at the texts.

"Ignore them." he said quickly.

"What?" I asked confused.

"Max and Lucas, ignore them." he said with a blank expression.

"Why?" I asked raising a brow.

"They don't deserve you" he smiled before walking away. What the hell did that even mean? I mean Collin barely knows me even though we've worked together this year. I looked at the texts once more, it's more I don't deserve them. I scoffed eating a couple more fries before pushing them aside.

"Eat!" he said as he walked past me. Why does he care so much about me eating? But I forced myself until I couldn't anymore. I wanted to vomit at the thought of eating more food I didn't need. I threw away what was left, getting a glare from Collin. I ignored it and went back to work. Soon after the A/C went out, it was 90 degrees outside and over 100 degrees inside.

"Rylee take off that long sleeve shirt!" The manager said as I passed by.

"I'm okay, really" I smiled even though I was dying, I headed towards the back to grab some napkins before the closet door closed behind me.

"UGH" I turned around frustrated.

"Why won't you take off the shirt?" Collin asked as I walked into him.

"I'm just not that hot" I smiled trying to walk around him.

"Rylee everyone out there is dying, two seconds away from giving everyone a free show, there's no way you aren't dying!" he said blocking the door.

"Collin just drop it I'll be fine" I smiled trying to leave.

"NO HOOKING UP IN THE STORAGE ROOM!" The manager yelled as she walked by the door.

"Please Collin" I pleaded.

"Just pull the sleeves up from time to time, okay?" he asked, as he opened the door.

"We weren't hooking up Tami!" Collin yelled as he walked out.

"You could win a bet and get bragging rights though Collin" Kayla smirked.

"Bets are for guys who don't have lives. and if I correctly remember Kayla; you were also a bet about 6 months ago, weren't you?" He smirked

"f**k off Kayla" I scoffed.

"Jessica should've kicked your ass" she laughed.

"Check her Snapchat story, I've been told the fight video was posted," I smirked as she quickly pulled out her phone, flipping through until all you could hear was yelling and the smirk on her face faded off at the close up of Jessica came across the screen.

"Going to be hard to cover that up with make-up" Elizabeth laughed "who did that?" She asked. Kayla's eye's pointed to me.

"Nice just Fry Ry" She smiled high fiving me.

"And barely a mark on you" She smirked.

"Thanks, Liz" I smiled heading back to the front, I was up there alone and no customers were in I needed to breathe so I pulled up my sleeves for a minute.

"Rylee can you--" Collin asked and stop looking at my wrist.

"Can I?" I asked quickly trying to pull my sleeves down.

"Can you make this order for me?" He asked with a smile, it wasn't a pity smile or a disgusting smile it was just a normal Collin smile.

"Mhm." I nodded and smiled.

I walked past him while he did whatever he was going to do, we didn't have time to talk much after that as the rush came in but we closed together so I'm sure that would give him time to ask a bunch of questions. Closing early tonight for some big event down the street.

"Sorry guys, it's closing time!" Collin yelled.

"You don't have to go home but you can't stay here!" I yelled gaining a laugh from Collin.

As the last person left Collin shut the door.

"FINALLY!" I yelled throwing myself over a table.

"Not done yet" Collin laughed pulling me up.

"UGHHH" I groaned.

"I know it's so hard" he laughed.

"It's so hot" I scoffed.

"So, take the shirt off" he rolled his eyes. It was just him and I, and he's already seen the cuts so why not.

I pulled my short sleeve shirt over my head, then the long sleeve shirt off, and put the short sleeve shirt back on. I look over to lock eyes with Collin, he quickly turned away and started cleaning. I walked over to the speakers in the back office and plugged my phone in, turning on my random playlist.

"What are you doing?" Collin asked as the music started playing.

"I'm listening to music while I clean" I laughed.

"Shitty music" he chuckled.

"Oh, I can turn it off..." I said lowly as I went to walk back to the room.

"Leave it" he smiled handing me a rag.

We danced around while we cleaning turning away cars as they pulled up to order. We closed at 6:30 to clean everything up before we clocked out at 7, I half expected him to ask about the cuts or even the bruise on my arm that I forgot about but he didn't, he joked around and danced with me while I mopped, sang with me while we did the dishes. He didn't once say anything about the ace bandage around my ribs, which I'm guessing he saw by the way he looked away after I put my shirt back on; even if he was looking at my body and not at it, he still would've seen it. I was pulled from my thoughts as my phone rang.

"Can you answer that?" I yelled from the storage room.

"Sure" Collin yelled back.

A few seconds later I walked to the back office.

"Yeah, Luka I'll let her know." Collin said lowly.

"You're welcome. Bye." Collin said quickly.

"What's up?" I smiled.

"He just said he'd be a few minutes late picking you" He smiled.

"Thanks for answering that" I smiled he nodded and we went back to cleaning just hanging out, a few minutes later everything was done and I could finally go home. I headed to the back office to grab my phone checking it as I walked out.

Text: Lucas.

'Call me when you get off, please'

Ignore.

Text: Max

'Call me when you get home'

Ignore.

Text: Luka

'How's the age bandage holding up?'

'It stayed pretty tight all day.'

'I'll be on my way from your house in a minute'

'Okay'

I put my phone away as I walked out looking at Collin as he waited for me by the door.

"Thanks" I smiled as he held the door open.

"Of course," he smiled.

"I'll see you tomorrow," I said sitting down.

"I'm going to stay here till Luka gets here" He smiled sitting beside me.

"You really don't have to" I smiled.

"I know," he said softly before pulling out his phone, we sat in silence scrolling through our phones until Luka got there.

"Thanks for staying with me" I smiled politely.

"It was no problem seriously" he smiled before walking to his car.

"Everything okay?" Luka asked as I got into the car.

"Lucas and Max were blowing up my phone today" I huffed.

"Yeah, they are both at the house looking for you" he answered

"What?" I looked at him as he pulled out of the parking lot.

"Something about needing to talk to you" he answered shrugging his shoulders.

"let's not go home then" I smiled.

"Don't worry, Noah said he would have them out before you got home" Luka said in a reassuring voice, or what I'm guessing is supposed to be reassuring. Instead, it made me more nervous, I know they aren't going to leave.

After a few minutes we pulled up to the house, Lucas and Max's cars still out front, I slummed back in my seat before Luka gave me a weird look. I pointed to their cars and got a nod back as Luka pulled out his pack of cigarettes, I put my hand out and got a questionable look before he handed me one and the lighter shortly after, I took a deep inhale while I looked at their cars like it would give me some insight on what to do.

"You have to choose one of them" Luka broke the silence.

"What if I don't want either of them?" I asked not bothering to look his way.

"Then you have to tell them that" Luka answered bringing a hand to my shoulder.

"I just don't want to be with them. They have each done equally shitty things" I answer inhaling.

"I think the bet makes Lucas ten times worse" he chuckles.

"But Max yelling at me for my own choices" I laugh.

"Was it a stupid choice?" Luka asks before I can finish.

"To me, no" I answer pausing for a moment, "to everyone else, probably" I sigh.

"What choice?" Luka asks, I glance down at my wrist. Debating whether or not I tell him the truth, Luka doesn't judge me for my choices. Never has in the many years I've known him; he knows more than anyone else does about my life. Hell, I call him almost every night to talk about my day and have since I got a phone. He's truly my best friend and there's not a doubt in my mind that's true.

"No yelling?" I ask meeting his gaze.

"Promise" He smiles sticking his pinky up. I wrap my pinky around him with a smile.

I pull up the sleeves of the long sleeve shirt I put on before I left work, exposing the cuts carved into my arm. I sigh as I put my wrist between us. He looks down and lets out a small laugh before lifting his sleeve exposing fresh marks on his arm.

"You aren't the only one with demons Rylee" He smiles before pulling his sleeves back down.

"You're not mad?" I asked tilting my head confused.

"Sometimes the pain is a lot to bare alone, or maybe it's just being left alone with your thoughts that bother you so much. Either way, I understand how it feels and I'm not going to get mad at you for something that gives you an escape even if it is only for a moment" he said lightly as I pulled my sleeve down.

"Thanks" I smiled taking another hit of the cigarette.

"If you ever need to talk though, I miss our nightly phone calls." He smirked shrugging his shoulders.

"I'll be sure to call you every night" I smiled messing up his hair.

"Come on." I said as I got out of the car, taking one more hit as I walked to the door before throwing it down.

"You sure?" he asked quickly.

"No more good girl" I smirked before pushing the door open.

"Rylee" Lucas and Max rushed over.

"Out." I said sternly.

"What?" Max asked.

"Unless you are here to hang out with Jason, or you are here to hang out with anyone, get out" I scoffed pushing them towards the door.

"I just want to talk to you." Lucas said quickly.

"You guys want an answer? The answer is no, to both of you" I said quickly.

"What?" They looked at me confused.

"I don't want to be with either of you, now if you'll excuse me. I would like to hang out with my family" I said as I opened the door.

"Rylee..." Max said in a sad tone.

"OUT" I yelled making them walk towards the door. I left out a sigh of relief before getting a sympathetic look from everyone

"I'm fine." I said quickly with a smile.

I walked to the kitchen where I sat with Luka and talked to everyone about work and how the A/C broke while Noah made lunch, Killian told me that he's getting adopted as well as almost all of the younger kids, which was great for them and I was so happy but I was seriously going to miss them. After all, they are what gets me through the most difficult times. But they were so happy I didn't even bother to tell them that, they talked about what families they were going to and how many siblings they were going to have, Killian was even excited and it took a decent amount to get him excited about almost anything. A knock on the door put a holt in my comment about them being such amazing kids.

"Hello?" I said as I answered the door.

"Rylee bug!" Bruce said as he walked inside.

"Oh, I forgot you were coming" I smiled as I welcomed him and a friend in.

"This is my girlfriend, Alice" He smiled, girlfriend? He never talked about anyone when I was a kid, let alone brought a girl around.

"Hi, I'm Rylee" I smiled.

"She's a doctor" He replied, the grim expression coming across my face.

"Don't worry, it's a home visit so she doesn't have to inform the state about anything, and she knows you fell during a panic attack" he replied putting his hands on both shoulders.

"I promise not to say a thing Rylee" she smiled; a sincere smile that made me want to vomit.

"Okay," I answered instead.

"Is there somewhere more private we can go?" She asked as she looked at everyone staring from the kitchen.

"Oh, yeah" I smiled as I swatted my hand at them.

I walked up the steps as she followed behind me, thinking of all the things that could go wrong. Once there I lifted my shirt as she removed the bandage after a few moments of looking and pushing on my ribs she looked at me as I barely moved, don't show pain in any way when you are around someone you don't know or trust.

"They seem too broken, but it doesn't seem to bother you much." she said as she stood up if she only knew how much I wanted to punch her for pressing so hard on them.

"Only sometimes" I answered with a smile.

"Well, whoever wrapped it did an impressive job" she smiled.

"My friend Luka" I replied as we walked towards the door.

"Is he still here? I'd love to meet him" she asked.

"Yeah, hold on." I said as we got to the bottom of the steps.

"Luka!" I said in a raised voice so he could hear me.

"What's up Ry?" He asked as he walked over.

"This is Alice my uncle's girlfriend." I introduced them.

"You did a wonderful job wrapping up Rylee" she smiled as they shook hands.

"Thanks, all part of being a best friend" he smiled at me.

"I left her unwrapped for now, would you mind wrapping them later?" She asked.

"Yeah, I'll be here for a bit yet" he smiled.

There was some meaningless conversation about Alice and Bruce and how they met during his tour, how she's a doctor because she loves helping people, they asked about Luka and my relationship which was simple. He's my best friend and then they left, and we went back to our conversation about the kids.

A few hours went by with nothing exciting happening besides my phone being blown up by Lucas and Max which I ignored, Luka hung out for a while before he went to go meet some friends and I headed upstairs to the shower.

Text: Luka.

'I forgot to wrap your ribs; I'll swing by on the way home, okay?'

I ignored the world as my phone continued to go off, at this point I already knew who it was and I didn't want to make myself sad over them by reading their messages, I just wanted a relaxing night after working and especially after what happened at school. Looking back, there was no reason Lucas couldn't have stuck up for me. Luka did with no issues but Lucas thinks we should be dating if I want him to but honestly, he should just want to because we are friends, or were friends. Max just struggles to find a line not to cross and when he gets upset or mad, he can't think about the things he says first. I just don't think any of us would benefit from me dating either of them. A social status, sure. Not feeling alone all the time, sure. But nothing that would make any of us happy and I just don't want to go through all of that to end up in the same place I am now.

"Rylee?" Jake knocked on the door.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Luka is here" he answered, I gave myself a questionable look before responding.

"Okay, be out in a minute!" I yelled back.

I quickly finished my shower and wrapped a towel around myself before walking to my room.

"Hey" I smiled as I walked in.

"Hey" he replied as he turned around with fresh bruises on his face.

"What the hell happened?" I yelled in shock.

"Just a fight, I'm fine." he smirked.

"Luka you don't look fine." I said grabbing clothes from my dresser.

"Ry it's fine." he said with a smirk still plastered on his face.

"Turn around." I groaned. I quickly got dressed while Luka stared at my wall.

"Done." I said as I ran over to him to further inspect his face and knuckles.

"What happened?" I asked as I pushed him down on the bed.

"Just some guys who wouldn't stop making smart comments." he brushed it off like it was nothing.

"Hold on." I said quickly running over to the bathroom to grab peroxide.

"Okay explain." I said as I sat on his lap.

"They just wouldn't shut up." He rolled his eyes, settling his hands on my thighs.

"About what?" I asked.

"It's not important." he said tightening his jaw. I wasn't sure if it was because of the pain or he was still mad about it.

"If you got into a fight over it, it's important." I said dabbing his face with the cloth, his grip on my thigh tightened as I left out a gasp.

"It was nothing Ry" he smirked.

"Just tell me already" I groaned wiping a cut on his cheek.

"About the f*****g bet" he blurted as his grip grew tighter making me gasp once more.

"Stop fighting people over it!" I yelled in response.

"I'm not just going to let people talk bad about you Rylee!" He shouted back.

"Just let them! Their opinions don't matter Luka!" I yelled again.

"No" he said quickly.

"They can think what they want, they can say what they please. As long as you don't hate me or think the same things, I'll be fine" I smiled.

"Never" he smiled.

"Then I'm fine" I smiled.

"Luka, you want to stay here tonight? It's getting late and it's raining" Jake said as he walked into my room.

"Yeah, that's fine" he said quickly as Jake looked between him and me.

"Nothing is happening!" I yelled pushing myself off of him.

"Mmmhhhmmm," Jake said walking away.

"Let me wrap you quick" Luka laughed.

"Yeah," I said as I lifted my shirt. He wrapped me tightly before leaving the room, I remembered a conversation we had earlier and started looking for my phone. I headed over to the bathroom since that was the last time, I heard it.

"Jay!" I yelled through the door.

"Yeah?" He yelled back.

"Is my phone in there?" I asked.

"You mean the one that won't stop going off? Yes." He yelled back in an annoyed tone.

"I know, I'm tired of it too but I need it." I said as I cracked the door.

"Then come get it." he said. I ran into the bathroom and grabbed it off the counter before running back out.

"THANKS!" I yelled closing the door.

I ran back to my room and looked at my phone. 45 text messages. I scoffed to myself before opening them.

Text: Max

'I'm sorry Rylee but I can't accept that you don't want to be with either of us.'

'Please can we just talk it out?'

'I miss being around you all the time, I miss the way you say my name'

'Rylee I'll keep showing up every day'

'I won't stop texting you'

'I know what I said was stupid but I was just angry about you sleeping next to Lucas.'

'It wasn't fair for me to see that either'

IGNORE.

Text: Lucas

'Come on Rylee I thought you were over the whole bet thing'

'I want you to be with me, f**k Max'

'I'm sorry about the bet Rylee, honestly.'

'I don't want to lose you over something this stupid.'

'I don't understand why you are still so mad about this.'

'I should've stuck up for you in school Rylee, I'm sorry I just didn't know how to.'

'I'll make sure no one talks about it again, I swear!'

'Please just answer me.'

IGNORE.

I'm tired of people thinking they can say and do stuff to me and then just apologize like that makes it any better because it really f*****g doesn't. I read the ones I could stand to read and just ignored the rest. I really don't need to hear all this bullshit they are saying when I know none of it is true. It may not have been fair for Max to walk in on me sleeping with Lucas but it was fair for how he made me feel, because of what he said I crawled back to Lucas in a stupid mistake. Because of Lucas, everyone at school thinks I'm a w***e who will sleep with anyone when I took careful consideration before sleeping with Lucas, I didn't have to ask if he and Jessica were broken up but I did. Because I'm a nice f*****g person who doesn't care about myself but cares way too much about other people. They deserve someone better than me, and there are many people to choose from.

"Hello?" Luka answered the phone as it rang.

"Hey, ready for our nightly phone call?" I asked as I lay in bed.

"Yeah" he chuckled.