Broken Promises

The breakable

After everyone ate and the kids were put to bed, I made my rounds to check on each one of them before heading back down to the kitchen to help the others clean.  

“Hey Rylee” Melissa said as she washed her plate.  

“Thanks for dinner lovely!” She smiled looking at me.  

“Of course,” I smiled and went about cleaning up the kitchen. To my surprise everyone else helped tonight to, Clearing the table cleaning up the mess from the little kids, wiping the table down and the floor from all the food that was thrown in it, washing the dishes and putting them away.  

“Why is everyone helping?” I asked confused.  

“Honestly, Grayson started to clean and we felt bad” Jake laughs 

“Go, have fun. I’ll be down in a few” I laughed  

“You sure?” Jake asked  

“Yeah” As soon as the word yeah left my mouth they were gone in a flash. Melissa went to shower while everyone else went downstairs. I could hear them yelling and laughing, acting like children. I laughed to myself and finished cleaning, With Grayson's help of course.  

“You could’ve gone down with them” I said while washing the dishes.  

“Yeah, I could have but I wanted to help you” He chuckled. 

“Rylee?” Melissa said as she walked into the kitchen  

“Yeah, what's up?” I asked as I turned around.  

“You almost done?” She asked with a smile.  

“Yeah, finishing up now” I smiled as I washed the last plate.  

“Okay, I’m going to go check on the kids” Melissa smiled and headed back upstairs.  

“So do you do this a lot?” Grayson asked 

“Take care of kids or clean the house? The answer is yes.” I laughed  

“I actually meant party in the basement” He laughed  

“Oh, yes” I laughed again  

“And your foster parents don’t care?” Grayson asked.  

“Typically, no, sometimes if we have people over. They don’t want people finding out we take of the younger kids or party in their house.” I smiled as I dried my hands off.  

“It doesn’t bother you?” He asked.  

“Grayson, I've been with a lot of families since my parents died. If all I have to do is take care of the kids a few days out of the week I don’t mind” I smiled as we walked towards the basement door.  

“Yeah, I guess that makes sense” Grayson plastered a fake as s**t smile on his face. I could tell he was upset or maybe confused? Honestly, I'm not sure and I don’t really understand why, we just met. He has no reason to feel bad for me.  

“Ready?” Melissa asked as she walked closer 

“Yeah” I giggled and we headed down the steps.  

“What’s up bitches!” Melissa yelled as we walked downstairs.  

“YOOO” A few people yelled as she made her descent.  

There were a few kids from school, a few rejects or people who don’t really fit in. Everyone else's friends and of course Luka. Lucas couldn’t bother to be in this part of town but Luka always enjoys hanging out with my foster family.  

“RYLEE” Some people yelled as I walked past them and I rolled my eyes.  

“You aren’t going to talk to them?” Grayson asked following close behind 

“Nope” I laughed and continued my venture to the drinks.  

“Hey lightweight” I heard someone say walking beside me.  

“Maxwell!” I laughed  

“Hey you know me again!” He laughed  

“Yeah, had to ask around but ya know” I laughed it off.  

“So, what are you drinking tonight?” He asked curious.  

“Whatever I can” I laughed.  

“Grayson you want something?” I asked and got a glare from Maxwell.  

“Boyfriend?” He smirked  

Before I could even answer Grayson answered for me 

“Yeah” he said shocking me, making me turn around and he just smirked and winked at me.  

“Well, if I would have known that last night” Maxwell said quickly.  

“Oh no” I could feel my face turn red.  

“Oh, it was nothing lightweight, just a lap dance from truth or dare” Maxwell laughed.  

“Oh, Haha very funny Maxwell” I said sarcastically. 

“Yeah, nothing happened I was just f*****g with you” Maxwell winked, like maybe something did happen, maybe it didn’t. Now I was as confused as Grayson 

“Wow that was something” Grayson laughed.  

“Why did you tell him we were dating?” I asked as Maxwell walked away.  

“I don’t know, he asked I lied” Grayson smirked.  

“You know that means we have to pretend to be together all night” I glared at him 

“I don’t mind” He smirked and wrapped his arm around my waist pulling me in close to his body.  

I could feel the eyes on me from all around the room as things got eerily quiet. After I finally caught my balance and stood up, I refused to turn around.  

“That was quite the show” Jake said coming up behind me.  

“Yeah, pretty believable” Jason said as he put his hand on the dip on my back.  

“Grayson told Maxwell we were dating” I rolled my eyes 

“Oh, why?” Jake asked confused.  

“I don’t really know, I'm new and I haven’t been to a party like this before, I lied” Grayson shrugged it off.  

“Okay, Ryles we are doing a smoke sheesh, you want in?” Jake asked tauntingly  

“Thats a stupid question” I laughed and walked away with Jake.  

“A smoke sheesh?” Grayson asked Jason who was close behind 

“Yeah, like weed?” Jason laughed.  

“Man, you really don’t party do you?” He asked curiously.  

“Not really, and if I do its with high class people so it’s pretty boring. They do stuff like E and coke, not mellow stuff like weed.” Grayson answered honestly.  

“We did a E a couple weeks ago, remember that Rylee?” Jason asked flirty 

“Yeah, I remember Jay” I shrugged it off. I just wanted to party not talk about my past or past parties, I sat there as everyone passed the bowl and the bong around. I smoke with a lot of these people daily so I know how it works but Grayson looked like a lost puppy. He got some weird stares from the people around us; I’m supposed to be his ‘girlfriend’ but he doesn’t even know how to smoke. I took a hit of the bong and passed it, I stood up and walked over to Grayson who was sitting on the couch with Melissa and Jake; I stood there for a second before he looked up at me. My heart started to pound, it's okay just do it. Do now explain later. I put one leg on either side of him and straddled him. He gave me a confused look but I just went with it. I took my hand and put it on his chin lifting his mouth to mine, I got close enough to feel his sharp ragged breath against my lips and blew the smoke into his mouth which was now just inches away from mine. He inhaled almost automatically and held it for a minute. Waiting for me to finish exhaling before he did, by now everyone in the smoke sheesh was looking at us and I felt Jason and Maxwells glares searing into my skin. I smiled and got off of him heading over to get a drink he sat there basically dumbfounded. He didn’t move or talk as everyone else went back to the sheesh.  

“What the f**k was that about?” Jason said grabbing my arm and pulling me over to the side.  

“Jay, you’re hurting me” I whimpered as his grip got tighter.  

“Answer me Rylee, do you like Grayson?” Jason hissed.  

“I’m a single woman Jason and I don’t have to answer to you!” I spat and ripped my arm out of his grip.  

“Answer me Rylee” He hissed again putting his hands on either side of my head against the wall., trapping me in.  

“No Jason!” I spat again and pushed him back.  

“Hey everything okay over here?” I saw Maxwell ask as he walked in front of me.  

“Everything is just peachy Max” Jason hissed and walked away slamming his fist down on the table.  

“You okay?” Maxwell asked as he turned towards me keeping his eyes on Jason. 

“Yeah I’ll be fine” I said lowly as I held my arm where Jason grabbed me, I could feel the bruise forming on my arm already.  

“Rylee your arm” Maxwell said as he grabbed it to look at it.  

“I’m fine” I said angrily and ripped my arm from his hand walking away from him and getting lost in the crowd.  

“What the f**k just happened?” Melissa asked as she pulled me into a corner.  

“Nothing I’m fine” I plastered a fake smile on my face and pulled my arms over my chest trying to hide the bruise.  

“Rylee” Melissa said in a low tone. She knew I wasn’t; I knew I wasn’t. But I wasn’t about to air out my dirty laundry during a party.  

“I need to get out of here” I sighed and made my way to the basement door that leads outside. Pushing past everyone just trying to breath; My body was working against me, I had to force my legs to move as the room started to spin around me, my chest tightened and my anxiety started to rise. It was like I was running around in circles and everything else was standing still. I made my way up the steps honestly not sure how. When I got outside, I flopped on the ground and felt my body start to breath like it should. When I finally regained myself enough to sit up, I saw Maxwell walk up the steps with Grayson.  

MAXWELL’S P.O.V.  

“So, Rylee huh?” I asked Grayson as we walked outside.  

“Yeah, she's pretty great” He smiled like an i***t.  

“This is something I already know” I smirked which got me a questioning eye raise from Grayson. 

“Listen, you’re new so you wouldn’t know but Rylee isn’t a girl that dates much. I think she has had one boyfriend in the last 2 years. And she hasn’t actually dated anyone else since, hook-ups, yes. Going on dates, also yes but dating someone long term, no.” I chuckled at the thought.  

“Well maybe no one is treating her like she should be” Grayson hissed.  

“Listen kid, I’m here a lot. So, I know a lot, and I would know if Rylee had a boyfriend, especially if he was the new kid.” I sneered. I don’t even know why I'm being like this. Rylee and I don’t really talk that much nor have we ever had a thing together but I just don’t like the thought of her being with someone.  

“Well then you either don’t pay attention or you just don’t know her well enough” Grayson scoffed and headed back inside.  

What the f**k am I doing? I don’t know Rylee but I wouldn’t mind getting to know her, I don’t pay attention to her unless we are at parties to make sure she is safe. Why do I do this? Because I've seen one to many girls hurt after getting a little too drunk.  

“Yo you good?” Jason asked as he came up the steps as I lit a cigarette.  

“Yeah” I scoffed  

“What’s your problem dude?” Jason asked concerned.  

“You are” I hissed.  

“What are you talking about?” He asked confused.  

“You, you are so jealous of anyone else being with Rylee that when she lets go even a little you are a dick.” I hissed again 

“Dude what the f**k” Jason yelled in my face.  

“Dude, you grabbed ahold of her. You bruised her arm. She was abused you f*****g i***t! You told me that yourself yesterday after she flinched when I moved to fast, or tried to help her. Remember?!” I yelled in his face. 

“It’s none of your business what I do with or to Rylee!” Jason yelled back.  

“None of my business? What happened the last time y’all were together? How many times did I cover for your ass while you were out cheating on her?! And when she finally found out about the one f*****g time it broke it her heart and she was done!” I yelled back louder and angrier now. 

“How many f*****g times?” I heard a voice come out of the shadows.  

“Rylee?” Jason turned around confused, I was just as lost as he was. I didn’t know she was out here.  

“How many f*****g times did you cheat on me Jason!” She screamed walking towards him. The sadness that was on her face a second ago was replaced with pure anger.  

“I don’t remember” Jason scoffed.  

“You don’t remember? That’s how many times you don’t remember?!” She yelled in his face.  

“At least 5” He scoffed.  

“Five? That’s all? Funny how ‘it was only once and I'll never do it again, I love you Rylee’ turned into five f*****g times Jason!” She yelled in his face, turning her heal to leave and automatically catching Jasons hand on her arm again.  

“Let go” she said sternly  

“Just listen to me Rylee” He gripped harder. I could see the pain wash over her face from how hard he was holding her.  

“Dude let her go” I said sternly  

“Max stays out of this” Jason pushed me back  

“Jason let her go. Now” I yelled taking him by surprise while he released Rylee's arm and she ran back down into the basement.  

“What the f**k dude!?” Jason screamed at me.  

“Don’t be a d**k, you already hurt her once, let's not do it again.” I said angerily that he would think it’s okay.  

“Stay the f**k out of it Maxwell!” he yelled in my face. Slowly but surely, we started screaming at each other gaining everyone's attention as Jason walked down into the basement me following close behind still yelling at him.  

“Dude why do you care so much what I do to Rylee?” He yelled stepping towards me.  

“It’s not okay for you to hurt her because you are mad Jason! You already bruised her arm once!” I yelled getting in his face.  

“What!?” Jake yelled walking towards Jason 

“I didn’t even hurt her” Jason defended.  

“Rylee” Jake called and she came.  

“Did Jay hurt you?” He asked without even looking at her.  

“No, I’m fine Jake” she said softly.  

“Right arm, under her sleeve” I scoffed as she tried to continue to hide the mark I knew was there.  

“Rylee arm.” Jake demanded.  

“Jake, I said--” She started.  

“Rylee arm!” Jake boomed making the room fall even more silent than it already was.  

“Jake” Melissa yelled gaining his attention. Sharing a look like they were talking to each other without saying anything.  

“Upstairs now!” Jake yelled grabbing us and pushing us up the steps. Rylee and Melissa included.  

“What the f**k?” Jason scoffed as we finally got upstairs. Jake didn’t say anything just looked at Rylee, she wouldn’t even look him in the eye.  

“Just show him Rylee” Melissa sighed. When Rylee still didn’t move or make eye contact, he grabbed her arm, she didn’t fight back or look at him as I watched a tear fall from her eyes and run down her face.  

“Jason, care to explain?” Jake asked getting in his face, they may be the same age but Jake is bigger and stronger.  

“I didn’t mean to hurt her Jake, but she took Grayson's lie too far” He tried to explain.  

“Melissa, go find Noah and Grayson” Jake demanded and Melissa left. I have never seen things so serious, so tense around here.  

“Jason, what makes you think you have a right to lay your hands on her for any reason?” Jake spat.  

“I didn’t, I just grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side” He defended again.  

“Rylee are you okay?” Jake asked pulling her into a hug. I saw the tears continue to stream down her face but she nodded yes.  

“You are making a big deal out of nothing Rylee!” Jason yelled.  

“You need to shut your f*****g mouth before we have a problem!” Jake yelled in his face.  

“Woah what's going on?” Noah asked as he walked upstairs.  

Jake nodded to Rylee’s arm which she has finally stopped trying to cover up.  

“Hey Ryles, you okay?” Noah asked walking over to her and pulling her, she nodded again but didn’t say anything.  

“Hey why don’t you take Grayson for a walk?” Noah smiled trying to ease whatever was happening in her head. She didn’t say anything she just nodded and grabbed his hand and walked out the door. She looked so broken, so fragile, like you could break her with a single word.  

“Outside” Noah sneered and pushed Jason out the back door.  

“What’s happening?” I asked confused.  

“I’m not sure” Melissa answered honestly.  

We followed them through the kitchen and out the back door. We stood there for a minute while Noah and Jake talked to each other on the side while Jason sat on the ground, no doubt waiting for what was about to come.  

“Jason, why?” Noah asked angrily.  

“She got to close to Grayson” Jason answered lowly.  

“So, because she got to close to Grayson which their relationship is none of your business anyways, you felt as if it was okay to hurt her in anyway?” Noah asked in tone of ignorance.  

“I wasn’t thinking straight” Jason defended.  

“No, I don’t think you were the first time. But the second time? That’s when it’s a problem. We are here to lead you in the right direction and this really doesn’t seem like we are helping you at all! You never lay your hands on a woman!” Noah yelled in a booming voice.  

“Noah, I'm sorry” Jason pleaded.  

“You are not to be around Rylee for the next week, understood?” Jake asked.  

“What?” Jason asked irritated.  

“You hurt her, I could see the flashbacks before they even started, the panic you put her in without her having to say a f*****g word to me Jason, you know she shuts down when she has a panic attack or when the flashbacks happen again. Until Rylee starts talking again you aren’t to be around her. Not at school, not here, not on the way to or from school, one of us will be with her at all times. Including Maxwell.” Noah sneered in his face. That last statement took me by surprise, including Maxwell, does that mean I'll be around her more? 

“Noah, I know I f****d up but let me apologize to her” Jason pleaded.  

“Jason you more than f****d up. You thought it was bad when you broke her heart, it’s about to be 10 times worse.” Jake said in a cold tone, so calm that you feel the tension in the air.  

“Lissa text Rylee and tell her it's okay to come back now.” Noah said to Melissa.  

“Oh, and one last thing” Jake said quickly and before anyone could say anything Jake punched Jason across the jaw. The sound of contact made even me look away.  

“Leave her the f**k alone” Jake spat at Jason. 

Everyone went inside, including Jason who now had an icepack on his face. Noah sent him up to his room for the night with some Tylenol and a glass of water right before Rylee got back.  

GRAYSON’S P.O.V.  

I’m honestly not sure what happened but when I heard that Jason hurt Rylee, I was sober, as if that one hit did much anyways, I was completely sober. I know I just met her but she’s strong and outgoing, she’s brave and smart, and she’s not afraid to stand up for herself. As I walked up the steps with Noah and Melissa, I was ready to beat the s**t out of Jason honestly. The way Noah looked at Rylee and Jake nodded to her arm I knew there was something bigger behind this whole thing. When Rylee didn’t say anything, I knew there was something wrong honestly, I caught a glimpse of the bruise that had formed on her arm as she took my hand and walked me outside. We walked for a while but she didn’t say anything, she shivered a bit so I gave her my jacket. She gave me a smile but didn’t say anything again. Did I do something wrong? Or is this just a coping mechanism? I know Rylee has been through a lot given how I know her but maybe things got worse after I knew her. I can’t say she reminds me of the same girl but honestly, I just needed to know she was safe, after my parents decided, they didn’t want to live the up and up life I suggested we move back here since it was our hometown after all, and I knew Rylee was here after I saw some of her Spoony posts. Spoony is a social media app that is basically on the up and up. Everyone is on it anymore but it's mostly just for teenagers. 13-19 is the age range you are allowed on it since some people share more...spicy pictures they have a security system set in place to weed out older people or letting younger people post provocative pictures. No one under 16 unless it’s a swim suit.  

“You okay?” I broke the silence  

She nodded her head as she sat down on a bench.  

“Rylee what happened?” I asked concerned but she just shook her head and shrugged it off. It’s like she was mute. Finally, she pulled out her phone and pointed to the text and I just shook my head, I liked being out here with her.  

“Can I see it?” I asked and she pulled off my jacket exposing the now black and purple bruise on her arm. I looked at it then at her and she just looked away, I took her arm and kissed it gaining a confused look from her. No doubt she wanted to say something but it's like her body wouldn’t let her. I helped her back into the Jacket and took her hand leading her back to her house. She may not have said anything but she relaxed into me so easily as we walked and at least had a smile on her face.  

She was definitely hurting but there wasn’t anything I could do to help her. I trust her family has it handled though.  

RYLEE’S P.O.V.  

After what had happened, I shut down completely. I know Jake was just looking out for me but he made a scene in front of everyone and that scared me honestly, I hate being the center of attention unless I make myself it.  

I was walking with Grayson and got cold. He took his jacket off and gave it to me, I wanted to say thank you but I couldn’t my body wouldn’t work with my brain to open my mouth and form words, so I just smiled instead.  He asked if I was okay but again my body was against me and I just shook my head, this wasn’t anything new I had been abused way worse before. All this was was a bruised arm. He asked what happened but I couldn’t answer him, I just shook my head and shrugged it off like it was nothing. He asked to see it so I left him, without a second, I guess I pulled the jacket off and left him look at my arm. He kissed it which made me a little confused because he has a girlfriend but it felt kind and sweet instead of s****l. Like something Noah or Jake would do. We walked back in silence still but a peaceful silence, I feel safe around him honestly, I do. But I learned a long time ago to not get comfortable, because even the people you feel the safest with, will hurt you given the chance. I opened the door to the house and was met with Noah running at me.  

“You okay?” He asked with concern in his voice. I nodded my head confirming I was indeed fine.  

“Grayson it’s late, do you wanna crash here tonight?” Jake asked him  

“Yeah, I'll text my mom and let her know” Grayson answered with a smile.  

“Okay, you can crash with me and Maxwell can crash with Noah” Jake smiled and started leading him upstairs, no doubt in my mind he was explaining the situation to him and telling him not to tell anyone what happens here  

“Hey, I know you shut down and it’s okay. We can talk when you feel better again” Noah smiled at me.  

“What about tomorrow with Lucas?” Melissa asked concerned.  

“Okay, so we need to fix you by tomorrow, no biggie” Noah said nervously.  

It was going to be a long f*****g night. You can’t fix someone who is as broken as I am but without fail, I was led into Noah's room as Noah, Jake, Melissa Grayson, Maxwell, Luka because for some reason he came upstairs to find Jake, and Axeton. This was going to be weird.