Chapter 46
1149words
"Thank you that's all I ask." Without a word Ryder starts to wiggle out of Shia's embrace which makes him hold the boy tighter, "where do you think you're going?"
"I'm just going for some water" Ryder explains looking at Shia, "I'll be back before you know it." "Fine 10 seconds" Shia loosens his grip, "10, 9, 8..." Ryder chuckles as he gets out of bed walking out
of Shia's room only wearing boxerbriefs and one of Shia's t-shirt.
Walking to the kitchen Ryder grabs a glass open the faucet to fill it, as he's about to bring the cup to his lips Ryder hears "Shia awake yet?"
Startled by the sound of the boy's mom asking as she walks in behind him "Good morning Mrs. Yorkton" Ryder turns, "and yes he's up."
"Well can you go tell him that he needs to go to the store? There's nothing here to eat... you know
when he's done with you in there."
Choosing to ignore the statement Ryder takes the cup of water trying to leave the kitchen, but is stopped when Shia's mom decides to continue, "all I can say to you kid is be careful, Yorkton men have a way of sucking the youth out of you then leaving you to rot," she complains as she puts a cigarette in her mouth. "Don't trust that one in there, may seem all in love with you now but he's just like his daddy, trust me. Bunch of no good men," deciding he's heard enough Ryder leaves the kitchen but stops when he finds Shia standing there behind the wall hearing everything.
Frowning Shia walks away and Ryder follows him until they're back in the room, putting the glass of water down somewhere, Ryder walks over to the boy sitting on his bed with his head down. "Don't listen to her" Ryder sits next to him, "it's all bullshit, she doesn't know you."
"My own mother doesn't know me?" Shia asks with a sad smile being used to his mother's bitterness, "what if she's right though? What if I'm just like him? Abandon any good thing I have for no reason"
"I don't know your dad but I know you, and I know that's not who you are. Your mom will say whatever she wants because of what she's going through, but you have to believe it's not true Shia, misery just loves company."
Shia has been miserable with his mom for a long time, yes he's grateful to have found Ryder but the worry still lingers. What if he's just as fucked up as his family and that causes him to lose Ryder? He didn't know how much he needed the boy, and now that they're finally together, Shia knew he wasn't going to let his mom ruin it for him.
"We don't ever have to be here if you don't want to" "Why wouldn't I want to?" Ryder asks confused
"My mom will just keep doing this until she scares you off, and I can't control her."
"You've met Evan, right?" Shia nods "so I think we're both kind of on the same boat, it'll take a whole lot more than these little scare tactics from your mom to scare me off." Moving closer Ryder wraps his arms around Shia "I'm not going anywhere, ok? You're here so of course
I'll always want to be here too."
"You sure?" Shia turns waiting for reassurance, "I know it's only been 2 weeks so I'd get it—" "Shhh" Ryder leans close planting his lips on the boy's to stop him from talking. "There's no going
back now baby, you're stuck with me."
Today makes 3 months, 4 days, 19 hours, and 12 minutes since they've been a couple. Evidently, today is also Ryder's birthday. Coming up with the perfect plan with the help of the boy's roommates, Shia was able to get Ryder out of his apartment the entire day.
After spending a suspiciously fun day with the girls Ryder asks "what's going on?" As they climb the stairs back to the apartment. Lin hasn't been able to contain herself all day with excitement, and Tamsin has been trying her best to get Lin to keep it together.
But it was too late now because they didn't have to keep the secret anymore, "nothing" Tamsin answers.
When they get to their floor Lin is first to unlock the door, after they've walked in before Ryder it was his turn to walk in. As he's stepping through the door Ryder looks down and asks "is that Shia's bag?" He notices the boy's backpack laying on the floor, "what's it doing here?"
They both shrug sharing a quick look "is he here?" Ryder walks between them heading for his room "No Ryder wait!" Lin chases him but they're too late stopping him from opening his bedroom door.
Stopping in his tracks Ryder stares at his boyfriend wiping paint from his hands, then his eyes pan to
the wall across his bed, the largest wall in his room. But it's not just the wall it's what's on it "Ryder—" he gets closer walking past Shia too distracted by the painted wall, "I can explain" "You did this for me?" He takes a quick look at Shia then back at the wall
Shia nods "it's ok if you hate it, we can always repaint—"
"It's perfect," Ryder finally turns his attention to Shia, "have you been here all day doing this?" Shia nods again "why?"
"You love the mural at school so much, figured you deserved your own, one that's only for you" Walking to Shia Ryder rests his forehead against his boyfriend's, "I don't deserve you," he whispers
"how'd I get so lucky?"
"I'm the lucky one" Shia kisses him, "happy birthday."
"Thank you" with a grin Ryder continues, "it's so beautiful I love it" "I love you," Shia says without hesitation
"I love you too, Shia, so fucking much." Their lips meet again sharing a kiss standing in the middle of Ryder's bedroom.
"I'm so proud of us," Lin says laying in Tamsin's bed as she walks around cleaning up, "if it wasn't for us Ry would've never said anything,
and now look at him." She verbally pats herself on the back, "I'm a good matchmaker" "Really? Then why are we still single?" Tamsin asks
"Duh because we're lost causes destined to die with each other," "I don't want to die with you,"
"It's too late Tammy, destiny has already spoken." "Fuck destiny, and don't call me Tammy"
"You deny me now but you'll see, our joint funeral is going to be beautiful" Lin laughs And Tamsin snorts "something's truly wrong with you."
