I Can't Love You [2]

       Aira couldn't believe what had just happened.She confessed her biggest secret to her best friend, then he decided to keep his secret from her.The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.She reached for her phone, but it rang before she could get to it.She saw the number was Ryland's, so she answered it and started going off on him.

   "I told you my biggest secret but you wouldn't even tell me what you were talking about?!I thought I could trust you and, you said we could tell each other anything!Why don't you just tell me?!I THOUGHT we were best friends Ryland!" she stopped for a second to catch her breath.

    He sighed. "Aira, I'm sorry.It's just something that... it's painful okay?I'll tell you when I'm ready to tell you, just like you told me when you were ready."

    His voice was calm, and what he said made Aira feel terrible for her tantrum. "Ryland, I didn't mean to go off on you.I didn't mean what I said."

     "Yes, you did.But, that's okay, I would have said the same thing.I know I seem like a hyporcrit, but this is something that is hard to deal with Aira, I hope you understand."

      She smiled into the phone. "I do."

     There was a long pause, then he took a deep breath. "Can I ask you a favor?"

      "Anything." She frowned slightly.Worried something might be wrong.

      "My dad and I got into an arguement, and he's making me move out.Can I... um"

      She knew what he was going to say. "Of course you can stay here."

       She heard him sigh. "Thanks Aira." they hung up and with-in minutes he climbed in through her window, wet, and shivering.

      Aira was in the bathroom, and when she walked in she had to cover her mouth not to scream.He looked like he had just gotten the crap beat out of him.She ran over to him and took of his soaking wet jacket.

     "Oh my God are you okay?!What happened?" She said in a babyish tone.

     He looked mad. "Well, for one.My dad's friend and I got into a fight, two they wrecked my car and I couldn't drive, and three it's raining and cold."

      She sat him on her bed and got him some extra clothes that her brother left for when he came to visit from college. "Here Ry." She handed them to him and he got changed.He dried off and she noticed the blood on his eyebrow.She grabbed his arm and sat him back down and got the medical kit.She applied some antibiotic cream, he cringed from the sting, but she finished up and bandaged it, and bandaged his arm.He had a big slash on his lower arm.She kissed his forehead and while she was bandaging him started to cry.She sat on the bed beside him and gathered him in her arms. "What happened?What started it?"

   His jaw tightened. "My sister, Stephie.. I mean Stephanie..The guy touched my sister...." He put hung his head low. "I freaked."

   She saw the tears in his eyes. "Ryland, where is your sister?"

    "I took her to our nanna's." a tear came from his eyes.He and his sister were close.She was fourteen and very pretty and sucha  sweetheart.Ryland got up and paced, his hands tight at his sides, curled into fists.

     Aira covered her mouth with her hand and walked out of the room crying, not wanting him to see her.What sick freak touches soemone like that?Especially a fourteen year old!A sweet and innocent fourteen year old.She sat on the stairs and layed her head against the railing on the side.Ryland sat beside her and put a hand on her arm. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told you."

   She shook her head. "I'm glad you did." she dried her eyes. "But who touches a girl like that?Especially someone so young and innocent.Ryland, what you did for your sister.. was so sweet.Benjiman would have done the same for me." Tears flowed again.Benjiman was her older brother, and she loved him so much.

    "I would have done it for you, and your brother.. he would have done that for anybody Aira.He's a good person." he pulled her close and held her head against his chest where his heart is.He played with her hair like he always did to calm  her down.

     She wrapped her arms around his torso and held him tight.The she heard a voice behind them. "What's going on?"

     It was her mom. "Oh, mom."

     "What's wrong?Ryland did you.."

      Aira shook her head. "He didn't do anything to me.It's what he did for his sister mom.He needs to stay here."

      Her mom saw the cuts and bruises and her features softened.She sighed. "Are you okay Ryland?"

      "Yes, ma'am.I got into a fight with my dad's 'buddy'.He.. touched my sister innapropraitely." He looked away.

      She gasped. "Oh goodness.You can stay as long as you want."

       "Thanks, he kicked me out.. so I need somewhere to stay."

      She smiled and walked back to her room.Aira stood up and wiped her eyes again.She looked over at Ryland who was staring at his hands.She took his arm and let him lay down on her bed.She went to her mom's bed room and knocked on the door."Come in!"

      "Mom.. thanks." That's all she said before she turned and walked out of the bedroom.

     She walked into the bedroom and stopped short when she saw him taking off his shirt.She stood in the doorway and watched him smiling.He layed back down and then looked over at her watching.He blushed. "Enjoy the show?"

      "Immensly." she smiled and jumped on the bed making him almost fall off. "It was entertaining."

      He rolled his eyes the put his hands behind his head. "I knew you would."

      She laughed. "Like you knew I was going to walk in and see you."

      "No, I didn't.But hey, it worked out fine from the look on your face when I saw you." he grinned and looked away from her and at the cieling.

      Aira shook her head. "Whatever." Okay, maybe a little.Or.. a lot.

      She got up and set her alarm clock.She turned on the radio, and put it on low then layed back down beside Ryland.She fell asleep with-in minutes.Ryland heard her breathing get slower, and looked over at the sleeping figure.She looks beautiful even when she's asleep.He fell asleep beside her.

   The next day....

    Ryland woke up to Aira yelling.

   "Mom!Leave me alone, okay?!" she stormed up the stairs.

   Her mom went after her. "Airadona!What's wrong with you?"

    "You!You have anther date?!That's the fifth one this week."

     "So?!There are seven days in a week!So what?!"

     Aira laughed a cruel laugh. "You've had five dates in THREE days mom."

      "Just.. go to your room."

      "Gladly."

       Aira slammed her door and when she saw Ryland staring at her she blushed and looked down, putting some hair behind her ear.He looked down and turned away."Um, you wanna do something today?" he asked quietly.

      "Yeah." she cleared her throat.  "Wanna go out back and.. swim?"

        He turned around. "You have a pool?What am I doing still standing here?"

        She laughed and grabbed her bathing suit. "It's heated!"

        He laughed and put on his swim trunks.

        "You brought swim trunks?" she asked laughing.

         He smiled. "I just grabbed a bunch of clothes and took off with Stephie."

         They both changed and she walked downstairs where he was waiting on the couch.She walked on out to the pool after he said he was going to get some Koolaid.She laughed and went on out there.She stood at the edge of the deep end and put her straight hair up in a pony tail.He watched a little bit more, but she aws wating for him.He walked out and she turned around and smiled. "Come on!"

            He ran at her but she stood still, so he pushed her in.She came up laughing.She yelled at him to jump in and he did.She swam away to the shallow side and sat on her knees waiting for him.He never came up and she started to worry.She stood up and started to walk in the water to find him, but he grabbed her leg and jerked her under.She smacked him when they came back up.He laughed and looked into her eyes smiling.She walked closer and kept their eyes locked.But the most embarrassing thing happened.She slipped and fell back under water.Did I almost KISS him?! She came back up blushing and walked to the ladder and climbed out.She layed on the towel in the sun to tan.

    "Come on sunshine, don't be embarrassed that you fell."

     Sunshine.Huh.She smiled. "I'm not.I need to tan."

      He laughed. "Whatever you say sunshine."

      He got out and walked over to her and shook his hair over her and sent water spraying all over  her. "I'm getting a snack... you're eating something too.What do you want?"

      "I want... ice cream." she laughed.

       He smiled and went inside to get some.He came back with two ice cream cones.He licked one and gave her the other.He layed beside her and looked at her thin body.He turned his attention back to the pool and got up after he finished his cone.He grabbed his towel and dried off the rest of the way then walked into the house and up to her room.She followed him, but the doorbell rang and there stood little Stephie.She had tears in her eyes.

       "Stephie... are you okay?" she asked.

      She shook her head. "Daddy... went to jail."

      Her eyes went wide. "Ryland!Your sisters here!Get down here!" she hugged stephie close.

       Ryland came down and he and Stephie went into the backyard and talked.They stayed out there until about dark.Aria gave them space.She went to check on them and they were layin on the ground, Ryland was holding Stephie in his arms stroking her hair.He was staring into the stars, seeming to be lost in space.Aira stood int he window watching them, wishing  she had her bother was there.

I almost cried writing this lol!Hey thanks for rating my story up so much last time!!I hope you enjoyed this chapter!I know it's long but I had to get that relationship betwee her and her brother in there.It's REALLY important.As you can tell things are heating up, so keep reading!If I don't keep you posted i'm really sorry!I'm super super busy, so please keep an eye out!Thanks soo much for your support!Next chapter will be full of tears and revealing!

   ♥-Amber