Chapter 54


    Mnie came running into the kitchen; dressed in a Disney princess Elsa costume with a storm-trooper


    helmet and light-saber. "Hey cutie," I chuckled, squatting down to her height.


    "Hey Rain," She giggled, pushing her helmet up onto her head which revealed her bright blue eyes.


    Faith then came running into the kitchen, "Um some man is at the door..."


    My eyes flickered up to Ryker''s as him and Reece quickly walked out of the kitchen and to the front


    door.


    "Something tells me this isn''t going to be a nice family dinner," I mumbled to myself as I stood up. I


    heard Reece begin to yell, and I walked out to see who it was.


    Tyson...


    His blue eyes snapped up to mine, a smirk tugged up at his lips that only screamed evil and trouble. "Hi


    sweetheart," He smirked, "I''ve missed you ever since you left."


    Ryker grabbed him by the shirt and mmed him up against a wall in the hallway "Listen here Blix,"


    Ryker gritted through his teeth.


    "Ryker!" I yelled, walking out to the hall and trying to push him off Tyson, "Stop and let go." "What do


    you want Blix?" Reece asked, clenching his jaw and keeping my behind him.


    "Rain," He stated,"Because you seemed to run off with her just a bit early and killed one of our


    members while you were at it."


    My heart fell and breath hitched at the thought of Hayes. The guilt hit me and I blinked slowly while


    everything seemed to slow down.


    "Hope you like being a murder, Thompson," Tyson pushed the guilt more and more "He died because


    of you, you ungrateful slutty bratty rich brat-"


    Tyson was cut off when Ryker shut him up by sending a punch right to his face. "Ryker!" I yelled, trying


    to push him away but Tyson and him broke out to a full-fledged fist fight.


    Reece tried to grab me back "Rain, no." I saw Leah and Faith at the doorway and Tyson sent a punch


    to Ryker''s jaw followed by a cracking sound.


    I got out of Reece''s grip, running up to them and getting in the middle before someone got majorly hurt.


    They both then stopped, holding each others res. "Rain, move," Ryker ordered, his eyes not tearing


    away from Tyson''s.


    "No," I said stern. Ryker''s bright blue eyes snapped to mine "Move, so I can fucking hit him." "If you


    want to hit him, you have to hit me," I swallowed a lump in my throat.


    Why I was standing up for Tyson, you might ask? I wasn''t..I was just tired of all the fighting, and didn''t


    want anyone getting hurt anymore.


    "I''m not hitting you," He stared at me in disgrace like it was the most absurd thing he''s ever heard me


    say. "Whipped Anderson.." Tyson tsked, making me face him.


    "But if you won''t hit her, I will," Tyson said and I couldn''t react before his fist came in contact with my


    face which sent me stumbling back.


    Everything became dizzy, and I couldn''t see straight. Ryker caught me from falling right before my eyes


    closed and I cked out.


    * * * * *


    "Mom?" I questioned, running inside the house in search for my mom. "Mom! I''m home!" I yelled, and I


    heard a gigglee from the kitchen.


    Heading towards the kitchen, I saw my mom with a ss of red wine in her hand and a man beside her


    "Oh Rain," She smiled and the man cleared his throat. Her eyes snapped up to his then back at me,


    "Rain this is my boyfriend-,"


    "What?" I cut her off, blinking slowly as it wasn''t registering in my head. "We''ve been together for


    sometime now and-" She started, but I didn''t want to bear the rest.


    Grabbing my keys and jacket, I headed towards the door. She yelled repeatedly "Rain! Rain!"


    "Rain, Rain," Another voice said. My eyes flung open and I sat up quickly. "Its just us," Reece and Leah


    said "You were tossing and turning in your sleep."


    I touched my forehead, and flinched at the pain where I got hit. My eyes snapped to theirs "Where''s


    Tyson?"


    Reece clenched his jaw and he looked away for a moment as Leah became tense. "Guys!" I yelled,


    "Where is he?!" "He''s in the hospital," Leah sighed.


    "Where''s Ryker?!" I asked concerned. "The prison.." Leah sighed. "What?!" I eximed, getting out of


    my bed.


    "Rain calm down and will exin everything," Reece stated as I pulled on my leather jacket and tied


    my converses.


    Leah grabbed my forearm to stop me, "Look, someone in the apartmentplex called the cops.


    Ryker was handcuffed and so was Tyson but he was taken to the hospital first."


    "But why are you so worried about Tyson?" Reece questioned. I gulped and tensed up "Alright," I


    sighed "I have to tell someone."


    "Tyson came back to get revenge..but he came back with something.." I trailed off, and they both


    furrowed their eyebrows at me. "A sex tape," I breathed, running a hand through my hair.


    Reece broke out into a coughing fit and Leah choked "A what?" "I was drunk..he took advantage of me,


    and recorded the whole thing, and I didn''t find out to we broke up and he broadcasted it to the whole


    school," I exined.


    "And you didn''t want Ryker beating the shit out of him?" Reece asked confused, which earned a smack


    upside the head from Leah. "No because he would show it to Ryker, and that''s thest thing I need," I


    sighed.


    ~ ~ ~ ~


    Running into the police station, I started to run past the front desk when thedy stopped me, "I''m sorry


    miss, but you cannot go back there."


    "Oh yes I can," I said "Sheriff Thompson is my father, and I don''t think you want to get in trouble with


    him." She gulped, "Why don''t you take a visitors pass?"


    I faked a smile as she handed me a pass "Thanks for your cooperation." Pushing the doors open, I ran


    down the prison hallways.


    I knew exactly where Ryker would be, and ran right to the cell. It was the cell that my dad always put


    him in, even when he first starting getting in trouble with thew.


    I came to the cell and saw him sitting on the bench with his head against the wall as he stood up at the


    ceiling bored. "Ryker," I broke the silence; making his head snap to mine.


    "Rain," He acknowledged as he stood up and walked over to the bars. "What the hell is wrong with


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    you?!" I eximed.


    He rolled his bright blue eyes at me, "Don''t put this on me. Tyson is the one that fucking showed up!"


    "But you hit him first," I used.


    "Rain Eliza," A voice interrupted, making me whirl around to see my dad. "Dad, I didn''t know you were


    working today," I breathed.


    He clenched his jaw and ced the newspaper that he had rolled up in his hands down on the desk "I


    need to talk to you." Nodding slightly I looked back at Ryker and snapped my fingers before pointing at


    the bench "You. Sit down."


    "Yes mom," He said sarcastically and rolled his eyes, going back to sit on the bench. My dad nodded


    his head over to his office, where I followed him in and he shut the door behind us.


    "Rain look," My dad sighed running his hands through his hair "I''m really trying to get better and


    support you, but I don''t support the decisions you make. Especially with Anderson, you have a future


    sweetheart and he''s only dragging you back."


    "Don''t sweetheart me," I shook my head "Because he''s not dragging me back." "Have you even


    thought about college?" He asked, "Graduations in two weeks."


    Shifting in my spot, I crossed my arms "I don''t know if I want to go.." "No," My dad shook his head "Its


    not that you don''t want to go, its that you don''t want to leave all your friends."


    "I really don''t think its for me. Plus everyone''s already been epted to colleges and I''ll just stick with


    modelling," I shrugged.


    "Don''t do this," He sighed "You know this isn''t right." Pressing my lips in a thin line, I nced back


    outside the window then back at my dad "I''m bailing him out."


    "Oh no you''re not," He shook his head, picking up a pile of papers. "Yes I am. I''m 18 and have the


    money. I''m bailing him out."


    "Rain, I said no." He narrowed his eyes at me. "As sheriff you have too," I stated, crossing my arms.


    "And as your father, I don''t have too," He pushed. "Yes but we''re in a business ce right now, and we


    don''t want to bring the state into this, do we?" I tested.


    He sent me a re before handing me a pile of papers to fill out for information about Ryker and


    myself.


    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


    "No Alex," I sighed as she gave me a lecture on my life decisions. Looking up from the ground to see


    Ryker walk out of the police station.


    "I got to go, bye Alex," I mumbled before hanging up. I walked over to the driver''s side and got in as


    Ryker got into the passenger seat withplete silence between us.


    I turned the key in the ignition of my truck and drove off without a word being said. "Why are you mad?"


    Ryker broke the silence.


    I looked over at him dumbstruck "Why am I mad? Oh I don''t maybe because I just had to Bail my


    boyfriend out of jail."


    "Tyson fucking started this!" He yelled, "If he didn''t show up, I wouldn''t have ended up in a jail cell!"


    "You were still part of the situation!" I yelled. "Fucking grow up," Ryker groaned, rolling his eyes. "I''m


    18, I shouldn''t have to grow up!" I eximed.


    "Well stop making me feel guilty for everything!" Ryker yelled, "Because thats all you do! You make me


    feel like I''ll never be fucking good enough for you! So my deepest apologies for not being perfect, your


    highness!"


    mming on my breaks, I pulled over to the side of the road. I looked over at Ryker with a re, "You


    need to go and deal with whatever shit is going on, thene back and talk to me."


    "Whatever," He rolled his eyes and got out of the truck as he mmed the door shut. He walked down


    some alleyway and I closed my eyes shut tightly.


    Please tell me I did the right thing....


    * * * * *


    -Next Day-


    "Alright if we pour this blue liquid in this red one it should make a fizz, right?" Shailene asked as I


    stared down at my notebook and phone.


    "Earth to Rain," She snapped her fingers in front of my face, making me snap out of my gaze. "Uh


    yeah? Blue, red, fizz.." I trailed off.


    "He''s not going to call," Shae sighed as she took my phone and put on the other side of her. "But What


    if-" I started, yet was cut off by Shae "No ''buts'' or ''what ifs'' and definitely no ''But, what ifs''."


    Rolling my eyes, our teacher Mr. Rifts came up "Miss Thompson, Miss Jergens, how''s your project


    going?"


    "Oh great Mr. R, yeah, just um..putting colors with colors to make that fizzy thing.." Shailene trailed off


    as she poured more liquid into a container. Mr. Rifts sighed "Read the directionsdies," before walking


    away.


    My phone then started to go off and I jumped up as I grabbed my phone. "Hello?" I answered, not


    bothering to look who it was.


    "Hey," Vince''s voice said. "Oh..its you," I frowned, slumping in my seat in disappointment.


    "Love you too," Vince said sarcastically. "Sorry, I was just hoping it''d be Ryk," I sighed. "He''s at work


    right now. But anyways, youing to the warehouse today?" He asked.


    "Umm..wasn''t nning on it," I trailed off as I sat up straight. "Well we''re all going out for Will''s birthday


    at some bar and restaurant downtown but dress nice."


    "Will''s birthday isn''t for another two weeks..?" I questioned confused. "Yeah but we have your


    graduation, the guys are going back to Italy for a couple months, and have racesing up. So we''re


    celebrating tonight."


    "Right," I sighed "Well I''ll be there tonight, Bye." Hanging up the phone, I saw a text message from


    Reece pop up on my phone.


    Reece: You have any hot friends I can take to the club??


    My lips tugged up to a smirk as I looked over to Shaliene "Oh Shae.." I said in a sing song voice


    "Would you like to go on a date tonight?"


    "With who?" She asked, raising am eyebrow at me. "Reece Anderson," I stated. "What''s he look like?"


    She asked, and I pulled out my phone to scroll through my camera roll to find a picture of Reece.


    Her eyes went wide, "Hot damn.."


    ~ ~ ~ ~


    "Hey, how you doing? Well I''m doing just fine. I lied I''m dying inside," I sang softly as I ran the razor up


    my legs.


    "Rain!" A voice yelled, making me jump and cut near my leg with the razor. "Ow," I hissed in pain as I


    shut the water faucet off.


    Once I got out of the shower, I dried myself off and quickly pulled on some clothes before I went


    downstairs. I slid down the staircase railing; keeping my bnce until I jumped off.


    My brothers and dad were in all gathered in the living room. "Whats going on?" I asked hesitantly,


    taking a seat on the couch.


    "Well this came in the mail two days ago, and I know you don''t think its a good idea but maybe this will


    change your mind," My dad sighed as he handed me a white envelope.


    Raising my eyebrow, I ripped the seal open and pulled out the envelop that was addressed to me.


    Unfolding the paper, I scanned over it and the first sentence said "Columbia University and I, Mr.


    Watson am d to announce that you have been epted to CU."


    My eyes went wide, I shot up, and covered my hand with my mouth "I got in?!" "Congrats sis," Joel


    smiled as he hugged me and which the rest of my brothers did.


    My dad gave me a small smile "I knew you could do it, but you just gave up hope." "Oh my God.." I


    whispered, still in shock, "I actually got in.."


    "Still don''t want to go to college?" My dad asked, and I looked up at him. He pulled me into a hug,


    "Congrats Rain."


    * * * * *


    "ID''s?" The security guard asked us as we came up to the club doors. I handed him my fake ID that


    said I was 21, and Shae did the same nervously. He examined them before nodding his head to the


    door.


    I grabbed Shailene''s wrist and pulled her into the club, "Don''t act so nervous." "I''m sorry, I''ve never


    used a fake ID before," She narrowed her eyes at me.


    Rolling my eyes at her, I spotted where the gang was sitting at a table. Reece''s head snapped back to


    me and he got up from his seat before walking up. "Jesus.." Shae whispered under her breath, making


    me chuckle.


    "Hey," Reece gave me a quick hug before looking at Shaliene. "Reece this is Shaliene..Shaliene this is


    Reece," I introduced them. "Please, just call me Shae," Shae offered a small smile.


    "Well I''ll leave you two to it," I smirked proudly as I started to walk away but Reece grabbed my hand


    and whispered into my ear "I really need to hang out with you and your friends more."


    Walking over to everyone, "Ayyy Thompson!" Luca yelled in an Italian ent. "Well don''t you look hot,"


    Allyplimented as she moved seats so I had one.


    I was in a ck leather very mini skirt, a white tank top, and my ck high top Converses. Sitting down


    in the seat, everyone was gathered around a table. "You get ID?" Neil asked, and I nodded.


    Reece, Liz, Ally, Tate, Seb, Ryker, and I were all under aged to be in the club. I''m 18, Reece is 19, and


    everyone else is 20 but the rest of the gang was 21 and over.


    "Let''s go dance," Liz suggested as she grabbed my hand and pulled me to the dance floor. The rest of


    the girls followed behind as well, and I was pulled into a center of people.


    "Alright, you and Ryker just got back together and you''re acting like when you first met," Liz cocked an


    eyebrow at me and crossed her arms.


    "I don''t know..." I sighed, running a hand through my hair "We got into some argument and he told me


    to grow up and that I shouldn''t be sticking up for Tyson."


    Everyone''s eyes went wide, and Alessandra pursed her lips together "You don''t know?" "Know what?" I


    questioned, making them all look at each other in worry.


    "Uh..." Celeste and Juliet trailed off ufortably. "Rain..Ryker''s dad got out of prison, and wants


    custody of Mnie and Faith. On top of that he can''t afford his meds, thats why his moods have been


    all over the ce."


    "W-What?" I suffered inplete shock. "You didn''t know?" Juliet asked shocked, and I shook my


    head "No clue." "I''ll be right back," I muttered before turning around and walking over to Ryker.


    He was by the bar with some of the guys and I saw a girl with auburn hair try to flirt with him, as she bit


    her lip and twirled her hair around her index finger. Once I walked up, Ryker''s eyes snapped up to


    mine.


    "I need to talk to you," I said stern. The girl gave me a resting bitchy face, crossing her arms, and


    asking in a snobby tone "And you are?" "His girlfriend," I stated "Now I suggest you march yourself


    back to the hoe section and find some other one night stand."


    Her jaw dropped and she scoffed at me. Rolling my eyes at her, I couldn''t be bothered to deal with this


    right now. Grabbing Ryker''s hand, I pulled him out of the club.


    We walked over to the side of the building, and I whirled around to face him "You told me no more


    secrets, which is exactly what you''re doing." "Goddamn it, Alessandra!" Ryker muttered under his


    breath "I''m going to kill her, I swear."


    "Well I don''t think its right that I find out about my own boyfriend by one of my friends instead of my


    OWN BOYFRIEND!" I eximed.


    "Rain..." He rubbed his temples "Can we talk about thister?" "No, We''re talking about this now or else


    you''ll put it off," I stated stern and crossed my arms.


    "Alright," He rolled his eyes at me "My dad apparently got out of jail and tracked down my mom...he


    wants custody of Faith and Mnie; but is an abusive alcoholic asshole..kinda like your dad."


    I stomped on his foot at thement he made and sent a re. "My mom wants custody of Faith and


    Mnie too..but Leah has custody of both. But my father wants to track them down and kidnap them."


    "What about your meds?" I asked, crossing my arms and shifting in my ce. "I don''t know Rain," He


    sighed, rubbing his face with his hands. The stress he was under was obvious, yet tried to hide it.


    "How about you let me pay them?" I questioned, and his eyes snapped to mine "Yeah, no." "Why not?"


    I asked, cocking an eyebrow at him. "Because it''s not your responsibility," He stated stern.


    "Ryk," I sighed "As much as you want to put on this Bad Boy image, and you don''t need help because


    you never got in when you were a kid, independence thing...Everyone needs help sometimes."


    "Rain, I don''t-" He started but I cut him off before he said anything else "How about this? You let me


    pay for the pills for a month until you get a few paychecks to get back on your feet."


    He clenched his jaw and rubbed it with his thumb and index finger. His bright blue eyes flickered to the


    side beforending back to me "You''re annoying, you know that?"


    "Only for you," I gave him a cheeky smile and sent a wink.


    * * * * *


    "Rainy," A voice teased and I groaned "And right when I thought you forgot about that nickname." "You


    wish Rainy," Joel teased as he kissed my cheek and I pped his arm.


    My phone started to ring, and I looked down to see Alessandra on my screen. "What?" I answered,


    grabbing the grocery bags out of the cart and Joel did the same.


    "Ironic. You and Ryker answer the phone the same way," Ally teased. I walked to my truck, through the


    parking lot of the grocery cart. "Gang trade meeting in five minutes, be here or get killed by Craig."


    "Shit," I muttered under my breath as I started loading groceries into the tailgate of the truck "Ok, I''ll be


    there soon." Hanging up, I quickly rushed Joel to get in.


    "Why in I''m such a rush?" He asked as I started the engine and backed out of the parking spot before


    heading to the road and pressing down on the gas.


    Joel quickly tightened his seat belt and grabbed the roof handle "Goddammit Rain! Slow down!" He


    eximed.


    Rolling my eyes, I changed gears and took a sharp turn and ran a red light. "I would, but I preferably


    not like to get killed by Craig today," I said as I floored the gas and kept ncing back in my rear view


    mirror.


    After speeding through town, I finally got to the warehouse and handed Joel my keys "Here, drive


    home. I''ll get a ride from someone," I said hurriedly before running into the warehouse and sprinting up


    the steps.


    "I''m here! I''m here!" I yelled as I pushed the door open to the main room and caught my breath before


    passing out on the couch next to Vince.


    Ryker and Reece came in from the kitchen doors, and Ryker pecked my lips quickly before sitting down


    on the other couch that was across from me.


    The whole gang was here, and Craig entered the room and sat down "Alright, well I''ve called this


    meeting because of everything going. There''s been a lot of chaos, and we need to figure this all out."


    Everyone just stayed silent for a moment and Craig cleared his throat "In the next two weeks; a lot is


    going to change. Dawson, Felix, Memphis, Augustus, Seb, Luca, Andre, Tate, Aaron, Levi, Abe, Juliet,


    and Celeste are going back to Italy for a little while."


    My heart fell at those words even though I knew they were, it just hurt hearing it aloud and knowing it


    was happening true. I''ve grown close to all them and it''s hard to say goodbye.


    "I can''t believe I''m saying this.." Craig sighed "But Rain''s graduating." "Woohoo!" Liz hollered, cupping


    her hands over her mouth. I rolled my eyes and chucked a pillow at her.


    "Wow," Neil spoke up "The young one is all grown up. I feel so damn old." "Well at least Ryker won''t


    sound like Pedophile now when he says his girlfriends in High School," Peter smirked.


    Ryker flipped him off, and everyone chuckled. "We have racesing up, Leah has appointments, and


    gang trade meetings," Craig listed "Now, I want everyone to say one thing about what they have


    I gulped, and sat up straight. "Well the gang and I are, are heading back to Italy; so that''s what were all


    focused on." Everyone then looked at Ally for he to go, and She gave a small smile.


    "Well.." She trailed off "I''ve been looking for an apartment and jobtely, because I''m going to stay in


    New York." My eyes lit up and my head snapped up to her "Wait seriously?!"


    She smiled and nodded. "Oh my Gosh!" Liz gushed as she tackled Ally into a hug "I can''t believe you


    didn''t tell us." "I heard there''s some on 12th street, you should go check one of the apartments out,"


    Vince stated.


    Alessandra nodded and looked at Leah who was next to her. "Well I have a doctor''s appointment


    tomorrow at 3, and it''s just a check up."


    "I''m helping Liz find a new apartment," Peter stated for his turn. Liz was also looking for an apartment,


    and moving out of her mom''s to be on her own now. "And I''m supervising Peter and Liz while they look


    for new apartments instead of banging," Will took a sip from his water.


    "Neil and I are volunteering for some mechanic for now, and are searching for new parts to fix up a


    Ferrari we found in some junk yard that was beaten up pretty badly," Vince informed.


    Everyone looked at Ryker, and he said "Busy with work, dealing with Callum and Arena."


    That took me back for a second, as I''ve never heard Ryker address his parents by their first names


    before. "How about you Rain?" Craig asked; snapping me out of my thoughts.


    "Oh," I gulped silently as I fidgeted with my fingers "I..I um..-.." Everyone''s were on me as they all gave


    confused looks, waiting for me to continue.


    Taking a deep breath "I''m going to college." Ryker''s eyes snapped right up to mine as they went dark


    and everyone stated at me in shock.