The Rockstar Chronicles

Slamming Glass Doors

Sliding glass doors are hard to slam, and I was a bit worried about breaking the glass all over myself so I had to satisfy my anger with a loud huff. The back of the house was shadowy, the sun giving up its nightly fight with the moon. "You just wear each other out, don't you?" I muttered. "Just like Mom and me."

I stomped to the edge of the porch, wishing the house wasn't so well built. In our old house, Mom would have heard the porch creaking and rattling underfoot. I jumped into the air, landing as hard as I could. Even the noise of the crickets chirping was louder than any impact I could make.

I turned on the spigot and cold water gushed from the hose. I trained it on my legs, gritting my teeth against the icy blast. Mud ran off my legs and across the patio, disappearing into the earth.

A loud guffaw broke the silence and I straightened, staring into the dark edges of the yard.

"Sorry, I couldn't keep it in any longer."

"Who's there?"

"Just me," Ryder said, standing up from one of the pool chairs. "What are you doing?"

"What are you doing?" I countered, embarrassed.

Ryder shrugged, an uncomfortable expression on his face. "Hardyn and his uncle were talking business so I came out here."

"Mom's making me wash off outside with a hose because I got dirty gardening at the old lady's house down the street after she left me here alone without telling me." It all came out in one long sentence and Ryder started laughing again.

"Sounds like your day was better than mine."

"Why?" I asked, puzzled. "What happened?"

He shrugged, looking back at the dancing reflection of lights on the pool surface. "Just a long day. We went over what's expected of us and we started training." He laughed shortly. "I'm a little bit rusty."

"Rusty?"

"Yeah, well, I've been acting for the past few years so I have a lot of catching up to do. Let's just say I might have been hired for my name more than my ability." He smiled wryly at me and I couldn't help but laugh.

I sobered quickly as my thoughts turned to my brother. I grasped the wet spigot in my hand, shutting off the freezing water and, in one last attempt at revenge, I left the hose laying on the porch and the muddy water splattered everywhere. "How did Grady do?" I tried to sound nonchalant, but I couldn't tell if Ryder bought it or not.

"He did good," he said, nodding. "Not as great as Hardyn, but who could be?"

I furrowed my brow. "What about Bridge?"

"Hmm," Ryder laughed. "Dancing may not be his strong suit. It looks right now like he's much more comfortable with a guitar. He's a little worse than me, so that's good news, I guess."

The moon rose into the sky above us, heavy clouds threating to overcome it. Ryder glanced up at it and then looked at me. His blue eyes were brilliant in the dim light.

"I was going to ask you if you wanted to come hang out by the pool with me, but it looks like it's about to storm."

I nodded, shivering as a cool breeze passed over my skin. The wind was picking up, the trees swaying eerily in the night air all around us. I hugged myself for warmth.

"I guess I better go," Ryder said, backing away and lifting one hand in farewell. He looked reluctant and I couldn't help but speak.

"It'll be okay, Ryder. You know that right?" I said.

He stopped and stood still, just looking at me.

"It'll all work out." I don't know why I felt the intense need to reassure him, but I did. He looked lost and confused. Lonely.

His teeth flashed as he smiled at me, his voice once more carefree. "Yeah, you're right. It'll all work out."

I said goodnight and went inside, shutting the door softly behind me.

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