Fighting The Riptide.

Ryder's eyes shot to Evan and Parker who both had the same look he could imagine he was wearing and he hoped Zoey didn't pick up on it but there was no way he could tell her no and he was sure that would raise more questions anyway. He nodded as Parker tossed him his keys."We'll be back in a bit." He said as him and Zoey headed outside and into Parker's car.

The drive over was mostly silent and he couldn't say he wasn't unsure of bringing her to his house, no one had been to his house in years except maybe a social worker or two. Parker and Evan were probably the only other people that really know what went on at Ryder's house and they never once pushed the issue.

Zoey relaxed in the car as Ryder drove over to his house. She wasn't sure why he was being so quit, but she was enjoying the silence. As the pulled into the driveway, Zoey got out of the car with him, "Do you want me to just wait for you?" She asked him. Zoey bit her bottom lip lightly when he nodded then she leaned against the car, "I shall be waiting." She said, grinning. She watched as he went into the house then pulled out her phone and texted her mom to let her know she wasn't coming home.

Ryder's dad Jack sat in his chair, holding a Jack Daniels bottle and staring at the tv as Ryder came home. "Come to get your fucking dog? It's a pain in the ass." He said, taking a swig of the bottle. He stood up, walking over to the window and looking outside. He shook his head when he see a girl outside, "What you embarrassed of me boy?" He asked as he walked over to him. He grabbed a hold of Ryder by his shirt, "Huh!? Are you?" He snapped. He frowned as Apollo came out of Ryder's room and began to growl at him. "Take the mutt with you." He said, shoving Ryder and then returning to his chair.

Zoey smiled as Ryder returned with Apollo and Apollo came over to her instantly, trying to lick her. "Oh my gosh he is so cute." She said, excitedly as she got down and pet the dog. "I'm stealing her." She said, hugging the dog. She looked up at Ryder, "Ready?" She asked, smiling as Apollo licked her face. She smiled as she got to her feet and let the dog in and got in the car.

@ LuckyB

Once Ryder got into the house, he dreaded it. His dad sat at the table drinking and his father was never nothing more than a mean drunk. When Jack grabbed him, he half expected to get hit and he probably would have if Apollo hadn't came out from Ryder's room. He grabbed onto the edge of the counter for leverage when his dad shoved him. He bent down and called Apollo to him, petting her shiny coat and kissed her snout."C'mon, let's go." He stood up and Apollo followed behind him. He saw his dad sit back down and he mumbled "fucking asshole" under his breath as he existed the house, hoping Zoey hadn't heard any of the commotion inside.

Apollo went to Zoey once outside and Zoey let the dog in the car while Ryder got in the driver's side and started the engine."Be aware that she's nothing more than a bed hog and she thinks she's a lap dog." He laughed as he drove back towards Parker's house."Do you have any pets? Or back home?"

Zoey shook her head when he asked if she had pets, "No not really. Unless you count my dad's goldfish." She said, laughing. Zoey got out of the car once they got back to Parker's, then walked in seeing a cloud of smoke from the guys smoking weed in the living room. Parker looked over, "Hey your back!" He called, laughing as Apollo ran over and jumped on the couch. Zoey sat down on the other couch and looked at Ryder as he sat down. She grabbed her drink that she had left there and took a sip of it. Evan looked at Ryder, "Have an trouble getting Apollo?" He asked simply.

@ LuckyB

Ryder sat next to Zoey, he leaned over and plucked the joint from Parker's fingers as Parker turned his full attention to the big dog in his lap. Ryder took a drag, settled down into the couch and let his tip backwards as he exhaled."Nothing that I couldn't handle." He shrugged as he offered the weed to Zoey."Besides, eighteen couldn't come fast enough and I'm out of there." Ryder had been planning since he could remember that once he hit eighteen, he would leave his dad's house at any cost.

Zoey looked at Ryder, "You are planning on leaving?" She asked him. She was curious to know why anyone would want to leave such a cute town. Zoey took the joint from Ryder and took a hit from it before passing it back. She relaxed on the couch leaning against Ryder as she listened to the boys talk. She got up when she finished her drink. She walked to the kitchen and began to make herself a drink.

@ LuckyB

Ryder took a few more tokes before putting it out."I honestly don't care if it's here or there or anywhere else as long as it's not in my house." He shrugged as he partially couldn't blame his own mother for leaving when she did, only difference is that she didn't take him with her. Ryder sat quietly with his two boys talking about nothing and everything in between with Zoey on his side and Apollo at his feet. He was warm and his mind a bit fuzzy around the edges.

Zoey stood up and Ryder followed her into the kitchen, Apollo moved with a whine but trailed behind them. Zoey fixed her a drink and Ryder opened the door to the backyard, Apollo happily trotted out as it would be her last outing of the night.

Zoey looked over at Ryder, "It is okay for me to stay here right?" She asked him as she held her drink in her hands. She knew it probably wasnt a big deal but she wanted to make sure. She walked over to him and looked up at him, "Thanks for inviting me by the way." She said as she leaned up and kissed his cheek. She pulled away and looked at him. She looked over as she heard a crash in the living room. "God dammit Evan!" Parker yelled, laughing as he tried to pull his drunk friend off the floor. Evan had knocked a glass vase off the table and was still laughing about it.

@ LuckyB

Ryder nodded."Yeah, I mean, unless you don't want too. I can take you home if that's what you wanted." He was a bit surprised by the peck to his cheek but it made him smile either way."I'm glad that you keep coming back to hang out especially with those two goons." He teased just as a loud crash came from the other room."God dammit Evan!" Parker yelled with a laugh and it made Ryder snicker in the process."I think that's our cue." He opened the door and whistled for Apollo who happily came galloping in.

Ryder stood at the entry way of the kitchen and living room, Evan wobbly and Parker not helping much with how hard her was laughing. Glass littered the floor and Ryder was careful not to step on any as he grabbed Zoey's free hand."Better clean that up, boys. We're off to bed. Goodnight." He waved to the two boys as he rounded up the stairs.

Parker and Evan both made kissing and moaning noises as they watched Ryder take Zoey upstairs but once upstairs, Ryder dropped Zoey's hand and opened the last door at the end of the hallway."It's the guest room. I'll probably crash in Parker's room." He pointed to the room two doors down, the bathroom between them.

@ RomanSky

Zoey smiled as she took his hand and walked upstairs with him. She looked in the guest room, "Dont you think Parker will want his room?" She asked as she walked into the guest room. She laughed softly as Apollo ran in and jumped on her bed. "I dont think Ryder would like you in here." She said smiling as she pet the dog. She looked at Ryder, "Im stealing her." She said laughing softly.

@ LuckyB

"I can almost guarantee that Parker will fall asleep downstairs." He shrugged with a laugh."And it's not like the first time he's found me in his bed at an ungodly hour." Mainly because his parents were rarely home and it was easy enough to come and go as he needed."If you let her, she'll probably sleep in here because it's where I usually sleep if I'm staying the night."

Zoey smiled, "Or you can stay in here with us." She said as she rubbed Apollo's ears. She looked at Ryder, "If you want to of course." she said. She set her drink down and pulled her flannel off leaving her in her crop top and shorts. she took her shoes off then laid on the bed

@ LuckyB

Ryder stood there a second lingering, watching her remove articles of clothing to get more comfortable. He shrugged as he kicked off his boots."If you don't mind." He pulled his phone from his pocket and sat it on the table next to the bed as he laid next to her, Apollo moving to the foot of the bed. It had been a long while since he had shared a bed with a girl that he didn't end up leaving a few hours later.

@ RomanSky

Zoey shook her head, "I do not mind." She said, laughing softly. She got under the blankets, shutting the light off by the bed. Zoey got comfortable and closed her eyes, trying to relax. She could feel the alcohol and drugs making her even more tired as she laid there. "Goodnight Ryder." She said as she snuggled against him.

Zoey woke up the next morning, pulling away from Ryder. She smiled as Apollo looked at her then moved to the side of the bed, licking Ryder's face. Zoey giggled as she watched Ryder open his eyes. "I think she wants out." she said, laughing. Zoey ran her fingers through her hair as she looked around the room. She was surprised that she wasn't as hungover as she thought she was going to bed.

@ LuckyB

Ryder barely could get his eyes open before Apollo was in his face with her dog breath. He scratched behind her ears as he pulled himself up and rubbed at his face. He checked his phone, and it was nearly noon. He needed to be at work in a few hours. Ryder sat up and stuffed his feet into his shoes."You got any plans today? I gotta be at work in a few hours and I'm gonna run Apollo home, I guess but if you wanted too you could stick around with Parker and Evan or I drop you off at your house and pick you up after work if you wanted hang out again." He felt like he was rambling.

Zoey listened to him ramble as she started to put her shoes on, "I will go home." She said as she stood up and pulled her flannel back on. "But we can hang out after you get off work for sure." She said, smiling. Though she didn't know much about Ryder she was starting to really like him. Zoey had to keep reminding herself not to rush too fast into a relationship though. She walked downstairs with him, seeing the guys passed out on the couch. She shook her head, laughing softly.

[skipping to when he picks her up ]

Zoey smiled as she heard a car pull into the driveway. she was surprised to see Parker and Evan already with Ryder. Zoey grabbed her keys then started towards the front door, "Bye mom don't wait up!" She called to her. Zoey walked out and got in the backseat with Ryder, "Hey." She said to the guys. She looked over at Ryder, "Miss me?" She asked, laughing softly. She leaned back against the seat, "So where are we going?" She asked them all.

@ LuckyB

Ryder smiled with a laugh as Zoey climbed into the backseat with him."Of course, best thing I've seen since this afternoon." Mostly, he saw nothing but the underside of six cars and the faces of 4 rugged men."We're going to the Shock Shack. It's a bar and grill with some pool tables and arcade games. It's one of the biggest local hang outs."

@ RomanSky

Zoey looked at him, "Sounds good to me." She said as she relaxed in the backseat with him. Once they got to the Shock Shack she walked inside with the guys and sat at the table with them. Parker and Evan stared at their menus trying to decide on what to eat. Zoey looked over the menu, "There is so much food here." She said smiling.

@ LuckyB

"Everything's really good too." Ryder nodded as he browsed the menu even though he would probably end up ordering the same thing. The Shock Shack was pretty busy and Ryder noticed some kids from school and others, families from town. In the far corner, he saw Mark with his group of douchebag friends.

The waitress came to their table and once the waitress got Ryder and Zoey's order, he pulled her up and toward the back to the pool tables and arcade games."You know how to play?" He asked as he grabbed a stick. His eyes shifted to their table, Parker was still flirting with the waitress.

Zoey ordered a burger and fries before she got up and walked over to the table with Ryder. "Im okay. ive only played a few times." She said as she took the stick from. "You break though." She said smiling at him. Zoey waited til it was her turn them took a shot, making. "Maybe more than a few times." She teased him. She stepped back when she finished her turn. Zoey frowned as Mark walked over and shoved Ryder out of his way.

"What are you doing hanging out with this loser?" He asked Zoey. Zoey narrowed her eyes at him. Mark turned to Ryder, "You really shouldnt be close to a bar. Alcoholism could be contagious." He said laughing.

@ LuckyB