Bad For You: A Bryce Hall Story

43- After the Party

*TAYLER'S POV*

Soon after the girls left everyone in the poker game cashed out and it left only Bryce and Tayler. They shook hands and decided to just split the winnings and call it a game. They were cleaning up the mess they'd made even though they didn't even know the person throwing the party:
"Thanks for driving me home, by the way."

Bryce: *laughing*
"No prob. My girl can't hang any later than yours apparently."

Tayler: "God that is still so weird to hear you refer to my sister as your girl."

Bryce: "I'm sorry... about everything."

Tayler: "Nah man it's good. I know it's new to the rest of us but for you two it's been months so it'll get there. Don't let anyone ruin what you guys have. She's happier than I've ever seen her."

Bryce: "You don't think she's too good for me?"

Tayler: "Nah, I think you're perfect for each other. But stay outta trouble and don't prove me wrong how about?"

Bryce: "I would do just about anything for that girl... even staying out of trouble."

Tayler: "What about trying to finish school."

Bryce: "I knew that was coming. I don't know, man. I mean, obviously I don't wanna be a drop out but that GED just sounds too hard."

Tayler: "Well you're gonna have to suck it up because we both know she's not going to stop until she gets you through it."

Bryce: "I'm starting to learn that."

Tayler: "Bro... What exactly happened that night with Ryland? Like she told me enough to understand that it's good that you showed up, but-"

Bryce started to detail exactly what Ryland did and what he had planned as Tayler looked on, horrified.

*END TAYLER'S POV*

When you get home it's late so you try to stay as quiet as possible hoping to avoid waking up your parents. Normally they don't hear you guys coming and going but after your fight earlier, you don't know if she's awake waiting for round 2. You shut the door and turned around prepared to tiptoe up the stairs when the light next to the sofa clicked on.

Mom: "You can't just storm out of the house and disappear for hours whenever you're mad."

You: "See here's the thing, Mom. All 3 of your kids have been leaving this house whenever they want for however long they want for over a year now and you never seemed to care until you suddenly had to explain to the rest of the country club why your daughter is dating someone below your standards."

Mom: "This wasn't about Bryce, but while we're on the subject... consider that done too."

You: "That will absolutely never happen. You're crazy if you think I'm letting you take the best thing that ever happened to me away-"

Mom: *raising her voice*
"What has that piece of trash ever done for anyone in this family!"

You: "For starters he stopped a guy from drugging me at a party and then took the blame when that same guy attacked me and-"

You stopped mid-sentence as her eyes grew wide open because you realized you almost confessed that Tayler had been the one to assault Ryland.

Mom: "So you're going to parties and taking drugs and somehow you expect me to believe you can be trusted?"

You: "Oh my God!! Are you even listening to me? I didn't take anything. I was the one assaulted by being forced to!!!"

Mom: "I can't talk to you when you're like this. Go to bed and you're grounded!"

You stormed upstairs and slammed the door. You flopped on the bed and landed on your backpack. You dug through it hoping your phone was in there and found it in the front pocket. You tried to call Bryce but he didn't answer so you called Tayler and no answer again. You sighed and sent a text to Bryce.

You laid back in a huff and covered your face with the pillow and screamed as loud as you could into it. You heard your phone ring and jerked up to answer before your mom heard and came in and took that away too. You were expecting it to be Bryce or even Tayler, so you didn't look at the caller ID before answering and was shocked by the voice on the other end.

Chills went down your spine when you heard him through the phone. You weren't really scared of him. You knew he was just someone who got caught up with a crazy friend, but you will always associate him with Ryland now.

Nick: "I don't want any trouble with your boyfriend, but I just want to talk to you."

You: "What could you possibly say that I need to hear?"

Nick: "I really did like you a lot. I'm so sorry this all turned into... well this."

You: "It's not like Ryland took your car behind your back, Nick. You knew what he tried to do to me and you just decided that you were willing to be okay with it and I will never forget or forgive that."

Nick: "I don't really have an explanation. God, I wish I did. There's just a lot more to it, but I guess I just needed to say sorry for everything."

You: "You already said that."

Nick: "In the next few days, you're going to probably hear things that make you hate me even more and I guess I just wanted to say sorry for that too."

You: "What? What do you-"

Suddenly the line went dead and you slammed your phone down and pulled the blanket over your head.