Chapter 37
1633words
Shia Yorkton spent a lot of years hating himself, with a mom and dad who fought more than cared for him Shia had to grow up quickly and learn how to take care of himself. His older brother and sister left the moment they could to get away from the toxicity, but Shia was left behind. Now stuck with a drunk mom who's barely attentive, and an absent dad who checks in every other month Shia was really alone.
After years of trying Shia finally became someone he was ok with, now in high school and honing his art Shia didn't need anyone and he truly believed no one needed him. He didn't bother looking for love, who would even want to love someone like him? Shia believed he had nothing to offer, just unexplainable drawings and a terrible home life to show for the kind of person he is.
No one ever gave him a real chance, no one bothered to know him and see that his exterior did not match what the boy felt inside. Outside Shia was closed off, unsure how to fit in with his peers he doesn't bother to even try. With an all black style and combat boots to match, Shia just assumed everyone was intimidated and that's why they didn't try. But why doesn't he try? Oh, he has. When he was little Shia wanted nothing more than to be normal, to have so many friends that home didn't feel like such a burden, but he always dreamt too big.
The kids were mean, they made fun of his looks, clothes, and the fact that he had a mom and dad who didn't even care enough about him.
In the end, Shia realized being alone is better than any friend he could've ever had.
So his art was all he needed, Shia Yorkton is talented, his drawings and paintings were his escape, but no one knew enough to tell him they're more than just what he used them for. Shia kept most of his art to himself never believing they were good, but he wanted to believe maybe they were good enough to save him. Maybe they'll get him in art school, that way he'll get to leave home and never come back, like his siblings did.
Although you'd never be able to tell, Shia did find the beauty in other people, through his art he figured out that everyone was beautiful in their own right. Which led to the realization that he liked everyone never minding gender or identity, Shia didn't think love should have limits. Yes believe it or not he's had one or two girlfriends, nothing that ever lasted though. Shia reached a point in his life where he wanted to express his individuality, he figured wearing his art was the best way to do that. Shia started designing his own tattoos and secretly getting them behind his mom's back. At a certain point Shia didn't bother hiding them, because he realized his mom was always too drunk or strung out to care.
Shia Yorkton is a walking warning sign now, he looks like the type of guy you're warned about, a punk who'll break your heart. But no one knows him enough to know that's the furthest from the truth, Shia has a lot of love to give and he wished he could find his person, but he is perceived as too broken to love. So the boy believed it, all he'll ever need is himself and his art.
"How's Ryder?" Tamsin walks into the kitchen and quietly asks Lin
"You know" Lin turns holding her mug, "he always gets depressed after talking to his brother," her voice is hushed so Ryder doesn't hear. "I
feel so bad the only family he has is so fucked up"
"Yeah but we're his family too, Lin" Tamsin walks to the fridge and continues, "do you want me to talk to him?" She opens it looking around for something to eat
"Yes please," Lin sighs glad she doesn't have to do it this time, "or before we know it he's out every night and we have to spend the next day looking for him."
"Why would you need to look for me? I'm right here," Ryder enters the kitchen startling the girls who thought they were being sneaky. Tamsin grabs a yogurt shutting the fridge and looking at him, "you look nice"
"No I don't," Ryder crosses to the table sitting in a chair. "You guys know this apartment is not that big, right? Even if you whisper" he demonstrates by lowering his voice, "I can still hear you."
"We are just worried" Lin starts handing Ryder the cup of coffee she poured for him, "are you going to school today or..."
"Yes, why wouldn't I?" He takes the coffee bringing the cup straight to his lips— never minding how hot it probably is.
Lin gives her roommate a quick look then back at Ryder, "it's just that..." she starts hesitantly Noticing Lin's not getting the words out Tamsin decides to continue, "we know you talked to Evan
yesterday, and that you came home drunk last night."
He looks back and forth between his roommates unsure who to even start with. Of course, Ryder knows when he's on the phone with his bedroom door shut they're standing outside it listening. He also knows they're just worried, but he's not a kid and he doesn't need to be babied. "You guys don't need to worry about me"
"That's kind of easier said than done"
"What Tamsin means is that we're here, you know? You can always talk to us about anything, Ry." "I know and when I need to I will" Ryder stands up putting the mug on the table, "I'm gonna go get
ready for school" he walks out leaving the girls alone again.
Lin turns to Tamsin who shrugs as she opens her yogurt, "we tried." Lin sighs and they also leave the kitchen.
Ryder Andrews doesn't have much, left an orphan at the age of 12 Ryder was raised by his older brother Evan. Correction— at 17 Evan Andrews was left alone to care for his little brother after their parents passed away. A kid himself, Evan wasn't ready for the responsibilities, he didn't know how to take care of anyone, so instead, he started taking pills and getting drunk with his friends. After 4 years of desperately trying to get his brother some help, Ryder decided he was better off on his own. Saving his share of what he inherited from his parents and moving out, Ryder found his roommates Tamsin and Lin. Both girls are older than Ryder but they welcomed him with open arms, then after that, Ryder's life finally became somewhat bearable. Doesn't mean things were great, a lot was hard for him being on his own, Evan still needed bailing out, and at 16 Ryder isn't sure how to handle the fact that he might be gay.
This wasn't much of a surprise to him, Ryder knew something was always off about him, while he's friends worried about girls with asses Ryder couldn't find one thing attractive about a girl. Not their long hair, or make up, or the fact that they're all always together. Girls felt like an anomaly, how are they normal? How do they make his friends so crazy? And what was wrong with him for not getting
it? But Ryder knew he had to like them or at least pretend, so to be normal, to be one of the guys, the guys that get all the girls or at least a girl— Ryder drinks.
With weed and alcohol as his solace, Ryder Andrews was able to find a version of himself good for everyone, just not him. Yes, he parties, has friends, and gets girls but at the end of it all, Ryder was left numb and empty. But he wasn't completely alone, he still had his roommates, who in their own way cared for Ryder enough to know that it's never a good thing when the boy talks to his junkie brother. So they're there for him even when he says he doesn't need it. History has proved that's when Ryder needed them the most.
"Hey, you" Shia hears a deep voice bark behind him as he's alone in the hall heading to class, not stopping but aware of the boys trying to get his attention, Shia continues to walk but they walk faster until they're next to him. "You're the backpack guy right?"
"Occasionally," he answers very cryptically
"Ok well we were invited to a college party this weekend, and our invitation includes you" Stopping Shia stares at the jocks standing on either side of him, "what kind of college kids can't buy
their own weed?"
"Jesus dude" one of them reacts, grabbing Shia's wrist they drag him to the nearest empty class.
Being locked up in a room with 2 hot jocks
is like a dream Shia once had, but it's also like a nightmare he's had too. "We need this to stay on the DL all right, we can't get caught talking about this stuff"
"Because you play sports and it's illegal, right?" Shia asks with a small sly smile, "what would happen if your coach just decided to randomly drug test you guys next week?"
"Don't worry about that, can you make it to the party on Saturday or not?"
"Saturday?" Shia thinks pretending as if he had anything better to do on a Saturday night, we both know he doesn't. "Fine, why not?"
"Thank you!" The jocks get excited, "this is the address" one walks over handing him a folded piece of paper, "it starts at 9."
