Usually on a Friday, teenagers are happy, embracing the weekend with a warm demeanor. That is usual...

Ryan Chiba was walking away from the Reverse Edge. He needed someone to talk to, but his best friend wasn't at home. He decided to go over to the Brandshires, hoping to Ladon that Alex was home.

Frank and Diane are off... leaving Chris to help Ms. Rorins today... Frank's still at Ray's, I bet... Please... I hope you're home, Alex... I really need to talk to someone...

Usually, Ryan was happy and outgoing. If anyone he knew was to look at him now, they'd be able to tell that something was seriously wrong. The woren's tail usually conveyed his emotions, and right now, it was drooped and waving slowly. With a sigh, Ryan jammed his hands into his pockets and continued to walk slowly, leaving an aura of depression behind him.

As Ryan passed the park, he saw couples together, staring at the fountain, appreciating the comfort of each other's company. The woren let out another sigh before just breaking down completely. He took off running past the park, and all the way to the Brandshire home. Desperately, he knocked on the door, and soon enough, Diane opened it.

"Heya Ry- Whoa... you look like hell... Wha' happened?" Diane asked, her tail waving in curiosity.

"Diane... is Alex home? I've really got to talk to him..." Ryan said as he looked at the younger Brandshire desperately.

"Hang on... I'll get 'em..." Diane replied as she went back inside. While Ryan was waiting, the words from earlier continued to haunt his soul.

It's your fault!!!

You cheated on me, you mangy furball!!!

Don't even try to say anything to me!

I never want to see your face again!

Ryan sniffed back a tear before rubbing his cheek. The stinging pain, both physical and mental, was still there. His former girlfriend had slapped him the moment she had seen him. That was before she went off on him, about something she had found out.

The front door opened, and there was standing Alex Brandshire.

Alex let out a low whistle. "Diane was right... you do look like you were fighting a herd of biru-buru... What happened, man?" The older Brandshire sibling began to rub the back of his neck.

"Alex... Esor and I... we... broke up..." Ryan said quietly.

"What? Oh man... I'm sorry..." Alex replied in a soothing, comforting tone.

"Doesn't this just beat all?" Ryan said with a dry chuckle. "I don't even know what happened... Alex... I need someone to talk to..."

"Well, come on in then..." Ryan sniffed back a tear and walked into the Brandshire household. Alex took a seat on an armchair while Ryan sprawled out on the couch and just stared at the ceiling. Diane was spying on both of them from the other room.

"So..." Alex said as he looked at his distraught friend. "Why don't you tell me what happened, from the beginning..."

"Alex... I came home from school... changed, and went back out... Esor found me... stalked up to me, and slapped me... hard..." Ryan explained as he rubbed his cheek again.

"I didn't even get a chance to explain, except for the few times she let me get a word in..." Ryan said quietly.

"Why was she so angry?" The older Brandshire asked.

By now, Diane had heard enough. She went to another room to leave the two to have some privacy.

"She thought I cheated on her... Doesn't it beat all? I didn't... she found out that at the last dance, I danced with another girl. Remember? She didn't want to go with me..."

"Wait... let me get this straight..." Alex Brandshire said as he got up and began to pace. "She said it's your fault, even though she didn't want to go to the dance?"

"Yeah... she said I cheated on her... Alex... I don't know... I miss her..." Ryan said quietly.

"Ryan, did you try to go after her?" Alex said as he turned around to look at his friend.

"I did. She doesn't want to see me anymore... She let me know..." Ryan said with a sigh.

"Ryan... I'll tell you this right now... any girl that is going to treat you like that is no good... She's blaming everything on you. You don't deserve that."

Ryan sat up and looked at Alex. "Don't that beat all? I miss her though... Alex, when I first met her, I was sure she was the one... then as time went on, her attitude just got worse..."

"Ryan... someone's trying to tell you something..." Alex replied to his distraught friend. "She's not for you, if all she's going to do is treat you like dirt... Put it behind you... There are others out there, okay?"

"I... guess so, Alex... Thanks..." Ryan said as he stood up. His tail was now waving normally, and his aura of depression wasn't as deep now.

"Anytime, Ryan... Hey..." Alex asked as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Yeah?" Ryan said as he got up off the couch.

"... Nevermind." Alex said quietly. Now is not the time to ask him about Ellen...

"I'll see you later, Alex... thanks for listening to me..." With a slight wave, Ryan left the Brandshire home.

As Alex watched Ryan walk off, all that he could think of was Ellen. With a sigh, Alex returned to his room to think.

Back to Main | Back to Chapter Index