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Chapter 4 – Large Doses
The next day was the first day of school for them, senior year had finally arrived, and off to college in several months. Rylie pulled on her strict Spencer Academy uniform and left the house at exactly 7:15 AM. She arrived at the school just as some of the kids were waking up.
Stopping by the Provost's office she picked up her schedule along with the groups, as she did every year.
She stopped by each of their lockers pinning it up so when they decided to grace the campus with their presence they were already a step ahead of everyone else. All of their lockers were ironically lined up from Kate, to Pogue, to Caleb, to Reid, to Tyler and finally hers on the very end.
Glancing at all of their schedules she noticed they all had the same English Literature class, and the same Physics class. She had photography with Tyler, Calculus with her brother, and study hall with Pogue and Caleb.
"Morning Ry..." A lazy voice came from behind her.
She turned around to see Kate and Sarah behind her, both looking deathly tired, but still good in Spencer's mandatory uniform.
"Morning Kate, Sarah..." She nodded. "I grabbed your schedule Sarah, didn't know what locker you had so I just held on to it" She stated handing her the yellow sheet of paper.
"Thanks," Sarah stated with a nod of her head.
"She's done this with the guys for as long as I can remember!" Kate stated looking over at Sarah.
"Habit..." She shrugged.
"Thank you my dear sweet sister..." The voice of her brother rang in her ears. She heard him yank his schedule down, but she didn't bother to look at him.
"I've got to go grab another book... I'll see you guys in English..." She stated waving leaving her brother by himself with Kate and Sarah.
She walked to the library and searched for a book that had been missing from her stack. When she originally went to get her books before classes they did not have the photography books in yet, so they told all the students they'd be available first thing in the morning on the first day of school.
Grabbing the book she turned around and ran right in to the strong chest of someone. She looked up and a pair of familiar dark blue, captivating eyes caught her gaze.
"Good morning Rylie..." His voice was soft and genuine.
"Hey Tyler, what are you doing here?" She asked.
"Same reason you are," He laughed pointing to the diminishing stack of photography books.
"Better grab one why you still can..." She joked.
"I intend too..." He reached around her and grabbed a book. "So are you excited about the new school year, or what?" He asked.
"I guess so... but I only have you in three of my classes, not all five classes." She mocked pouted.
"I think you'll survive..." Tyler stated shaking his head while walking up to the check up counter. "Reid told me you gave him the cold shoulder this morning..." He stated
"Well sometimes I just don't like talking to him." She smiled back as the librarian checked out her book to her.
"Last name please," The librarian asked.
"Garwin, G-A-R-W-I-N" She stated casually.
"Reid or Rylie?" The librarian asked her brow furrowed.
"Rylie Garwin..." Rylie stated glaring up at the lady. Tyler laughed. "Do I look like a guy to you?" She questioned him.
"Do you want me to answer that?" Tyler asked jokingly. She tossed a glare his way as he muffled his laughter.
"And you?" She asked scanning Tyler's book.
"Simms. That's with two 'm's" He stated looking over at the librarian.
"First initial?" She asked.
"T." Tyler answered.
She nodded her head and handed over the two books, Tyler being the gentleman he was grabbed both of them and turned to Rylie, escorting her to the door. They walked back to the main hallway, heading to their lockers. He was itching to know what was going on between his two good friends. He had never seen her give Reid the cold shoulder like this before.
"What's going on?" He asked her.
Rylie looked over at him, "With what?" She asked innocently going straight to her assigned locker.
"With you and Reid?" He inquired spinning his combination in to the lock.
"I don't know…" She sighed. She took her photography book from Tyler and shoved it in to her locker taking out her things for English Lit. "I just haven't been in the mood for his crap…"
"But you've put up with it for 17 years; what's changed?" Tyler questioned confused.
"He's selfish, rude and doesn't care about anyone but himself…" She vented. "He doesn't come see our mother and it kills her…"
Tyler looked over at her shocked; Reid told him every Sunday that he was going to have dinner with Rylie and his mom. Every Sunday he said the same thing and never once did Tyler think otherwise.
"But…" Tyler was about to say something, but he closed his mouth. He didn't want to start anything with Rylie about the subject; he opted to bring it up to his best friend later that day.
"But, what?" Rylie asked.
"Nothing, we're gonna be late…" He stated shutting his locker. "C'mon…" He grabbed her hand and dragged her to class.
The pair got several looks from the teens standing in the hallway, talking about the twos closeness. The walked in to class and Reid's eyes snapped up taking in the sight of his best friend holding the hand of his little sister. He raised a perfect eyebrow in question of the two together, holding hands, as did Caleb and Pogue who sat a few rows above them.
Tyler pulled out Rylie's seat and took his normal spot between the two Garwin siblings. Reid let his gaze drift over to his best friend and when his sister wasn't looking he nudged Tyler roughly.
"What are you doing?" He asked.
"What are you talking about?" Tyler asked in a hushed whisper as to not receive any extra attention.
"With my sister…." Reid stated glaring at him.
"Walking her to class… like I do with you, everyday…" Tyler stated furrowing his brow confused at the twenty-question game Reid was playing with him.
"Whatever…" Reid rolled his eyes and went back to staring off towards the rather large man in front of the class.
English Lit flew by for Rylie as she took notes on the four authors that Professor Walden went over. Reid threw in his normally sarcastic remarks, making the class laugh and just trying to get himself in to trouble as per usual. She gathered her books up and saw that the four Sons of Ipswich were waiting for her to gather her things.
"How many times do I have to tell you guys, I don't need a personal escort to my locker or to class?" She asked walking past them, the group following behind her.
"You know we just like to watch out for our little sister…" Caleb stated putting her in a playful head lock.
She pushed him away, "More like stalk me…" She groaned.
"Hey, you never know what freak might come up and hit on you out of the blue…" Pogue stated as he took Kate under his arm, Sarah appeared next to Caleb.
"So if I take just one of you…" She paused, stopping at her locker. "You'll just leave me alone?" She questioned peering down at the group.
The guys all looked at each other and simply nodded their heads.
She switched out her English book for her newly checked out Photography book and smirked, "Fine." She shut her locker. "Tyler has photography with me. He'll do." She quickly stated.
Tyler glanced down at her and a smile graced his pink lips. Reid slammed his locker shut and loomed over his 'little' sister.
"Why him?" He demanded.
"Because, he's the only one I can stand in large doses…" She stated grabbing Tyler by his arm and pulling him towards their photography class.
"What's going on with them?" Caleb asked raising a questioning eyebrow.
"Nothing better be going on between them…" Reid growled.
"Awe, c'mon it's cute…" Kate stated looking up at Pogue and then over to Reid. "Better Tyler than say… him…" She nodded to Aaron Abbott who was walking by the group at the time.
"She can't…" Reid shook his head. "She can't date any of you… period…" Reid stated as he stormed off in the direction of his Latin class.
"What the hell was that about?" Pogue asked.
"I have no idea…" Caleb stated looking down at Sarah. She smiled at him shortly before looking away.
Rylie took her seat next to Tyler and leaned over grabbing her camera out of her bag, the piece of technology was permanently attached to the young Garwin sibling. Tyler noted that she never left home without that or her digital.
"I'm the only one you can stand in large doses, huh?" Tyler asked looking over at her.
"C'mon Ty, you're my best friend…" She stated looking up at him with a smirk. "You wouldn't be if I couldn't stand you…"
"Best friend?" He asked a bit puzzled, he had never thought of them as such.
"Ok, you guys are like my only friends, and you're my favorite and the closest… so you're the best…" She smiled up at him.
"I feel honored…" He stated with a huge grin on his face.
"You should…" She nodded her head.
The two laughed at her sarcasm and started class; the teacher gave her beginning orientation and paired them up with the person they were sitting with for a project that was due before Christmas break. They had to base their portfolio strictly on that person.
Rylie pulled her camera out of its casing and played with its settings, putting it up to her face she pulled the cap off and looked in Tyler's direction. She said his name and as soon as he looked she snapped a picture of the unbeknownst Son of Ipswich.
"My eyes Ry!" He groaned covering his face.
"Sorry," She put her camera away and smiled over at the boy next to her. "Y'know, I'm the luckiest girl in here…" She stated in a whispered tone leaning in to him.
"Why is that?" He asked quieting his voice to match her tone.
"Because I've got the best looking partner…" She stated with a giggle.
"Really?" He asked she nodded simply. "Then I must be the luckiest guy in the class then…" He remarked. "I've got the hottest girl as my partner…"
"Why Tyler Simms, I think you're flirting with me…" She stated putting a hand to her chest in mock-flattery.
"And what if I was?" He asked just as the bell was ringing.
"Then you my dear boy have three very strong, very angry big brothers to deal with…" She stated taking her things and getting up.
As soon as his Latin class ended Reid Garwin had headed to his locker grabbed his things as well as grabbed his sister's things and was outside of her classroom just as she was walking out with Tyler. He grabbed her and yanked her in the opposite direction that she was planning on going with Tyler.
"I need to talk to you…" Reid stated. "Sorry baby-boy…" Reid waved off his friend and pulled his sister down the hallway.
Tyler shook his head and continued walking back to his locker.
"What the hell are you doing?" She asked him.
"We're going to class, because like I said, I need to talk to you…"
"Reid I need to get my things for Calculus…" She stated turning back towards her locker.
"Way ahead of you baby sis…" Reid stated shoving her Calculus books at her.
She grabbed them and glared at him, "What is this about?" She asked him.
"These rumors… the damn rumors going on about you and Tyler…" He stated glaring over at her. She looked at him, as if drawing a blank about these said rumors. "Rumor has it that you two are the next hot thing…"
"What?" She asked looking over at her brother confused. "We're just friends, we haven't even thought about dating…"
"You better not be bullshitting me…." Reid stated a glint in his eye that she as his sister had never seen before.
"Why would I lie to you about that?" She asked him. "Besides, why would it matter to you if we were dating?" She questioned him.
"Have you seen what mom has been through, what Mrs. Danvers is going through now? Do you want that for yourself?" He forced making his voice low and demanding.
"Are you kidding me?" Rylie asked staring at her brother. "What the hell does that matter to you, Reid?" She asked shaking her head.
"You're my baby sister; I don't want to see you get hurt by this…." Reid stated in a hushed tone.
"You're unbelievable…" She scoffed. "Stop acting like you care Reid…"
"I do care…" Reid stated looking in to her mirroring blue eyes.
"Since when does Reid Garwin care about anyone else besides Reid Garwin?" She scowled before yanking her arm out of his grasp, walking to class without turning back to look at him.
Reid stood in the hallway staring after his sister; he ran a hand through his blonde hair as the bell rang, notifying Reid Garwin that he was late for his first day of Calculus. He pulled the strap of his book bag down as he walked to class. He entered and took an empty seat where he could find one.
He could feel his sister's gaze upon him and shifted uncomfortably. Halfway through the class the bell rang indicating it was time for lunch break, before Reid could say two words to his sister she was up and out of the room, her car keys in hand. He remembered now that she always went home for lunch, never one to stick around for the wonderful cafeteria food, but who could really blame her. A half hour later they were both back in class, she was sitting in her seat from before, on the other side of the classroom from her twin brother. The rest of the class dragged on and on, Reid tried his best to stay awake but he found himself nodding off a bit towards the end of class that was until the shrilling sound of the bell woke him up. He jumped out of his seat in hopes of catching his sister before she got to her locker.
Unfortunately for him she was already out the door and halfway there. Rylie seemed to be walking on a mission when she arrived at her locker, she could hear her brother calling her name but she chose to ignore it. As if she wasn't bothered by him enough already he had to chase her down. She was happy to see Tyler come up to her side and enter in his combination.
"Hey, how was Calc?" He asked changing out books for their Physics class.
"Could have been better…" She stated glancing back at her brother who was now joining them.
"Rylie you can't ignore me all day…" He muttered, slamming his palm in to his locker.
"Watch me…" She retorted turning on her heel and walking towards class.
Caleb gave Sarah a peck on the cheek and ran to catch up with the younger Garwin sibling. He caught up with her and slung his arm comfortably around her shoulders. She looked up at him ready to curse him out thinking he was Reid, her look softened when his brown eyes gazed down at her.
"What's up Cale?" She asked with a heavy sigh.
"What's going on with you and Reid?" He asked. "You're fighting worse than us…."
"Like I told Ty, I'm just tired of his crap…" She stated with a shake of her head.
"C'mon Ry, we all know Reid, he's selfish… yes… but that's not any different than any other day…" He stated.
"Caleb, it's much more than him just being selfish…" Rylie stated as they entered class, all eyes on them. "You better be careful or rumors will start spreading about…" She smirked taking her seat.
"What?" Caleb asked confused.
Rylie rolled her eyes and told him about her confrontation with her brother before Calculus. Caleb sat there and shook his head; he could see where Reid had a point, but also saw things from Rylie's point of view. He gave her a few words of advice and Rylie simply smiled in return. The good thing about Caleb was he was always there to listen, to give advice and he wasn't biased.
Pogue and Kate left for class, Sarah right behind them leaving Reid and Tyler at their lockers. Reid slammed his locker shut and looked over at his best friend. He adjusted his tie and forced Tyler up against the lockers.
"What the hell?" Tyler asked his book bag falling out of his hand and on to the floor.
"Stay away from Rylie…" Reid stated through clenched teeth.
"Excuse me?" Tyler asked looking at his best friend like he had grown a second head.
"Stay away from my sister…." Reid yelled again, his voice deep and his eyes threatening.
"She's one of my best friends, how do you entail I do that, Reid?" Tyler asked furrowing his brow confused.
"I swear to all that is holy Tyler, if you fall for my sister…." Reid stated glaring at him.
"Dude, she's my friend… nothing more…" Tyler stated pushing Reid off of him. "I think you need to go to the infirmary, because you're talking crazy…"
With that Tyler pushed past his best friend and walked to the class that the lot of them shared for Physics. Reid stood in the hallway by himself, yet again running late to class. The bell rang and he lazily walked in to class, he shot a glare towards the other Sons as the Professor, Professor Mackenzie, looked over at him. Her brown eyes shot up and she pursed her red painted lips at him.
"You're late Mr. Garwin…" She announced.
"That I am, Mrs. Mackenzie…" He stated giving her a lazy smirk.
She rolled her eyes at him, "Take a seat next to your sister, and open your book to page 49…." She stated removing her glasses as he trudged across class and took the empty seat next to his sister.
She moved her chair closer to Tyler who had taken the seat opposite of her and her brother glared taking out his text book and opening up to the said page. Tyler leaned over to whisper something to her and she simply nodded her head without acknowledging her brother.
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