Chapter Four: Need a Ride?

Sofia's POV:

Wow! The first day of school and we're already making friends...and enemies. You see, before we met Ryder, Matthew was bullied by a bunch of eighth graders for being so clumsy and what a freak he is about his birthmark.

Matthew ran away and accidentally locked himself in the janitor's closet wanting to get away from them. We ended up missing the assembly but it didn't seemthat important. It turns out that Ryder, the boy Matt met, works at this school. Also, since he is a security guard, he helped protect Matt once in a while from those bullies. But I couldn't help but notice he's hiding something from us.

Anyways, after the last bell, Matthew and I left the school but remembered that our driver called insick. We tried a Uber but couldn't get a signal. I raised my pink phone as high as I can to at least get one bar. "Ugh! No bars! You?" I asked my older brother.

Matt copied what I was doing with extra struggle, "Nothing." We continued to look for WiFi till a random person on a blue and red ATV parked alongside us. The person took off his helmet to reveal Ryder underneath. We lowered our phones and looked at him in shock. "Whoa! Is this your ride Ryder? Heh, sounds funny." Matt laughed at his own joke while I just shook my head.

"Yes, it is. Where're your parents?" He asked looking back and forth at the road. as if he was looking for them.

"Our mom is back home and the driver called in sick," Matthew explained.

Ryder scratched his chin, "Oh I see. Do you live far from here?" He asked another question. Should we be really answering these questions to a random person we just met?

Well, he is our age and was our first friend. I trust him. "We live in Adventure Bay. Just a few miles from here." I said pointing to the coast.

Ryder's eyes glowed like stars. "Really? That's where I live too! Perhaps I could take you home. Since it's on the way." He offered.

Matt and I gave each other the same face. We only met him once and he has been so nice. "Are-are you sure Ryder?" I stammered, "We do not want to be a burden. You've already been so nice to us."

Ryder shook his head, "No I insist besides, you have been standing there for the past 15 minutes. Hop on!" Matt and I looked at each and shrugged. Ryder gave us helmets and once we buckled up, we sat down. I held onto Ryder's shoulders as Matt held onto my waist. "Hold on!" He revved the engine and went lightning fast down the road.

The wind blew on my face waving my blonde hair as I screamed for joy, "This is awesome!" I yelled over the loud engine.

Matt let go of my waist and waved his hands in the air, "Woo! Hoo!" He hollered before nearly getting off balance. I grabbed his shirt and pulled him back on his butt giving him the look that said, 'That was a stupid move.' He laughed nervously, "Right. Sorry."

After about 15 minutes, the sun was at it's halfway point and we just entered our home. I looked around as Ryder drove by and pointed to city hall. "Drop us there Ryder!" I yelled. He turned the handle and parked near the rainbow tulips and the golden statues of two strangely familar pups.

One, a cockapoo with goggles on her forehead and wings standing on her hind legs as if she was going to take off. The other, a Dalmatian, had a fire helmet on his head and some kind of hose or cannon popping out of his back. As we slowly circle the statues, I couldn't help but stare at them in curiosity once again.

The kindness in their eyes. The cockapoo's beautiful cheery smile. The stance of bravery of the Dalmation. I could tell they were important, just how? I guess I have to ask mom later. "Here we are!" I snapped out of my thoughts as Ryder's ATV came to a stop.

Matt and I stepped out of the vehicle and took off the helmets Ryder handed us. To only later be greeted by a woman in blue running towards us hugging the ghost out of us. "Oh my goodness! Chickiletta and I were so worried! I'm so glad you're okay." She squealed in a worried tone.

While my brother and I try to keep our lungs intact we hugged her back, "Yeah, nice to see you too mom." Matt whispered but fortunately, loud enough

"YOU'RE HER CHILDREN!?" Ryder yelled in disbelief. We Goodways turned to the brown haired 14-year-old boy and laughed.

"I took your advice, Ryder. I wanted kids. So adopted these two heroes." Mom chuckled ruffling both of our hair.

Ryder spoke pointing at Matt's cast, "So that's how you broke your arm." He took off his helmet, "Well it was nice to meet the new Goodways. Hope to see you two again at school."

I gave him my signature giggle as my mother held me closer in a loving brace, "Of course Ryder."

My mother let go of me and took out her wallet handing our school security guard a hundred fifty dollars? What?! "Here Ryder." Why is mom handing Ryder a bunch of money? He opened his mouth to object but our mom held out her palm interrupting him.

"No no no. Before you speak, I will say it again. You are in debt.." Wait a minute, what? "..so I insist on taking it." He opened his mouth to deny butclosed it and took it stuffing the money.

"Goodnight Goodways." He waved goodbye. We waved back as we watched him leave.

Matt and I looked at each other thinking the same thing. I couldn't help but keep thinking that Ryder, the only person who has been nice to us at school, is in debt. "Okay children. Time to go home." Our mother hushed pushing us into her car gently.

She opened the door, letting us in. We sat down on the leather seats, buckled up and waited for mom to do the same and take us home. As the car sped down the road, I perked up the courage to ask, "Mom, what do you mean Ryder is in debt?"

"Excuse me?" She asked. Sounding a bit deceptive. Hmm. Curious.

Matthew leaned forward and held the shoulder of her seat, "You gave him a hundred-fifty dollars, just for taking us home to you."

She shrugged without taking her eyes off the road. "Why can't I give a little bit of compassion to my fellow citizens?" We crossed our arms and looked at her with a face that said, 'Don't lie to us.'

Mom groaned, "Oh, alright! Before Ryder worked as your school's security guard, for the past four years, he has been working multiple community services to help our town."

"Then how do you know him?" Matt asked.

"Well, before I met you two, whenever I lost my precious Chickiletta," she cooed petting her purse chicken in her red handbag. "Ryder would always find her and bring my beautiful bird back home."

Wow. Ryder sounds like a real hero. "But when the time came when it seemed we didn't need him anymore, he couldn't make any more money." she said so depressingly, "I felt so bad. Him caring for us with nothing in return, so I promised myself I would do everything in my power to help him."

I can't believe my ears. Just in seconds, I found out behind that charming smile and kind deeds is a fourteen-year-old boy losing money every day. I grabbed my knees and silent tears fell from my glossy eyes as Matthew wiped them away rubbing my back. "Is there anything we can do to help?" He asked.

Mother sniffed and looked at us from the mirror. "That's very kind of your children but I have this all under control." She reassured, "It's best if not many people got in the way of his own life. Thank you though."

I felt the car tilt uphill till it came to a stop. "Here we are, kids." She said unbuckling her seat belt. We do the same and walk outside into our sweet two-story house. Gray roof shingles, outside walls painted baby blue and a stone chimney.

Mom entered the keypad and turned the door handle opening to our cozy home. Multiple picture frames of her and Chickiletta, a clean silver kitchen and our rooms decorated the way we like it.

Mine has light gray walls with pink and purple ribbons painted on top of the gray. White bedsheets covering a queen sized bed, with a light pink comforter with magenta polka dots and matching pillows. Plus, a brown wooden chest at the foot of my bed.

Matt's is a bright red room with painted flames popping from the bottom. His queen sized bed is covered by a white bedsheet with black spots, a red comforter, and a gold body pillow and two black regular pillows. Plus, thousands of posters of pop stars and bands. Most of them are Luke Stars posters because he has been listening to his music since he was eleven.

I shake off my sandals and let my toes dig into the carpet. I let my hair come loose from the ribbon, and stip out of my school clothes and into my light pink and white polka dotted nightgown.

My body went limp as I threw myself onto my soft bed. Crying is something I want to do. I just don't know why. "Why do I feel so depressed? Like I have this need to stand up and do something. Is it because someone I know is in trouble? Is because of guilt? Why god! Why?" I yelled.

"Sof?" Matt answered knocking on my door. He turned the bronze handle and darted his eyes at me. By reflex, the second the door creaked open, I sat up straight hugging one of my pillows. "You 'kay? I can hear you yelling from my room?"

"Even over your Luke Stars playlist?" I joked. He grinned and slammed a pillow into my face. I laughed, "Okay okay. Fine, I'll say it." I said pushing the pillow back to my older bro. My lungs allow a deep breath ready to admit. "I want to help Ryder with his problem."

Matt walked up to me and sat beside me, "I know I can't interfere with his life." I interrupt him. "But something inside me says 'there's someone in a need of help, and I must assist them'."

Matt nodded, "Of course. The Sofia I know is always willing to help anyone" I blushed at the compliment, "So what's the plan? What are you going to about it?"

I set my pillow aside and scratched my chin coming up with a plan. Then a light-bulb lit up. A smile appeared on my face as I looked at my brother with determination. "I'm going to get a job."

Matthew said nothing but one word as he stood up in disbelief, "WHAT!?" My ears winced from my older brother's loud outburst.

Ryder's POV:

After I drop off Sofia and Matthew, I went straight to the Lookout. I have quite the story for the pups. I drove the ATV up the hill and the second I parked, I say one thing and get tackled by my favorite pups in the world. "Pups! I'm back."

I took off my helmet and watched the glass door open and Chase, Rubble, Zuma, Rocky and Ember tackle my 14 year old body to the ground like Rubble and a bowl of dog treats. "Ryder!" They howl before slobbering my face in saliva.

Their licks started to tickle and I started to beg for them to stop. When they do, Chase asks, "Where have you been Ryder sir? It is almost night."

The pups nodded in agreement, "Yeah. What happened?" Zuma asked as I try to sit up and explain.

I give Ember and Chase a soft pet. "Sorry pups. I just ran into some new friends I recently made and dropped off."

The pups all gasped, "New friends?" Ember asked souned not so excited but her face says otherwise, "Who are they?"

I stand up, wiped the dust and saliva off me, and started to walk towards the Lookout, "You might be surprised. Sofia and Matthew Goodway."

"No way dude!" Zuma exclaims jumping.

Rubble added just as excited, "Not only you met the mayor's daughter and son, that you also became best friends with them."

"Well done Ryder sir." Chase congradulated in a serious tone but a bright smile. They should not make a big deal of me making new friends.

We start walking back to the Lookout, the pups kept talking and talking as I explain to them the new friends I made. They seemed to have great interest in them. "Wow they seem very nice people." Rocky said wagging his grey little tail.

"Poow Matthew." Chase whimpered as he sat on a beanbag. "At least he was nice enough to get Chickiletta."

"I bet they were excited to be best friends with the Paw Patrol leader. Since we saved them yesterday." Rocky added sitting next to Chase.

Well, they sure would be if I did tell them. "Yeah. Sure." I lied but got me thinking. What if I did tell them? Will anything change? Or even more important, will anything change the way they see me?

Sorry for the delay. I meant to post it yesterday but the wifi was down. My promise is that will try to post at least one chapter a month. At least. There might be a rare time I'll post two. Who knows!? I just hope you enjoyed this.

XOXO Mystical