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Chapter 7 – A Gift
The next day at school seemed to fly by, after her study hall period Rylie, Pogue and Caleb made their way to their lockers, meeting up with the rest of the group. Rylie barely spoke to her brother all day, not really caring if he was over himself from yesterday or not, because she wasn't.
Arriving at her locker, Tyler glanced over at her stuffing a book in his bag, "Are we still on for tonight?" He asked.
"Yes sir," She nodded her head.
"On? On for what?" Reid asked poking his nose in to his sister and best friend's conversation.
"I'm going to take Tyler home with me tonight, and screw his brains out…." She stated slamming her locker shut shooting her brother a 'Yeah right' expression. Causing a round of laughter from their friends, including Tyler, Reid closed his eyes and shook his head, trying to control his boiling temper.
"That's not even remotely funny…." Reid stated his jaw clenched.
"Actually it was…." Pogue stated from behind him. Reid turned to his other friend and shot him a death glare.
"Hey Ry…" Kate and Sarah bounded over to her, the two girls looking sweet as ever in their normal uniforms.
"We're going out tomorrow to go find dresses for the Fall Fest, you wanna come?" Kate asked.
Rylie paused for a moment, a night with out the guys, it sounded too good to be true. "Yeah, I'd love to come… I haven't even thought about a dress for the dance yet." She stated with a huge grin on her face.
"Great!" Sarah grinned as she glanced over at Caleb who was leaning against his locker waiting for her, Rylie had to admit that boyish smile on his face, the way he was carelessly leaning on the metal lockers, was unmentionably hot. Truth was Caleb looked too good for words.
"I think someone is waiting for you…" Rylie stated nodding her head in Caleb's direction.
Sarah closed her eyes with a sweet smile on her face as she turned to Caleb and walked over to him; he waved bye to everyone and walked away, Sarah right under his arm. Kate turned to Rylie and grinned.
"Those two are a match made in heaven…" She gushed.
"They're just about as sickening as you and Pogue…" Rylie answered.
Kate laughed, "C'mon there has got to be someone you'd like to go out with… or just have some fun with…" Kate stated looking over at Reid, Pogue and Tyler who were in the middle of a conversation. "Maybe, I don't know… Tyler?" She questioned looking back at the blonde.
"Tyler?" Rylie asked her in a whispered tone. "Why would you say him, of all people?" She questioned.
"Oh I don't know… maybe because it's so…" She paused. "Obvious?"
"What's so obvious?" Rylie asked oblivious to Kate's accusations.
"Are you ready, Kate?" Pogue's voice interrupted them.
Kate smiled at Pogue and nodded her head, "You'll see…" She stated simply before walking off with the second eldest Son of Ipswich.
Rylie stood there looking after the two who had just walked away and sighed; she really had no idea what Kate was getting at. Why in the world did everyone think that there was something going on with her and Tyler?
Reid walked up to her and Tyler was right behind him, he slung his arm over her shoulders and that Garwin smirk was painted on his thin lips. She rolled her eye and pushed him off of her, Tyler leaned against the lockers casually.
"You ready?" Tyler asked her.
"Yep," She nodded her head; Tyler smiled pushing himself off the lockers he took out the keys to his Hummer.
"Where are we going?" Reid asked once again putting his nose where it didn't belong.
"We…" Rylie stated pointing to herself and Tyler, "Are going in to town. I don't know what YOU are doing…" Rylie stated adjusting the messenger back on her shoulder.
"What are you going to do in town?" Reid asked, trying to prolong them from leaving.
"It's my mom's birthday next week…" Tyler stated looking over at his best friend, tired of his questions. Reid looked at him as if to say 'So?' "I asked Rylie to come with me, to help pick out a present…"
"Why didn't you ask me?" Reid asked.
"Because I don't think a piece of red lingerie will work for my mother, Reid…" Tyler stated looking over at his friend. "Or flavored condoms…" He stated immediately regretting what he had just said, his words putting a bad image in his head. He shuddered at the thought.
Reid had a mischievous grin on his face and he nodded his head, "Those are all very nice presents…." He stated cracking his knuckles carelessly. "Your mom is a fox!" He announced.
Tyler shot him an evil look, shutting Reid up.
"The reason he picked me to go with him is because I'm a woman, I know what a woman would like…" Rylie stated glaring at her brother. He simply nodded his head as they walked out to the senior parking lot.
"There better not be any ulterior motives as to why you picked her…" Reid snapped looking over at Tyler.
"Reid, we're talking about Tyler here… Tyler doesn't have ulterior motives for anything…" Rylie stated glancing over at her brother like he had lost his mind.
"Hey," Tyler whined from next to her. "That's not true…I have ulterior motives…"
Reid thought about it for a moment and then agreed, "She's right… I have nothing to worry about baby boy doesn't have the guts to try anything funny with my sister…" He stated.
Tyler gawked at Reid and shook his head, "Whatever, I'll see you later…" He unlocked the doors to his Hummer and looked at Rylie to get in as well.
"Here take my car," She stated tossing her keys to her brother.
"I was just about to ask how I was supposed to get my date around tonight…" He grinned, "Thanks little sister…" He stated twirling the keys on his long bony index finger. He turned towards the dark blue vehicle.
She grabbed his arm and looked him dead in the eye, "Do not do anything stupid in my truck…" She stated.
"C'mon sis…. I would never do anything stupid…" He stated giving her a cocky grin.
"Right and pigs fly…." She mumbled climbing in to the passenger's seat of Tyler's Hummer.
Tyler pulled the car out of its parking spot and glanced over at Rylie, her school uniform was slightly disshelved. Her jacket was lying over her lap, a few buttons of the white blouse were undone and her tie was loosened past the undone buttons. His wasn't much different; his tie was loosened to about his abdomen, his shirt untucked and slightly unbuttoned, his pants were hanging down slightly past where the strict Spencer dress code said otherwise.
"Where should we go first?" He asked her.
She glanced over at him and thought for a moment, "Maybe, Harlan's Treasure?" She asked him. "They've always got some interesting things…"
"Alright," Tyler nodded his head and rested in to his seat.
The trip in to town wasn't a very long one, but it was genuinely quiet most of the trip. Tyler parked the car and glanced over at Rylie to see her eye shut, and her head slightly tilted back. Tyler smiled to himself; reaching over and he shook her, she stirred a bit and her blue eyes fluttered open.
"We're here…" He announced in a low tone.
She sat straight up in her seat and looked around, she had only shut her eyes for a moment, and before she knew it they were there. She looked over at Tyler and a blush crept on to her cheeks.
"Sorry, must have closed my eyes longer than I thought…" She remarked sheepishly.
"Resting your eyes?" He asked with a laugh as he climbed out of the truck.
"Something like that," She responded.
She got out of the truck and met him in front of the truck. The two walked in to the store and looked around, Tyler wasn't sure what he wanted to get his mother for her birthday and he didn't know where to start looking; that's why he enrolled in the help of Reid's sister.
"What does she like?" Rylie asked her eyes scanning over the different aisles.
"Um, lets see, her favorite color is yellow…" Tyler started looking around drifting slowly behind the Garwin sibling. "She loves butterflies and turtles…" he rambled on about other things she liked. Tyler shrugged his shoulders. "She's a mom…"
"You're real helpful Ty…" She laughed going down an aisle. It was a candle aisle, if she knew one thing about woman it was that they all loved candles whether they admitted it or not.
Her blue eyes gazed over all the different kinds of candles, the different scents and her eyes rested towards the end of the aisle. Her eyes perked up as she grabbed Tyler's hand and dragged him to the end of the aisle. Tyler looked at her like she had lost her mind; she really was Reid's sister.
"I think this would be great…" She stated her eyes roaming from shelf to shelf. "You can have your own design printed out on to the candle… something personal…." She stated.
"I have no artistic talent in my body Ry, how do you presume I come up with a design?" Tyler asked.
Rylie turned and looked Tyler in the eye; she had to cock her head up slightly since he was a good bit taller than she was. A smile spread across her face and she curtsied, Tyler's eyes lit up and he smirked.
"Between me and Reid we can think something up really nice for your mom…" She stated glancing up at the large candles. "What size do you want?" She asked him.
"Get a pretty big size…" Tyler stated, "How about that one?" He asked pointing to the middle sized candle.
"Perfect…" She grinned.
They grabbed the yellow based candle and walked up to the cashier, they asked him how long it generally took for the personalization and he stated about a week. They asked what it would be for a rush order, he simply stated that depending on how much they were willing to spend.
The two teens grinned and asked him to place this particular candle on hold until they came back with the design. The man agreed as long as they paid for the candle itself. Tyler handed him the platinum credit card and the man eyed the name on the card.
"Simms?" He asked. "You're one of those families, yes?" He asked.
"Yes, sir" Tyler nodded his head simply.
"I hear a lot about you kids…" He stated sliding the card and waiting for it to be approved.
"Good things I hope…" Rylie stated looking up at him.
"More or less," The older man stated in a joking tone. "Here you go Mr. Simms, have a nice day…" He stated handing Tyler his receipt.
"Thank you," Tyler smiled and the two left the small shop.
"So what do you think we should do for her present?" She asked looking down at the dimension she scribbled off of the candle.
"I'm not sure…" Tyler stated as he started up the truck.
"Do you mind if we got to your house, maybe I can get an idea, kind of see what her taste is?" Rylie offered.
"That's not a bad idea; I was going to head there after I dropped you off. They invited me home for dinner…" He stated with a smile on his face. "I'm sure they've got room for one more…"
"Are you sure, I don't want to intrude?" Rylie stated looking over at him a bit skeptical.
"I'm sure my parents would love to see you…" Tyler stated. They were both quiet for a moment. "I don't think they've seen you since…" His smile faded as he realized what he was about to say. "…since your father's funeral…" He stated his voice lowered.
"Has it been that long?" She asked him sadly.
"I think so," Tyler nodded his head.
"Wow," She mouthed looking over at Tyler.
"They've been traveling a lot though…" Tyler stated trying to make her feel better. "You know how dad is always on the go…" He shook his head.
She simply nodded her head and sat back in her seat as Tyler drove them both to his parent's manor. He pulled up to the large gated home 20 minutes later, Rylie was sitting in her seat staring out of the window, and he hadn't meant to put her in a bad mood, at all. He put in the code for the gates and parked his Hummer.
She sat in her seat for a moment looking up at the large house, she took a deep breath. Tyler came over to her side of the car and opened the door for her; grabbing her hand he pulled her out of the truck.
"C'mon don't mope… I'm sorry for bringing it up…" He apologized.
"It's ok…" She stated forcing a smile on her face. Tyler nodded his head and dragged her to the front door.
"Mom! I'm home!" Tyler yelled loudly as he entered the front room.
Rylie took in the sight of the Simms Manor; it was exactly as how she remembered it. Nothing had been changed, in the last couple of years not one thing seemed out of place. A small smile graced her pink lips, her blue eyes surveyed over the antique furniture. His mother's taste was exquisite; old, classic, and simply elegant.
"Tyler, did you bring a date?" His mother's voice came from the kitchen.
Rylie giggled a bit at the thought, Tyler tugged on her arm and headed towards the kitchen.
"No ma," He announced.
"Then who was that lovely young girl that you came with?" She asked him.
"Why don't you take a look for yourself…" Tyler stated as he stood in the door way, his hand still holding on to Rylie's.
Rosalind Simms turned from her spot in front of the stove, her hazel eyes resting on Tyler and the young blonde standing next to him. A smile spread across her face as she dropped the wooden spoon in her left hand and walked over to the two teens her arms outstretched.
"Rylie Garwin!" She squawked in surprise. "My goodness have you gotten more beautiful?" Rosalind gushed, hugging the young girl. "Is that even possible?" She asked not waiting for a reply from her first question.
"Mrs. Simms, it's good to see you again…" She stated shyly.
"Don't' be silly, call me Rosalind" Tyler's mother insisted. "Are you staying for dinner?" Rosalind asked peeling herself away from the blonde to hug her son.
"Yes, I invited her to stay, if you and dad don't mind?" Tyler asked.
"Not at all, I'll make sure that Gregory puts another plate out, why don't you two go upstairs and wash up?" She asked.
Tyler simply nodded and pulled Rylie with him upstairs. She drifted behind him looking up at the ceiling, at all the pictures, everything was exactly the same. She let the smile on her lips grow larger as her gaze settled on Tyler; he was standing at the top of the steps waiting for her to catch up.
Those boyish good looks, she couldn't help but stare. Blue eyes the color of the deep ocean, his skin slightly tanned from the Summer at camp. She let a small smile rest on her lips taking in his tall, lean stature. She knew why girls fell weak at the knees for the Sons of Ipswich, they were goregous, so goregous you couldn't take your eyes off of them.
"What are you so smiley about?" He asked her. Rylie shook her thought and coasted her gaze downward; she had been caught staring at her best friend.
"Oh nothing; I just love the fact that nothings changed…" She stated shrugging her shoulders.
"That's how dad likes it…" Tyler stated simply. "I don't think anything has changed in this house since I was born…"
"That's not a bad thing; it's better than everything changing every other month…." She stated carelessly brushing some of her blonde hair out of her face. "Mom did that for the first year after dad's death…"
Tyler shook his head, "I still can't believe she's making you move in to the dorms…" Tyler stated as he opened the door to a large guest bathroom.
"I know me either… I really don't get her… she's been keeping all these secrets and truths from us… and then she just wants to leave." She shook her head.
"What do you mean by that?" Tyler asked.
"Let's just say I found out some things about my mother that I never know, that she eluded from her stories…" Rylie shook her head as she pumped some of the antibacterial soap in to the palm of her hand.
"Do you think it was too much for her?" Tyler asked, rubbing his hands together causing the soap to lather nicely.
"What?" She questioned.
"I don't know… everything. The idea that her husband was a witch, her son was a witch. And those powers being the reason her husband died, and now her son's addicted to them as well?" Tyler stated thoughtfully.
"I guess I never thought about that…" Rylie stated sighing.
"That's why my parents are gone all the time… my mom said she was thankful she didn't marry a Danvers or a Garwin… dad said those two families were always the ones that were easily addicted to power…." Tyler mused as he ran his hands under the warm water.
"Mom doesn't want to see Reid waste away like our father did… and I can understand that…" She sighed looking up at Tyler as she dried her hands off on the white terry cloth towel.
"None of us want that for Reid, he's so short fused. Trying to talk to him is useless…" Tyler shrugged taking the towel she handed him.
"The power is nothing more than a curse…" She muttered. "A responsibility… that some just shouldn't have…."
"Control…" Tyler stated simply shutting the door behind them. "Now, that… that's a gift."
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