Enjoy!


Chapter 9 – Truthfulness

The song ended and Tyler guided her over to the groups normal table, his hand rested on the small of her back as they took a seat, Caleb and Sarah sat down across from them, as Pogue and Kate sat down next to them.

"You're evil…" She whispered to Caleb over the table.

"You loved it…" Caleb stated with a boyish grin on his thick lips.

She sat back down in her seat and glanced over at Tyler, his blue eyes shining brightly as he laughed at something Chase had said to him. He looked down at her and caught her looking, a smile spread across his face, realizing she had been caught; she looked away. Her eyes focused on the pool tables and she could see her brother staring in their general direction.

He stalked over to them, a not so happy look adorned his normally handsome face. He stopped by Rylie and Tyler, pulling Rylie out of her seat by the arm. He dragged her to the back of the bar and stared her down; she looked at him thoroughly confused.

"What's going on?" He asked her.

"What are you talking about?" She asked him raising an eyebrow.

"You and Tyler… I saw you dancing together; don't think I'm stupid…" Reid stated his grip on her arm tight.

"Nothing, he asked me to dance… big deal… it's not like we're getting married…" Rylie stated her glare turning icy.

"Rylie, what did I tell you?" Reid asked craning his neck to see the table staring at the siblings.

"Look Reid, I don't tell you how to live your life do I?" Rylie asked her eyes fierce. "I can date whom ever I choose to date… just like you can screw who ever you choose to screw…."

"So you're saying that there is something going on with you two then…." Reid stated pressing her for more information.

"No, that's not what I'm saying. But even if there was it's none of your concern. It's my life…" Rylie stated pushing her brother away from her and going back to the table.

"What's going on?" Caleb asked.

"Nothing, I'm leaving…" She stated grabbing her bag from the spot she was once occupying.

"I'll walk you out…" Tyler stated as he gave everyone at the table a look as Reid came over.

Rylie simply nodded her head as they both brushed past Reid and went to the front door, Reid walked outside after them, ignoring the group calling his name. He followed them outside and saw Tyler leaning against her truck talking to her quietly.

"You didn't have to lie to me you know…" Reid stated breaking up their conversation.

"Lie to you about what?" Rylie asked annoyed, she turned to stare at her brother an amused smile on her lips.

"You and Tyler…" He stated.

"I didn't lie to you. Trust me…" Rylie stated glaring at her brother. "I have no reason to lie to you; I'm not dating Tyler…"

Reid glared at Tyler; he was nose to nose with him. "Didn't I tell you to stay away?" He seethed.

"Reid!" Rylie yelled putting herself between the two boys again. "Seriously, you need to back off…"

"You are my sister! I won't take seeing you get hurt." Reid stated.

"You're worried about me getting hurt?" She stated looking up at him. "Don't you think that losing my father and perhaps maybe even my brother to this would hurt worse?" She asked looking up at him. "Every time you use you hurt me, don't you understand that?" She asked him. Her eyes watering as she looked up at her brother, she shook her head. "Of course not, because you only pretend to care… you're too selfish to see past your own ego, Reid." She stated pulling the door to her truck open and starting it up.

Reid stood back watching his very upset sister leave; Tyler shook his head as he looked over at his best friend. The guys, that day after practice, after the girls had left, and Reid was no where in sight, had talked to Tyler about Rylie; his true feelings for her finally coming out in to the open.

"Reid," Tyler looked over at his best friend.

"Do you like her?" Reid asked.

Tyler was quiet for a moment and then hung his head, "Yeah, I do." He stated biting his lower lip.

"Since when?" Reid asked running a hand over his face, worry written all over his handsome features.

"For awhile now… I mean she's my best friend… we're close so I didn't want to ruin anything." Tyler stated truthfully. "But the guys; they taunted it out of me today… they told me that I should ask her to the dance…"

Reid paced back and forth finally resting against Tyler's liquid black Hummer. Tyler looked over at his best friend he really didn't know what else to say to him.

It wasn't his fault that he fell for his best friend's sister, was it? He couldn't help that he liked her, Rylie was different then most other Spencer girls, she knew about their secret and didn't judge them because of it.

"This is unbelievable…" Reid muttered. "Never did I think that my sister, the only one of us that was normal, would end up dating one of my brothers…" He stated shaking his head in disbelief.

"Since when did you care about being normal?" Tyler asked quirking an eyebrow up at Reid.

"It's not about me…" Reid stated looking over at Tyler, running a hand through his blonde hair. "It's about my mother, she was so happy on our 13 birthday when Rylie didn't have the power." He shook his head. "She literally cried, because twins weren't common in the Ipswich bloodlines, so no one really knew what would happen if there were two 'first born'…" Reid let his body slide down to the graveled parking lot of Nicky's.

"Reid what does this have to do with me?" Tyler asked.

"My mom wanted one normal child…" He stated looking up at Tyler. "She told me to do whatever it took to keep Rylie safe. To keep her normal…" Tyler could feel the pain in Reid's words. "Ever since my father died, she can't even stand to look at me. She said that I remind her too much of him."

Tyler was silent for a moment, letting his best friend gain some composure. He squatted down to look Reid in the eye, his eyes were red and glossy, and he was holding back the tears.

"Why lie to me and say you were going to your mom's ever Sunday? Rylie told me that it's been a long time since you've been to the house…" Tyler asked, remembering his conversation with Rylie several days ago.

"Every Sunday…" Reid sighed and looked over at his best friend shaking his head. "At 1 o'clock… I go to the graveyard…" Reid stated looking up to meet his best friends gaze. "I go to see my father…" He stated shaking his head.

"Why don't you tell her that?" Tyler asked pointing in the direction that Reid's sister had driven off in.

"Talking to her is like talking to a brick wall…" Reid groaned.

"Hmm, I know someone a LOT like that…" Tyler retorted looking Reid in the eye, sarcasm dripping from his words.

"You have been hanging out with me too much," Reid added.

"Ya' think?" Tyler questioned in a sarcastic puzzled tone.

Reid let out a small laugh and shook his head; Tyler stuck out his hand and helped Reid off of the ground. Reid dusted off the seat of his pants and gave his best friend a hug.

"If my sister wants to date you, I don't see the harm in that…" Reid stated softly.

"Thanks man that means a lot…" Tyler stated putting his arm around his shoulders. "But I think you owe her an explanation…" His blue eyes showing his best friend he was serious.

"How about we school Aaron and the boys first?" Reid asked changing the subject.

"I guess it can't hurt…" Tyler stated. "It'll give her a chance to cool off…"

Rylie pulled up to the Garwin Manor and parked her car; she noticed her mother's car along with a strange car she had never seen before. She shrugged it off and went inside, until it registered that her mother was supposed to be traveling. She walked inside and saw her mother talking to a tall muscular man, someone that she was not quite familiar with.

"Mom?" She questioned seeing her mother turning around, the tall man smiling down at her.

"Rylie, you're home, finally!" Meredith squawked as she scooped her daughter in to a tight, affectionate hug.

The Garwin's were a wealthy family, with good looks, charm and many other assets in life, but affection was not on their list of norms. The Garwin children were not brought up hugging and kissing or saying "I love you," it was hard for them to show affection in any sort of way. She took a step away from her mother, almost repulsed with her actions.

"What has gotten in to you?" Rylie asked.

The man smiled at her, Meredith seemed to be almost beaming with radiance.

"Rylie this is Derrick Yetman, he is a photographer…" Her mother stated holding on to her daughter again.

Rylie took a step away from her, "Nice to meet you I'm sure… what are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be traveling?" She asked in highly upset tone.

"Don't sound so excited to see me or anything…" Meredith stated trying to keep her cool.

"Now is not exactly a great time…" Rylie stated as she tried to walk upstairs.

"Rylie… don't you walk away from me…" Her mother warned the sickeningly sweet smile apparent on her face, the lines by her eyes indicating that it was forced. She grabbed her daughter's hand, holding it mostly for show.

"What is wrong with you?" Rylie asked shaking her head. "If there is one thing that we don't do… it's this…" She stated to Meredith holding on to her hand.

"Nothing's wrong, I can't show my daughter some affection?" Meredith questioned.

"No, it's not normal…" Rylie announced.

"Just excuse us for a moment Derrick…" Meredith stated as she pulled Rylie off in to the front room. "Would you learn some manners?" She asked angrily.

"I learned from the best…" I stated glaring at her.

"What is that supposed to mean?' Meredith asked.

"Mother!?" Reid's voice boomed throughout the house. "Who the hell are you?" His voice was rude and dangerous.

"Reid!" Rylie was almost excited to hear her brother's voice. Reid came around the corner and looked at his sister almost in tears again, their mother looking very disgruntle.

"What's going on here?" Reid asked.

"What are you doing here?" Meredith asked looking at her son in complete shock.

"Hi mother, it's nice to see you too. I'm glad to be home; thank you… you look good too…" Reid stated in an annoyed tone.

"Reid, you know I asked you not to come here…" Meredith stated barely above a whisper.

"What?!" Rylie asked her eyes wide with shock. "You asked him not to come back home?" She asked.

"Rylie, it was for all of our own good…" Meredith stated looking between her children, remembering now how much they both looked like their father.

"More like for YOUR own good…" Reid stated angrily.

"Is this a bad time?" The photographer asked poking his head in to the room.

"Derrick I'll be there in a moment, go on in to the kitchen and I'll be there in a few moments…" Meredith stated.

The guy walked out of the room with a simple nod and Reid looked over at his mother, "Who the hell is that guy?"

"He's some photographer…" Rylie stated glaring at her mother and her brother.

"What?" Reid questioned.

"Mom decided that her modeling career is more important than her kids…" Rylie stated.

Meredith opened her mouth to say something and shut it, "My modeling career is NOT more important than my kids…" she stated.

"Oh really; because I remember when ever I asked you about why you quit in the first place it was because and I quote 'My family was the most important thing to me at that time..'" Rylie stated glaring up at her. "Come to find out the only reason you stopped was because no one wanted to deal with you because you were on drugs and an alcoholic…"

"Where did you hear that?" Meredith asked.

"The internet, it's a wonderful thing isn't it?" Rylie asked she felt the tears coming down her face. "You lied to me… you lied to us!" She stated pointing to Reid.

"I didn't want you kids to be ashamed of me…" Meredith stated looking over at her sadly.

"Is that the same reason you want to ship me off to the dorms? And you tell Reid he can't come home?" Rylie felt the tears stinging her pale cheeks as she started to sob. "He is your son for Christ's sake…"

"Rylie, calm down…" Reid looked over at his sister. Her sobs had become unmanageable and she knelt down on to the ground trying to gain composure but it was almost impossible.

"This is not the time…." Meredith stated. "This is a very important meeting with Mr. Yetman…" She started to say.

"Your daughter is sobbing uncontrollably and all you can think about is some stupid asshole in the kitchen?" Reid asked as he walked over to his sister's side. "Some mother you are…"

Rylie was more angry than upset, now she knew exactly where Reid got his selfishness from. She couldn't stop the tears, she hadn't cried since her father's funeral, 2 ½ years of pent up frustration, anger and sadness finally making its way in to the world.

"Take her up to her room." Meredith instructed. "I'll make her some tea…"

Reid hoisted his sister in to his arms, bridal style, and brought her up to his room. He had never seen her like this before, ever, and it scared him. She was sobbing so hard that she could barely breathe; Meredith came up several minutes later with a cup of tea. Reid shooed his mother out of the room and took a seat next to her, placing her head in his lap. She had calmed down a bit having her brother sitting there stroking her hair back.

"Drink some tea…" Reid stated as he helped her sit up. She sat back against her head board and looked over at her brother who was handing her a steaming cup.

"I'm sorry…" She whispered.

"What are you sorry for, she should be the one that's sorry..." Reid stated bitterly.

"I was so upset with you and it wasn't even your fault…" She stated taking a sip of the tea, being careful so she wouldn't burn herself.

"What are you talking about?" Reid asked.

"Mom telling you not to come home… I thought that you just didn't want to come home. That you didn't really care about us…" Rylie stated sadly.

"Rylie you're my sister, I do care about you. Even if you don't think so…" his voice was soft and cracked slightly as he talked. "That's the only reason I was so against you dating Tyler, or any of the guys for that matter…" He stated with a sigh. "Mother made me promise that I would keep you normal."

"Keep me normal? What does that mean?" Rylie asked confused.

"The elders didn't know what would happen with us since we were twins. They didn't know if for some reason you would get the power too. When you didn't change on our 13th birthday mom was so relieved." Reid stated. "She always favored you because nothing like this would ever happen. She always made me watch out after you, and be careful who you were friends with…" He sighed shaking his head.

"Reid, I didn't know…" Rylie stated looking at him and then down at the warm mug in her hands.

"I know," Reid stated as he looked over at his younger sister.

"I want to leave…" Rylie stated as she set her cup down. "I have a dorm ready for me at Spencer…" She stated looking over at him.

"Grab some of your things and I'll drive you there…" Reid stated as he left her room.

Rylie nodded her head and got off of the bed, going to her closet she pulled out her uniforms, some regular clothes, and other necessities she'd need before she'd come back to pack for the rest of the year. She stopped when she heard yelling from down the hall.

"You are unbelievable…" She heard Reid's voice it was low and demanding.

"Reid, you don't understand… you just look so much like him…" Meredith stated in a soft tone.

"I understand completely." Reid stated angrily. "You'd rather leave us here and go on with your little extravaganza of a life…"

"Reid, please don't leave angry with me…" Meredith pleaded.

"There is no other way to leave this house mother. You are so selfish, you don't think of anyone else but yourself… and everyone thinks I get that from dad…" He laughed.

Rylie poked her head out of her room and looked down the hall the mother and son duo were arguing in front of his old room. She watched as Meredith drew her hand back and slapped Reid hard across the face, she gasped and closed the door.

She hurriedly gathered her things not wanting Reid to lose control of his power and do something that he might regret. She grabbed the duffel bag that she had stowed everything away in and walked out of the room, seeing Reid coming down the hall his eyes were red and glossy.

"Ready?" He asked her.

"Yeah," She nodded handing him the keys to her car.

Reid took her duffel and the keys and walked out to the car. He put her things in the backseat and drove them both to the dorm not saying a word. She had already gotten the key and room number from her mother the day before. Reid lugged her things up stairs and was grateful to see she was rooming alone.

"Everything's going to be ok…" Reid stated as she took a seat on her bed.

"No it won't be…" She shook he head. She looked up at her brother, "Nothing has been the same since dad died…." She wrapped her arms around herself.

"Hey," Reid crouched down taking her hands in his. "I promise you, everything is going to get better."

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Reid." She stated narrowing her eyes at him. "You're already addicted to your powers…" She stated softly.

"But I haven't ascended yet, there's time to stop it…" Reid stated.

"How?" Rylie asked

"I'm not sure, but with your help I'm sure I can do anything… it's that weird twin thing…" He stated cracking a genuine smile, not one of his famous smirks, but an actual smile.

Rylie smiled slightly at her brother and stood up grabbing him up with her. She hugged him closely taking Reid a bit off guard. He hugged her back and rested his chin on the top of her head.

"I love you Rylie, you're my favorite little sister…" He stated in a hushed tone.

Rylie felt the stinging feeling in her nose, tears brimming her eyes, "But I'm your only little sister…" She laughed slightly.

"An 'I love you too Reid' would be just fine, thanks…" Reid stated sarcastically.

"Ok, ok…" She sighed. "I love you too, Reid." She smiled up at him.

"Now, I'm only one floor up so if some pervert tries to break in, in the middle of the night, I can be down here in about 2 minutes flat…" Reid stated looking at his watch.

"I'm sure I won't need it, but thanks…" She smiled at her brother wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

"And I think you should call Tyler…" Reid stated.

"What?" She asked looking at him strangely.

"Just do it…" Reid stated before leaving her room.


Please R&R!