Moving In With R5
~Chapter Eight~
The backyard was decorated. That's pretty much all that could be said for it. Jumbles of lights hung from the trees, which was fine, except it was two different sets of lights that had tangled together.
Tables were set out in a circular pattern with one single table right in the middle. The tablecloths were nothing more than some sort of white material that could apparently be drawn on. This was proven by Rocky's attribution to the decorating by writing in scrabbly handwriting, 'Rocky was here =P'.
Guest had slowly trickled in. Currently Rydel is sitting at a table with her friends, two girls and three boys. Laura walks outside, the cool summer breeze ruffling her skirt. She walks over to Rydel and the group of strangers. The one boy, Cody, she was familiar with one could say. He had been in her tenth grade biology class, but they'd never really spoken. He didn't seem to recognize her, although he did seem to be checking her out, not so subtly. He shrugs and nudges his friend with his elbow. He looks to be whispering something to him and they both just laugh.
The colored girl next to him, Laura believes her name to be Kira or Kiersey or something like that, is animatedly communicating with Rydel.
"Hey, Del!" Laura chirps happily, catching the blond girls attention.
"Oh, hey Laura." Laura couldn't tell if her friendliness was sincere or not. Honestly, it was really hard to tell with Rydel.
Laura stands awkwardly, rocking on her feet until the other boy at the table, the brunette with his arm around a blond who is probably his girlfriend, coughs loudly and nods in Laura's direction. "Are you gonna introduce us or are you just gonna ignore her until she leaves?"
Rydel rolls her eyes, but smiles nonetheless. "Guys, this is our family-friend Laura." A chorus of responses goes around the table, Laura smiles sweetly in reply. "Laura, this is a Cody, Noah, Kiersey," she points to Laura's old schoolmate, his friend, and the dark complected girl, "Dove and Ryan," the blond girl and brunette boy. "Also known as the "lovebirds"," she teasingly tacks on.
"Aww, is some one jealous that they don't have a boyfriend and therefore they aren't getting any?" Ryan sasses back to her.
Everyone at the table laughs and Laura silently decides that she likes Ryan better than Rydel's other guy friends. He seems like a cool guy.
Ratliff steps out into the nighttime to join in on the festivities. He walks over to the previously mentioned table, taking place next to Laura.
"Hey, look its Ellington or Ratliff or whatever the hell they call you," Dove says when she sees him.
Rydel laughs. "Hey Ell. Glad toy could make it." She says it as if him showing up wasn't obviously have going to happened.
"Well, this better be one hell of a birthday party. I'm missing Project Runway for this."
Rydel crinkles her nose at him and sticks out her tongue.
"I'd laugh if I thought you were joking," Laura adds, wanting to get in on the group banter.
"Oh, hush up you!" He shoves her playfully.
She just laughs. Everyone else that's seated at the table laughs too. Except for one person who may or may not have been turning twenty that particular day.
"Actually, Laura, can I talk to you?" He says kind of quietly, but it's not very effective seeing as how the whole table had heard them.
"Uh, sure," she answers and then follows him back to the house.
After a moment Dove leans over toward Rydel. "Are they together or something?" She asks.
"Laura and Ratliff? No, just friends," she says quickly, avoiding eye contact.
"You sure?"
"Of coarse they aren't together," Cody says and laughs, "that girl is way too hot for Ratliff."
Rydel just sits back in her seat, slightly annoyed. Her birthday party and of coarse all anyone wanted to talk about was Laura.
"I'm gonna ask her out tonight," Ellington says once they've reached the vacant hallway. He looks extremely nervous. He's rubbing his hands together and waiting for her response.
Laura's eyebrow raises in confusion. It takes her a minute to understand what he's talking about.
"Oh my gosh! Ell that's incredible!" She starts slapping him in a fit of excitement.
"Ow! Geez, if its so incredible then why are you hitting me?"
"Oops! Sorry." She smiles sheepishly and her hands go back down to her sides. "It's just exciting! That's all! I'm mean," she squeals and jumps up and down a little bit. "Rydellington's finally happening!"
"Rydellington?" His eyebrows knit together.
"Yeah, Ellington and Rydel. Come on Ell, keep up with the program."
"Really Laura? A couple name? You're such a fangirl," he teases.
"Oh whatever just ask out your dream girl already would you?" She can't help but squeal a little at the end.
"Wow, wait, hold up, hold up," he interjects before she can push him out the door and start planning a wedding. "I'm not asking her out yet."
"When?" She practically barks at him.
"Soon enough. Patience little one."
Before she can snap at him for calling her "little one" a certain blond round the corner into the hall. "Hate to break up the make-out session, but the party's outside you two." Ross smirks deeply at the two.
"Really?" Both Ell and Laura turn around to face the cheeky blond and frown at him.
He just chuckles.
"You're so immature," Ratliff groans as he passes Ross on his way outside.
Laura just stands there giving him a weird look.
"What?"
"Nothing." She shakes her head and brushes past him. "You'll find out soon enough."
By now more people have arrived. Alexa is prancing around in her fairy princess dress, or as she likes to refer to it as her party clothes. The blond child walks up to her older cousin and places a tiara on her head. "For the birthday princess," she explains.
"Why thank you, Lexi." Rydel leans down to kiss the girls cheek.
"Now we just need to find you a handsome prince," Alexa comments.
Rydel just laughs. "Yep, that's all I need..."
Laura is leaning up against a tree, texting her mom about how much she misses her and wishes she actually knew someone at this party.
Unbeknownst to Laura, someone sneaks up behind her and slaps her firmly on the butt.
"What the hell?" She shrieks and turns around, ready to punch someone in the face no doubt.
"Calm down, boo. It's just me," Maia says, giggling and clutching her stomach.
"Oh my gosh!" A hand flies up to Laura's chest in relief. "Thank goodness. I was afraid you were Ryland there for a second."
Maia, who is still laughing, nods her head in agreement. "Yeah," he agrees once her giggles have subsided, "he's kinda touchy ain't he?"
"You my darling," Laura wraps an arm around Maia's neck, "are an answer to my prayers."
"Ha, aren't I always?"
Laura just rolls her eyes. "I know, like, almost no one at this party. It's awful. I was reduced to texting my mother instead of actually socializing."
"Oh, you poor awkward girl you. No wonder you have no friends."
"Hey! That was rude!" Laura pulls away from their little side hug, frowning and slightly offended.
"Just kidding, I love you," Maia pulls the smaller girl back toward herself.
"Love you too," Laura grumbles.
"Real convincing there hun." Maia laughs. "I have to give you some credit. I mean, you do know a whole family of attractive guys who you're living with at the moment."
"Yes, living with, not hooking up with," she informs her friend.
Maia sing-songs with a smirk on her lips, "You could change that."
"Please, they're like my brothers."
"Well, way too make things gross, Laur." Maia contorts her facial expressions into one of disgust. "So, any other guys at this party you find cute and non-brother like?"
"Yeah, a few," Laura answers truthfully, "but most of them are pigs and the only one who isn't came here with his girlfriend."
"This party blows, then. I might have to start texting my mom." Maia then takes out her phone to show she's not joking. "Let's ditch and get some ice cream or something?"
"I can't, Mai. I have to stay for Rydel." Despite the fact that she's kind of been a bitch lately, Laura thinks. She grabs Maia's hand and pulls her toward the people. "And if I have to suffer through this then so do you."
By now all the table are packed full of people. At one table Rocky, Ross, Riker, Ryland, Ratliff, and Alexa are playing poker with Cheetos.. Only it appears that Alexa is eating all of the "money".
At another table, Kiersey, Cody, Noah, Dove, and Ryan are all still sitting in their same spots. Rydel is the only one not still there.
Gary, Susan, Stormie, and Mark are at another table near the back. None of them appear to be making any sort of communication with the others. Just enjoying themselves amid a comfortable silence.
Laura lights up at the sight of a familiar face. "Hey, Calum!" She says and waves.
"Hey! Laura, right?" Calum replies.
"Right."
Standing next to Calum is his not-so-pleasant step-sibling Lauren. Laura's surprised that she's standing by Calum and not drooling all over Ross. Was she on a leash or something? Laura thinks jokingly.
Standing on the other side of Calum, however was a short, even shorter than Laura, Latina girl with curly black hair.
"Oh," Calum says once he realizes the two girls don't know each other, "Laura this is my girlfriend Raini. Raini, this is Laura. She's friends with the Lynchs."
"Nice to meet you," Raini says in a sweet voice that sounds nothing, but sincere.
"Really Calum? You dragged your girlfriend to a party full of strangers?" She jokes and laughs. Maia coughs behind her, trying to point out the irony, but Laura just ignore her.
"Actually, they aren't all strangers. We've been dating for about two years now so she's met them before, the Lynchs that is," he explains.
"Everyone else is pretty strange to me though," Raini comments.
"Tell me about it." Laura says and her and Raini both laugh.
"Well, I'm gonna go get something to drink. You want anything?" He asks his girlfriend and sister. Both girls shake their head and then the three of them walk away. Lauren glances at Laura for the slightest second. She doesn't frown or grimace or anything nasty like that. Just a simple look.
Laura just shrugs and she and Maia move on as well.
…
Ross marches around the snack table a couple of times before finally deciding to grab a cupcake. "These are really good," he says to Ryan and Dove who are also at the snack table, being all cuddly and couple-y.
"Thanks, I made 'em." Ross turns around, surprised. Laura's standing behind him with a smug smile on her face.
"Well, in that case," she wipes some frosting off his mouth with a napkin, "I hate them."
She rolls her eyes, good-naturedly, and he breaks off into a big, goofy smile to show her he's kidding.
Laura walks up to the table. She grabs a carrot stick from the vegetable tray and dips it in the ranch dressing.
"Thanks by the way," Ross says quietly. He rubs the back of his neck and looks almost... nervous. That sure is something. Seeing Ross Shor Lynch nervous.
"Why? It's not like I made them specifically for you or anything." She laughs.
"No, not about the cupcakes. I mean Rydel's gift. If it weren't for you, I probably would have gotten her socks."
"Oh, well, I guess it is good that I came along. Socks suck," Laura comments. She grabs a broccoli and eats it in one bite.
"Exactly," he smiles as chuckles nervously, "so yeah... thanks...," he trails off at the end, his voice becoming noticeably smaller with each word.
"You're welcome..." she replies, but her words are barely even audible.
They both just stand, leaning against the table and not saying a word to each other. Laura bites her lip, trying to keep the shy smile off her face.
She wonders for a second if she should say anything, but decides against it and leaves without saying anything to Ross. He watches her leave and then returns his attention to the snacks laid out in front of him.
Ryan walks over to his friend, oddly enough without his girlfriend by his side.
"So, Laura seems nice," he says casually. He scans his eyes over the table as if contemplating his food choice very seriously.
"Yeah, well, that's probably cause she is," Ross answers.
"What's the deal there?" Ryan asks carefully, still pretending to care about the snacks to avoid eye contact.
"Nothing. There's no deal."
"But you want there to be?"
"No."
"Oh, cool."
The blond raises his eyebrow in confusion and slight amusement. "Please tell me that Cody didn't tell you to come over here and ask me about her."
"No," Ryan laughs because that does sound like something his friend would do. "Besides, I wouldn't waste a nice girl like Laura on him anyways."
"Good," Ross grabs a cup to get himself a drink, "cause that would have been my answer."
Ryan smiles, finally turning his back to the table and looking at Ross. "You like her."
"Ryan-"
"I don't mean you want to date her or anything, but admit it, you like her. As a person. As a friend."
Ross doesn't answer immediately. Instead he takes a drink of his lemonade and thinks over it.
"I don't like getting close to people."
Ryan notices a strange look flash through Ross's eyes in that moment. A look into the real Ross Lynch. A rare moment. Ryan had known Ross for years now and he still wasn't sure exactly who Ross was. On a very scare occasion would Ross actually open up to people and let his vulnerabilities show. Honestly, Ryan knew nothing about Ross. Nothing personal anyways. Everything he knew about Ross was pretty superficial. All he was that he was one of Dove's closest friends. And if he knew anything about Dove (which he actually knew a lot) it was that she was always an excellent judge of character.
Ross swallows thickly and then, whatever emotion it was that had once taken place in his hazel orbs was gone know.
He leaves without a word back to a table by himself.
Laura and Maia are standing halfway across the yard, talking to each other. Or rather Laura was talking and Maia was just listening. Every now and then Laura's hand would fly up in some sort of gesture as she spoke. A smile was placed on her face as she rambled on.
Ross was seemingly unaware of the smile that had subconsciously etched its way onto his own face at the sight of the animated brunette.
…
Oh no, here we go,
Hear your voice on the radio like every single song is about you.
Every second that we spend,
Life's a mess stuck up in my head.
Got me so distracted and confused.
Of coarse it wouldn't have been a party at the Lynch house without the band playing. Riker, Rocky, Ross, Rydel, and Ratliff who went unofficially by the name R5 (unofficially since they weren't a professional band, it was just kind of a name they had acquired since their days in Colorado that had stuck) were jamming out on the make-shift stage for their adoring audience. And hell, they were actually pretty good.
I can't remember what I did tonight,
Or even yesterday
Like dud where's my car?
Excuse me what's my name?
Someone gave me these clothes, I can't remember who
My mind's a total blank, but I just can't forget about you.
Laura sat at a table with Maia, Dove, Ryan, and Kiersey (Noah and Cody had left promptly after Maia had told them to "fuck off and stop looking at her ass") Laura had to admit she actually really liked these three though. Dove was such a sweetheart and her and Ryan were being very publicly couple-y in the way that's neither annoy or disgusting, but actually sweet and adorable and kind of makes you jealous of their relationship, but isn't meant to evoke envy intentionally. Kiersey was also really awesome and super funny too. She kept coming up with all these ridiculous puns, which were admittedly Laura's favorite kind of jokes. She had confessed that she secretly loved puns too and spent many hours online looking for good ones.
"Ross use to make fun of me when he found out I liked puns. For the longest time he'd make up his own and call them "Kiersey jokes". He was such a loser, but they always did make me feel better..." She says the last part quieter and sadder than the rest of the sentence. She looks like she wants to say more, but decides against it.
"So, like are you guys together?" Laura asks with genuine curiosity because she could definitely see Kiersey and Ross being a "thing". She's really cool and very pretty and seems like a girl Ross would go for.
"Me and Ross?!" She asks and then laughs a little. "No, Ross and I aren't together."
Laura just kind of sits there and stares at Kiersey as Kierseys laughter begins to pick up. She's laughing like Laura had previously been laughing at the puns.
"Don't get me wrong. No, Ross is a great guy. He's funny and sweet and probably one of the hottest guys I know in real life, but..." She pauses, thinking over her words. "We're not like that." Is what she finally comes up with. "Ross and I... Lets just say we've known each other for a long time and we both know each other better than anyone else does." Then she tacks on as an afterthought, "Well, maybe except for his family."
"Where did you meet?" Laura asks. She doesn't mean to seem nosy but she's just very curious.
"Um, well.." Kiersey looks a bit uncomfortable with this question.
"I mean, don't feel like you have to answer," Laura assures her, noticing the girl's growing discomfort. "It's just that, I too have known Ross for a long time, since the fifth grade actually. His mom was friends with my mom and when they moved here and our parents got reacquainted then we were kind of forced to be around each other a lot. I went to school with Ross for years and yet, I've never met you before." Laura feels slightly guilty with all her questioning. Was she being overbearing? Was that why this girl had suddenly become uncomfortable? Laura had never been very good with people. "Don't think me rude of asking. It was genuine curiously."
Kiersey smiles and shakes her head. "It's perfectly okay." She sighs and purses her lips, thinking again about how to answer. "How Ross and I met isn't important really. What's important is that I did meet him, and by meeting him I came to meet everyone else that I consider a friend of mine. He helped me out when I needed it the most and vice versa." Laura nods, wishing she had kept her mouth shut about the whole thing. "And at the time, I wasn't going to school anyways. I actually only went to regular school for two years. Kindergarten and first, and that was way before I met Ross. After that I was homeschooled."
Laura just smiles, silently then along Kiersey for giving out details on this obviously touchy subject.
Both girls then go back to watching the performance in front of them.
By now they'd switched over to a different song.
Sometimes loves a scary place
It's like standing in the dark
Flying through the universe
Trynna fix your broken heart
It's okay to let it go
You don't have to be so brave
Take a chance that someone else is gonna swoop in and save the day
You don't have to face your fears alone
Cause whenever you're in trouble, I'll know
Let me be your superhero
There isn't a place I won't go
Whenever you need me by your side, I'll be there
Never be afraid if you fall
I'll carry you away from it all
Let me be your superhero
Let me be your superhero
Laura turns to Maia and nudges her arm. "I'm gonna go get a drink," Laura informs the Australian, to which Maia nods.
Laura gets up out of her seat and walks toward the house.
Take off your mask, put down your guard, don't need a symbol on your chest
It's alright for once to play the damsel in distress
Your gonna use up all your strength trynna be so strong
Don't have to show it all the way
Together we can take it on
You don't have to face your fears alone,
Cause whenever you're in trouble, I'll know
Stormie's phone vibrates against her thigh. She fishes it out of her pocket.
"Who is it?" Mark asks when he sees the look on his wife's face.
"It's the doctor," she answers, "I'm gonna take this inside."
Mark squeezes his wife's hand for support before she gets up and walks to the house.
She opens the sliding glass door that leads into the kitchen, not noticing Laura who is already in the kitchen. She freezes, not knowing whether to walk back outside because she doesn't want to eavesdrop on Stormie's phone conversation, but she also doesn't want to move and have Stormie see her. Laura creeps into the back part of the kitchen, so she won't be seen.
"Hello, Dr. Lidia, yes, this is Stormie Lynch." A long pause, Laura can hear the faint sounds of the person on the other end speaking, but nothing they are saying can be made-out clearly to her.
"Why? What's wrong?"
A beat passes.
"Okay... Okay... Really? Okay."
Another pregnant pause, this one longer than the last.
"Alright, so then when can we schedule the appointment?"
Pause.
"Well, we do have a...uh... house guest visiting with us, but I'm sure something can be arranged."
"Oh no, she'll be with us until the end of next month. This should be done before then."
Another pause ensues. Laura noticing that Stormie seems to be shifting around nervously. Not tangy she doesn't have a reason to be.
"No, I agree the whole family should be there, but-"
Pause.
"Well, lets just schedule the appointment. If we have to change the date then so be it. "
Slight pause.
"Okay then. We'll see you two weeks from Monday then."
Then Stormie hangs up, but she doesn't leave the kitchen. Instead, she leans against the counter and Laura swears she hears the sound of a sniffling.
Let me be your superhero
There isn't a place I won't go
Whenever you need me by your side, I'll be there
Never be afraid if you fall
I'll carry you away from it all
Let me be your superhero
Let me be your superhero
Stormie does eventually leave the kitchen and, after a moment or two, so does Laura. She sits down and Maia looks at her funny.
"What took you so long? You didn't even get a drink." Laura doesn't respond, she just looks at something in front of her with an unreadable look on her face. "Hey are you okay?"
Laura turns her face and nods her head. "Yeah, I'm fine." She doesn't sound as convincing as she like to have had, but that's all she says before she goes back to staring at whatever she had been staring at.
Maia follows her gaze, until it meets with the face of Ross Lynch, who is still up on stage singing his heart out, pouring in every emotion into this song. Maia glances back to look at the side of Laura's face again. Her expression has altered, but Maia still had no idea what kind of expression it is. It's like a lot of different emotions mixed together.
Maia just brushes it off, whatever it is, and goes back to enjoying the show.
Woah oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Let me be your superhero
Woah oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Sometimes love a scary place
It's like standing in the dark
Flying through the universe
Trynna fix your broken heart,
Let me be your superhero
There isn't a place I won't go
Whenever you need me by your side, I'll be there
Never be afraid if you fall
I'll carry you away from it all
Let me be your superhero
Only Ross Lynch won't let anyone be his superhero. Because he doesnt see the sense in being a superhero to someone who doesn't have a chance of being saved?
And he won't be anyone's superhero either. Because he can't save anyone. The only way to save them is to not let them get attached.
Let me be your superhero
A/N
To be continued...
This was kind of part one of this chapter I guess you could say and the next one with be part two.
It's been awhile yes I know. I wanted to update on Christmas but I couldn't seem to write this chapter how I wanted to, so after many, many, many changes to it, I finally got this and was satisfied with it. So here you go, I guess you could say its your late Christmas/Ross Lynch's birthday present. Which is funny because I think the last time I updated this story was actually on Laura's birthday! Lol, weird coincidence. AND it also happens that this chapter is about RYDEL'S birthday! So many birthdays! Also I know that Rydel's birthday is in August, but for this story it's actually in late July.
And yeah, I added some characters. Shoot me! No, don't really. I can't help it! I just really live Kiersey Clemons so I gave her a part. And Ryan and Dove are adorable together so yes, I HAD to put them in my story. You might see them again in this story. Odds are that Kiersey will make an appearance again. By the way, like, what's up with her huh? What do you guys think?
Thanks to kristinabenoit1, UselessScottishTigerGirl556, DANNYXOXOR5LOVE, xxSmileYoureBeautifulxx, Dont-Stop-Believin, xDefinitelyMex, rachelita, staying strong 2007-2013, ThatsJustWhoIAm, hgbrummond, Lillyfanficlover, all the guests, and an extra special thanks to Citylights at Midnight because her reviews usually make me laugh and smile. Also, thanks to Scittore Ombra (hope I got your username right because last time I didn't) even though she PMs me instead of actually leaving a review, but hers are always very sweet and insightful and her Raura story is amazing and means a lot to me that she spends the time to message me about my story's. Seriously guys, she awesome :) and you should absolutely go check out her Raura story on Wattpad called The Blossom. It's incredible!
I'm thinking about writing sort of a batman-related Auslly fantic next year... I dunno it was just thought. I'm actually a pretty big batman fan and while I was watching The Dark Knight yesterday (for like the millionth time in my short life) this story idea came across my mind. It wouldn't actually include batman. It's kind of complicated and I might considered working on it if you guys would be interested in it.
Also I'm thinking about changing my username on here, but I don't know. Do you guys like Neonshoestrings or do you think I should change it?
Tell me in a review ;) see what I did there? But seriously guys, until next time.
Kthanxbai!
Morgan :)