Author's Note:

Hello readers, I decided to make a note before the story usually happens to happily interact with you guys. I have also thought about answering every question that is in your comment.

GabGaspard: I will try to update every week but if I don't do get to do it then please be patient. My life right now is kind of busy.

To the others, hope you'll like this second chapter.

I open the big wooden door of the house while trying to balance the suitcases I'm carrying while Marley is right behind me who is wearing a big smile on her face.

"Wow, your mother did an amazing job with the living room."

I put down the bags right beside the loveseat just as soon as Marley's- I mean, our dad Craig Rose is coming down the stairs with a smile that matches his own daughter.

He raises his arms as his feet touch the last step, "Marley!"

"Daddy!" Marley runs towards her father and is engulfed in a very big hug. I shake my head at how child-like that woman can be when it comes to her dad. After a few minutes of still hugging each other I became a bit exasperated at how long their arms are going to get number.

I start to look at the second floor wondering where my mom could be, "Where's mom?"

"She's at the kitchen," Paul said when he already breaks away from the hug with Marley and is already carrying her bags.

"Lemme help, dad."

I rush towards him and take the brown leather bags from his hands, "Same room?"

"Yeah."

I take the flight of stairs leaving Marley's father in the living room while Marley is right behind me. We fell into an easy silence as I continue in on the flight of stairs before stopping in front of Marley's former room. I opened it to reveal a queen sized bed with white painted on all corners of the room, purple curtains to block out the sun and a study table with a Macbook Pro being placed in the side near the door that leads towards the bathroom.

"You do know my dad hates it whenever you take the responsibility of something he wants to do, right?"

Turning around after placing the bags on top of Marley's bed I can't help but appreciate her figure since I didn't get to do it when I picked her up at the airport. She's wearing a white sundress that accentuates her curves nicely with sandals. Her hair is down that makes me only want to touch her wonderful locks.

Everything about her is perfect but of course, my mouth wants to let her think the opposite, "Are you really wearing that dress? It's like you're going to the beach instead of Ohio."

Clearly that wasn't supposed to be what I should have said and that got her a little bit annoyed with the way she lets out an exasperated breath and puts one hand on her hips like she's trying to tell me, 'And this is how my step-brother tries to be a douchebag'.

I look away, not giving her question the answer. It's not because I don't think Paul can't carry everything but it is because my mom would expect me to help her in the kitchen which I clearly suck at.

The first time I made a sunny-side up I accidentally slid the frying pan towards the flames which caused the whole eggs to combust and at that time I was already 15.

"I'm waiting, Ryder Lynn"

She knows I hate it when she uses my full name. I decided to answer back in a very calm demeanor, "You know I hate it when you call me that."

Her smile almost made me want to punch something, anything just so I won't have to play her mindless games, "Awww… is Ryder Lynn, the former Quarterback of McKinley High all sad that I called him that?"

"Now listen here Marley, if you are planning on calling me by that name again, I swear to God!" I began, my voice getting louder inside the room.

"Ryder!"

My mom calls from downstairs and I sent a silent Thank You to God. I left Marley and walk quickly below to find my mom leaning on the doorframe wearing a white blouse and pencil skirt with her hair in a tight bun.

"What is it?"

"Can you take Marley out tomorrow for dinner? I'm afraid I have a business meeting with Mr. Cole. He wants me to be the supplier for his restaurant and Paul has a night shift." My mother is an owner of a wine distribution company that she made from scratch when we moved here named Catherine-Ryder and Co.

I look uncertainly at her. With what just happened upstairs, I'm sure we'll be red-faced at the end of the meal if I were to agree, "Uh… how about her other friends here in Lima? I'm sure they'd be willing to dine with her."

My mother shakes her head and tries to straighten my blue shirt from invincible lines, "I know but from what I've heard upstairs I think it would be good for the both of you to eat dinner tomorrow. Now, who's up for some baby back-ribs?"

"It's been a long time since I've eaten your famous baby back-ribs, Cathy." I turn towards the sound and see Marley coming downstairs who must have done a quick change since she's now only wearing a white t-shirt, black jeans and converse, topping it all off with a yellow cardigan.

My mom smiles and ushers us inside the dining room where Craig is arranging the table. He smiles at us as he sets the last fork and knife beside the plate that my mother usually sits.

As we all settled in our designated chairs with me beside Marley, Paul is in the center of the table with mom on his right side.

We start to eat dinner that mom made for us and I can't tell you just how divine she usually cooks. She used to be a chef in a local restaurant back when she was in College and had to make ends meet.

"I still can't get over the fact that my daughter is now home. Actually I'm quite relieved that I won't have to spend another damn expensive ticket on those planes in going to New York so," he looks at Marley softly and squeezes her hand that's lying just beside his, "I'm just so happy that you're the one who's making the trip to come and see us for a change."

"Yes and that Ryder could get to see you for a change he's been asking me how well you're doing in New York since you moved there,"

My eyes instantly zeroed in on my mother who's smiling deviously at me. I lean in on the table and talks in a silent whisper "Knock it off, Mom."

My mother doesn't seem to get it because when the voice of Marley is being heard in my side (I refuse to look at her and trying so hard not to) "He did?"

"Oh you wouldn't believe just how many times he mopes around the house and do doesn't even want to go and have a guy's night out with Jake which says alot."

I internally groaned at how talkative my mom is being and tries to change the subject, "Anyway I'll be going to the site tomorrow for the whole day because there was a problem back there with a family."

Craig looks a little concern and stops midway from eating his food, "What happened? Is there something wrong with the contracts my firm made?"

Marley's father has been the Lawyer of the Organization where I've been working in and the contracts he is talking about is for the ownership of the residents currently residing in the resettlement site. I shake my head and took a sip of water before answering his question, "One of the families were a bit stubborn since the Engineers advised them not to move in the house they were assigned in and when they were sleeping at the second floor, it caved because of some loose flooring and the four of them are being sent to the hospital afterwards."

When we were done with dinner, I am already sitting on the couch watching the NBA with Marley reading some scripts that were offered to her. Our parents are still washing the dishes and I am still bothered with how my mom talked about me moping around when I really wasn't.

"Honey?"

I look up to see my mom drying her hands with a towel, "What time are you going back to your apartment? Craig said we could watch a back-to-back episode of that TV show you love… Hannibal?"

"Uhhh… thanks mom but I really do need to go home now. I have to go and meet with the team tomorrow at 5."

Marley looks at me with a surprised expression and her mouth gaping which annoys me to an extent, "Isn't that a bit too early? I mean, yeah at the theater we are always early but 5 is just too much… and we also need to have our rehearsals, vocal lessons and choreography."

My jaw involuntarily tenses, my mother bless her heart, knows that action coming from her own son and takes matters into her own hands, "Well I'm sure there's a good reason for it."

She looks at me in the eye and for that matter made me calm down for awhile and stands up from the couch, "Yeah I'd better get going now.

When I turn around, Marley's looking down with her cheeks tinged red while my mom went back to the kitchen and when she came back she's already holding a tray, "I know you've eaten but I also do know you might be in a rush for work that you wouldn't have any time to eat breakfast."

"Thanks mom. Bye dad, Marley," Marley who's been looking at me on the couch raises her eyebrows when I called her, "I'll pick you up at 6."

"A bit excited there?" Jake asks as I climb the back of the truck a little too quickly that my foot slipped. Luckily I regained my footing and then carefully sat down on the side.

"Nope. Not at all." Was my nonchalant reply. Jake climbs in and sits down on the opposite side, the driver then gets in and when we were then going back to Lima the wind starts to pick up as did the truck which makes me feel more at ease after a busy day.

"So I heard you were accepted in New York Film Academy." I stiffen momentarily which Jake notices when I look at him squarely in the eye.

I wave him off after I regained my composure, "It doesn't matter."

After a few more minutes the two of us became silent. I know he's trying to think of something to tell me that I should've just gone to New York and study. I bask in the silence that I know will end in a few minutes, "To hell it doesn't. Dude, anything that has Academy, College, University hell even Community is a great! You had a damn scholarship for Screenwriting! Why didn't you just go?"

"Because I thought I needed it at that time," I try to calm myself down by breathing a little too hard. My right is hand gripping on the ledge as I try to control my anger. We arrive on the street where our office is located and I couldn't have been happier. After the driver parks the car, I walk briskly towards my car that's situated in the parking lot, leaving Jake alone.