Author's Note: Thank you all so much for such positive response this story is getting.
It had to have been a dream. Ryder spoke out to himself in the darkness of his bed room "No, it can't be. He's been gone for a year." He looked at his clock and the red numbers revealed it was 2 in the morning. Ryder then corrected himself "A year and a day…" The tears began to well in his eyes. He knew he heard it. It was unmistakable. He knew it was Jake's voice, no matter how impossible it seemed. Ryder decided he would just go back to sleep and deal with whatever mental breakdown he was about to have until the morning. The rest of his night was spent tossing and turning while his head was filled with thoughts of his late boyfriend. When he awoke several hours later, he looked at the clock and muttered "Why can I never sleep late on a Saturday?" He decided to climb out of bed. Ryder realized he had slept in the same clothes he had worn the day before. He merely rolled his eyes and changed shirts so it wasn't as obvious. He trudged his way down the stairs to find his mom and 2 brothers sitting around the table eating pancakes. Mrs. Lynn chirped "Want some breakfast kiddo?" In lue of responding to her, Ryder just shook his head and grabbed a pop tart. His older brother Blake grabbed his shoulder lightly and remarked "Look little bro, whatever weird lapse in your psyche you're having because Jake's dead, it can't last forever. Just sit down and eat some actual food." The middle of the Lynn boys growled in an enraged tone that no one in the room knew he could muster "Let me go now!" Blake soothed "Not till you sit down and explain to me and mom what's wrong, Ryder. No matter how much it doesn't seem like it with me being in college, or dad working, or mom teaching..." Alex added "Or me having football practice..." Blake continued "Exactly, no matter what it seems like at times, we are here for you Ryder." The slightly restrained teen spoke again in a calmer tone "Dude, just let me go. I'm late." Mrs. Lynn spoke up "Blake let your brother go." The oldest young man complied and released his grip on his brother. She continued "Where are you headed kiddo?" Ryder answered "I'm meeting Sam and Blaine at the park." She kissed her middle son's forehead and whispered "Ok Ry have fun. But if you're riding your bike there, do not forget your helmet." Ryder remarked as he strapped on his helmet "Mom I'm not a kid. I don't need you to keep reminding me of basic safety precautions." She snarked "Well every time I don't, you always forget to wear it!" He nodded his head as he scarfed down the last bit of his cookies 'n' cream breakfast pastry. Ryder walked out to the garage to grab his bike. He grabbed it from where it stood against the wall and departed on his way.
It took Ryder a bit to get to the park. By the time he arrived, Sam and Blaine were there waiting on him. Blaine chirped "Glad you could make it Ry." The chestnut haired young man shot a look of appreciation at his gel wearing friend. Sam pondered "Blaine, why did you want us to meet you at the park exactly?" Blaine spoke "There's a reason I told you both to ride bikes here." Ryder asked "And that reason is?" Sam seemed to know precisely what he was thinking as he climbed on his bike. The two yelled simultaneously "Race ya!" Ryder clambered back onto his bike and quickly caught up to his friends. He just barely pulled ahead of the two before reaching the ending point at the start of the hiking trail first. Sam spoke in an exasperated, out of breath tone "Dude, you were quick." Ryder smirked "No Dip Sherlock." The three of them lay out on the ground just watching the clouds. Ryder asked in a nonchalant tone "Do you guys think ghosts are real?" Blaine answered "Not really. It's like, why would someone's spirit be trapped on earth in the first place?" Sam had begun to speak, but Blaine accidentally cut him off by murmuring while looking at his phone. "Well guys I've got to go. Kurt just got back to town. Have fun laying here!" He then hopped back on his bike and peddled off. Sam continued their conversation "What would make you want to ask about ghosts man?" Ryder piped up "Promise you won't tell anyone or think I'm a complete nutbag?" Sam nodded his head slightly. The hazel eyed young man spoke "Last night I heard his voice, like in my room. It was really weird. Granted, I was the one that was saying goodnight to a photo of my dead boyfriend..." Sam asked "Ok what did this 'voice' say?" Ryder responded "It wasn't just some random voice. It was Jake's voice. I'd know it from anywhere Sam. He said goodnight Ryder." Sam stood up and tightened his ponytail. He spoke "Well man, I'm going back on my promise. You're a complete nutbag. Jake killing himself drove you insane man." Ryder shot his so-called friend a look of deep distain and growled "I'm not crazy. I swear I'm not!" Sam remarked "Well Ry, I'll leave you to your delusions…" He left Ryder laying there on the ground in tears. He whispered to himself "I'm not crazy. I know I'm not." The phantom, or as he heard it, Jake's voice spoke again in a soothing voice. "Ryder hon you're not crazy. I believe you." The brunet young man smiled and looked off in the direction he heard the voice coming from and murmured "I'm not crazy. Jake doesn't think I am either."