Welp. I think it's time for a Rydel flashback. We haven't had one of those yet, have we?

And I finally found a use for James in this story! YAY!

Enjoy!

Chapter 10
James & Taylor

Rydel waited outside a classroom in a small preschool building. She didn't bother to look around at all the other parents that were there, because no doubt they would just be staring at the nineteen year old coming to pick up her three year old daughter. Though, she doesn't see why they are. Some of them look only about 2 or 3 years older than Rydel herself. She guesses she should be use to getting funny looks off everyone really.

She got enough of them when she was pregnant.

Maybe getting pregnant at sixteen wasn't the best idea in the whole world. But you know, things happen that you don't really think through. AKA you go to a party with your friends and boyfriend, get drunk out of your mind, and have unprotected sex with your boyfriend.

Well, now he's Rydel's ex-boyfriend. No, he didn't break-up with her and leave her because she was pregnant. They broke up before she found out she was. Unlike most boys, when Rydel told her, he was actually kind enough and supportive and actually took part in the babies life rather than be a deadbeat. And he still does.

Though probably not for much longer, or often. He and his family are moving away from LA soon. Rydel doesn't know why. Apparently his parents wanted a change in where they lived, but they didn't want to leave him behind incase they lose contact and don't speak to each other as often. Rydel told him that if he ever wants to come down and visit their daughter or he wants Rydel to bring her to him for a couple days, then she doesn't mind.

She'd be safer with him anyway.

Let's just say, Rydel doesn't have the best life at home. Her Mom's dead and her Dad went completely off the rails since. James knows what Rydel's father's like, he's seen by accident and seen the marks he use to leave on Rydel. And he knows how scared Rydel is to leave Taylor, their daughter, alone in the house or in the house at all, which is why she spends most of her time out of the house.

As Rydel was lost in thoughts, the classroom door opened up with a loud bang which immediately took her away from her thoughts. She looked over to the door and waited until Taylor came out, she was one of the last ones to come out like she always is.

When Taylor came out she ran over to her Mom and hugged her around the legs. Rydel hugged her back and picked her up from the floor "Hey sweetie," Rydel said, smiling at her "did you have fun?" she asked, Taylor nodded "c'mon then, you can tell me all about on the way out." She said, dropping her slowly and gently on the floor and holding her hand as they began to walk.

Rydel laughed a little and smiled at the stories Taylor was telling her about what happened today, even though she's pretty sure some of it's made up. It was still hilarious and cute.

Rydel pushed the door open of the school and walked out, letting Taylor out first before grabbing her hand again as she walked out "So, I thought we'd go get something to eat, you know your favourite place? The one with the ball pit?" Rydel asked, Taylor's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree and smiled "sound good?"

Taylor nodded, smiling "Yeah!" She said, sounding happily and excited as they went down the stone steps "is daddy gonna come?" she asked.

"Er... I don't-"

Suddenly Rydel was cut off by a car horn. She looked over to the road, and so did Taylor, to where it came from where James was sat in his car looking over to them, signaling for them to get in. Rydel let out a small laugh, looking down at Taylor "Apparently, so."

It didn't take long for Rydel to get Taylor sat on the back of the car in her car seat and into the front before they arrived at the place Rydel said she was going to take her. Now with James.

Right now, they were sat down at a table near the ball pit eating the food. Taylor had eaten only a little of her food because she was really desperate and impatient to go into the ball pit, like she normally is. "Taylor," Rydel said, pushing the small plate of food her to her "eat a little more, then you can go in. I promise. You haven't eaten since... Lunch? Even then I'm not so sure you haven't ate it all."

Taylor let out a whine "But I'm not hungwy."

"All I'm asking, is for you to eat a little bit more, not all of it, just a little. Do you think you can do that without giving me attitude?" Rydel asked, seeming to get a little bit more frustrated with her daughter.

James laughed a little. Leaning forwards on the table, looking at Taylor "Tay, don't listen to her, you go play in the ball pit." He said, even though he knew it was going to tick off Rydel a whole lot.

"James!" Rydel almost screeched. He was not helping her right now.

"And then..." James said, as if Rydel never gave him the chance to finish off "when you're done... you can eat. Okay? For you mom. Promise me when you get out the ball pit you'll eat the food?" he asked, Taylor nodded "there's my girl. Now go play."

Taylor smiled, jumping down from the seat and giving him a quick hug as she passed before running into the ball pit to play. James watched her as she done so, he looked back to where Rydel was and saw the unimpressed facial expression he was receiving from her "What...?" He asked "she's a kid. Let her live a little."

Rydel sighed, still shaking her head. She looked over to the ball pit where it looked like Taylor had quickly made a new friend "Sometimes I think she likes you better than me..." Rydel said thoughtfully, being pretty sure she was suppose to think that in her head.

James slapped Rydel gently, but harshly, on her hand that was on the table "Shut up, Rydel. Don't think that. Your her Mom, if anything... she's going to prefer her Mom over her Dad."

Rydel rubbed her hand where James had just slapped "Okay. Ow. Did you have to slap me like that?" She asked.

"Sorry. I just needed to get your attention and get the point across to you. I'm sorry," he said, stroking the hand he'd hit, almost in mockery making Rydel smile and roll her eyes playfully at him. He took his hand away from her, when he noticed she was still wearing her coat. Which was leather. "Rydel, aren't you boiling in that thing?" he asked.

Rydel shook her head "Nope. Completely fine."

James raised his eye brow, telling Rydel he didn't believe her one bit. "What?" Rydel asked, her voice going higher in pitch.

"Your cheeks are going red, Rydel. That's kind of giving the game away that you're hot."

Rydel flipped her hair "Well, I do my best." She said, joking.

James wanted to try stay serious with Rydel, but after that he couldn't he ended up cracking a smile and laughing, making Rydel laugh a little bit too. He brought his head up off the table, as he had dropped it when she made the comment and he started laughing "At least roll up your sleeves." he said.

Rydel shook her head "I can't..."

"Why not?"

"They won't roll up."

James quickly grabbed one of Rydel's arms to roll the sleeve up for her, ignoring Rydel's protests to get him to stop. He managed to push the sleeve up all the way to the crook of her elbow, where he soon discovered why Rydel didn't want him too in the first place or want to take off her coat. There were bruises, definitely from finger marks off another person (which he knew who exactly from), and some cuts. He knows Rydel isn't low or sad enough to self harm, as she does have a daughter and it wouldn't look good would it? So it must be from him.

He dropped her arm and sighed, letting her roll down the sleeve "Rydel, you can't let him continue to do this to you.."

Rydel shrugged "I can't help it. If I call the police it'd be too much trouble, they'd see I have a kid and they might take her away because they'd be scared she'd be in danger, even though she is."

"Then move out."

"I can't," Rydel said, almost whining "the job at the store I have with Maia doesn't pay me enough to live on my own, or be able too. I can only just get by with providing stuff for Taylor without having to come to you for help."

James slid his chair round to the other side of Rydel and put his arm around her, bringing her in for a hug "It's okay. I don't mind. If you're struggling that much, then why don't you get a second job?" he asked.

"As what? There's nothing really going anymore. Apart from clubs wanting strippers, and I have more self-love than to do that."

"That's true..." James nodded, agreeing with her. Before looking up at the ceiling like he was debating something in his mind. He pulled away from Rydel and looked at her "Listen, Rydel. I've been thinking about this ever since my parents told me we're moving soon..." he said, carefully easing her into the conversation "and... I talked to them about this. About everything. And maybe, if it makes you feel better, Taylor should come with me so she's more safe, if you get me? It's not to get her away from you, oh no. Just so she's out of danger from your Dad. I mean, I know you can't come because of your Dad, but maybe Taylor could."

Rydel nodded "Yeah, I get what you mean."

"So what do you say?" He asked "you can come see her as much as you like and even stay a couple nights, I'm sure the house we're moving into has a spare bedroom. If not, you can either share with me or sleep on the floor in Taylor's room, if you do let her. Or I can bring her down to you. Completely your choice."

Rydel looked away from him for a couple moments, deciding in her mind before she looked back at him and cracked a small weak smile "Just make sure you take care of her," She said, giving him permission to take Taylor to a place where she'd be better off and safer "I don't want her getting hurt."

James smiled "Of course." he said, giving her a hug. Rydel hugged back.

"What do you mean you're letting him take Taylor?!"

Rydel rolled her eyes, trying her best to ignore her best friend Maia as she was going on and on about her at how James was taking Taylor away to live with him instead of Rydel. Maia didn't know about what Rydel's Dad was like and what he did to her, so it was making things more difficult for Rydel to explain.

They were at work in the store as well, and with customers coming in and out it was difficult to talk without getting them listening in on what was going on with their life. Well, Rydel's life.

She was sat at the counter, behind it, with an elbow resting on the counter and her hand supporting her face, looking fed up with Maia ranting on at her.

"I mean, are you irresponsible or something?!"

Rydel turned her head to Maia "I'm not irresponsible Maia," Rydel snapped at her, standing up with her back to the counter.

"Then why are you letting James take her?!" Maia asked, completely confused. The only reason she could think that Rydel was giving Taylor to James was because she is fed up and has finally gotten tired of being a proper Mom to her. "What? Have you just grown tired and got fed up of being an actual Mom or am I missing the point?"

Rydel almost slapped Maia right there and then. "I mean," Maia sighed, trying to find the right words to describe this "your an excellent Mom, so caring... sweet... kind. I thought the freaking apocalypse would have to start when you stopped being a good Mom."

Rydel stared at Maia, completely bemused by her comments. She was really pissed. "Well, guess what Maia, if the apocalypse does happen, I know who I'm feeding to the zombies first!" She snapped at her, making Maia gasp.

Rydel turned around where she saw a boy with brown hair, about eighteen, looking at them both feeling awkward as he was waiting to be served. Rydel took a deep breath "Sorry about that."

"It's okay." He said.

"Yo, Ratliff!" a boy blondish hair said, popping his head round the door "hurry up!"

Rydel gave the boy, who was obviously named Ratliff, his change back as he sighed. "See ya." He said, turning around and seeming embarrassed by his friend, whoever his friend was.

Rocky sighed, listening to Ratliff go on about Riker and what their friendship was like. He couldn't help but feel like this was going to be a painful trip full of arguments between them both, that's if Riker decides to stay with them. If Rocky's honest, he better if he wants to stay safe from the zombies.

Ratliff took a deep breath, finally finishing "Yeah," he paused "that's it..."

Rocky let out a type of scoff "So, the day the apocalypse happened... you really did get distracted."

Ratliff nodded "Yeah. Luckily my ex-girlfriend was kind enough to take care of me until I was better and able to move. I thought, and she thought, I was going to die."

"No offense dude, but if a car is going way over the speed limit when it hits you... I'd have thought you weren't going to make it."

Ratliff let out a small laugh. "It was very painful... Especially since we couldn't even go to a hospital.. zombies and all. That, and I'm pretty sure Kelly didn't have the strength to carry a very injured boy to the hospital."

"What happened to Kelly?" Rocky asked "why aren't you with her?"

Ratliff sighed "Let's just say... she's not a very fast runner when being chased by zombies."

"Ooo.." Rocky hissed.

That's when something occurred to Rocky. His eyes widened, and he looked at Ratliff. Ratliff noticed Rocky looking at him with wide eyes, so he looked at him. "What...?"

"Riker..." Rocky said "he said he was being chased by zombies... but he fell down the hill as they were chasing him.."

"And?" Ratliff asked, not seeing the relevance to this. Or better yet, the point.

"Where did the zombies go after Riker fell down the hill?"

Ratliff's eyes widened as he and Rocky continued to stare at each other in shock, fear and realisation. Not daring to look in front of them. Slowly, they turned their heads and looked in front of them both.

Oh shit.

Welp.. the ending was supposed to have some sort of comedy effect.. I don't really think it did. oH. Yeah.

Anyway, I was thinking of maybe having a Q&A for JUST FanFiction rather than everything else like I did last week. Idk if I'll do it like. But if you have any questions, just leave them in your review after you've commented on the chapter (y)

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