Chapter 21: (Ryder's POV)
We were all meeting at a park for a day out. Everyone was bringing everything necessary. Food, bicycles, more food. How am I supposed to tell Mia that I got those bruises not because someone wanted drugs for free, but because I had to knock out multiple grown ass men, to make sure they don't come into town and find out who she is? That's how I got busted. They knew I was seeing a girl but they didn't know who it was and I'm assuming she passed my house a few times since she was sitting out on the bench when I got back. So I knocked a few people out, distracted the others and then finished my deal and got back home as soon as possible. I was supposed to be driving Mia while the other got there in pairs.

I went down the stairs, going to my car when my mom stopped me. "Where are you off to?" she questioned. "We're all going to the park. I'm driving Mia I have to go get her." I explained as I grabbed my keys. "Ryder, does she know?" my mom gave me a stern look, stopping me from leaving. "Yes mom, she knows." I informed her. "Everything?" she interrogated.
"Yeah. Pretty much." I huffed, eager to leave.
"Then she knows she's the reason your face is beaten up? I'm assuming she helped you cover up?" my mom glared at me at the thought of me lying to her.

That's the thing, my mom loves Mia. she doesn't blame Mia for my state. I got myself and her into my mess. My mom understand why I do what I do and she helps me through everything. "No, she doesn't know why I was beaten. But I can't tell her that yet, mom. She'll never forgive herself." I sighed while my mom nodded understandingly and knowingly. "Ryder, I love that girl to death, hell I hope you marry her one day-"
"What?" I asked utterly confused and in disbelief.

"But you need to tell her everything. Before it's too late." my sighed as she got back to cooking. She was off work today. My mom owns a restaurant in town and she doesn't work on the weekend but the restaurant is open 7 days a week. "I will mom. I just need to know she's ready." I explained before I kissed her cheek goodbye and left and walked over to Mia's house. I walked to her front door and rang the doorbell. "Hello there." I said as she opened the door and let me in. "Ready to go?" I asked as she put her shoes on. "Yup. Just one more thing." she shot up the stairs and quickly came back down. "Touch ups." she opened what I think is powder or maybe it's something else I don't know,stood on her toes and used a brush to apply it all over my face.
"Now we can go." she skipped out of her house with me behind her.

"Are you going to have to do these 'touch ups' throughout the day?" I asked, internally groaning at that thought. "Depends on how much you sweat it off." she said, scrunching her nose up in disgust at the thought of sweat, making me laugh a bit. "Ryder, when do you plan on telling me that I'm the reason you got beat up and busted?" she asked as she turned to face me in my car, immediately making me freeze. "Did someone say that?" I asked hesitantly.

"No. I just put two and two together. You told me to run when you got back. Clearly because someone was watching me. Why didn't you just tell me?" she asked confused.
"I didn't want you feeling guilty for something that wasn't your fault." I sighed as I looked up to see her looking at me through her lashes. "I was terrified that they were going to hurt you." I admitted. "Why?" she groaned as if she knew why but was desperate to hear me say it.

"What do you mean why? Because I love you." I argued and realized she was now sitting cross-legged, completely facing me. "You love me? Well, I love you too. As a friend." she said teasingly. How did I not know that she was teasing me? "Well then kiss me as a friend." I challenged. "Your mom's watching. Start driving." she smiled as I looked at my front door and saw my mom standing outside, watching us.

I rubbed the back of my neck in embarrassment and drove off to the park a few blocks over. Once we reached the park, she sat in her seat in silence while I did the same. The whole ride here was silent if you didn't guess. "Ryder, when I saw you come home bruised and beaten last night, my heart stopped beating and I was devastated and mortified at what I was seeing. I never want to experience that again. Do you understand what I'm saying?" she began.
"Mia, if you're with me friends or more, you will have to experience it." I sighed as I turned to face her. "Wait. Are you saying you want to cut all ties of with me?" I asked, tackenback as realization dawned on me.

"Ryder I-"
"If you want to stay away from me for your own safety, I understand that." I said through gritted teeth. "Ryder, I couldn't give two shits about myself right now. I'm terrified that the next time you go, or the time after that, I'll call Ethan to ask how you are and god forbid, but he'll have to tell me that you're not coming back home, because you're dead!" she suddenly snapped.

"Mia, I promised you that I wouldn't die on you and I will keep my promise." I said reassuringly.
"Ryder, death isn't in your hands. What if you're hurt to the extent that your body cannot fight back anymore?" she argued, raising her voice with each word.
"Mia, you will keep me alive. You always have." I pleaded.
"Ryder. You know how much I care for you. And how much this is killing me to say. But the truth is, I can't be in love with a gang member. Or for that matter, anyone who risks their life on a day to day basis." she sighed as she tried to make me understand.

"Mia. All I know, is that if you care about me. You will stay." I said as I turned the car off.
"Well, I care about you more than any other person in the world and you know it. Which is also why you know that I'm not going anywhere. Just promise me I won't lose you to death." she held her pinky out. "I promise." I entangled mine with hers and quickly leaned in and kissed her and she kissed me back. "There. We kissed as friends." she smiled cheekily before stepping out of the car and heading over to the park, and then quickly running back when she realized she forgot to help me take the things out.

"Sorry, I forgot we brought the things this time." she laughed in embarrassment. "How the hell did I get so lucky to have you in my life?" I asked as I pulled two bicycles out. One hers and one mine while she held a football and the food basket.
"I guess we'll never know." she said as she put the football in the basket of her bicycle and rode it over to where everyone else was sitting and chilling.

I did make that promise to her but I wasn't so sure if I could keep it.

I just knew I had to.
For her.