Goddard's Home for Troubled Teens

Ryder

Up on the roof, I sigh and think over everything. A while later, I fall asleep leaning against the chimney.

Val

I slowly fall asleep, yawning.

Ryder

I wake the next morning on the loft of the stables, nested in hay. Confused, I sit up and yawn.

Val

I wake in the morning and head downstairs for breakfast. I have dinner duty, right?

Ryder

"Ryder Hale!" the unmistakable voice of the headmaster screams, "Show yourself!"

I sigh. And so it begins...

Val

I sit at the table and run a hand through my hair, my eyes drooping.

Ryder

I crawl down the loft and run a hand through my hair, picking out strands of hay off of it. Sighing, I yawn once more and trudge out of the stables.

Val

I bury my face in my arms, yawning again.

Ryder

The headmaster grabs me by my ear and leads me inside to the wall where the chores list should be.

Val

I fall asleep on my arms, tired.

Ryder

"Where's the list?" the headmaster demands.

"Up your a*s," I respond.

He shoves me forward a little and points a pudgy finger at my face, a vein pulsing out at the top of his temple and turning the rest of his face purple.

"You have stable duty," he says. "All day. Get going."

"Can't I have food first?" I ask expressionless.

He narrows his eyes at me and walks away. Smiling slightly, I head into the table area and find Val sitting there. I take a seat at her side and realize she's sleeping.

Val

Someone sits next to me and I look up to find Ryder there, "Hey."

Ryder

"Hey," I sigh. "You wouldn't happen to want to make a guy's life easier, would you?"

Val

I sigh, "I'm not gonna kiss you if that's what your thinking of. Anything besides that, and I'm in."

Ryder

I flash a smile, "No, definitely not that. I don't know you. I may act like an a*s, but I don't play like one. I was going to ask if you would sit out in the stables with me while I follow through with my punishment, pass the time. You wouldn't have to do anything but sit and talk. The work's my part."