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[indent][color=d3d3d3]How did they expect him to react? 

With a jolly ol' laugh like his old man, accepting their happiness, as if he knew all along? As if their feelings, their [i]happiness[/i], mattered more than his hurt? His father could be mature, could bury his [i]feelings[/i], for someone else, pretending it didn't mattered, that he, his own goddamn self, didn't matter, but for Ryland? He wasn't like his dad — no matter how many times his mother says he's more like his dad than he realizes. No matter how much they tell him it'll all work out in the end. And, no matter how long they keep trying to give him value, give him purpose, and give him the benefit of the doubt... their efforts were meaningless. He refused to break. 

Why should he act like he was okay with this? That he should've expected it a mile away and that [i]those two[/i], not telling him SHIT, like he wasn't their best friend or anything, wouldn't leave an impact? Even if they slipped, even if it was a matter of them "oops" forgetting, that was a horrible excuse and showed just how much he actually mattered to them. He would not change for his friends, for his parents, or for anyone! They shouldn't expect him to. And this rage? The fire that burns hot, an inferno that never seems to simmer, would destroy him from the inside out, until he was nothing more than the consequence of catastrophe.   

He had his right to feel this way. To feel betrayed. Did everyone know that they were a thing besides him? How long has it been going on? Have they been lying to him for... god knows how long...? With his rage, he was trouble best ignored, and yet as he walked down the sidewalk, blaring his [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isL-5S0ihaY]music[/url] in his ears, he could vividly picture his childhood. The sound of laughter, the breeze in everyone's hair, the endless crusades, and pure unadulterated joy. The melancholy of nostalgic memories cloaked his mind, centering his thoughts on the good, instead of the bad. 

Before Ryland knew it, he had arrived at his new school, for his last semester of high school. King's Academy. At least the back of it, having went a round about way, because he was too caught up in his head. After climbing over the stonewall, connected to the back gate (y'know instead of walking through the gate like a normal person), he dropped to the school gardens, which wasn't too far from the football field. Perfect route to avoid anyone and everyone, including his friends. 

Securing his hoodie over his head, his place of comfort, he walked forward, prepared to wage war if he needed to. Letting his feet lead the way, and avoiding the most populated area it seemed, the courtyard, Ryland headed inside the senior building, knowing this prior due to past visits. The corridor he was in, was seemingly vacant, besides the music streaming out of one of the rooms, which he'd assume was the music room. [color=fff700][i]Red Hot Chili Peppers... not bad.[/i][/color] Rather than follow the sound, he continued on his way, which was... he looked at his left hand, at the written scribbles that was his locker number, before grunting to himself. 

He had gotten the school to send him his 'Welcome to King's' package during break, since he didn't want to get a tour from someone he didn't know, or he did know but it was far too long to spend with said person. He didn't want a tour, goddamit! For one, Rye wasn't a deer in headlights, he was a senior for fuck's sake. There was no need for someone random to teach him the ropes when he could do it himself. Plus, this was a rich school, and he went to a rich school prior. How different could they be? Besides size, obviously. 

Striding forward, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, dodging all chatter, he glanced to his right, to see down another hall, and caught sight of a familiar raven haired princess. Stopping in his tracks, the sudden thought of her text message to him about her 'good news' covered his damage with Marisol and Sonny. From her figure, his eyes darted to the guy she closely stood next to, as she [i]laced[/i] her fingers with his. Grinding his teeth, Ryland threw all thought out the window and walked down the hall with annoyance written all over his face. When he got closer, he saw another girl he didn't know well enough to put a name to the face, but she seemed familiar. 

[color=teal]“Oh you shouldn’t have!”[/color]

Regardless of his lack of memory for April, and with little idea of what they were talking about, Ryland stepped in front of the two lovebirds, next to the speed racing queen, examined the situation, before shooting Ariel a deathly glare. 

[color=teal]“I mean, this must have set you back a pretty penny.”[/color]

[color=fff700]"Stop being modest. It doesn't suit you."[/color] Ryland interjected, locking his dark gaze with Kavi, as if it was a frosted dagger cutting right through his skin, before sarcastically laughing and turning his attention back to Ariel, [color=fff700]"I'm [i]so happy[/i] you've gotten your priorities straight."[/color]
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