Love Begins with Fate (6 page)

“Hey guys.” Ryder beamed
yelling across the diner.

The guys were all jammed in the back of the diner laughing, arguing, and flirting with nearby girls. “Ryder!” Someone screamed.

“Come on Kels.” Ryder said pushing her forward. He could see her hesitance but it didn’t bother him.

“Who’s the
hottie?” a few guys smirked as they approached.

“Hey now…” Ryder growled “You all remember me telling you about my sister Kelsey…”

“Wow…” one guy smirked.

“Your sister’s hot!” exclaimed another.

“Guys well this is my sister Kelsey and none of you will be hitting on her or you’re going to seriously regret it!” Ryder nearly growled.

“You’re just lucky PJ’s on vacation…” another laughed.

Kelsey giggled. Her brother had always been over protective of her and being in the same school should be fun but it just wasn’t. People in the city here were mean and that’s all there was too it. “Hello.” Kelsey waved shyly.

One of the guys closest to the edge of the table stood. “Nice to meet you Kelsey, I’m Jeremy.” He greeted kindly.

“Jer, I swear you better back off! What would Maggie say?” Ryder hissed.

“I’m just being nice.” Jeremy defended.

“Nice my ass, one of the biggest players in the school doesn’t just be nice to girls.” Ryder scoffed.

“Like you said what would Maggie think? Well she’s taming me.
I’m a one girl man now.” Jeremy chuckled. Kelsey could tell the hint of a smirk beneath his glinting eyes. He wanted to say something flirtatious or crude but just couldn’t muster it.

Ryder explained how this was most of his friends. The only guys not here were PJ and Colt which he assured her she would meet sooner or later.

The dinner went along well. Ryder had introduced everyone to Kelsey and asked that they look out for her since she was new in town. After they all ate and talked for a few hours Ryder turned to Kelsey “You ready to call it a night?”

“
Yeah” She yawned.

“Well
we’ll see you guys at school tomorrow.” Ryder said and stood up.

Once they were outside in the car Ryder began talking again. “So what do you think of the guys?” He questioned.

“They’re alright.” Kelsey shrugged.

“Well I know they liked you. Did you see t
he way the guys were ogling you? It made me want to punch them.” He huffed. “It’s a good thing PJ is out of town. I wouldn’t want him going after you…”

“Oh?” Kelsey asked with a smirk.

“Don’t give me that look. PJ’s a great guy but he’s a player. A big time player and I doubt he would ever change.” Ryder snapped.

“And you aren’t?” Kelsey questioned raising an eyebrow. “
I have been wondering about you and having too many one night stands?”

“Hey a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do. Besides, it’s not like I am you.
You’re my innocent sister. I don’t want any of them corrupting you.”

Kelsey simply rolled her eyes. It wasn’t as if she told her brother everything. They pulled into the driveway and the twins said their goodbyes parting directions going to their own rooms for the night.

Chapter 10

Kelsey awoke to the sound of her alarm beeping and her friend poking her in the arm. “Waky waky eggs and baky…” Hannah cooed.

“Go away.” Kelsey mumbled.

“Nope it’s time to get up for school.” Hannah told her.

Kelsey had spent the
rest of the night doing her homework while Ryder did who knew what. “I don’t want to go to school.” She moaned.

“Well you got t
o… So come on. I know you can’t manage to dress yourself properly so I am going to do you the honor this morning.” Hannah smiled.

“People there don’t like me.” Kelsey groaned.

“Well on my way up, I was speaking with your brother...” Hannah told her.

“What!?”
Kelsey sat up quickly “You were speaking, actually talking with my brother?” That had surprised Kelsey, not because her friend had been near her brother but because she had actually talked to him with words, not just mindless mumbling and zombie like talk.

“Well he stopped me actuall
y and I mostly listened,” Hannah waved “But that’s not important. Anyway… He told me that he warned the guys to watch out for you, and asked me to do the same, warning people you were his sister. He had to leave early for practice but he asked if you would meet him out by the football field and then he said he would show you around.” Hannah beamed.

“That’s nice of him.” Kelsey shrugged.

“Kelsey that’s great. Your brother’s going to do nothing but improve your high school experience; he’s the most liked guy in the school after all, well besides PJ.” Hannah smiled. “Anyway, I promised him I would make you look good and I told him I was going to try and find you a date for prom coming up.”

“What!?”
Kelsey choked. “What did he say? I’m sure he’s not happy with that!”

“Oh my sweet thing but he is. Actually he suggested a few guys, all whom I think are kind
a boring myself but… hey… your brother wants a guy who’s not going to take advantage of his little sister’s innocence.” Hannah mocked rolling her eyes.

“He’s the same age as me you know that right?” Kelsey grumbled sliding from her bed. “I am going to take a shower.”

“Then I will pick out your clothes while you do that!” Hannah squealed pushing herself from Kelsey’s bed and racing toward the closet.

Kelsey took her time but it earned her Hannah pounding on her door and screaming at her. “Kelsey
, get out here now or I’ll come in after you and flush the toilet!” Hannah ordered.

“Hold your horses
, geesh!” Kelsey muttered. Five minutes later she emerged wrapped in a towel.

“I can work with that.” Hannah smirked. “Here put these on.” She told Kelsey.

“So you think I am goin’ to wear that?” Kelsey groaned.

“I do and you are.” Hannah laughed. She had chosen a black
flowy skirt, three quarter length sleeve grey shirt which dipped way low, and a pair of thigh high black boots.

“I don’t know.” Kelsey groaned.

“Just trust me; here you can even wear a tank under it.” Hannah offered.

That seemed to please Kelsey
, so she accepted. She pulled on a pair of black underwear then the skirt and turned away from Hannah dropping the towel to put on her matching black lace bra. “And he thinks you’re so innocent.” Hannah snorted.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Kelsey frowned pulling her black tank top on over her chest before turning around fully.

“The other night at the club would suggest otherwise.” Hannah shrugged. “I bet you have had a lot of guys back home just didn’t want to tell me about it.”

“What are you
talkin’ about?” Kelsey’s brows furrowed and she stared at her friend.

“Oh!” Hannah slapped her hand over her mouth to stifle laughter. “You don’t remember do you?” Hannah asked.

“Obviously,” Kelsey snorted. “If I knew what you were talking about then I would know wouldn’t I; not be asking you what you’re going on about.”

“Oh sweetie…” She giggled. “Just wait until you meet the rest of the football team then maybe you’ll remember what you did at the club.”

Kelsey stepped forward threateningly. “I suggest Hannah that you spill your beans.” Kelsey warned.

“Do I have too… it would be more fun introducing the guy to you.” Hannah mumbled.

“What guy?” Kelsey stopped herself. The night seemed familiar now that she thought about it, flashes of the night before was coming back to her. Dancing with a hot guy, drinking way too much, and then they went back into that booth… “CRAP!” Kelsey groaned.

“Oh yeah babe, I wonder if he knows who you are yet, because he’s been posting signs all around the school looking for you. He had even recruited the entire football team including your brother to find you and that doesn’t happen.” Hannah giggled, yet she seemed in a way kind of jealous.

“Is that what that poster’s about?” Kelsey asked full out knowing the answer to that.

“Oh yeah babe,” Hannah smirked.

“Don’t you dare tell anyone!” Kelsey warned.

Hannah pouted. “But…”

“NO HANNAH!” Kelsey warned.

“Fine!”
Hannah scoffed. “Just finish getting dressed already.” Hannah sighed.

The girls climbed in Kelsey’s black pickup truck and drove off to school. They had arrived thirty minutes early. Hannah had pointed Kelsey off in the direction of the football field telling her she had stuff she had to do before school. “See
ya then.” Kelsey waved as she strode toward the field of guys running around.

Kelsey took as spot up on the bleachers watching as her brother raced around with the guys. They seemed to enjoy themselves so much, and she wished she could find that here. The same joy she felt back home at one time, but not much anymore.
Kelsey was alone there just as she was alone here. Yeah she had Annie but she didn’t have a boyfriend, her mother had left, and she wasn’t very close with anyone on the ranch. She was even more alone now since she left her horses and even more vulnerable since she had went out with Duff.

Kelsey had never told her brother that Duff had asked her out on a date. Nor would she ever tell him, Duff was Ryder’s friend back at the farm and that was all that needed to be said; it was the reason she had finally agreed to move to her father’s house.

“Hey Kels,” Ryder called crossing the field toward his sister.

Kelsey smiled, “Hey.” She stood up and made her way toward her brother. “How was practice?” She asked.

“Great. Anyway… you ready to explore the school, meet some new people, and stuff?” Ryder smirked.

“Sure.” Kelsey shrugged. Ryder smiled reaching out an arm and looping it over his sister’s shoulder.
“Ewww gross!” Kelsey squealed.

Ryder chuckled. Together the twins made their way around the school. Ryder
led his sister through the halls scowling toward anyone who glared at her. Finally one girl took up the nerve to approach. “Who do you think you are?!” She scowled at Kelsey.

Kelsey smiled slightly. “I’m Kelsey.”

“Well you need to back off; we don’t want you hogging Ryder!” She complained.

Ryder chuckled “Not that it’s your business, but Kelsey’s my sister.”

The girl’s scowl faded and she stared confused. “I didn’t know you had a sister Ry.” She said sweetly.

“I do and if you’re mean to her I swear you’ll never be heading my way again.” Ryder glared at the girl.

“I’m sorry.” She squeaked and turned on her heals racing away.

That wasn’t the last girl. Many of them actually had glared
, while many guys looked like they envied Ryder. He had showed her around the school, talked with a few people, and then escorted Kelsey to her classes.

When it finally came time for lunch Kelsey took up Ryder’s offer to sit with him and his friends. “When’s PJ going to be back?” Someone asked.

Ryder turned toward the girl “Why don’t you text him; ask when you can meet up with him. I’m not his pimp.” Ryder snarled. That made Kelsey curious. Ryder had said something about his friend being a player but it was interesting to hear it with a girl thrown into the mix.

“I tried.” The girl whined.

“So,” Ryder rolled his eyes turning his attention back to one of the other football players then added “It’s not like I care, you could just go sleep with someone else tonight.”

“He’s been ignoring me since he went to the club the other night.” The girl whimpered, a tear nearly falling from her eyes.

“Yeah… I guess you missed the signs around school.” Ryder laughed.

“Dude’s obsessed.” Another guy chuckled.

“I don’t get it.” The girl frowned.

“Go look in the girl’s bathroom.” Another guy snickered. “We had to practically force Trevor to go in there and put the poster up.

Hannah had chosen that time to walk up “Hey guys.” She chirped.

“Oh I saw that
,” Snapped the girl hanging on Ryder’s side “I bet she’s a cow!” She laughed. “PJ was drunk remember.”

Kelsey had tuned out long ago. She was trying to remember what the guy looked like
or if she remembered anything about him. She had remembered she was enjoying herself and he was super sweet, but Hannah’s voice interrupted her mind.

“Oh she’s super hot!” Hannah giggled. Kelsey’s head snapped toward her friend. No way had she just admitted she knew the girl that guy was looking for.

Everyone’s heads snapped in Hannah’s direction and were staring at her with curiosity. “You know who he’s looking for?” Will and Ryder both choked out.

Hannah gulped. “Uh… I can’t divulge that information. It’s
on a need to know basis and you all don’t need to know.” She replied.