Broken Minds

Summary- Sequel to Bruised Hearts Its been years since the trial and Adrian’s runaway, and Riley, Rhuben, Cage, and Jayden haven’t spoken. They split apart to move on with their lives What happens when they reunite over the summer of their college year? CagexRiley JaydenxRhuben

-

Chapter One – Reunited and it feels so good

-Riley’s POV-

Ring Ring…

Ring Ring…

Ring Ring…

“Answer the damn phone, Bailey” I sighed, rolling my eyes. “17 years old and he can’t remember to pick up the phone” I said, shifting it to my ear and shoulder as I turned down a street.

“Hello?” Bailey asked, answering his cell.

“Hey little bro how’s it going?” I asked, pulling into a driveway and cut off the engine to my car.

“Riles, it that you?” Bailey asked in excitement.

“Who else would it be?” I replied as I walked up the steps to the porch and took out my key. I opened the door and walked into the house, and behind Bailey.

“I don’t know, I’m just making sure.” Bailey replied with a soft chuckle. “Where are you?”

“I’m here!” I replied, closing my cell phone and prodded him in his ribs. Bailey jumped and whirled around.

“Riley, you’re here!” he cried and hugged me tightly. I laughed and kissed his cheek. “When did your classes end?”

“Last night, I drove all the way over from the college as soon as I got out of classes.” I replied, sitting on the couch.

“Where’s Rhuben?” Bailey asked.

“She had to pick up some things for dinner, and then she’ll be back” I replied as I heard the front door open.

“Bailey, whose car is that in the driveway, mom and dad are supposed to be gone for the weekend,” I heard Adrian’s voice. He stepped into the room and his mouth dropped open. “Riley!”

“Hey Adrian” I said and hugged him. “Wow, you’re real big for an 11 year old”

“I know” he replied with a grin and hugged me again.

“Hey Riley” Liam said and kissed my cheek before hugging me. “Where’s Rhu?”

“She went to get some stuff before dinner, but she’ll be back soon” I replied.

“All right,” Liam replied with a grin.

“Oh, shoot, I forgot to go to the bank” I said, standing up. “Sorry guys, I’ll be right back and then we can catch up on things, ok?”

“Ok” my brothers replied. I kissed their foreheads.

“I’ll see you later” I said, hurrying out the door.

-

“Clean up on aisle five. Once again that was clean up on aisle five.” A loud deep sounded after the announcer turned off the microphone. A moment later corny elevator like music began playing through the supermarket.

Pushing her cart through the bread and pasta aisle Rhuben hummed along with the music. She stopped suddenly and checked the price of the French bread. “Hum?” She pondered scratching her chin. “To buy or not to buy.”

Being so wrapped up in her purchasing decision Rhuben didn’t notice the 22 year old man trying to get through.

“Um Miss? Your cart’s kind of in the way?”

Spinning around on her heel Rhuben blushed and nervously pushed it away. “I’m really sorry.” She said quickly brushing a strand of her hair away from her face. The man frowned for a moment. He had a very pensive look about him.

“Rhuben?”

“How did you know my name?”

“It’s me! Jayden!”

Suddenly feeling very self-conscious she placed her hands in her back pocket only to pull them back out. “Wow.” She replied dryly.

“I know!” Jayden exclaimed not believing his eyes.

Rhuben chewed on her bottom lip before asking. “So… what have you been up to?”

Suddenly a small girl wearing a yellow sundress came bouncing around the corner and ran up to Jayden. “Hey! Look I found it!” She beamed holding a box of Cheerios up to Jayden.

“Great job Dani.” He smiled picking her up and placing her inside the cart. The little girl giggled.

Rhuben felt her body freeze. ‘Jayden has a daughter? Jayden is married at this young of an age?’ Her throat tightened and suddenly the supermarket seemed to be closing in on her. “So… this is what you’ve been up to?” Rhuben said trying to laugh it off.

“Oh? Dani? No, no she’s my brother’s little girl. I’m her uncle.” Jayden confirmed. Rhuben looked at the small child. Dani had her brown hair tied back in a loose ponytail. Her blue eyes shone up at Jayden with such adoration and Rhuben only smiled.

“I always knew you’d be a good parent or uncle in this case.” Rhuben laughed.

“Really?” Jayden chuckled not believing her.

“Oh yea. Remember in freshmen year we had that whole child development unit and we were assigned a kid to hang out with all day? You were such a natural.” Rhuben sighed.

“Well I do like kids. Dani and I have fun together don’t we?” He grinned looking to the little girl.

“We sure do Uncle Jayden!” Dani giggled again.

Rhuben felt her heart warm at the sight. As long as Jayden has found happiness that’s all that matters. Even though he’s not with her, at least he’s content.

“Anyway, I have a small sporting goods store downtown, mainly skateboarding.” Jayden said responding to her earlier question.

“Really?” Rhuben asked, surprised.

“Yep” Jayden replied casually. “But how are you doing? Married?”

Rhuben looked at her shoes for a second before looking back at Jayden’s kind green eyes. “No, no time really.” Rhuben felt herself needing to closer to him. Jayden had always understood her. And now this was what they were reduced to, a small talk meeting at the grocery store.

Jayden looked good. His hair was a little longer then before and he seemed so clam, so put together. As if all those years of being an awkward teenager had finally worn off. Here stood the adult Jayden and Rhuben wanted a part of that life.

His life.

‘I miss you! I want you!’Is all Rhuben wanted to scream. She wanted to explain everything. She wanted to bury her head in his warm embrace.

Jayden felt suddenly nervous. Rhuben looked very nice. Her beauty had not faltered through out the years. But she left and there is no good excuse for that. No matter how much he wishes he could forgive her.

“Well I better go.” Jayden said looking to his watch.

“… Sure.” Rhuben replied sadly. “But Jayden?”

“What?”

“Could you… could you give me a hug?”

Jayden felt himself blush and slowly walk towards her. “I suppose I could.” He said.

Rhuben felt herself fall into him. Everything was right. Jayden placed his hands on her hips and pulled her closer. ‘Rhuben, Rhuben’ He thought smiling.

Jayden saw a quick flash. There they were! He saw a marriage, he saw a child. Everything just seemed right with Rhuben. Jayden could see himself being the man he was meant to be. With Rhuben by his side nothing was impossible.

“Uncle Jayden!” Came an impatient voice from behind him.

“Oh!” They pulled away. Rhuben felt empty and Jayden felt a sudden chill.

“We better go.”

“I understand.”

“Goodbye Rhuben.” Jayden said turning around and pushing the cart away.

“Goodbye… Jay!” Rhuben called after him.

Jayden felt a pang in his heart. Jay. When was the last time he heard her say that? “Hold on Dani.” He said to her before walking quickly back to the blonde. “Just explain one thing.” He demanded.

“What?”

“Why did you leave after graduation? What scared you away?”

Rhuben drew a breath. “It’s much more complicated then that Jayden.”

“No it’s kind of not!”

Rhuben grew annoyed. “Listen, it’s my business, ok?!”

“You are my business!” Jayden argued back.

“Since when? You never came after me! You could have done something too you know! Yes, I left for a college far away and never wrote but what about you!” Rhuben snapped.

“I just want to know why?” Jayden hissed not wanting Dani to hear.

“I loved you!” Rhuben shouted suddenly not caring. “I was so in love with you. But you had a girlfriend and you never gave me the time of day. You were so scared of your ass of a father that you threw our relationship out of the window”

Jayden felt as though she had punched him in the gut. “Why, why didn’t you say something?”

“Because some of us aren’t very brave.” Rhuben sneered. “And because I’m not that kind of girl who waits around. You had someone so I moved on. I got a job and I’m really, really happy!” Rhuben stomped feeling like a two year old.

“Are you?” Jayden asked softly

“Am I what?!”

“Happy?”

“…Not really.” Rhuben sniffed.

“Me neither… You want to go somewhere? Catch up?”

“Yes, I would really like that.” Rhuben agreed.

“Ok, let me dropped Dani off and I’ll come to your place. And Rhuben?”

“Yea?”

“I don’t have someone.”

Rhuben wanted to give Jayden her address, but he didn’t need it, for he always remembered where it was, sneaking away from his father. Everything was quiet and unsure. The gestures and motions were irregular and stiff. But suddenly Jayden turned to her, just before he got into his car.

“I’ve really missed you.” He said.

Rhuben paid for her groceries she got out to her car and smiled.

Jayden was coming.

Things were going back to normal.

-

“Riley?” I looked up as I stood outside of my car, angry at myself for locking the keys inside. My eyes widened in disbelief.

“Cage?” I asked, squinting slightly. He had definitely shed his awkward teenager stage. Now he looked even more handsome then when I last saw him.

“Yeah, its me, how are you doing?” he asked, nervously rubbing his neck.

“Fine, I’m fine” I replied, also nervous. ‘Why am I nervous, he was my best friend/boyfriend in high school, why is everything so different now?’ I sighed. “I saw my brothers a bit before I came here, Adrian has gotten so big”

“Yeah, yeah I know” Cage replied quietly. He motioned to the car. “Having some trouble?”

I blushed. “Yeah, I accidentally locked my keys in the car” I admitted.

“Oh, well, I can get the door open” Cage said and held up a key.

“Where’d you get that?” I asked. Cage looked surprised and disappointed at the same time.

“Junior year, remember, when you two were able to drive your parents car before they bought the new one? You gave me a spare key just in case you needed help” he said.

“No, I think I gave you that key for another reason” I said slowly, another blush spreading up my cheeks.

“Oh, well, there ya go” Cage said and opened the door.

“Thanks” I said quietly. “Listen, my siblings and I, are having a dinner together since we haven’t seen each other in a while. Do you…want to come?”

Cage looked shocked that I asked, but he quickly regained his composure.

“Uh, sure. I’ll follow you in my car” he said with a small smile.

I smiled back.

Things were finally falling in place…