The Confrontation

[Admin Signal]

Rem stared at the boy on the ground, what wasn't caught in the swift motion was a slight grazing with his forearm he'd made over Austin's chest and throat. If he'd been armed, Austin's head would have rolled. He hadn't even intended to incorporate that into the motion, it was just muscle memory. Point was, Rem needed to be more careful... Austin was a dick, but he didn't deserve to die. Well... Not by this family's standards.

At the word freak, Rem smirked, stepping forward, just in time to see the other scamper away. Good. He knew his place. The two brothers did their snivelling excuses for their lack of assistance, but Rem didn't pay them mind, his eyes returned to Ryan, brushing off the questions with a wave of his hand.

"Are you injured?" His voice was a bit gruff, obviously wanting to crush the other to a bloody pulp... restraint had always been... a weak point for him.

"Your father needed to be reminded what being a father meant. What protecting and sheltering's differences are. I believe I may have cracked the surface."

[Noel]

"Don't worry I'm fine," Ryan flexed her fingers while looking over his shoulder. She watched the truck speed away from her house. A long time ago she would have been glad to kiss Austin. She would have been flattered he wanted her at all. Now all she felt was a sense of offense, how dare he assume she'd wait around. That she wouldn't have anyone else bother with her. She could feel herself frowning as she made eye contact with Rem again. She quickly morphed it into a small smile before softly adding," Thank you, for defending me with both situations." She looked over her shoulder toward the door. She knew her father had probably been a little stubborn at first. 

Suddenly the red head felt an urge and turned back to her boyfriend. She pitched forward and wrapped her arms around him tightly. She was completely happy for the first time in months. Her family was back to being civil (to her knowledge), she had a great guy, and she wasn't hiding who she was anymore. Sighing a little she pulled back gazing up at him," I'm sure my father appreciated the lesson." She winked before hearing both their names being called. Grabbing his hand she lead him back inside into the dining room. Her mother had made a spread of fruit salad, various sandwiches, potato salad, rolls. She gestured for the two to sit down. Ryan crossed to her normal seat beside her sister, pausing for a moment. Maribeth looked up at her and smiled a little. She hadn't sat in her old seat in so long. She almost felt like it wasn't hers. She was just a guest. But then she looked at all the faces around her, warm and welcoming, and smiled back at her sister. Slipping into the seat she reached for the fruit salad. 

Everything was going well. Lunch was delicious and the conversation was light. Then her father cleared his throat," I think we need to talk about telling the town about Ryan." The family looked toward him in surprise. Ryan shifted in her seat nervously.

"I thought you didn't want to do that," Ryan voiced skeptically.
"That was before Rem pointed a few things out. But I'm still afraid of how they will react."
"So what do you suggest then?"

The patriarch looked at his family, then at the strange young man joining them. He shrugged a little before pushing around his potato salad. Ryan twirled a piece of her red hair nervously. Her mother was the one to speak up," Perhaps we should let it come out naturally. If someone asks we tell the truth. No need to make an announcement."