Fated to My Ex- Best Friend

I hated my brother. I really, really hated him.

Okay, maybe hate was a strong word. Mommy always said we shouldn’t use that word, but right now, sitting on my bed with tears streaming down my face, it felt like the right word. Tyler was so stupid. Why were boys so stupid? Daddy wasn’t stupid. Daddy was smart and kind and always knew what to say to make me feel better. So why did Tyler have to be such a...such a...jerk?

He’d broken my favorite doll. Not by accident either. He’d grabbed her right out of my hands and thrown her across the room, and her arm had popped off when she hit the wall. When I started crying, he just laughed. Laughed! Like it was the funniest thing in the world.

I’d screamed at him. He’d screamed back. Then Mommy came in and sent us both to our rooms, which wasn’t fair because I hadn’t done anything wrong. Tyler was the one who broke my doll. Tyler was the one who was mean. But I got in trouble too, just for yelling.

It wasn’t fair. Nothing was fair.

I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand and looked out my window. The woods behind our house stretched out like a dark green blanket, the trees swaying gently in the afternoon breeze. I loved those woods. I walked in them all the time, following the little path that went between the oak trees and past the creek where I sometimes saw frogs.

The woods always made me feel better.

I didn’t even think about it. I just jumped off my bed, opened my door as quietly as I could, and tiptoed down the hallway. I could hear Tyler’s video game blaring from his room and Mommy talking on the phone downstairs. Nobody would notice if I slipped out for a little while. I just needed some time alone. Time to think. Time to not be angry anymore.

The back door creaked a little when I opened it, but not loud enough for anyone to hear. I stepped outside, and the warm summer air wrapped around me like a hug. Our backyard was big, with Daddy’s vegetable garden on one side and Mommy’s flower beds on the other. But I didn’t stop to look at any of it. I headed straight for the tree line, where the path began.

The woods were cooler than the yard, shaded by the tall trees that seemed to reach all the way up to the sky. I knew this path so well I could probably walk it with my eyes closed. Past the big oak tree with the knot that looked like a face. Past the fallen log that I always had to climb over. Past the berry bushes where I wasn’t allowed to eat the berries because Mommy said some of them might be poisonous.

I walked and walked, and slowly, the angry feeling in my chest started to fade. Out here, with just the birds singing and the leaves rustling, everything felt peaceful. Everything felt okay.

I don’t know how long I’d been walking when I heard it.

A howl. Long and lonely, echoing through the trees.

I froze, my heart suddenly pounding in my chest. That didn’t sound like a dog. That sounded like...like something wild. Something big.

Another howl answered the first, this one from a different direction. Closer.

I wasn’t supposed to be scared of the woods. I came here all the time. But I’d never heard sounds like that before, and suddenly, the peaceful feeling was gone, replaced by something cold and tight in my stomach.

I needed to go home. Right now.

I turned around, but nothing looked familiar. Had I passed the berry bushes already? Where was the fallen log? I started walking faster, my eyes darting around, trying to find something I recognized. But everything looked the same. Trees and more trees and shadows that seemed darker than they should be.

Another howl, and this time it was definitely closer.

I ran.

I didn’t care about the path anymore. I just ran, my feet pounding against the forest floor, branches scratching at my arms and face. I had to get away from those sounds. I had to get home. Why had I come out here? Why hadn’t I just stayed in my room?

My foot caught on something—a root, maybe, or a rock—and suddenly I was falling. I hit the ground hard, my hands scraping against the dirt and leaves. Pain shot through my knee, and when I looked down, I saw blood seeping through my jeans.

That’s when I started crying.

Not just because my knee hurt, though it did. But because I was lost. Really, truly lost. I didn’t know where I was. I didn’t know which way was home. And those howls were still echoing through the trees, making my whole body shake with fear.

“Help!” I screamed, my voice cracking. “Somebody help me!”

But nobody answered. Just the wind in the trees and the distant sound of birds.

I pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them, making myself as small as possible. Maybe if I just stayed here, Mommy and Daddy would come looking for me. They had to notice I was gone eventually. They had to.

I cried until my throat hurt and my eyes felt puffy and sore. The shadows were getting longer, and I realized with a jolt of fresh terror that it was getting late. What if it got dark? What if I had to spend the whole night out here?

“Help,” I whimpered, but it came out so quiet I barely heard it myself. “Please, somebody help me.”

Time felt weird. I didn’t know if I’d been sitting there for minutes or hours. Everything hurt—my knee, my hands, my chest from crying so hard. I was just about to start screaming again when I heard something.

A rustling sound. Close. Too close.

I looked up, my heart hammering, expecting to see whatever had been making those howling sounds. A wolf, maybe. Or a bear. Something with teeth and claws that would—

But there was nothing there. Just trees and shadows and the rustling leaves.

“Hello?” My voice came out shaky and small. “Is something there?”

For a moment, nothing. Then, slowly, a figure stepped out from behind a large oak tree.

It was a boy.

He looked a little older than me—maybe ten or eleven—and he was staring at me with the bluest eyes I’d ever seen. His hair was black and messy, like he’d been running through the woods too, and there were leaves stuck in it. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt that had some kind of symbol on it I didn’t recognize.

He tilted his head, studying me. “Are you lost?”

I nodded, not trusting my voice.

He took a step closer, and I noticed he was barefoot. Who walked through the woods barefoot? But somehow, he didn’t seem to mind. He moved like he belonged here, like the forest was his home.

“My name is Ryder,” he said, and his voice was kind. Not like Tyler’s voice when he was being mean. This was the voice of someone who actually cared. “What’s yours?”

“E-Emily,” I managed to say.

Ryder smiled, and it made his whole face light up. He came closer and held out his hand to me. “Come on, Emily. Let me help you up.”

I hesitated for just a second, then reached out and took his hand. His skin was warm and tingly. His grip was strong as he pulled me to my feet. My knee throbbed when I put weight on it, and I must have made a face because Ryder’s smile faded into concern.

“You’re hurt,” he said, looking down at my bloody knee.

“I fell,” I said, wiping my eyes with my free hand. I realized Ryder was still holding my other hand, but I didn’t want him to let go. Something about his touch made me feel safer, like everything might actually be okay.

“Come on,” Ryder said, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “I’ll take you home with me, and my parents can call your parents. They’ll come get you.”

“Okay,” I whispered.

We started walking, and Ryder kept hold of my hand the whole time. He seemed to know exactly where he was going, never hesitating, never looking confused. He led me through parts of the woods I’d definitely never seen before, past trees that were bigger and older than any near my house, through clearings filled with wildflowers that glowed in the fading sunlight.

“How do you know where you’re going?” I asked after what felt like forever.

Ryder glanced back at me and grinned. “I know these woods really well. I’ve lived here my whole life.”

“In the woods?”

He laughed. “Sort of. You’ll see.”

We walked for so long that my legs started to ache, but I didn’t complain. Ryder kept looking back to check on me, and every time our eyes met, I felt a little braver. A little bit less scared.

Finally, the trees started to thin out, and I could see something ahead. A building. No, not just a building—a huge wooden structure that looked almost like a lodge or a cabin, but bigger than any cabin I’d ever seen. It had multiple levels, with balconies and big windows that reflected the orange and pink sky. Smoke curled up from a chimney, and I could hear voices and laughter coming from inside.

I stopped walking, my mouth falling open. “You live here?”

Ryder laughed again, and I decided I really liked the sound of his laugh. “Yeah. With my family and other members of my pack.”

“Pack?” I repeated, confused. That was a weird word. Wasn’t a pack something that wolves had?

But Ryder was already pulling me forward, toward the big wooden building. As we got closer, I could see people moving around inside through the windows. Lots of people. Way more than just a regular family.

The front door opened before we reached it, and a woman stepped out. She was beautiful, with long dark hair like Ryder’s and the same bright blue eyes. She was wearing jeans and a soft-looking sweater, and when she saw us, her eyes widened.

“Ryder,” she said, her voice full of surprise. “Who is this?”

Ryder squeezed my hand. “Emily, this is my mom. Mom, this is Emily. I found her in the woods. She’s lost.”

The woman—Ryder’s mom—immediately came down the steps and knelt in front of me. Her eyes were warm and kind, just like Ryder’s, and when she looked at me, I felt tears starting again.

“Oh, honey,” she said softly, reaching out to brush a leaf from my hair. “You must have been so scared. Let’s get you inside and call your parents, okay? They’re probably worried sick.”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak without crying.

Ryder’s mom stood up and put a gentle hand on my shoulder, guiding me toward the door. Ryder stayed right beside me, still holding my hand, and I was grateful for it. I didn’t want him to let go. Not yet.

Inside, the building was even more amazing than the outside. The main room was huge, with high ceilings and big wooden beams. There was a massive fireplace on one wall with a fire crackling in it, and comfortable-looking couches and chairs scattered around. People were everywhere—adults and kids, all talking and laughing. Some of them looked up when we came in, their eyes curious.

“Come on,” Ryder said, tugging on my hand. “Let’s go to my room while Mom calls your parents.”

I followed him up a wide staircase and down a hallway lined with doors. Ryder’s room was at the end, and when he opened the door, I saw it was exactly what a boy’s room should look like. There were posters on the walls—superheroes and cars and one of a wolf howling at the moon. His bed was unmade, and there were toys and books scattered around.

“Sorry it’s messy,” Ryder said, sounding embarrassed.

“It’s okay,” I said. “My room’s messy too.”

That made him smile. He led me over to his bed and we both sat down. My knee was still throbbing, and Ryder noticed me looking at it.

“Does it hurt a lot?” he asked.

“A little,” I admitted.

“Mom will clean it up when she’s done calling your parents,” he said. Then he jumped up and went to a shelf, pulling down a comic book. “Want to read this while we wait? It’s really good. It’s about a superhero who can turn into a wolf.”

I nodded, and Ryder sat back down next to me, close enough that our shoulders touched. He opened the comic book and started reading it out loud, doing different voices for the different characters. I found myself laughing, the fear and sadness from earlier fading away.

Ryder was nice. Really nice. And funny. And he made me feel safe in a way I couldn’t quite explain.

We were halfway through the comic when there was a knock on the door. Ryder’s mom poked her head in, smiling.

“Emily, your parents are here,” she said gently.

My heart jumped. Mommy and Daddy were here! They’d come to get me!

But at the same time, I felt a weird sinking feeling in my stomach. I didn’t want to leave. I didn’t want to stop reading comics with Ryder.

Ryder must have seen something on my face because he stood up and held out his hand again. “Come on. I’ll go down with you.”

I took his hand and let him lead me back downstairs. In the main room, I saw Mommy and Daddy standing near the door, talking to Ryder’s mom. When Mommy saw me, her face crumpled and she rushed over, dropping to her knees and pulling me into a tight hug.

“Emily! Oh, baby, we were so worried!” She pulled back, her hands on my shoulders, her eyes scanning me for injuries. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

“I’m okay,” I said, even though my knee hurt and my hands were scraped. “Ryder found me. He helped me.”

Daddy came over too, and he looked relieved but also a little angry. “Emily, you know you’re not supposed to go into the woods alone. Especially not without telling us.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, feeling tears starting again. “I just...I was mad at Tyler, and I wanted to be alone, and I didn’t mean to get lost.”

Daddy’s expression softened, and he reached out to ruffle my hair. “We’ll talk about it at home. Right now, we’re just glad you’re safe.”

The whole time, Ryder stayed right next to me, his hand still in mine. I could feel Mommy and Daddy noticing, but they didn’t say anything about it.

Ryder’s mom brought out a first aid kit and cleaned up my knee while Mommy and Daddy thanked her over and over. I watched Ryder the whole time, and he watched me back, those blue eyes never leaving my face.

Finally, it was time to go. Daddy picked up my jacket that I’d apparently left on the couch, and Mommy took my hand—my other hand, the one Ryder wasn’t holding.

“Come on, sweetie,” she said gently. “Let’s go home.”

I looked at Ryder, and suddenly I felt like crying again. I didn’t want to leave him. What if I never saw him again?

But Ryder smiled at me, that same bright smile that made everything feel okay. “Don’t worry,” he said. “We’ll see each other at school tomorrow.”

I blinked. “We go to the same school?”

“Yeah. I’m in fifth grade. What grade are you in?”

“Third,” I said.

“See? Same school. I’ll look for you at recess, okay?”

I nodded, feeling a little bit better. Then, without really thinking about it, I let go of his hand and threw my arms around him in a hug. Ryder hugged me back, and something inside me settled. Something that had been scared and anxious and lost suddenly felt calm and safe and found.

“Thank you for helping me,” I whispered.

“Anytime,” Ryder whispered back.

When I finally let go and followed Mommy and Daddy out to the car, I kept looking back. Ryder stood in the doorway with his mom, waving. I waved back until we turned a corner and I couldn’t see him anymore.

In the car, Mommy and Daddy asked me questions about what happened, but I barely heard them. I was thinking about Ryder. About his blue eyes and his laugh and the way his hand felt in mine. About how safe I’d felt with him, even though I’d just met him.

The further we drove from that big wooden building, the heavier I felt. Like something was pulling at my chest, trying to drag me back. I pressed my face against the window, watching the trees go by, and felt tears sliding down my cheeks again.

But these tears were different from the scared, lost tears from before. These tears were because I missed Ryder already, and we’d only just met.

I didn’t understand it. I was only eight years old. How could I miss someone I barely knew?

But I did. I missed him so much it hurt.

“Emily?” Mommy’s voice was soft. “Are you okay, baby?”

I nodded, even though it wasn’t quite true. “I’m just tired.”

“It’s been a long day,” Daddy said from the front seat. “When we get home, we’ll have dinner and you can go straight to bed. How does that sound?”

“Okay,” I whispered.

But I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep. I’d be thinking about Ryder. About his smile and his laugh and the way he’d held my hand and made me feel safe.

About how, even though I’d been lost and scared and alone, he’d found me.

And I couldn’t wait to see Ryder at school tomorrow.