(61): The Chambers

Kyle's POV.

"Where are you going?" RJ stops me in my tracks as I'm about to exit the hospital door.

"Home" I reply.

She sighs "Can I come with?"

"Why?" I utter, not hiding my annoyance. I don't know why I feel like this. Everything is literally annoying me; that stupid Jacob guy... RJ... Chelsea-Anne... everyone!

"We have to speak, Kyle" She coaxes.

"But we did"

"Not here. I know there's so much more that we both want to say but we obviously can't do it at a hospital" She pleas desperately.

I sigh defeated "Fine"

She offers me a triumphant smile and I just roll my eyes as I command for her to follow me to Winona's car. We get there and she enters on the passengers side.

"Who are you leaving your family with?" I ask her, eyes on the road.

"Monty said they'd be fine going back to the hotel without me. I think they still want to spend more time with Chels though"

Including that Jacob guy that's in love with her. He better not try things cause I'll really lose it. I never knew how territorial and possessive I was until I saw him speak and look at her. Even a blind man can see how he feels for her. I almost punched him.

"They're good people, Kyle" She suddenly says causing me to snap my eyes at her for a second in surprise and confusion.

Did I say something?

"What?"

"They're good people. You didn't exactly try to hide your distaste in the hospital room"

"I was surprised, Riley" I defend harshly "I didn't even know you were going to be there... let alone your new family"

She sighs deflated, shaking her head "Okay"

The rest of the ride is spent in a tense silence. We get to my apartment a few minutes later as I exit and she follows closely behind me. We enter my place and I just watch her.

"Nice place" She hums looking around.

"Thanks" I say curtly.

I sure do wish that it was Chelsea-Anne entering with me instead of her. Not in a rude way though, I just miss her being with me.

"Do you want anything?" I ask her.

She shakes her head "Uh, no thanks"

I shrug walking to the couch and she follows behind me before we both collapse on the same one.

"So..." I trail looking at her.

She looks nervous. She keeps avoiding my eyes and playing with her fingers. I'm nervous too, to be honest. I don't know what this conversation will lead to.

"Can I ask you something" She says softly and I nod "Were you- are you happy to see me?"

"Of course I am" I answer immediately.

"You don't look like it" She accuses in a tiny voice, her eyes mirroring a lot of hurt "I don't know... I just thought-"

"Thought what, Riley? I didn't exactly expect to see you just yet. I also don't know how to feel about this whole thing" I tell her tensely "You can't expect me to be all bubbly and smiley. Just months ago, I thought you were dead or something" I finish off sighing.

"I know, I know" She admits "Just- a lot has happened and I don't know..."

"Why!?" I bite, suddenly seeing red, as I clench my fists and jaw in anger and betrayal "Why didn't you tell me? So many years"

"I was going to, Kyle, but then I fell pregnant. After that, my life became about protecting my son. I was scared that if I told you then dad would find out and hunt me down. I didn't want my son to be in danger" She explains, eyes wet with unshed tears.

"Who says I was going to tell him?" I scream.

"He was going to find out! You know him. He has his ways" She shouts back, the tears falling fast and hard "I couldn't risk it and I'm so sorry"

"Oh so you could risk it for Chelsea-Anne? You don't even fucking know her, Riley!"

She scoffs wiping her wet face "Are you kidding me? I didn't even know she knew you"

"But you knew this is where I go to college"

"I didn't think the world was that tiny that she knew you" She defends sniffing. I just stay quiet because I'm so fucking angry right now as I shake my head. "I didn't come here to fight with you. Please" She begs after a while of silence.

"I just don't understand you" I tell her.

She nods, as if seeing where I'm coming from "And that's fine" She assures "You'll understand one day when you have your own child and just want to protect them from any danger"

"Including your own family?"

"It's not like that" She cries "It's dad. He's the problem here. Not you. Not mom and not Zach. You know this, Kyle" She pleas.

Maybe I do but I'm just so angry.

"Okay"

She breathes deeply, wiping her face again as she swallows a visible lump "So, uh, how long have you known Chels?" She finally asks.

"Almost a week after my birthday" I reply.

"So you've known all this time? And you didn't reach out or anything?" She accuses in a small tone, her voice breaking.

How is she the victim here?

"Obviously not, Riley" I bite harshly "She didn't even know about you back then"

"Right" She murmurs, noticing her mistake "So when did you know?"

"A few days after Christmas. We were at the Gill Resort. She asked to see a picture of you and kind of connected all the dots" I explain.

She hums "I just can't believe how small this world is"

Join the club.

"Were you ever going to reach out, Riley?" I ask instead "If it wasn't for Chelsea-Anne, would I still think you're dead?"

She frowns looking away "I don't know, Kyle"

"Wow" I utter hurt, shaking my head "I don't know how you expect me to be okay with your answer. I really never knew you could ever be this selfish"

"I'm sorry" She whispers.

Wow.

I look at her with what I imagine is disgust and disappointment on my face because of the way that she flinches and how her eyes start to water again.

"So you were okay with the fact that your youngest brother and mother thought they had killed you. You were okay with this? Are okay with this? That we go through life feeling like absolute shit thinking we helped murder you? This does nothing to you, Riley? Did nothing to you?"

"Kyle" She croaks desperately.

"How could you be so fucking selfish? You carried on with a fucking new family while mom and I had to pay for helping you. Helping you, Riley. We helped you and that's the thanks you give us" I shout appalled and angry.

She sobs hysterically, no words leaving her mouth and I just watch. Half of me is really pained to see the sight, but the other half just doesn't give a fuck.

"I'm so sorry" She begs.

At this point, I think I'm also about to cry but I don't let the tears leave. I can't.

"I'm so sorry" She chants like a mantra.

Before I can say anything else, the door flies open, immediately grabbing my attention because I don't expect anyone to be visiting me.

The sight.

"What were you talking about over the phone?" Zach demands walking closer to the couch and it's like everything happens in slow motion. "I came earlier but you weren't here"

I'm about to say something. I want to say something but my voice won't cooperate. I may hate the guy but this is not how I wanted him to find out.

Next thing I know, Zach's eyes are wide in shock and disbelief as they look behind me.

"Riley?"

RJ snaps her wet face that was looking away from the door to his direction and her own eyes widen.

"Zach?"

It's like I'm watching a tennis match as my eyes go back and forth between my shocked-looking siblings because they're on either side of me. Zach's mouth is wide open and he is paralyzed in his spot.

I can imagine why.

He didn't know, up until now, that she was actually alive. It's probably like seeing a ghost but worse. At least I knew beforehand.

Riley gets up slowly and walks to her twin. He shakes his head when she's closer and moves back as if on instinct... as if in fear that he is dreaming and this is not real "What the fuck is happening?" He demands.

"It's me" She assures, touching his shoulder.

Zach shakes his head frantically, stepping away from her hold in what I think is denial and just plain shock and disbelief "What?"

She cries, covering her mouth as she looks at him "Oh god, you look so different. When did you get so many tattoos?"

I'm still incapable of speaking at this point... and so is Zach apparently. He is standing by the door and shaking his head, looking between me and his sister.

I never, in my wildest dreams, ever thought I'd ever see the three of us in the same room ever again. I think it's the same for him and that's why he's so shocked and confused. The Chambers children are really reunited, in the weirdest way possible.

And then... everything comes back.

"You" I spit angrily pointing at Zach as I walk to him "You almost killed by fucking girlfriend. What the fuck are you doing here?" At this point I'm face-to-face with him and my hand is itching to punch his face.

"What?" He utters dazedly.

I push him against the door roughly, hearing RJ gasp behind me "You did something to my car. You and your father. I could've fucking died too. What the fuck?"

"I did nothing" He denies, eyes wide.

"Then who the fuck did?" I boom.

I feel RJ grab my shoulder and move me away from Zach "Kyle, you need to calm down" She says softly.

"Calm down? Do you realize how fucked up my life is... has been because of you two? Don't fucking tell me to calm down!"

She wipes her face "Just... can we all speak?"

"Someone needs to tell me what's happening right now" Zach murmurs, looking desperately between us "Riley?"

"It's me" She says again.

"What? How?"

"I'm alive. I have been alive" She says softly, pleading with him "I'm sorry. About everything"

He looks at me "You knew?"

"Don't fucking speak to me" I bite immediately "Not until you admit what you did. You shouldn't even be here"

"I swear to God I did nothing!"

"Then who did, Zach? Tell me" I demand.

He rakes a hand through his hair looking in thought "It's dad. He's been shutting me off for the past month. He was probably planning something he knew I wouldn't like so he didn't tell me about it" He explains.

I look for the lie in his eyes but I don't find it.

"Why should I believe you?" I shake my head "You threatened Chelsea-Anne just a few weeks ago. This is all too convenient for you"

"You would know if it was me. I hate you but I would never actually kill you. Or your little precious girlfriend"

I so desperately want to see the lie but there isn't. He's telling the truth; he wasn't a part of it and it's making me angry.

"It wasn't him, Kyle" RJ's soft voice speaks.

"This has nothing to do with you, Riley" I narrow my eyes at her.

"I swear to God, Kyle, I didn't do it" Zach says putting his hands up in surrender "I swear to God, man. Just fucking tell me what's going on right now"

I shake my head, running a hand through my hair, as I take a deep breath. I believe Zach. I know he hates me but a part of me knows he's incapable of actually trying to kill me. It makes sense that it was all dad.

"Riley is alive" I say pointing a hand at her "I knew just before New Years"

"How?" He utters confused and... lost.

And so Riley and I help each other explain the whole story to him. Mostly about how Chelsea-Anne played the biggest role in its occurrence. The whole time he's just so confused and in disbelief. I've never seen him look so happy, sad, relieved then mad at the same time. I would feel something had it been any other person. By the time I'm done explaining, we're all seated on the couch in silence, just watching each other.

"You're married? And have a child?" Zach finally asks, gaping, after a while of digesting all the information.

Riley nods slowly "Yes..."

"What the fuck, Riley?" He booms angrily to which she flinches "You didn't think, once, to reach out to us? To let us know you're okay? Do you have any idea what a rift you've created in this family?"

Rift is an understatement.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what you guys want me to do" She pleas.

Zach gets up, abruptly, running a hand through his hair "I just can't believe this. I don't know how one person can be so selfish"

My words exactly.

I actually can't believe we're agreeing on something. He's reacting exactly how I did. He's relieved but so damn angry.

"I wasted so much of my life trying to get revenge or whatever the fuck it is I was trying to get, for you. I-I hated my own damn mother and brother because of you. And for what, Riley? For fucking what?" He screams looking at her with a menacing look "For you to fucking start a new family and forget all about us? I thought you were dead, Riley! Do you know what that did to me?"

"Zach" She cries, her lips quivering.

"I became so numb and gave into dad. I became his slave and for fucking what, Riley?For what? I did things to people... to my own family" He shakes his head, glancing at me for a few seconds "Fuck."

I think he actually feels bad.

"What do you want me to do? I'll do anything you want me to do. Just name it" She begs desperately, looking at the both of us.

"You've done enough" I murmur.

Zach sits down, looking defeated, before turning to me "What happened with you and Chelsea?"

"Someone tapered with my brakes and we got into a car accident" I explain stiffly.

"Dad was working with Bones. They're both probably behind it" He tells me as if only realizing now "That explains a lot"

Bones is the guy from the repair shop that I punched. The way he looked at Chelsea-Anne like she was a fucking piece of meat made me so angry. I didn't even know I liked her back then but now when I look back, I definitely did. I wouldn't punch one of the most dangerous men I know for just anyone.

"Why don't you know about it?" I accuse.

"I don't know. He probably knew that I wouldn't be game and decided to exclude me"

"Why wouldn't you be game? I thought you wanted to get rid of Chelsea-Anne and I. You didn't exactly try to hide it" I bite.

He sighs "I wouldn't kill y'all. Fuck man"

Maybe.

"So why are you snitching on him? You know if he tried to kill me, he wouldn't hesitate on doing the same to you"

"I've been trying to get out of his hold for a while but he obviously won't let me go" Zach tells me clenching his jaw "I'm fucking exhausted of ruining people's lives because of him"

Wow. I did not see this coming.

"That's good, Zach" RJ utters softly.

"Why should I believe you?" I enquire bluntly instead "Your intentions of ruining my life have looked pretty genuine and voluntary to me"

"Maybe they were cause I thought you fucking killed my sister" He replies matter-of-factly "But now that I know she's alive, it changes everything. I did all that trying to avenge her death or something. I don't know"

"You were like this even before that" I say.

"Yeah but I was going to work on it" He replies brashly "Fuck. Why am I even explaining myself to you? You're just a child and I still don't fucking like you"

That's the Zach I know. I can't help but chuckle lightly. He really does not like me.

"Yeah, but you need my help"

He sighs "Yes, but it's not like I'm going to get it. I'm sure you're not going to kill your own father"

"No one is killing anyone" RJ immediately objects, hands in the air, exasperated.

"That's the only way Jefferson Chambers can be brought down" Zack protests back "Unless you two have brighter ideas."

"We're not killing our father. See? You sound just like him, Jesus" I breathe pinching the bridge of my nose to which Zach just rolls his eyes, looking bored.

"Oh so you want him to come back and finish the job on your girlfriend?" He provokes.

I punch his shoulder on instinct "Fuck off, man. Why would you say that?"

"You fuck off" He punches back.

"Stop it" RJ demands sternly but just ends up laughing to the point where she's having to clutch her stomach and Zach and I just watch her confused "I missed you guys. This is just like old times; me stopping a stupid fight between you two" She smiles sobering up.

I can't help but smile too as I try to hide it.

"Yeah, we're not doing this" Zach deadpans dryly but I can see that he's also fighting back a smile. I don't think I've seen him smile since I was like 16 or something.

"Anyways" RJ starts grabbing our attention "I have a cleaner idea"

I raise a brow "Which is?"

"We could get him arrested"

"For what? Chelsea-Anne?" I enquire confused "We don't even have evidence"

She rolls her red and puffy eyes "Let me finish, will ya? As I was saying... Since I was away, I was working on him and I have a shit ton of evidence to get him arrested" She continues.

"Evidence?" Zach drawls.

"Yes. For all the illegal activities he's done" RJ clarifies confidently.

"And we won't get dragged in? Mom?" I ask.

She shakes her head "No, it's all him and no one else. I've been working on it for a while"

"Is it solid?" Zach questions "We can't have any loopholes cause God knows what he'd do if he's not arrested and finds out we were behind it"

"I can assure that its solid" RJ assures.

We're actually... working together? Woah.

"So, uh, when is all of this going to happen?" I clear my throat awkwardly.

"I'll stay around a while longer so we can all work on it and stuff. I'll just have to inform Monty about it" RJ replies.

"Who's Monty?"

"My husband" RJ answers her brother.

"Right, you're married" He murmurs in realization.

She nods "Do you, uh, want to meet him?"

"I'd rather die" Zach deadpans causing RJ to scowl and me to laugh in amusement. She narrows her eyes at me but I just ignore her.

"He's the father of your nephew" She argues.

"Can we just focus on the dad thing please, Riley?" He sighs irritated.

She frowns "Okay fine"

I can't really blame Zach for his distaste. I kind of feel the same way. It's almost like her new family stole her from us and so that's why we're not too ecstatic about it all. I guess it's something we'll have to work on cause they're our family too now.

One step at a time.

****

What did you guys think about that? What do you think about the 'Chambers' reunion? Is it weird? Cute?

Do you forgive Riley? Do you forgive Zach? Should Kyle too? Is this all too much for him? Was his anger justified or is he overreacting?

Do you guys like all the new Kyle POVs? Should I make more or don't you guys like them?

I have sooo many questions 😂😭. PRETTY PRETTY PLEASE just comment. I would really appreciate it.

Thanks for all the support 😘❤️