"Mysterious." She smirks. "Now if that's all you need you may go." Riley goes to walk past me, but instead I grab her forearm, pulling her towards me as she gaps.
We both stand, neither of us moving. I still hold her with my hand. Our arms are brus...
He barges into my home, okay technically it's Delilah's home, and does that. What even was that?
Why did he come? To talk to me? It's not like I am important. I have only been working there for a week. It doesn't matter if I am working there or not. I am not a vital member of their staff and according to him I was in the wrong.
He is one confusing dude. He was clearly mad about what happened with that guy and then he comes here and tells me to come back. And what does he mean I wouldn't understand?
Wouldn't understand that this town is run by politics? Trust me I know more than most how a position of power affects everyone else. He doesn't need to tell me that. I am perfectly aware of that fact.
Then he gives one touch to my arm and I become weak? What the fuck is that shit? This isn't some high school romance and we most certainly are not two teenagers with crushes.
I just couldn't bring myself to pull back, to walk away from him. I didn't want to. It felt nice to have my skin brush against his. The firm, but gentle touch to my skin left me wanting more.
I think I am going crazy. Oh no. Maybe I am speaking like a schoolgirl with a crush. I am not thirteen anymore and he is most certainly not a boy. That's all this is right, a crush, a slight infatuation?
A lust that will certainly go away soon, right? Maybe I am just feeling this heat because I haven't had sex in an embarassing long time.
Maybe I need to find someone to just flush my system out with. Have a meaningless one night stand and start fresh. Or I shouldn't? I don't know.
I can only hope that Declan doesn't make something out of nothing with what he saw. It was very apparent he saw the bruises along my skin, but his reaction confused the hell out of me. The anger that filled his eyes put me on edge, along with his fists tightening.
I wasn't scared of him or anything, it just made me very nervous. I flinched out of habit, but it wasn't anything against him. He seemed hurt and puzzled by my recoil, but the best thing for everyone is for him to let it go and forget it even happened. Just like I am going to forget that he even showed up here.
I think that I might spend the rest of the day inside after that whole ordeal. It's enough excitement for one day. I am still on the hunt for an apartment so I might as well do some searching online and see what I am able to come up with.
After a couple hours of digging online and speaking on the phone to real estate agents, I am pretty sure I found the perfect place.
It's a couple blocks away from Delilah. It's not nearly as nice as hers is, but I won't be needing it for long anyways, if things go according to how I think they might.
It is not the nicest area of the city, but it's what I can afford. It's 'fully furnished', but that basically means the basic necessities are there, but like I said, good enough.
I signed the lease electronically as the landlord wanted someone to move in right away. It's Sunday now and I will be moving in during this week. With the money I make from bartending and serving at Explicit the rent shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Hearing Delilah with her keys outside the door, I sit at the counter dreading the impending conversation that we are about to start.
Pushing the door open with her foot, Delilah makes a grand entrance as she sighs loudly while shuffling her feet along the flooring.
"I hate my job." Delilah states in a huff as she roughly places her things on the counter.
"No you don't D. You just hate working." A scowl forms on her face as she glances my way.
"Touché." she states as she pulls her phone out of her purse.
Laughing at the hot mess that is my friend right now. I love this girl so much which makes it so hard to say this to her now.
"So I need to talk to you about something."
Slowly bringing her head up to meet my gaze, Delilah's face fills with concern as she straightens herself up, readying herself for my confession.
"What's going on babe?" She questions while turning her phone off. Giving me her complete attention.
I take a deep breath to calm myself. "I wanna start by saying I appreciate you so much for everything that you have done for me. When I randomly called you two weeks ago after not talking for so long, you had no reservations. You were there for me with no questions asked and no hesitation. I can't tell you how grateful I am for that."
Delilah grabs my hand, looking up to her I see tears filling her eyes, but she doesn't speak, knowing I have something important to say.
"I just signed a lease." I watch as her eyes become saucers. "It's a month to month lease and it isn't that far away from you. I just need you to understand that I need to be on my own. I have a lot of problems and things to work out, but I just need to be alone to do it."
"Babe, I am gonna say this once and only once. Don't ever thank me for being there for you. It's my job as your friend. You know what, no, it's my privilege to be the person you call. I wouldn't have done anything for you if I didn't want to. I never want to hear that anymore. I love you Riley."
The tears are rolling down her face as she tries her hardest to keep it together. Seeing her crying makes a lump form in my throat, but I swallow it down as I rub her hand soothingly.
"You said the lease is only month to month?" I nod my head. "So how long are you planning on staying?" Worry fills her puffy face as she tries to question me.
Scratching my forehead I try to give the most honest answer I can. "If I am being 100 percent honest, I don't really know. As long as I can, but it just depends."
Delilah nods her head in understanding, but I can tell this conversation isn't over.
"I love you Riley, but I am gonna need a little more than that. You have to tell me something, anything." she pleads with me. Her sniffles are coming to an end as she adjusts her posture to sit up straighter.
Sighing, I run my hands through my hair. "Delilah everything is so complicated, it's better if you don't know."
Grabbing my forearms she takes them off of my head and places them on the counter.
"Riley please confide in me. Everyone needs help. Don't be too proud to admit it that you need it too. No one can go through life alone. It doesn't make you weak, it shows how strong you are to say you need help, to show how strong you have become."
"There is no one left D. His reach is long and with everyone else gone, he has nothing to lose anymore. I am keeping information from you for your own safety. Sometimes it's best to keep it in."
"No it isn't. This stress and anxiety is going to eat at you, until there is no you left." Doubt fills her features as she tries to reason with me.
"It's better than anyone else getting hurt."
"Oh Riley, what did you go through?"
I look back up to her whispering "Hell".
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