Riley's Box

Part 68

"Of course, I am sure about you, Riles. What makes you think that I wouldn't be?" he asked me. 

I released an exhale in response to the question. 

"I don't know. The other day, so many girls had flocked to your table. You're popular," I reminded him. 

"I am?" he asked. "They were just asking me about wood work-" 

He paused then, as an expression that reflected sudden realisation dawned on his face. 

"You're practical when it comes to making things but when it comes to understanding women, you have some work to do there, Jase," I said with a playful smile. 

His mouth twitched into a small smile, as he put his seatbelt on. 

I quickly put mine on, too, and he started to drive the two of us back to my house.

"It surprised me that you spoke to those girls, actually. You're usually so reserved," I remarked. 

"Well, I suppose being around you has made me feel a little more confident," he admitted kindly. 

When we walked back inside and up to my room, Jason's eyes glanced over the candle holder that he had made for me, now with an actual candle in. He was so creative it honestly amazed me. He had engraved an 'R' into the front of it, too. 

"R for Riley, just so a burglar would never take it...unless they happen to be called Robert or Richard or-" 

I gave Jason a playful shove. 

His gaze grew warmer and I felt the heat rise in my face again. 

How could he make me feel such a frenzy of emotions just by looking at me? 

I wasn't completely certain, but I did know one thing, nobody else ever made me feel that way. 

I was about to reply to Jason, but then his eyes narrowed, as he glanced out of my window. He frowned and then muttered a rather unrepeatable word under his breath. 

"Jason, what is it?" I asked him. 

"My dad's outside. He's here. I-" he cut off and started to walk down the stairs and out the door. 

I followed after him. 

Jason didn't waste any time. He walked right over to his dad with a serious expression upon his face. A muscle in his jaw twitched before he spoke. 

I stood behind him, more than a little concerned. 

"What are you doing here, dad?" Jason demanded. 

His dad looked incredulous, as though he couldn't believe that Jason wouldn't want to see him. 

"What do you think I'm doing here? I came back to see you Jase-" 

"Don't call me that," Jason cut in. 

I went to stand by Jason's side then and his dad smirked at me. 

"And who's this? Your girlfriend?" his dad asked. 

"That's none of your business," Jason said sharply. 

Jason's father sighed. 

"I just wanted to see you again, Jase," he said. 

"Again- do not call me that," Jason replied, saying each word especially clearly, so he could really drive the point across to his father. His expression was the sort of look that said 'you have to be kidding me here'. 

However, something told me that his dad wasn't kidding. 

"Come on, Jase. Come and hug your old man," he said. 

Was this guy for real? 

"You're not my old man. You lost that right the second you hit mom," Jason said. He managed to keep his voice calm but if I were him I would have been crying by now. Jason was so strong. 

His father took a step towards him and Jason took two steps back. 

"Don't touch me," he said. 

A familiar voice spoke from behind me, at that moment. 

"Can we burn him?" it asked. 

Jason and I turned to Ira almost instantly. 

"No!" I said, prompting Jason's father to take a step back, looking a little startled. 

I couldn't blame him. Actually, I could, but not for being startled. That was understandable enough, considering the fact that he couldn't see Ira.

Jason breathed out in irritation

I was fairly sure that he was more irritated with his father than he was with Ira, though. 

"I may hate my dad but I can't do that," he said. 

"Why not? No one needs to know," Ira said. 

I exhaled with some concern before I spoke again. 

"We can't do that, Ira," I said sternly. 

Ira looked utterly disappointed by this fact. 

"Ugh. Fine. I hate this guy," he said. 

Jason's father's eyebrows knitted together. 

"Come on, Jason. Come with me," he said. 

"No," Jason refused. 

I, for one, wasn't about to let him go with his father, but everything was telling me that Jason wasn't about to change his mind about him, either. 

Jason's father then reached out, as if to strike at his own son. 

I stepped forward instinctively. Nobody was about to hurt my boyfriend. 

"No! Stop it!" I yelled. 

Before his father could do anything else, a cop car pulled up on the other side of the road. 

The police officer rushed over to us and quickly grabbed Jason's father. 

"Mr. Zircon, you are under arrest, for the suspicion of assault. You do not have to say anything but anything you do say now could later be used against you in court," he said, as he moved Jason's father's hands behind his back in order to handcuff him. 

Another officer rushed over to us then and glanced between us with an expression of curiosity. 

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" she asked. 

Jason gave a shake of his head, as he exhaled in relief. He then spent the next few moments explaining the situation to the officer, while his father was taken away in the police car. 

I had a feeling that it wouldn't be the last time that we saw him, but I was so proud of Jason for being strong enough to stand up to his dad. 

"Stay safe, you two," the officer told us with a warm smile, before she got into her own police car to drive back to the station.