Letters To Bri

What Was Going On

Riley's POV:

They both hugged while my jaw was left hanging. Christian started to cry, and so did the principal.

"Riley," Rachel began, "What's going on?"

I gave her the 'are you kidding me look.' "He's Christian's Father you DOOF!"

"Ahh," she said finally getting it. "I gacha' now."

"Christian turned to Rachel and I and introduced his father to us. "Rach, Riley, this is my father, George."

"Hey," he said, "Nice to meet ya guys."

"You too," I said shaking his hand. His hand was rough, like he did a lot of hark work.

"Wow," he said, "Christian, what are you doing here?"

"Riley and I have set up a page, and became good friends, over the last couple months."

Christian didn't sound like he was happy, he acted as if he'd just met the guy, and is that shy little kid who doesn't know what to say.

I nodded and gave him a sour look. "Yeah, Christian and I have become good friends," I said hugging him tight. "Why don't you two talk, have alone- chatting time, while Rachel and I get ready for the speech?"

"Great idea," said Mr. Anderson said, "Christian, how about I show you my office." And like that, they were out of the concept.

Of course, Rachel didn't know about Christian's father, and their family relationship. It took me a while to explain everything to her, and about over an hour later, she realized what I was finally saying.

A minute before show, I got all my shit together, and when the principal called my name, I went out on stage, and everyone started cheering. I looked at the audience to see all the happy, some sad, faces. But I wan't just looking at the unfarmilliar faces, I was looking for Christian. No sign. Mr. Anderson was there, but no Christian. I suddenly had a nervous feeling in my gut, but I choked it down and remembered what Christian told me at my first speech. I could do it. Even without Christian there.

"Hello," I began, "I'm Riley Jennings, as you probably heard, and I'm here to not only talk about Brian, I'm here to help you get through consequences, and tell you the safety of weapons, and/or guns."

There was whispering. There was crying. There was laughing. Everything I want to accomplish at every speech I go to. At the end, I was proud, and yet, happy. I met Rachel backstage.

"Rachel! Rach! I-"

"SHH!" she said cupping her hand over my mouth. In the dark corner of the dark room, I saw Christian and Mr. Anderson talking. Mr. Anderson was pointing a finger at Christian like he was scolding him for something he had done. Rachel and I quietly moved closer, enough to hear the two talking.

"Christian, just listen to me-"

"NO! Father, I'm almost eighteen, almost a full adult! You can't treat me like shit anymore! I'm sick of it! You beat my mother, killed her! You beat Michelle too! and Rosalie was just six! what the hell-"

"No!" he yelled, "I didn't kill mother, that's a harsh word. And I wopuld never hurt Rosalie or Michelle! They are my own-"

"LIAR! How did you even get this job? Dad, I read the papers, mother was killed. Michelle was KILLED! Rosalie is still somewhere out there, maybe even eaten alive! If you want me-"

"CHRISTIAN! I didn't kill either of them-"

"YOU WERE DRUNK!" Christian said crying. "YOU WERE DRUNK! YOU WERE WASTED! YOU WASTED YOUR TIME! If you were only smarter, our family would be NORMAL! YOU'RE FAT ASS WOULDN'T EVER DO ANYTHING EXCEPT BEAT US! YOU NEVER DID ANYTHING! YOU SHOULD OF BEEN SENT TO JAIL! If out family was NORMAL I WOULDN'T BE WORKING AT A FUCKING POST OFFICE! You just made my- our family's lives WORSE! AND IF-"

"CHRISTIAN!" Mr. Anderson yelled, "I'm sorry, I-"

"Fuck you. Ya know what, I wish I never met you. I wish you weren't my father. I wish my life never existed." And like that, he was out the door.

The last thing Christian's father said was, "Christian... wait..."

"Holy shit," I said wide-eyed.

"Quick," Rachel said, "Car, where Christian told us to meet. He's walking out that way anyways."

We ran quickly, but I slowed down when I heard a teenage girl say to her friend; "Her look it's speech girl."

Woah woah, woah, I thought to myself. When Rachel realized I had slowed down, she said, "RILEY! pick up speed!" I got in focus, and forgot about the two girls who offensively complimented me. We ran the quick way around to Christian's car and hopped in. It wan't until thirty seconds later, christian hopped in, and slammed the door shut. He had his angry face on.

"Uh... Christian-"

"WHAT?!" he said angrily. Then I saw him cool down into his relaxed face, and start breathing again.

"Um... thanks, for driving, us..."

He put the car in reverse and slowly backed out. After we dropped Rachel off, Christian dropped me off.

"Th- thanks again," I said trying not to make him angry.

"Yeah," he said looking at the steering wheel. He made sure I got inside the house, then pulled out and headed for his apartment.

I laid in bed that night, thinking about Christian, and how his life may have been in his prime years. I was thinking about his father, and ho he might have been. I thought about what Christian's siblings might have looked like, dead and alive. I wished I never interfered with Christian, it probably made his life worse, especially meeting with his father again. I knew that tomorrow I'd have to invite him over and tell him sorry. Sorry for interfering with him at the wrong time and place. Sorry that he met this father again. Tell him that I overheard him and his father's conversation. Tell him that I'm sorry. Sorry.