My Big Brothers Ex Girlfriend

13

James

Riley had fallen asleep but that was a given, there was only so much anyone could take and she had long surpassed that lets be honest
I knew that she needed someone right now, more then she needed this to remain a secret

"Careful, your soppy side is showing" I heard Kyle say
He didn't mean anything by the comment. In fact he probably only said it to make his presence known
"How is she doing?" He asked coming in sitting on the edge of the bed
"She's not going to be doing well" another voice said making both Kyle and I look up to see Piper stood in the door way

We both offered her a soft smile before she slowly grew the confidence to come and join us, she came and sit on the opposite side of the bed so she was closer to Riley

"What happened P?" Kyle asked but Piper shook her head at him

"You can't call me that" she whispered looking down at Riley making me smile a little
"P is Riley's nickname for her" I reminded Kyle who nodded understanding

"Riley came home early this morning and we were all joking around having breakfast" Piper said softly still not taking her gaze off of Riley
"Richard was making his famous chocolate chip pancakes, mum was making the hand whipped whipped cream" she said smiling
"Riley and I were sitting on the counter attempting to make the orange juice" she said

"I don't know what happened, it just all seemed to happen so quickly" Piper added, her hand gently rubbing over Riley's arm almost as if she was trying to soothe Riley in her sleep

"We we're all laughing one minute and then the next, pancake mix was all over the floor and Richard was pale as a ghost clutching his chest" she whispered

"With in a matter of second he was on the floor not saying a word" she said now looking up to meet the gaze of both Kyle and I

"I was going to go to the hospital with them but I knew you boys would panic, plus someone needed to clean the mess. We know how much Richard hates mess" Piper said allowing her voice to ramble slightly, she was trying to cope. This was her biggest coping mechanism
"So I cleaned up, then you boys came home. Then here are" she muttered looking back down at Riley

Riley and Piper are more similar then I think any of want to admit
They have the same similarities in these sort of situations
When one or both of them start to panic, you'll often find them attached to each other
Whether they know it or not. The girls are each other's security blanket

"Pipes" Kyle said softly making her look back up at him

Kyle and Piper have always been a weird dynamic, sure Kyle is protective of her just like any big brother would be
But with the pair of them. They aren't as soft with each other as you'd think
Piper usually brutalises Kyle while Kyle sits there biting his tongue
But we all know if Piper needed someone he'd be one of the first people there

Behind me obviously

Piper looked up to see Kyle offering her a small smile and I think that was all she needed to see
She soon rose to her feet walking over to him practically falling into his arms allowing Kyle to engulf her completely
Giving Piper the sense of security she as missing right now

I looked down at Riley to see her peacefully sleeping before I looked back at Kyle and Piper.
How did things get like this so quickly

"Oh my babies" the final voice said making all of us look at the doorway to see Mum stood there smiling at all of us

We all knew she was probably hurting just as much as Riley was but Mum would be the one who held up the brave face the longest

Richard and Mum have known each other since they were 4 years old. Thinking of one of them without the other is just something I don't think any of us would have every anticipated

"We've got this" Mum said coming into the room placing a kiss on the top of each of our heads, Riley included.

"We're a family, we've got this" she repeated, like she was trying to convince herself

But she was right about one thing.
We are a family